Ok, guys, I couldn't decide between the two models, so I got both of them (with the idea of keeping the one I liked more and selling the other one). And so, here's my verdict: 9500, all the way. It's not a small difference, either. To my ears, SHP9600 is an unbalanced, muddy audio mess, while the 9500 is almost magical in its wide stage, precise imaging and an overall satisfying listening experience. Yes, it's a bit light on bass and bright on treble, but it lends itself very well to equalization, which is more than can be said for the 9600. No matter what I did to the latter, it was no use. With the 9500, however, there is a the simple fix that can be applied to tame the treble: putting coffee filter cutouts into the earcups (just a single layer will do). If you don't feel like fiddling with the physical inserts, an equivalent effect can be achieved with EQ. Below is a Peace EQ curve that worked very well for me on the coffee filter-dampened 9500 (you can copy and save it as a .peace file in the C:\Program Files\Equalizer APO\config folder). You can, of course tune these settings up or down to your taste. Fortunately, the 9500 responds quite well to EQ. [General] Description=As per www.dropbox.com/s/sc2wanrbrqe0qn7/Philips%20SHP9500.pdf?dl=0 [Speakers] SpeakerId0=0 SpeakerTargets0=all SpeakerName0=All SpeakerId1=1 SpeakerTargets1=L SpeakerName1=Left SpeakerId2=2 SpeakerTargets2=R SpeakerName2=Right SpeakerId3=3 SpeakerTargets3=C SpeakerName3=Center SpeakerId4=4 SpeakerTargets4=SUB SpeakerName4=Subwoofer SpeakerId5=5 SpeakerTargets5=RL SpeakerName5=Left rear SpeakerId6=6 SpeakerTargets6=RR SpeakerName6=Right rear SpeakerId7=7 SpeakerTargets7=SL SpeakerName7=Left side SpeakerId8=8 SpeakerTargets8=SR SpeakerName8=Right side [Frequencies] Frequency1=30 Frequency2=90 Frequency3=105 Frequency4=200 Frequency5=1250 Frequency6=2300 Frequency7=3000 Frequency8=4800 Frequency9=6000 Frequency10=11000 [Gains] Gain1=4.5 Gain2=2.5 Gain3=4 Gain6=2 Gain7=0.5 Gain8=-2 Gain9=-2 [Qualities] Quality1=0.71 Quality2=1 Quality3=0.71 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=4 Quality8=3 Quality9=3 Quality10=0.71 [Filters] Filter1=14 Filter3=14 Filter10=15 [Frequencies1] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities1] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies2] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities2] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies3] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities3] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies4] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities4] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies5] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities5] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies6] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities6] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies7] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities7] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41 [Frequencies8] Frequency1=10 Frequency2=21 Frequency3=42 Frequency4=83 Frequency5=166 Frequency6=333 Frequency7=577 Frequency8=1000 Frequency9=2000 Frequency10=4000 [Qualities8] Quality1=1.41 Quality2=1.41 Quality3=1.41 Quality4=1.41 Quality5=1.41 Quality6=1.41 Quality7=1.64 Quality8=1.41 Quality9=1.41 Quality10=1.41
Good video. Personally, I like the L & R on the SHP9500. I also replaced the cable with Hart Audio Cables because I use the cable on more than just my SHP9500. Honestly, if the clamp is more on the 9600, I will pass on them then. My first requirement in a headphone is comfort. I do not care how good something sounds if I cannot wear it for more than a few minutes. The 9500 clamp is perfect for me. The SHP9500 is the only headphone I own that does not cause me migraines from the pads trying to touch through my skull. I will not buy the 6xx or similar because everyone says the clamp is so much and is required.
@@DroidLocks6971 I can wear my Sennheiser PXC550 for a couple hours but then the pressure point behind my ears start to hurt. Or the pressure of my ear pressing against my glasses. Over ear are more comfortable for me by far. Between the lack of clamp on SHP9500 and the over ear pads I can wear them for hours. All my others (177x, SendyAudio, 99 Neo) will eventually cause me discomfort. IEMs are the only thing I can do for days. Tin T2s are the exception. They are a bit heavy after a while. lol!
I own a 9600 and the clap was somewhat tight for a few days. It is loosening up and it's becoming easier to wear for a long time. It will only be a minor inconvenience when you first get them.
A very comprehensive review! I just received a pair of the 9600 from Amazon for $68.87. They sound good and feel very comfortable. The soundstage does seem smaller and somewhat muted. I may get a pair of the 9500's and the Sennheiser HD58X to compare. Being a bass player and sound tech, I want full and defined bass. My reference headphones now are the Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 and the ATH-M50X, both of which I like a lot! If I find something else that' sounds better, I'll return the 9600's.
Only complaint with 9500's is the head/ear pads takes in a lot of moisture w/ sweat build-up like a sponge. Get a V-Moda cable - if you don't like the stock, you won't regret it. It was just around 50 bucks when I bought it a number of years back. Fantastic mids with just enough bass.
