Philips Open Back Wired Headphones - Cushioned Over Ear Headphones with Adjustable Headband for Ultimate Comfort and Superior Sound Quality, Plugs into TV, Stereo or PC, Ideal for Podcasts or Music

These are excellent headphones but consider your usage. These are big open-backed headphones. They leak sound and don't guard against outside noise much. These are for your usage at your desk/couch when playing games (no mic) or listening to music/watching tv. They are big and comfortable and do all of that really well but at that price there are cheaper headphones that also do that well. I think these have a very neutral sound profile. They handle whatever you throw at them but it isn't like bass or treble or anything will explode at you. In that sense, if what you really want are Sennheiser or Beats, then you should buy those because they sound different at a fundamental level. It isn't a "quality" thing, it's just a preference thing. That's fine! I just want to you have a sense of what you'll be getting and you should understand these headphones have a different profile from the other brands, and they sound different from Skullcandy as well. I guess my only concern with these headphones, having accepted that they are for home use, is that I'm not driving them properly. They don't get that loud compared to other headphones I have. I'm running them out of my tv monitor or laptop. I think I'm leaving a lot on the table without additional power for these things. I imagine they'd get louder and brighter, in which case they'd be truly marvelous. As it stands, they sound wonderful (distinct, but wonderful) and for the value hit above their weight class. If you've been in the $40-$50 range these are a clear improvement-- that much is clear. Probably with an amp they'd be even more. The sound is very neutral. A lot of high-end brands play up warm profiles and deep bass. I guess these could have deep bass, but the warm, bass-y sound stage you hear on headphones that cost more is a design choice. You may like that! These are designed to be clear and crisp and they are. At the same time, because they aren't getting super loud, and don't necessarily do anything to "grab" me with the listening experience like an artificial bass or a "comfy" sound stage, I find myself frequently using cheaper headphones to get that quick hit of warm bass and (overly?) engineered sound-stage. Don't get me wrong: I've used these nearly every day for years (2nd pair). I always come back to these headphones. But I can't help but think they are also designed for more than just laptop or TV monitor power. If you are fine with what you have, you may not be blown away by these headphones unless you specifically want something clear or very comfortable for a very specific use. Beyond that, these are great.

Wow! I am really surprised at how true the hype is -- I just received these headphones today, and as I was listening to them, I felt compelled to come write this review because I am so happy with the way they sound. I love good sounding audio. I'm kinda picky about it. But I increasingly dislike the term "audiophile," and not being independently wealthy, I don't own much gear. So, I try to make my purchases wisely. That's how I wound up with the SHP9500s. A little background: My first "real" headphones were Audio Technica ATH-M30s (the original generation, not the current M30X). I probably bought ATs back around 2003 or so, and they were pretty much my only cans for 15 years. They were beat to hell, but always never gave me any trouble. And I thought they sounded just fine. Since they were starting to get pretty worn out, I decided it was time to upgrade. So a few years ago, I bought a Schiit Fulla 2 DAC/amp combo and some Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros (250 ohm). I never knew how much I was missing with the ATH-M30s until I started using the DT 770s. It was beyond night and day. The DT 770s have been my daily drivers for a couple years now. I love them; they really do sound so nice. I think they're beginning to be at the point of diminishing returns, though - if I start to spend much more than I did for the DT 770s, I probably won't notice nearly the improvement I did when I went from the ATH-M30s to the 770s. But, the 770s are closed-back headphones. I had never really tried open-back headphones. I heard open cans tend to have better sound stages, can be more comfortable, and of course make it easier to hear your surroundings (this can be bad and good - but there are times when I need to be aware of what other people are doing, in an office environment, for example, so that's why I consider it a "good" thing). Anyway, while the DT 770s aren't necessarily uncomfortable, they're definitely noticeable and can get kind of tiresome after an extended session. So, I decided it was high time to try some open-back headphones, and the SHP9500 kept popping up with rave reviews. When black Friday came around, I decided to nab 'em. I almost pulled the trigger on the more expensive Philips Fidelio X2HR, which were also on sale, but the SHP9500 seemed like a sure bet based on the sheer number of great reviews, and money was is tight, anyway. Plus, there are those who say the 9500s are less colored or "V" shaped than the X2HRs, and I tend to prefer headphones that don't color the sound too much. TL;DR - My headphone progression has been Audio Technica ATH-M30 > Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (250 ohm) > Philips SHP9500. The DT 770 Pros are arguably several "grades" better than the 9500s, and easily 2x the price. But these 9500s sound *almost* as good -- really. DT 770s are closed-back, these 9500s are open-back. The sound stage is slightly disappointing on the 9500s - I thought it would be better since they're open-back, but I think the DT 770s have a better stage. Definitely less bass with the 9500s, but its still good bass! The SHP9500s are very clear, crisp, and detailed. Overall, there is just a tad less "depth" and "body" to the sound when compared to my DT 770s - and less rumble in the bass - but it is _so close_ in overall quality - and more comfortable than the DT 770s - that these SHP9500s are worth buying for everyday use, backup use, a 2nd pair of cans to keep at the office - whatever. I'm already thinking about buying a second pair! They're that good. That said, I still have a lot more listening and comparison to do, so this review may be subject to change. Also, make sure to check the prices. Around $50-60, they're a steal. Much more than that, I'd consider putting my money toward something higher-end.

