Philips SHP9500/00 Headphone

Very good previous review by Dale and we do need regular neutral reviewers who inform us truthfully about headphones in order to help us make an informed choice. It is hard to get demonstrations of most headphones as shops and retail outlets carry only the more well known headphone brands and even then a limited selection only. As such we need accurate reviews. Buying headphones is difficult whether we want one good pair or whether we collect them. I have over time acquired many headphones, the pick of the bunch being the PSB M4U-1, the Yamaha PRO 400, AKG K551, Yamaha HPH-200, and the AKG Y50. Stupid hobby as I can only wear one pair at a time, but that is what I did with my spare cash. Maybe I should have bought just one pair of expensive headphones. Still I have had great fun and can make true comparisons. At the present price of £52.95 these headphones represents the best value of any headphone I have ever bought. The Philips SHP-9500 is as good as any of the other pairs I have mentioned here. To be the equal of the PSB M4U-1 means the SHP-9500 is one heck of a headphone. It is my headphone of choice at the moment. The clarity and soundstage are unbeatable. Bass is well defined and realistic for an open headphone, with no wooliness or bleed whatsoever. It does lack the thump of the open Yamaha HPH-200, the closed Yamaha PRO 400 and PSB's though. Unlike the AKG K551's which have and accurate but comparatively diluted bass, the SHP-9500 has perhaps the most accurate bass I have heard in a headphone, truthful and satisfying which adds something extra that the other headphones cannot. But if you like a really thumping bass these will not be for you. Please remember that. The high end and midrange are just right though. They just sound right. As a whole the accuracy, spaciousness and musicality present the enjoyment factors in abundance. They have an astonishing sound which never sounds harsh at all. If there is one place they cannot match either the PSB's or the Yamaha PRO 400's is in pace. Both are faster than the SHP-9500 and therefore at times more exciting. The other factors make up for this though. The PSB's have 'room feel' technology. This means the bass is adapted to sound as if the headphones were a standing speaker. All recorded music is developed by being played back through speakers, so according to PSB headphones must account for that. Even accounting for that, the SHP-9500's have a profoundly musical sound, that taken overall, present the most enticing and listenable sound of all these headphones. They are also the most comfortable of all these headphones alongside the Yamaha HPH-200's. They, like the AKG K551's, are a VERY large headphone but lightweight and built really well. Most who listen these headphones will agree they are wonderful. Some say they are as good and maybe better than the Philips Fidelio series and that really is an indictment of excellence.Importantly remember these are open back headphones, very open headphones. Other people will hear very loudly what you play through them and they will not stop you hearing the sounds of the world around you, but if you love music and privately sit at home listening, then these headphones are a joy.

Yes Philips do the mediocre.They have also done some incredible stuff. Those of you who heard the Philips Motion Feedback Speakers will doubtless know what I'm talking about. Those of you who have heard the Fidelio S2 IEMs will also know what I'm talking about.The SHP9500s aren't perfect. The bass rolls off a bit but what is there is ample and good tight quality. The mids are clear and vocals are well presented. The treble doesn't extend as far as some more expensive headphones but I don't feel deprived. The balance of the sonics is just about perfect. Enough treble for good detail, a well presented mid range and a fair thump at the bottom end.Build quality is excellent at this price. The headphones are huge. They fit easily over the biggest ears. They are light and comfortable, maybe a little warm. They bleed both ways so just be aware of where you wear them.The sound stage is accurate enough for these to be the choice of many gamers for RPG.You should buy these even if you have better headphones. I have Grado SR80s and Monolith M560s but the Philips beats them on ease of use and comfort. Just fling these on your head. The sound is good enough for me not to feel anguish at the downgrade.EDIT: Encouraged by the extraordinary sound from these relatively cheap headphones, I ordered a pair of their 'audiophile' cousins the Philips Fidelio X2HRs. I'm sorry to say the Fidelios went back. Compared to the SHPs the bass on the Fidelios could become overwhelming. The Fidelios were also heavier and not as comfortable. Don't get me wrong the Fidelios are a good pair of headphones but not sufficiently better than the SHPs to warrant spending the extra cash and having both headphones on the shelf.

These are my first open back headphones and were bought after reading extensive reviews .I am not an audiophile or someone who analyses every aspect of the sound frequency in minute detail . What is important to me is clarity of sound and overall soundstage listening to everything from choral to metal . The 9500 are about as good as it gets at this price point and in my opinion better than the similarly priced Sony MDR-7506 which I have also tried . The sound is clear , bass is perfect for me ( not intrusive but perfectly audible ) and mids and highs are clear with only a touch of sibilance on a very few tracks . The soundstage is open and airy as you would expect from open back cans and this you either prefer to the more compressed sound from closed back or you don't . Consequently they leak a lot of sound and can annoy people you live with .Volume powered from my android Samsung is just about adequate for me and I would have preferred to be able to crank it up just a little more .Comfort is superb . They are quite loose on me so long sessions are pain free but bear in mind I have a head like a peanut . They can be adjusted to accommodate all sizes and the clamp is not overly tight .Overall the 9500s are not absolutely perfect in sound quality but up to 150 to 200 quid I don't think you will find better . I have no idea what I would ever upgrade to as sound preference is so subjective that I would be scared to spend a lot of money ie £200+ on someone else's perspective. For example , I was nearly at the point of buying Sony's Wh1000xm3 or 4 until I came across some absolutely damning "expert" reviews on their sound quality . So , the search for perfection continues but in the meantime these Phillips SHP9500 will do me just fine .