Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 650 vs Philips SHP9500
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 650 overall (150 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
- 1
- Choose the HD 650
- 0
- Choose the SHP9500
- 0
Counted across 10 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 | $345 | $80cheaper |
| Overall rank | #1higher | #14 |
| People who recommend it | 150more | 51 |
| Say they own it | 214more | 58 |
| Mentions | 1,362more | 491 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | VocalsJazzRelaxed | First open-backSpaceNo amp |
| Best for | The one headphone almost everyone in the hobby has owned; the safe buy for long, relaxed music sessions. | First open-back headphone for someone who wants space and clarity on a tight budget. |
| Buy | Amazon · $345 | Amazon · $80 |
#1 overall
Sennheiser HD 650 (also sold as Drop HD 6XX)
1 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The single most-recommended headphone across every forum read: warm, smooth and easy to listen to for hours
- Scales with better amps; several owners run it on expensive tube amps and say it keeps up
- Female vocals and mids that owners describe as amazing
- The Drop HD 6XX version sold for $199-220 for years, which made it the default first audiophile headphone
The complaints
- Needs an amp; from a phone it sounds flat
- No real sub-bass
- Clamp is tight on big heads
- Some find the slight bass tilt less balanced than the HD 600; soundstage is small
In their words
“Been using HD6XX for years and I love them for gaming”
A commenter under What GAMING Headphones AUDIOPHILES Use: 2024 Update! (BadSeed Tech) · Jun 2024
“I have both 600 and 6xx and i love them both”
A commenter under The NEW HD600!! (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I have the HD-6XX and love them”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
#14 overall
Philips SHP9500
1 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
“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