Best Headphones
Browse by budget and use

Head to head · for music listening

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO vs Philips SHP9500

More people recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO overall (75 vs 51). None of the 10 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.

Comments naming both
10
Say they own both
2
Choose the DT 990 PRO
0
Choose the SHP9500
0

Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 10 comments naming both.What the levels mean

Counted across 7 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.

At a glance the better number on each row is highlighted
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PROPhilips SHP9500
Typical price$200$80cheaper
Overall rank#8higher#14
People who recommend it75more51
Say they own it109more58
Mentions775more491
Typeopen-back wiredopen-back wired
Known forOpen-backBass and trebleBuilt to lastFirst open-backSpaceNo amp
Best forRecommended for big, spacious sound on a budget by people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp.Recommended as a first open-back for someone who wants space and clarity on a tight budget.
BuyAmazon · $200DirectAmazon · $80

#8 overall

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm)

2 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • Wide, open soundstage with sharp imaging; owners who came from gaming headsets call it a revelation
  • Very comfortable velour pads; owners keep them for 5-7 years
  • Built like the DT 770 and repairable: pads, headband and cable are replaceable

The complaints

  • The treble: bright to sharp, the most repeated complaint of any Beyer; some EQ it down
  • Bass is present but not deep
  • 250 ohm version wants an amp; the Pro X or 80 ohm editions are easier to drive
  • US service and repair experiences are poor

In their words

#14 overall

Philips SHP9500

3 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • The go-to open-back under $100 for years; wide, spacious sound
  • One AudioKarma owner says it gets close to the Sennheiser HD 58X for a third of the price
  • Comfortable and light; detachable cable

The complaints

  • Bass is light; several people call it weak in the low end
  • Treble can be a little sharp for some
  • Big, plain plastic build with large L/R markings

In their words

Questions people ask about this pair

Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.

Is the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO better than the Philips SHP9500?
None of the 10 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 75 people recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and 51 the Philips SHP9500. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
Which is cheaper, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO or the Philips SHP9500?
The Philips SHP9500 is cheaper: $80 against $200 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
Which do more people recommend, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO or the Philips SHP9500?
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: 75 people recommend it against 51. On the site-wide leaderboard the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is #8 and the Philips SHP9500 is #14.
Do people own both the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Philips SHP9500?
Yes. 2 of the 10 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 2 say they own the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and 3 the Philips SHP9500.
What do owners complain about on the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Philips SHP9500?
The most repeated complaint about the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: the treble: bright to sharp, the most repeated complaint of any Beyer; some EQ it down. About the Philips SHP9500: bass is light; several people call it weak in the low end. The full lists are on each side below.

More comparisons

Back to the leaderboard