The philips shp9500....is overall a great headphone for this price. It gets plenty loud. Its clear, has crisp audio, and very balanced sound. Do no believe the people who say this has no bass. What you have to understand is that this is an open-back headphone, the sound can freely leak out and theres not a crazy seal like most consumer headphones. If you have never heard hifi audio in an openback, you must give yourself some time to get acclimated to the way natural sound should be. There is such a thing as Brain burn in but not headphone burn in. The only real knock I can have on them is a personal one. The fabric on the earpads is rough in texture, and I am bald with facial hair, so if I move it around too much it can cause the slightest scratchiness. Thats the only knock. They are super lightweight, comfortable headphones. Tons of this is subjective to each person. There is hate for this headphone online and there is love for it online. You really do have to just bite the bullet and try it out yourself. Personally I love using this as my daily driver and all rounder. I've had the Sennhesier HD600 before and these get me back to most that way. These sound a bit more 'fun' (and I mean just a bit) than the very neutral 600s. I highly recommend to anyone starting their journey or even just curious.

Great headphones at a reasonable cost. I love music and need hi-fidelity but can't afford serious studio monitor headphones etc. I've gone through others and it's always something, too hot, too tight, smash ears, sound off, etc. I decided I needed "around the ear" not on the ear, and open back to allow breathability. I got these about a week ago and love them. They're light and comfortable, don't overheat your ears, don't smash them, and they sound good. 5 stars.

I bought these headphones for critical listening of classical music. I know these aren't really high end phones in terms of price, however I will compare them to phones I've had in the past, the Sony MDR-V900, gold standard for mid-priced closed back phones, and the Sennheiser 600HD which is the gold standard for open back phones (both these phones retail / retailed in the $200-300 price range so bear that in mind). First of all, the SHP9500's are big phones, nothing small about them. They are fairly comfortable to wear, they fit around your ears, not on top of them. My first obvious note of displeasure is my right ear actually rubs on the speaker surface, but my left ear does not. Is my right ear bigger than my left ear? Your ears will be very, very close to the drivers on these phones, which is a little odd to say the least. Comfort wise, these phones are slightly more comfortable than the Sony and Sennheiser gold standard head phones. They have a weak clamp force and are light, so that makes them comfortable. The quality of the cup padding is below the other two headphones, however they are "okay". Build quality, below the two other headphones, but will probably last you 10 to 20 years, so whatever. Sound wise, the Sony closed back phones sound more "musical" to me, everything is in the right proportion. The SH9500 brings out the fine details better, and separates instruments better (aka "sound stage"). I could get used to the SHP9500's however they won't be in the class of the Sony's, even though the Sony's don't have as precise a sound as the SHP9500's. Comparing the SHP9500's to the Sennheiser 600 HD's is most instructive. The Sennheiser 600 HD is known as a "reference" headphone, its response is flat, flat, flat, ie you will hear music exactly as intended with no coloring, no extra emphasis of the low, mids or high tones. The SHP9500 is not flat. It emphasizes the bass more (surprisingly), sounds warmer, while the very highest registers could feel a little "screechy" (rarely) because they are emphasized. If you are looking for an absolutely analytical headphone (hear everything as intended headphone) the Sennheiser is for you. If you are looking to get a step up in sound quality to audiophile level, get the SHP9500 at a fraction of the price. Other than that, the SHP9500's run a little warmer temperature wise on the ear then my Sony closed back phone, which is a little surprising, maybe because the Sony's don't seal around my head as well. So, if you are looking for an audiophile experience on a budget, these phones are for you. You'll get precision, sound stage, its all there for you. If you are expecting the gold standard experience, the SHP9500 are not gold standard. It isn't as flat and analytical as the Sennheiser 600 HD or as "musical" as the Sony MDR-V900's (oldie but goody!) But what the SHP9500 is, is a very very good headphone for the price! UPDATE: Had these headphones a couple of days. Now my "brain" has gotten used to them, they are awesome, for the price, they are the best deal I've ever gotten in electronics / music gear. My ears aren't rubbing the speaker surface any more as maybe I just needed to adjust them. Update: Had these phones for over a year. They are still awesome. Definitely they are a scream of a deal for the money. I use them for my new Mac Mini M4, as no external speakers can compete with these.

