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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs Philips SHP9500
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 51). None of the 12 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 12
- Say they own both
- 0
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the SHP9500
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 12 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 9 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.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $300 | $80cheaper |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #14 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 51 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 58 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 491 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | First open-backSpaceNo amp |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | Recommended as a first open-back for someone who wants space and clarity on a tight budget. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $80 |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
0 of the 12 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The most natural, neutral mid-range people can name; a 25-year reference
- Super comfortable for long sessions
- Timbre and tone that owners call perfect for acoustic, classical and vocals
- Owners who tried many others keep coming back to it
The complaints
- Needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops
- Small, intimate soundstage; some call it boring
- Bass does not go deep
In their words
“My favorite headphones are my painted hd600s with a custom matching cable”
A commenter under Crinacle's ULTIMATE Guide to Headphones (crinacle) · Dec 2024
“After trying all other options, we highly recommend the HD 600”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“I love my HD600 but have to compensate for the weak bass”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
#14 overall
Philips SHP9500
0 of the 12 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
“I've got the Philips SHP9500 and I can definitely recommend”
A commenter under 3 Best Headphones Under $100 (Joshua Valour) · May 2018
“My go-to headset was SHP9500 & V-Moda boompro”
A commenter under Open vs Closed Back Headphones for GAMING - Which Is Best? (Hardware Canucks) · Jul 2019
“Very Happy with SHP9500 another Great Budget Buy recommendation from Z reviews”
A commenter under 🟥Philips SHP9500 (AKA F'n Amazeballs) (Z Reviews) · Sep 2015
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Philips SHP9500?
- None of the 12 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 51 the Philips SHP9500. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Philips SHP9500?
- The Philips SHP9500 is cheaper: $80 against $300 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Philips SHP9500?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 51. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Philips SHP9500 is #14.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Philips SHP9500?
- Not that we found. Of the 12 comments naming both, 0 come from owners of the Sennheiser HD 600 and 0 from owners of the Philips SHP9500, and none says they own both.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Philips SHP9500?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. About the Philips SHP9500: bass is light; several people call it weak in the low end. The full lists are on each side below.