PHILIPSAudio SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Black)

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.

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.