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Availability:
In Stock.
Arrives
Thursday, Oct 15
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
Features
- 50mm neodymium drivers deliver full spectrum of sound
- 1.5m cable gives you freedom of movement for indoor use
- Comfortable double layered headband cushion, breathable ear cushion for longer wearing comfort
- Finishing of connector: gold-plated, acoustic system: open, Magnet type: neodymium
Description
A quality performance: PHILIPS SHP9600 headphones Looking for the perfect blend of performance, comfort, and quality? These over-ear, open-back headphones are built to take your home listening up a notch. You get great sound, premium construction, and gold-plated cable connections. Open-back design. Spacious sound: Feel the music. Perfectly tuned 50 mm drivers deliver crisp bass, balanced midrange, and pristine high frequencies. The drivers are engineered to fit the ear's natural geometry, ensuring no detail is lost. Superb comfort and durability: The headband is reinforced with durable steel, which adds just the right amount of tension for a secure fit. The double- layered headband cushion adds real comfort, and the breathable ear-cup cushions are perfect for long listening sessions. Connect to any source. From phone to headphone amp: Immerse in your favorite albums-on your smart device, home setup, TV, or laptop. The included cable boasts a gold-plated 6.3-3.5 mm jack adapter for the best connection when listening on audiophile-grade equipment.
Brand: PHILIPS
Color: Black
Ear Placement: Over Ear
Form Factor: Over Ear
Impedance: 32 ohm
Brand Name: PHILIPS
Model Number: SHP9500/00
Model Name: Performance Audio | SHP9500
Built-In Media: Philips HiFi Stereo Headphones
Age Range Description: Adult
Warranty Description: Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service.
Number of Items: 1
Series Number: 9500
UPC: 642125575249
Global Trade Identification Number: 28, 48
Manufacturer: Philips
External Testing Certification: Anatel
Headphones Ear Placement: Over Ear
Headphone Folding Features: Over Ear
Earpiece Shape: Rounded tip
Control Type: Touch Control
Control Method: Touch
Impedance: 32 ohm
Noise Control: None
Sensitivity: 101 db
Audio Driver Type: Dynamic Driver
Frequency Range: 12 - 35000 Hz
Enclosure Material: steel
Specific Uses For Product: Home
Antenna Location: Music
Compatible Devices: Any audio source with a compatible jack or adapter
Cable Features: Detachable
Water Resistance Level: Water Resistant
Additional Features: Lightweight
Number of Power Levels: 1
Headphone Jack: 3.5 mm Jack
Connectivity Technology: Wired
Wireless Technology: Wired
Color: Black
Style Name: Performance Audio | SHP9500
Theme: Audio Equipment
Item Weight: 0.3 kg
Unit Count: 1 Count
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Thursday, Oct 15
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
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Top Amazon Reviews
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
I purchased these headphones 9 months ago and I am very pleased with the physical quality of construction and the sound - I believe this was a very good value for the amount of money spent. There is a newer model available, but based on the price and the specs, I believe most listeners will get better value for their dollar by purchasing this model, the SHP9500. Pros: + In my experience, these headphones do not require an additional headphone amplifier. You can plug them directly into your laptop or smartphone and they will work just like a normal pair of headphones. + These headphones have a published frequency response range of 12Hz to 35,000Hz. I have tested this out and found this to be accurate as far as I can tell. The lower frequencies are just about at the bottom of my hearing range (it gets into the rumble-range where you feel those deep subs rather than hear them), and the higher frequency range is way above what most humans can hear anyway. + The 1/8th inch standard headphone jack is optionally removable/replaceable from the headphones, which is always preferable to the built-in style because it means if your cord becomes damaged you can just replace it instead of having to buy new headphones. Also, the cord is extremely lengthy at 1.5 meters (just under 5 feet long). I have found this to be more than enough for my needs. + The open-back architecture provides an extremely light and airy experience. I can wear these headphones for hours and still not feel the unpleasant feeling you get after wearing earbuds or closed-back headphones for a long-time. From my experience, I feel like these headphones feel "healthier" than using earbuds or a closed-back system, because it provides more airflow to your ears. + I have listened to a variety of music styles/movies/and audio-books with these headphones, and they perform wonderfully. Classical music and action movies are especially great, awesome bass, clear treble, and good spatial depth of sound. Cons/Things to Consider: +The