Great review. It's always good to see reviews showing graphs. I'm stuck between the 9500 and the 9600 right now since I can buy either with just a 20 dollar difference. I'm looking for a predominantly gaming headphone but I'm quite cautious of the 9500's peaks after using Sennheiser wired momentum in-ears which sounded sibilant and metallic. Any thoughts between the two?
@@gamingaudioguide9292 This helps, since the price is now about $10 difference between the two in mid 2022. I want a more open and airy soundstage with higher quality detail so I am leaning towards the 9500.
Love the review very methodical and thorough and dispelled all my doubt about buying a pair of these for my spare gaming rig. They currently selling on special in my country .I’m rocking a pair of Koss KC75s clip ons for gaming(got them as hand me down from relative!)but though I loved the sound was over the clip on mechanism and was iffy about the build quality of the koss porta pros. Excited to the Phillips 9600 when they arrived for gaming. Keep up the good work look forward to your content going forward
Kinda late to comment but your description of the sound of the 9600 is spot on. It sounds bloated/boomy and overall just weird on the mids, cause the bass bleeds and the mids are really scooped. The comfort is great, but the sound quality is just terirble, specially for what it costs.
Excellent comparisons video man, much appreciated as usual. What was the MSRP for the 9500 ? People always talk about their value around 50-70 bucks but they came out a long time ago, were they at this price from the get go ? I remember the X2 MSRP was close to the freshly released X3 and nowadays you can find them for 100 bucks. Pretty sure the 9600 will do down quickly too, then it will make more sense to get them.
Hey man, great video. Thanks for the info. SHP9500 has amazing sound for me (as it is, but I may try the coffee filter sometime) but kind of fatiguing after some time.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, if you have not tried the coffee filter - I highly recommend it! Super easy and zero fatigue! thanks for checking out the video!
@@gamingaudioguide9292 Hi. About the coffee filter, should I try the ones that like cloth o rplain paper? Maybe you have a link of a recommended one?. Thanks.
@@WavyVaporizers I think he means the lack of clamping force. The SHP9500 is known for having a very light clamp, they can be loose on some people's heads.
At $130, I would much rather go for the Sennheiser HD 58x for a bit more. Sorry Philip's, At $70 the 9500's are great because of the price. But if you double the price, there's better options. Love my 58x, I had the 9500, and X2HR compared directly with the 58x and the 58x was my favorite by far. Only downside of the 58x is the sound stage and bass is much less than the X2HR, but imaging, precision, resolution, and clarity is much better on the 58x.
Agreed! I had the 9500's. Good sound, but there's some sibilance that I don't like. I too, have the 58X. The sound is great. Like you said, the imaging is great. I also, have the Razer Nari Ultimate. Those are fun. Love the haptics. I'm interested in trying a planar headset, such as the Hifiman HE400i 2020 version.
@@1Dub79 The new HE400i looks really nice. The best "budget" gaming headphone for online FPS is probably the Koss KSC 75's. For $14, they have impressive sound stage and imaging. They have almost 0 bass though.
1Dub79 hey man! I’m looking for an upgrade for my 9500, I have the same problem as you, the silbance is too high sometimes and can be a little bit harsh in longer sessions. I’d like more bass as well which pair would you recommend me for under 150$? Don’t care if they’re open or closed back
@@jorgebarrera9313 Hmm, I would recommend spending a bit more and looking at the Sennheiser HD 560s or the Hifiman 400i 2020 version. The HD 58x is a good choice as well, but I like the 560s more, personally, or just go for the 6xx. I ended up settling on the Hifiman Sundara. It's a bit more money but a significant performance increase for $350. The next setup up from the Sundara is $700, being the Ananda or the Focal Elex.
@@jorgebarrera9313 I got some V-Moda Crossfade LP2's. You can get these for a good price on eBay. Probably $150 at the most. Great bass. The 58x Jubilee is GREAT. They are $170, however.
@@turbografx-1641 The Drop/Sennheiser 58X is a stretch in budget, but a very good option. Within budget.... Closed - Hyper X Alpha S or MDR7506. Open back - probably the Sennheiser 599 or Philips SHP9500.
The Drop+Sennheiser pc37x’s are gonna be the best you can get for a brand new purely gaming headset. If you don’t need a mic/want to wear them everywhere get the drop+Sennheiser 58x’s for $150-$170. I just sold my Pc37x’s after 2+ years of heavy use and upgraded to the gsp500’s. I also picked up these new Phillips 9600 (haven’t games on them yet) a Schiit Heresy op amp for my sennheiser gsx1000 op amp and have been having a lot of fun tweaking my audio around. Good luck and stick with headphone manufacturers in the future and peripheral manufacturers for there peripherals only.
@@gamingaudioguide9292 After spending much of the day researching I narrowed it down to to the 58x and the 6xx. I leaning towards 6xx as I have a piano keyboard and want to get into music production. I understand I need an AMP and possibly a DAC to drive the 6xx? I'm very new to this so I'm not too sure what I need exactly. Do you have any recommendations for an AMP or possibly a DAC?