I have a pair of Grado SR-60's (the original, not i, is, or e, with probably over 2000 hours of listening time over the years) with the "G-cush" foam earpads that are used on the very high end Grados. I have been listening to these Philips SHP-9500 and they sound better in every department than my Grados, except a bit in soundstage. When I first bought the SHP-9500s, I thought they were no where near as good. While the bass was better (bass definitely isn't something you come to expect from any Grados I've heard), the mids and highs were harsh sounding. I was really disappointed because I had read so many good things about these headphones. However, I'm a real believer in "break-in" on stereo equipment. So, I let the SHP-9500s break-in overnight at the loudest volume my DAC/amp could handle without distortion, a total of about 6 hours. Even that little time really made a large difference. Now, while the bass is still strong (but not overbearing), the mids and highs have smoothed out and, IMO, now exceed those of my SR-60s (based on side-by-side) listening tests, using the same playlist/amp. By comparison, the Grados, while they have a slightly better soundstage, don't have anywhere near the fullness of sound (from bass to highs and everything in between) that the SHP-9500s now exhibit. I'd even go so far as to say the Grados sound a bit "tinny" by comparison. If the SHP-9500s have improved this much in just 5-10 hours of listening, I would imagine that there will not be any comparison between the two after 50-100 hours of listening. I should also mention that the SHP-9500s are a bit heavier than the Grados. The Grados, especially with the G-Cush ear pads, are so light and comfortable you can easily forget they are there. The SHP-9500s feel about 25-50% heavier, but you can still forget you are wearing them. They are very comfortable, but I find that the earpads are slightly too shallow for my, apparently, "Dumbo ears". I find them comfortable, but I am reminded they are there because of this. I have a bit of a large head (at least that is what my kids say), but the SHP-9500s can accommodate my head with about 50% of the adjustment to spare. I can't imagine there are many people out there whose head would be too large for these headphones. On the other hand, the SHP-9500s are probably not appropriate for people with smaller heads. My 14 year old daughter tried these on while studying and they kept falling off whenever she tilted her head forward. I can feel them try to fall forward when I'm wearing them (kept on my head because of my ears), but they don't have enough clamping force for smaller heads. Please note that these headphones also appear to be more efficient than my old Grado SR-60s. The volume, at any given level appears to be about 15-25% louder, more than what you'd expect from the published "ohm resistance" for each headphone (Grados=32 ohms, SHP-9500s=30 ohms). Definitely noticeable and very welcome while using with my smartphone. All-in-all, I think these are a FANTASTIC value and would make great replacements for any Grado SR-60s (including the i, is, and e generations of these headphones. I can't say how the SHP-9500s would compare to higher-end Grados as it has been ~15 years since the last time I listened to a pair of SR-80s and a pair SR-125s. Please keep in mind that the SHP-9500s are "open-back" headphones. Because of this, you will be able to clearly hear sounds from, and leak sounds out to, your environment. These are not appropriate headphones in quiet settings. They have a standard, detachable cable that can easily be replaced. The included cable does not allow for phone calls. However, a replacement cable with microphone can easily and cheaply allow you to use these with your phone for calls: VOJO Aux Cord for Car 3.5mm Auxiliary Audio Cable with Mic / Microphone 4ft Coiled HOTLINE [Black], Premium Metal Shell for iPhone 6 6s Plus, Tangle-free . I have tested this cord and it works fine. I grew up when "Philips" was synonymous with cheap/junky, but pricy (for what you got) electronics. Imagine my surprise after listening to these headphones. At this price, they have no business sounding this good! Hope this helps!