pressure that the headphones exert on the sides of your head by default is just slightly more than I would prefer. The metal arch that goes over your head is bendable, and you can adjust the size, but you really need to actually physically try to re-bend the metal wider if you want to adjust the actual resting pressure that the headphones exert on your head/ears. I have successfully done this, and tried to "unbend" the metal slightly by hand, but I would recommend to be careful if you do this yourself because I don't think the headphones were really intended to have the metal arch pressure adjusted. Maybe I just have a big head. + Not really a Con, but please be aware these are open-back construction headphones. This means if you are watching an action movie or listening to rock or hip hop music with these at a normal volume, people in the same room as you may be able to hear your audio fairly clearly, as if it were coming from a small speaker (because it literally is). This is normal, and this is what open-back headphones are supposed to do. That said, if you are listening to an audio-book at night on a lower volume, this will probably not be audible to anyone except you. + Also related to the above item, and again, not really a con but just something to think about - due to the open-back architecture of these headphones, I don't believe they would be good for the following listening situations: outdoors, car/train/bus, airplane, public space like coffee-shop or library. These headphones are not noise-canceling at all (they are not intended to be), and again, to reiterate, if you are listening to "loud" things like the audio from certain movies or some popular music, that audio can be heard by others in your room- please be aware of this. In summary - based on my experience with other Philips products, and my experience with the SHP9500's so far, I would expect these headphones to last me for many years. With a list price at $90.00 (you should be able to buy them for slightly less than that), I feel this is an excellent value for the money for a trusted brand name product.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020 by M. B.
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
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!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2017 by GlueFactoryBJJ
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
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.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022 by Tezza
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
I was a little apprehensive about purchasing open end headphones, as I always used closed end phones for the resonance. After reading up. I decided to give them a go. There is a definite difference in the ambiance, but they really don't sound too bad. Let me say this first hand. If you're looking for clarity in terms of strings, cymbals & the like, this is not it. Straight up. But the sound is warm, & the bass is rich, without being overbearing. I also discovered 2 things. 1) The headphones have a 50 mm driver, so your cell phone won't cut it. You'll need at LEAST an ipod, or a digital player with sufficient power to drive these, to get any type of decent sound or reproduction. 2) The quality of your digital file matters. The higher the volume of your music file, along with the clarity makes a tremendous difference in what you hear, which is to be expected. I played a slow joint by the Commodores ,"High On Sunshine," with the horns and the background vocals kicking...that sounded twice as clear, as a couple of Jazz selections that I played earlier, so the quality of your digital music files DOES matter. That said, I still like my closed-ear headphones somewhat better, but I'll still listen to these as well, from time to time, because it has a nice airy feel to them. The over ear design & padding, makes for hours of listening comfort, and I can appreciate the difference in sound reproduction, while also listening to my other headphones. And as an introduction to open ear listening, the price is not too bad either.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026 by Wayne Dula
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
Tested on Yamaha home receiver for movies Apple MacBook Air 2014 PC without Amp PC with Amp - FiiO E10k Sound, Movies like Heat action sequence Music like Classic Rock - Rush etc / Classical music / New age electronic like early Tangerine Dream / Electronic Music / Dubstep etc Gaming - games like Call of Duty Black Ops 2 on PC This review is just based on my observations and middle 40 year old ears :D. I also used a few other headphones to get to provide a point of reference for me and you. Also I consider myself a enthusiast headphone listener, and not a pro audiophile. :) Headphones used for AB comparison, Sennheiser HD598 (paid 100.00), Superlux HD681 EVO (Paid 40.00) (I also own other cans like ATH-M50x, ATH-M40fs, Bose AE2, but they are all closed back cans so I did not really use