I was really hoping this could replace my nearly 10yr old AD700s but it sounds like a hard no. Do you have a recommendation? I’ll go back for your review on them. Checking out the three you mentioned in the review. Thank you!
I'm using the SHP9600 for a month now, managed to find it for the price of a SHP9500 First thing I noticed is that a lot of voices are terrible in this I'm using it without any EQ for now and I have to drastically change volume depending on what i'm listening to All around it's weird
try leaving them clamped over the box tonight, should loosen up for you. If you use EQ, like equalizer APO (it's free), you could try some minor adjustments at first to tweak to your liking. Maybe set a -3db bass shelf from 1k down. Then do a +3db at 2k with a Q factor of 1.4. Should give you a good start. lowers the bass distortion and should lift the veil over the vocals a bit. If +3db at 2k is not enough, try +5.
@@gamingaudioguide9292 Have you tried this EQ setup with the SHP9600? Does it actually work well to remedy the excessive bass and the scooped mids (and improve the soundstage in the process)?
I'm looking for headphones used for gaming. Especially competitive fps (csgo). So localisation is key! I also need some with a detachable 3.5 cable so I can get a modmic like the boompro. What would you recommend? I was thinking of the 9500. But I'm open to suggestions. Up to 130$.
Between the Philips X2 and the 9600, which one do you recommend more? Both seem to be more focused on bass, which one handles it better in your opinion and which one do you prefer overall?
@@gamingaudioguide9292 I own the K361, really nice set for the price. However i don't think it's worth for gaming purpose, i'd skip it honestly. Stage is pretty intimate, imaging is okay. They mostly shine for music, for that yeah they're probably the best closed in that price range. Personally i would only recommend you to do it if you plan to do the DT770 or Custom Studio comparisons, all 4 headphones are really popular in this price range although the outcome is pretty much known for me. I had the DT770 (80ohms) previously, stage is bigger, image is better, it's just easier to pinpoint with them and more immersive with the V-shape signature. For music i much prefer my AKG, pretty balanced and more enjoyable signature overall. Also comfort is top tier. For closedback i'd be curious to see the A1000z and A2000Z, i think one of their strenght is imaging and they could be a challenger to your D7200. A comparison would be interesting, imo.
Hi how do you think the T1 gen2 would be for gaming and watching movies I know there not tuned for gaming but what do you think please let me know thankyou
The 9600 are about $110 while the 9500 are $135 in my Country(Mexico). I really like clear neutral sound but I also like bass sounding when its needed. Considering the 9600 are cheaper, is there a reason to go with the 9500?
That's tough. 9500 should only be about $80. The bass bleed on the 9600 is too much for me, some may be okay with it... Can you get the Sennheiser HD560S at a reasonable price?
@@gamingaudioguide9292 The HD560S are about $230 :/ . I actually can get both from Amazon US for 80-90 dollars but at such low price difference which ones are better? Do you think I can EQ any to get more out of them?
@@arturo3564 pretty subjective difference. i much prefer the 9500 but those that don't care for it, it's usually due to lack of bass. the 9600 compensates for that. too much IMHO, but again, subjective...
@COFFEECUP You can listen to all the reviewers that have looked at either the SHP9500 or the SHP9600. But you will only know which one you will like by trying them on and listening. You can get a close good informed guess by listening to others talk about them. Order both from Amazon and return the ones you dont like or find someone who has them so you can try them out
@@Admin-mo1zq 100% overkill for this headphone. it's the main DAC I use in my setup. Lots of versatility and functionality that i need for other things :)
I hope You review the Jabra Move. This is the best headphone I've tried for hearing footstep. Sound stage and imaging are much better than M40x. Shp9500 for imaging? That's the joke. New sub here. I like how you review the graph. That's much help for me to know what headphone to buy or not to. Thx
@@cross-hairz800 the mmx300 is closed, so you can't hear those around you and they can't hear what you are listening to. BIG difference in that alone. the mmx300 hasn't been in house for measurement yet, but I am working on it. if it's like the dt770 - it's going to need a bit of EQ to not be treble fatiguing (I don't know for certain though). the 770 is going to image better than either of these. if you can EQ them and you don't mind the sound isolation, they are very likely to be better for pvp than either of these.
philips got their target audience wrong with shp9600 when they decide to bassboost and lower the mid section ill stick with my shp9500, the bass is fine if i can get clearer vocal and string instrument
The moment you pulled up the graphics I shut myself down to your channel. Graphics are nothing son! They reveal ZERO about the sound and the emotion that they give when listened to. Please don't show up on my recommended again
Sorry to hear that you disliked that portion of the video. I always lean towards giving viewers as much information as possible. That is why I give my subjective impressions while I display the FR graph. i like to show where my subjective impressions are showing up in measurements. not the other way around. always sad to hear a viewer is disappointed (especially since I agree with much of your take), but I always appreciate the feedback. i don't control what you see, so give it a thumbs down and hopefully they stop showing up for you. thank you for your time and the suggestions. i hope you find a review you like more. take care!
