Philips Audio SHP9600MB Review – Wired Open-Back Headphones

The Philips Audio SHP9600MB is a wired open-back headphone made for natural sound. They perform almost to their precursor, The SHP9500, but they have a little sleeker look and a bit more comprehensive bass. Overall, their sound performance is well-balanced, so they are ideal for lots of different music genres.

Their spacious soundstage helps immerse you in your favorite track. That said during Philips Audio SHP9600MB review, due to their design, they leak slight sound and do not isolate a lot of ambient noise, so they are not great for outdoor use.

Philips Audio SHP9600MB Review – Design and Build

Philips Audio SHP9600MB has a simple, full-black design. They look very same as the SHP9600 model, but the side panels on these headphones are smooth, giving them a sleeker look. The ear cups and headbands on these are well-padded.

The Philips Audio SHP9600MB is a decently built headset. Like SHP9500, they felt slightly plasticky, but overall, their build looks quite durable and stable.

The thin metal frames that reinforce the headband help make it sturdy. Though, the fabric padding looks like it’d tear easily, as well as the swiveling ear cups look like a weak point. For the open-back design with better build quality, you can check  Philips Fidelio X3.

Philips Audio SHP9600MB Review – How much comfort?

Comfort, I think was one of the main best features of this model. The SHP9600MB headphones are very lightweight, and low clamp pressure makes them one of the simplest headsets to wear in extended listening hours. The ear cups on the headphones are quite big and the pads, though slightly shallow, do let plenty of space for your ears to adjust in.

The headband’s comfortable strap has ample padding and I find that it allocates the Philips SHP9600MB’s weight evenly without creating any sore spots. The 1 comment I’ll make on the comfort feature is that the sports clothing like mesh that includes is wrapped might cause some little itching or discomfort for some listeners, especially those with facial hair.

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What do we think about the SHP9600MB’s sound performance?

The Philips Audio SHP9600MB has a balanced, little warm sound performance. Like most open-back headphones models, they face issues to reproduce a low bass profile, which might be a little disappointing for listeners of bass hefty genres like EDM.  They pack an additional boom and punch to assist compensate. All in all, they are ideal for listening to a number of music genres.

• Bass – They have decent bass accuracy. Like most of the open-back models, they face issues reproducing bass, so you do not feel the deep thump of instruments such as kick drums. Though, the overextended mid and high bass includes an additional boom and punch to the mix, although it might sound a little muddy.
• Mid – The headphones have excellent mid-accuracy. The response is even and balanced all through the range, so the lead instrument sounds present and full-bodied. Though, the under-emphasis in the mid-high can slightly weaken these similar instruments.
• Treble – These SHP9600MB headphones have remarkable treble accuracy. The response is flat and even, so voices, as well as sibilants like cymbals, are brilliant and bright. There is a slight below emphasis in the low, though, which can lightly hurt the comprehensibility of lead and vocals instruments.

If you don’t like sound leakage and outside noise creep in, the open-back headphones will not suit you including the SHP9600MB too. I think you should look for some closed-back headphones such as Philips Fidelio L3 Flagship or Meze 99 Classics will be more suited for you. Both are not too expensive open-back headphones as well. Another type that is good for sealing your ears and having no sound leakage, is wireless earbuds like Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro wireless earbuds.

Philips Audio SHP9600MB Review – Sound Stage and Imaging

The headphones have a fine passive soundstage thanks to their open-back headphone design. They interact with pinna, or the outside ear, to make a soundstage that is open, large, and roomy. Though, the sound still looks like it is coming from inside your head, rather than in front of you.

The SHP9600MB has great stereo imaging. Weighted set delay falls under the audibility threshold, resulting in a transparent treble and tight bass. The R/L driver of the unit is well-connected in amplitude, phase, and frequency, so objects like instruments and voices are rightly placed in the stereo field. These outcomes are just valid for my test, so your experience might vary.

Compare Philips SHP9600MB to Other Philips Models 

Philips Performance Audio SHP9600MB Review – Features

• Detachable microphone – All you’ve about the SHP9600MB now with a detachable microphone. The microphone can be simply been attached and detached transforming your normal model into pro gaming headphones, and making it the best open-back headphones under 100.
• Stability – They’re acceptably stable. They are not meant to be worn during workouts. While they are stable enough to remain on your head during casual listening, headphones can still fall off your ears if you are intensive movements. High-intensity movements can simply move them off your head.
• Long cable – With almost five feet of wire with the microphone and 9.8 feet wide, you can be easy to move around.
• Adjust headband – This includes numbered sizes so you can get the size correct at the scale time and lock it to place.

Philips Performance Audio SHP9600MB – Pros & Cons

Philips Audio Performance SHP9600MB Review – Final Thought

The conclusion of my Philips Audio SHP9600MB – The new SHP9600MB headphones are extremely affordable open-back headphones that please acoustically and built are durable. I’ll definitely recommend it if you’re looking for an open-back design at an affordable price, which is less than $100.

Where to buy Philips Performance Audio SHP9600MB

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