as comparisons ) Let’s get on with this. Comfort- Very nice, do not touch my ears. Clamping seems a bit loose. So when I shake my head around they tend to shift. I remedied this somewhat by carefully bending the metal band at the top and also on the sides of the metal band right near the Phillips logo being careful to not affect the plastic on the logo part. They still seem a bit unbalanced in my head compared to my other cans but not a deal breaker. Positive- compared to the other cans the pads feel really nice and feel like clouds resting around my ears compared to my other cans. Construction feels pretty solid compared to my Superlux Evo. Features are great. As most know, Yes only negative for me is the non-removable ear pads as well. Efficiency and sound. These drive well, but ideally you would want a amp for the PC. On my Macbook Air it is really nice without amp. On the Nexus phone I am looking to get a portable FiiO amp. I did notice that the Senn 598 are the most efficient (easier to power) in loudness compared to these. Soundstage is nice. Sound leakage is more audible compared to my other open and semi open phones listed above. Bass… hmm well the bass is there BUT from all the cans that I own these are indeed the least bass heavy of the group. If I adjust EQ setting by lowering the mids and highs a few notches then it is pretty good. I tried also to up the bass in equalizer and also on the bass setting of receiver but the bass seems pretty finicky when the level is jacked up after a few little notches. So upping the bass to extreme just kind of makes the bass muddy - so just a dab will do if needed. My other two comparison cans have good bass that I find very pleasant. (although the Senn is a tad sensitive on super bass heavy sounds so I would have to actually bring down the bass once in awhile if needed, but only when they are amped do I have this issue) Midrange - Midrange to me sounds great on all the headphones. Of course each would their own particular signature - but none are extreme to bother me at all. Treble - Ah yes. We all know about treble on these bad boys. They have a grainy treble about them. But not in a bad way. These would be the cans that have the most treble that I own. This can be tamed a bit in a EQ. Overall the sound is pretty open and raw feeling. And my other cans have a more fuller and cleaner feel to them compared to the SHP’s treble wise. If I missed anything please let me know. In conclusion here are some thoughts and what I use them for. Movies - Yes, may need to boost bass a bit or decrease treble on audio receiver. Gaming - Yes - but it is missing low end BOOM compared to my other headphones (so I would have to go to EQ settings and up the bass and/or lower the other settings sliders and leaving the bass end sliders at 0. My preference for gaming is Supberlux HD681 EVO Music - depends on the types. For classic 70’s rock these are awesome!!! For other genres including classical the bass needs to be tweaked again. My preference for Music would be the Senn 598’s. The headphones are great. But from all the other cans I have, I find that I have to adjust the EQ a bit by reducing a bit of the treble to achieve a touch of more bass. I am not a bass head. But just need a tad more bass out of them. Yes these are keepers! Great overall especially when amped. Robert
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2016 by Rob Martin
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
The SHP-9500 has been in and out of stock following Philip's merger with Gibson, and their subsequent declaration of bankruptcy, but it's been around for quite a while and has garnered a following among budget audiophiles. It's a very common recommendation as a starter "good headphone". Does it deserve this reputation? TL;DR - Heck yes, it does. While it's a bit bass-lite, it's still got a relatively neutral sound signature and a relatively clear sound, it's comfort and build quality are above it's price range. Imaging is average, and soundstage is intimate. Not the most resolving, but a standout at it's price point. Packaging, Accessories & Features - Comes wrapped in a plastic bag, in a cardboard tray, inside a cardboard box with a graphic. Included is a 10 ft 3.5mm to 3.5mm (aka aux) cable, and a 1/4" adapter. Featurewise, you get a passive, open back, over ear headphone with a removable cable. Simplicity. Build & Comfort - Mostly plastic, metal grills for the exterior of the ear cups, and the height adjustment sliders, which feature a numbered system to keep both sides even. Cloth earpads and comfort strap. Neither the pads or the strap features memory foam, but the material and the foam are both soft. There's a large "L" and "R" painted in white on the metal grills, as well as L and R on the interior of the headband. The cups pivot a slight bit both inwards and outwards. The overall package is quite light and there's very little clamp force on your head. Combined with the soft ear and head pads, it's a headphone that floats on your