For the past year, I had heard, SO much about these headphones. I have seen them reviewed time and time again on YouTube. I hardly heard anything negative about them. However, for the longest time, they could not be bought because they were not available. For the ones, which were, they were way overpriced. Then, in March, they became available on Amazon for a nice price. I jumped on it. Now, that I have them, are they worth the hype? DESIGN/FEATURES: The drivers of the SHP9500 are 50mm, which is large. The frequency response is an outstanding, 12-35,000 Hz, which is 1,500 Hz short of Hi-Res territory. Nevertheless, they still sound superb. The impedance is 32 ohms. For PS4 gamers, 32 ohms is low enough for the controller to drive the headphones with the controller volume set to max. The maximum input power is only 200mW, meaning a user will have to be careful when using an amp. A DAC can be used but is not needed. Of course, the sound will be improved and of course, increasingly loud. The design of the SHP9500 is very cool in my opinion. Some could argue that it looks cheap, which they sort of do. However, they have some style to them. The headband is aluminum, cased with a hard, matte black, plastic. Atop of the headband is a glossy-black, Philips insignia. The sides of the headband have measuring notches and a hole, which shows a number, indicating the level, which the headband can be adjusted to. Underneath the headband is a cushion, made of breathable, dual-layered, cloth fabric for head support. On the bottom, inside the right and left side of the headband, a plastic tag with R and L can be seen on the corresponding sides of the headband. This is the part of the design, which I love the most. The ear cups are made of plastic. In addition, the speakers are made of aluminum. On each speaker, R and L are painted in white on the corresponding sides of the speakers. Personally, I believe that the design feature is cool and unique. The speakers are transparent enough, where the drivers can be seen. The ear cushions are over-the-ear and made of the same, breathable, double-layered, cloth fabric. BASS/MID-BASS/SUB-BASS: There is bass. When playing games, which have explosions, I can hear that boom. However, the bass is inconsistent, overall. With that said, the sub-bass is non-existent. I could not hear much of a subwoofer-like rumble when I was playing certain games, which had explosions. HIGHS: The SHP9500 is bright sounding headphones. The sound is crystal clear, overall. The treble highs can be grainy at times. However, there Results and ears vary. For example, Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 is a prime example, which has lots of sharp sounds. Gunshots are loud but clear. Each time bullets hit, there a loud, thumping sound, which follows with a loud, “squish”, when a kill is achieved. I found having the volume high while hearing this sound can be harsh of the ears. The high end of female voices sounds great. Hearing female voices on Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 is another. Hearing my female character, Battery’s voice lines sound great. “Cluster grenade, enjoy!” “Splash!” “Dropped!” “All right, boom time.” “All talk!” “Doggone!” Those are some of my favorite voice lines of hers. Once, Battery ran inside of an open-ended bay of the Summit map. Battery said a voice line, while outside of the bay. Then, her voice became magnified, as she entered the bay. Plus, there was an echo of Battery's voice. The authenticity of the echo was unbelievable and nearly, scary. This was a good example of a transition between mid to high sounds. IMAGING/SOUNDSTAGE: The SHP9500 has good imaging. They handle directional sounds, exceptionally, well. With that said, I tested the performance of the SHP9500 while playing Call Of Duty Black Ops 4. The best map, which showcases the performance of the best is the “Occupation” map, which is a close-quarters. I could hear what was going on and direction, where the action was taking place on the map, whether it was dialogue, gunshots or explosions. Of course, footsteps could be heard, as well. It seems the sound magnifies toward closer sounds coming from a different direction. For example, each time my character looks in one direction, the sound increasingly amplifies in the direction and less in the opposite direction, where lesser actions were taking place. The soundstage is great. Of course, they are open-back, so that is expected. The airiness and open sound of the SHP9500 is great. Very spread out. I played a match on the very open. “Gustav Cannon” map. I could hear sounds, very clear from across the map at a far distance. Not to mention, sounds from a distant, sounded a bit closer than they actually were. LOWS/MIDS: I must say, the SHP9500 picks up subtle sounds, pretty good. Hearing shells hit the floor, coming from a blasting shotgun is addictive to listen to, strangely. On the Morocco map, outside of hearing the common sounds, during game-play, I could hear the subtle, clinking and breakage of pottery being kicked around, while traversing the area. I could barely, hear this with other headsets, but in more abundance with the SHP9500. The unbelievable sound of crunching, as my character was trampling through the deep snow, cracking of the ice or sounds of moving water, while swimming on the Icebreaker map. Once, my character, Battery, ran inside of an open-ended bay of the Summit map. Battery was communicating, while outside and finished talking, while going inside of the bay. There was an echo of Battery's voice while speaking inside of that open-ended bay. The authenticity of the echo was unbelievable and nearly, scary. MIC (OPTIONAL): An external mic, such as a V-Moda Boom Mic Pro will have to be purchased to utilize, while online gaming. The prices vary. I have not tried this, yet, as I do not have a mod-mic at this time. I do know, with one attached, it should perform exceptionally, well. VERDICT: Overall, the SHP9500 is a great headset. For the past year, when constantly, hearing about these, I was wondering, if these lived up to the hype and they did. Never in my wildest dreams, I would ever think Philips would make such an outstanding headset. They were smart to put these back on the market and at an affordable price. With that being said, I would advise anyone looking for a headset to pick these up, just in case they are no longer available, as they were, prior to resurfacing. Honestly, I believe my search for the “perfect” headset(s) is over.

