Philips SHP9500S

Fantastic open-backed Hi-Fi headphones that are easy to drive – I bought these on eBay AU for around $127. Even though these have been discontinued (and replaced by the SHP9600), they are still available online. PRO TIP - if you see it listed, grab a pair, you won't regret it. I use these headphones for the following: 1) Watching movies and listening to music connected to a Myryad Hi-Fi Stereo Amplifier 2) Watching movies/YouTube on my iPad mini 3) Listening to music on my iPhone 6S 4) Listening to music off a FLAC/MP3 player connected to a Douk Audio/Nobsound NS08E headphone amplifier. 5) Teams meetings (working home office) connected to my Dell laptop The type of music I listen predominantly is Euro Dance/pop, artists like Bad Boys Blue, Modern Talking, Sandra Cretu, Blue System etc.

Before I go into my subjective review, let me say that there are several more technical reviews on the Internet, some going into detailed comparisons against other models. I suggest you do some searching. Apparently they are also popular with online gamers due to the sound stage breadth

OK...so what do I think? The GOOD: - Super comfortable, even for extended periods wearing - Quite light on my head - Good fit and adjustment - Seem well built - Being open-backed, they let your ears breathe much better than any closed-ear headphone - The sound stage is absolutely stunning, both in listening to music and watching movies (try these watching Aliens where Ripley walks into the Alien Queen's lair and the egg opens behind her....so realistic it's actually disturbing). - Decent bass (source dependent) without boominess - They provide an incredible level of musical detail (subject to quality of source, they will sound better with a FLAC version of the song than with the MP3 version), in this they compare favourably to my Sennheiser HD599SE and old Sony MDR-F1 (which are fantastic but as 12 ohms impedance need an amplifier) - Detachable cable means you can swap between short and long cables depending on where you use them - At 32 ohms impedance, they are super easy to drive, so work just as well with my Myryad MI120 amp as with my iPad mini or iPhone (possible a bit more bass with the Myryad). They sound fantastic with the little Nobsound NS08E headphone amp. - standard 3.5mm stereo jack gives almost universal compatibility (later models of iPhone excepted) - Fantastic natural vocals when used for Teams meetings, even when driven off directly off a laptop or the headphone output of my external monitor

The POSSIBLY-NOT-SO-GOOD - These are open-backed headphones, so they leak sound (by design), therefore not the best choice for public transport/aeroplane/library or in bed for some late-night binge watching - these are large headphone so not particularly portable (but it's not their intent) - they may sound a bit too bright with certain types of music (for example, I prefer my Sennheiser HD599SE for listening to Bad Boys Blue as they better match the moody, melancholy sound), but this is something that's really subjective and will depend on your music tastes and preference

SUMMARY: I love these, very happy with the purchase. Good value for money, they DO compare favourably to headpohnes costing several times more. The sound stage is absolutely fantastic. The fact that they are easy to drive makes them super versatile. I paid $127 - if you seem them for less, grab a pair you won't regret it. Full marks to Philips for creating a true sonic masterpiece at a such a low price.

Better than even its champions imagine – I'm going out on a limb here. I've read many positive reviews of these phones and even the most extravagant only describe them as comparable to $200 offerings from other manufacturers. Well, I'm 73 and have been into headphones since 1969. I've owned just about every type of HP known to man including Stax electrostatics, HiFiman HE500, Beyer T1 and T90, Sennheiser HD650 and currently the HD598. There is no brand of HP I haven't owned. So what? you say. Enough of your bragging! What's your point? It's simple. I listen to classical/orchestral music exclusively, and no HP I've owned has really satisfied me. None has really given me that concert hall experience classical lovers crave, not even the most expensive. Well, the SHP9500 does--simple as that. On a half-decent recording this baby puts me in the best seat in the Opera House. It places instruments in a believable acoustic to a degree I've never heard before. It gives me a believable, silky massed string tone, where most headphones sound like cats being strangled (massed strings seem to be the hardest to reproduce accurately for some reason). In short, I would place these headphones not in the $200 category, but the $1000+. Cons? Well, one: they can be a little bright on poorer recordings, but it's by no means an arrow-through-the-head type brightness. If you use an amp, just back off the treble a little. And that's about it really. Some find them find them too loose fitting, but they're just fine for my fat head. They're well constructed too--amazingly so for the price. How can Philips do it? Don't know, but I'm glad they did it. This is one fantastic headphone.

EDIT: I should add one caveat. The above impressions are with classical/orchestral music only, so one of the main criticisms of the 9500, that it lacks bass, doesn't have much relevance. What it sounds like with rock, rap or reggae I have no idea. To my ears it has enough bass; to others it may not. Also it won't sound as exciting on popular music as, say, the HD598, which is more forward. As always it's horses for courses.

Amazing value – Purchased these on eBay (hard to find elsewhere) for around $100AU and they were a complete steal. Most comfortable headphones I've ever owned and sound comparable to much more expensive open back models. In terms of cons, the only things I can think of are the difficulty in replacing the ear cups, and I can see some people not liking the lack of clamping force around the head even though I did.

The $80 open backs that could – The philips shp9500s are some of the best open back headphones i have had the pleasure of using. It is relatively harder to find, but an absolute gem considering the price/performance ratio it offers. Infact, these are the best set of cans under $200 and If your'e thinking of getting your first pair of open back headphones, i highly suggest starting with these

Sound Signature:

The sound signature is very close to what the legendary Sennheisser HD600s offer, but for a fraction of the price. Infact, when amped up and played through a decent dac (good sound source) its on par mostly. These have insane immaging and clarity, which further aid in the overall sound presentation

Now the obvious con would be the treble energy present, but its a part of the intended sound signature. Also to note, due to its open back nature, it's light on the sub-bass but is excellent for listening to jazz, pop or edm. Even though the bass (low end) extends more than say HD600's, its still not as hard hitting for bass heads, and tend to offer a bright sound signature with crisp mids instead.

Pros:

- Treble

- Mids

-Imaging

-Clarity

- Comfort

- Price to performance ratio

Cons:

- Some might not like the treble energy

Conclusion: Some of the very best open back headphones, and a deff steal for under $100. Can be tough to find, but is insanely good and punches far higher than its price point. This truly has cemented itself as a legendary set of cans on the cheaper spectrum (similar sound sig/competes with with HD600s, HD558s and most akg offerings at $150)

Verdict: A must have