head. Because of that however, quick movements will most likely unseat the headphones from your head. As they're open back, be prepared for them to leak a lot of sound, both in and out of the ear cups. Sound - This headphone has a similar sound signature to an HD 600, however, mids seem a bit more in-step with the rest of the band. The bass is also less clear, and the whole is less resolving than the HD 600. Imaging is decent, but not world-beating, while soundstage is intimate. Maybe slightly wider than HD 600, but not by much. Conclusions - The HD 600 is a headphone benchmark, and statements have been made that the SHP-9500 is close enough to the 600 that it's almost a wash. I disagree. The 600 is a better headphone for critical listening and mixing, because it's more resolving overall, and it's high impedance lends itself to playing nicely with tube amps as well. The SHP-9500 on the other hand is 32-ohm, and can definitely be driven out of a smart phone, dongle, or entry level DAP like the Shanling M0 to suitably loud listening levels. The SHP's were one of my first headphones and I listened to them a lot, recommended them to my friends, and even bought a pair for my sister. While they're not going to best the HD 600, they have some benefits, like the much lower clamp force, and the non-proprietary removable cable. The SHP-9500 is the perfect starter headphone because it allows you to try a neutral sound signature for cheap and see what you'd change... Play around with cables, try out the ModHouse pad-adapters, plug in a VModa Boompro for gaming, try different amps/dacs, annoy your co-workers or family, and all without breaking the bank. The SHP-9500's are workhorse, and if you've never heard open-back headphones, if you've never heard neutral(ish) headphones, if you want to play around with EQ, if you need something cheap and decent for gaming, or just your first pair of decent headphones, THESE are where you should start. *Disclaimer - I purchased this product with my own money and have owned several pairs. No one has paid for, or otherwise attempted to influence the content of this review. Perception of sound and comfort are subjective, and my statements above should be taken as opinion and not as objective fact. My ears are not a universal standard, and I have not heard everything ever, also I am human and make mistakes. Any comments, questions, corrections, or concerns. Feel free to leave in the comments.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2019 by T. Drake
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
I'll start this review by saying I'm no audiophile, but I do like my music with at least a decent sound quality. Having owned closed back headphones like the Audio-Technica M50x, AKG Y50, Sennheiser HD439, and the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 before, as well as having very fond memories of the Philips brand with their CitiScape Downtowns, I wanted to have a first experience with an open back headphone. The online user reviews on the SHP9500 I had encountered online were pretty divisive. Clear sound, a lot of sound leaking, almost no bass, overrated, underrated... It all made me want to test these headphones to see what the fuzz was all about. First off, the packaging is pretty standard (And they have a 1/4 inch jack adaptor, which is nice), though I would have appreciated if they had come with a pouch. They're really light on weight and I love how comfortable they are. On-ear headphones are synonymous with headaches for me, so I tend to like the over ear headphones like these more, given that I use glasses regularly. The clamp is gentle on muy somewhat oversized head, and while the cushions are not as soft as the Anker Q20's, it's enough for me to listen to them for long stances without feeling uncomfortable. Let's address the sound leak now. These are not headphones that I'd recommend using at work or in public. Due to their open-back nature, they will leak a lot of noise, both outside in and inside out. People WILL hear what you're hearing and you'll hear them, too. I'm planning to use these cans exclusively in my home, so I don't mind the leak, but you might be keen on a closed-back headphone if you're planning to take your next headphones for a walk. As for the sound itself... LOVE IT! The SHP9500's sound is like nothing I've ever heard before, and while I can't say if they're the best ones I've heard yet, its sound is astounding. I come from having owned a LOT of V-Shaped-sound headphones, and I enjoy every single one of them, but these ones hit you in a very different way. The mids, man! Folk and acoustic music, and vocal-centered music in general, is an absolute joy to listen to when you're wearing these. The vocals stand out, are clear and detailed, and the treble is very nice too (Albeit a bit sibilant if you're using the wrong EQ setup). Metal and Rock sound really good here, given that the bass doesn't get in the way of the drums and guitars. Regarding the basses, I had read that they were