I bought these 3 weeks ago (from somewhere else) but am returning them. The sound IS pretty incredible, however everything else is subpar. COMFORT: Some people say they're comfortable but I have issues with it. The headband is nice, but the extreme lack of clamp isn't good. The earpads, while I appreciate their large size, are just too shallow (depth) and so my ears (large size, but lay flat) rub the fabric over the driver. This does NOT happen with any of my other headphones with stock pads nor any of the aftermarket pads I use. SOUND: The sound is amazing, for the person wearing the headphones. However, these are not just "open" they're speakers attached to your head. The amount of sound bleed is sooooo bad, it's the main reason I'm returning them. I could figure out a way to overcome the comfort issues, but there's just no way to lower the sound bleed to an acceptable level. When I wear these in one room, my wife in the next room over (so 12-15 feet away, through an open doorway) can hear them! So basically, the times where I could wear them without bothering someone else are the exact same times where I could use speakers. As my wife says, if she's going to have to hear my music, them she should be able to listen to it too, and not just be annoyed by the bleed. BUILD: For the price, it's very well built. Sure there's a fair amount of plastic, but the fit and finish is all quite good. The biggest drawback to the build, and it's a HUGE deal for me, is the pads are not removable, so a pad swap is not doable without destroying the stock pads. ACCESSORIES: The storage bag is crappy, and the cable is just "meh". ALTERNATIVES: I find the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x to be a great alternative. It has much better clamping (as in there actually is CLAMPING, since the 9500's basically don't have any). The M40x has very good sound for a closed back, that isn't a whole lot more money ($25-30 more). I found the M40x stock pads a little too small for my liking, but once I switched them out for some Brainwavz, they're extremely comfortable, even for hours at a time. The SHP9500 imagining is slightly better, the sound stage is quite a bit wider, and if I'm nitpicking there's more refined detail throughout the frequency range with the SHP9500, but that's the case for most "open" vs "closed" comparisons. I do appreciate the standard SHP9500 cable connection, whereas the M40x uses a locking connection. So while both have replaceable cables, the 9500 can use pretty much any 3.5mm cable, while the M40x requires a very thin connector (it's recessed so far into the can) and some people may like/dislike the locking connector. Personally, I'd rather not have it locked so that if the cable gets caught on something it'll just be disconnected rather than pull the whole headphone off my head. Compared to my old Sennheiser HD461, also closed back like the M40x, the SHP9500 is a little more detailed with a wider soundstage, but the really noticeable difference is in tonality. The HD461 is much warmer and mid-forward/focused than the SHP9500. It's not muddy, but it is definitely warmer, while the 9500 sounds more neutral because it's a more expected sound. FWIW, if everything else was equal I tend to enjoy a little more midrange focus, however the HD461 comfort trumps the SHP9500 by a bunch, especially with a pad swap. The only comfort plus to the 9500 is the headband. CONCLUSION: For under $100, the SHP9500 are phenomenal IF the openness (sound bleed) isn't an issue for your use. You can't beat the sound without spending at least double. However, you can't use the SHP9500 on a bus/train/airplane, nor anywhere near someone else. The sound bleed at normal listening levels is a good 15 feet in a quiet environment. If you want/need closed back in roughly this price point, I recommend the Audio-Technica M40x which gives you much better comfort and pad swappability, while not bothering other people near you, at the loss of soundstage width and some overall definition. Both are highly listenable and I recommend both, just get whichever fits your normal useage the best.