Philips SHP9600 Wired, Over-Ear, Headphones, Comfort Fit, Open-Back 50 mm Neodymium Drivers (SHP9600/00) - Black

Product Information

Both come in at 32 Ohm, but the 9600 is actually a dB more efficient at 102dB, vs. 101 for the 9500. The 9600 will fare a bit better for bass-happier music: Hip-Hop, R&B, EDM, and Indie Pop all sound phenomenal with these. Compared to another budget monster, the AKG K371 I think these are more detailed and soundstage is better, with the expense of bass. The K371 bass feels like it rumbles in comparison to the SHP9600 which hits more sharply and disappears. The K371 has a smoother, fuller sound, the SHP9600 sounds more technical and brighter, but they don't sound Grado or Beyer bright, just brighter than the K371. I’m glad Philips didn’t butcher the headphones with an overly accentuated low end, so don’t get me wrong.

SHP9600 - Quite disappointed new Headphones Day: Philips SHP9600 - Quite disappointed

The soundstage on the SHP9600 doesn’t sound to me like it’s necessarily wider than that of headphones like the HD 58X or HD 600, but I did find it to feel a little more spacious. I think that this is a result of both its imaging and layering, which are two categories where I think the SHP9600 performs really well. For imaging, I find that the SHP9600 is very capable when it comes to conveying a sense of positioning and directionality. I'm reviewing these in comparison to my other headphones, no matter what the price difference may be. Also, I've never heard the Philips SHP9500 so I cannot comment at all about those. For example, it's said these have more clamping force than the SHP9500. These are quite loose and comfortable, so I have no idea how the SHP9500 stays on anyone's head. The separation to me is really decent for the price of these and probably the aspect that jumps out at me the most about these.

Final Word

You can support Stu here. Your donations go directly into savings for future improvements to the blog and channel. The SHP9600, like its predecessor, is extremely efficient. At an impedance of 32ohms and a sensitivity of level 101dB/mw, I found myself being able to drive these with virtually everything I powered them with. Whether I listened to the SHP9600 directly plugged into my PC’s motherboard’s on-board audio or powered them with a discrete headphone amplifier like the JDS Labs Element II, I thought they sounded great and never felt like they showcased any of the issues I would find when underpowering a headphone; which makes them a great option for those don’t currently own a headphone amplifier. Build and Comfort I would never recommend a 9600 to people when they could just get a 9500 and then upgrade to a K702 later on down the road.

Philips SHP9600 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews - Head-Fi.org

Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.But based from this review it sounds like SHP9600 might be worth to try again, also if they are on sale then it makes it even better. Hmmmm...... I'm a bit curious now lol. I wouldn't say they are better than the K371. I think the K371 is probably better suited for more types of popular music than the SHP9600 due to having better bass, but if you're looking for a more technical representation, go for the SHP9600. With the 9500, there’s more air and clarity, but at the expense of a somewhat more fatiguing high-end and not as much meat on the bass.

Philips SHP9500 vs Philips SHP9600 Side-by-Side Headphones

Is the SHP9600 an upgrade over the 9500? Is the increase in price worth the investment? Did Philips actually improve on the shortcomings of the original? Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Philips SHP9600 Review and came away with some valuable insight.Some people with top-of-the-line gear may not notice a difference after purchasing an Amp/DAC, and others may. The detachable 3.5mm cable has returned, but this time around it feels more solid and robust at the business end. Starting from the completion of this transaction, you will automatically receive 1 brush head every 3 months, until you have notified us that you wish to pause or cancel your subscription. The other difference is that the treble doesn’t have that bite that the 9500 had. Because of this, you can listen to it for longer periods of time without fatigue. The 9500 will also do well with the K3, but I actually like it more with a simple E10K. And even despite that,

Phillips SHP9600 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org Phillips SHP9600 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Both headphones are incredibly comfy, but I feel more secure with a 9600 on my head if that makes sense. The same rugged plastic has returned, and the headphone cups swivel in the same way as the original 9500, ensuring that you’re able to get a good fit on your noggin. Hi all, I just got my hands on the SHP9600 and I noticed there aren't a lot of impressions out there. Obligatory "I'm no audiophile" lol but here are my impressions after about an hour of listening.

Note: The 9600 actually weighs a bit more than the 9500 (I included this in the about section on the graphic in the video), but was surprised. Being that I bought the 9500 a while ago, I can’t actually remember if the clamp was as tight as the 9600’s straight out of the box. It’s taken quite a while to find something, but the 9600’s added “meat” seems to really help tame the volatile nature of the genre. In this article, we’ll take one last look at Philips’ attempt to improve on the 9500, and help you make a sound decision.