non-existant on these, and while they're definitely not basshead headphones, the bass IS there. It's tight, and a bit recessed in the lower frequencies, but it's very accurate. The sound might disappoint bassheads, but I don't think it's as lacking as some people say it is. Listening to Classical music you really start to notice how great the Soundstage is as well. For the price, I'm really satisfied with them. I'd probably say as an early impression that the bassier M50Xs are a bit more fun to listen to, but these ones are almost half as expensive and offer a clearer, neutral sound. And God, do the vocals and guitars sound amazing with the SHP9500s. I'll be using them a lot in the coming days, and will recomend them to anyone who wants to experience open-back headphones for the first time.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2022 by LC A
Style: Performance Audio | SHP9500
(The TL;DR is this the perfect all around headphone to get you into good headphones, but one you'll probably end up gifting or making a beater down the road.) The SHP9500 has a reputation of being an exceptional value "audiophile" headphone. While it's a VERY solid headphone, I do not agree. I believe the SHP9500 is priced accurately, providing a solid INTRODUCTORY all around open-back headphone, and one that scales up with better quality music files and DAC/Amps. I have the following headphones: Superlux 681, Status Audio CB-1, Grado SR60e, Hifiman 4xx, Koss KHP30i and the Tin T2. And the SHP9500 fits in a weird place in this list. The ear cups are large and comfortable. The build is a little flimsy, but solid; the entire set is very light and comfortable on the head. The sound quality is unique. Its got solid bass, wide soundstage, forward mids and somewhat bright highs. It's a good all around package; great for the price. It works with pretty much any genre of music you throw at it, and gives you a taste of what a good headphone can do. Here's the issue. It's good in everything, but not great. It has a sound signature that works with all genres of music and is really comfortable. But the Mids and Highs are grainy and thin compared to the other headphones I listed (with the exception of the Superlux, which is more bass heavy and recessed mids). And the mid-bass can bleed into the mids if you try to EQ it (which you probably will). So the SHP9500 is an impressive package but it has shortcomings all along the way. The Grado SR60e produce much cleaner and detailed Mids and Highs than the SHP9500; but the ear cups are smaller, not comfortable and the bass isn't there. The Status Audio CB-1 also produce better sound quality, but the ear cups are also smaller, and closed so the sound isn't as "big" as the SHP9500. The Koss KHP30i are better sounding as well, but on ear and small. Impressive as the KHP is, and they are INCREDIBLE for the money, the SHP9500 is just a more enjoyable listening experience. The Tin T2s are insanely detailed, but no bass and they're IEMs. So the Status CB-1, Koss and Tin T2s are all excellent in what they do, but the SHP9500 is a more well rounded. And then there's the Hifiman 4xx , which utterly destroys the SHP9500 10 times over, that's no contest there. If the 58x Jubilee are on par with the 4xx, which I read everywhere it's better, I would recommend those in a heartbeat. BUT you NEED a good amp for both those. So that's another $100, minimum (the e10k wont cut it for the 4xx). So where does that leave the SHP9500? It sort of gets a B+ everywhere. As an overall experience, it's great. Big, comfortable earpads and comfort. Versatile sound signature that works with all types of music. You really do get the sense of a proper Hi Fi headphone. And while the mids and highs are grainy, this is only noticeable if you have better options on hand or are running 128/192kbps MP3s. Once you get to 256 (iTunes and Streaming) this starts to go away a little. And with anything CD quality and better, it's smoothed out enough to work. So here's your choice. If you love bass, get the Superlux and a $30 Brainwavz microsuede pads. If you play mostly acoustic, classical and classic rock, get the Grados. Or if you want an all around great headset, get the SHP9500. But just be aware, the Hifiman 4xx, Sundara, 58X Jubilee, 6xx, HD 600 are a different level. (probably the Fidelio X2 and 599 too). And if you go that route, get an Ifi Zen Dac/Amp, JDS Atom or Fiio K 5 Pro, and these can be your backups. (Edit: after a week of continuous use and allowing some burn-in, either the SHP9500 got better, or I just go used to them. The comfort level on them is outstanding, but the graininess I noticed at first has smoothed out somewhere. It's still not as good as the Grado SR60e, but the Grados don't have the bass response or comfort. As you've read on countless reviews, these are very good for the money. I was impressed initially, but more so a week in.)
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Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019 by Amazon Customer