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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer active noise cancellation and a secure, comfortable in-ear fit, making them ideal for noisy environments and on-the-go use. They are more compact and have wireless convenience, but they come at a higher cost. The Philips SHP9500, on the other hand, provide a more natural, open-back listening experience, which is great for home use and critical listening. However, they are bulkier and lack noise cancellation, making them less portable. The SHP9500 are also wired, which may limit mobility but means you won't need to worry about battery life. If budget is a concern and you primarily listen at home, the SHP9500 could be more cost-effective, but for versatile use including travel and commutes, the Bose would offer more features suitable for those environments. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Philips SHP9500
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
9.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
5.5
7.2
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.0
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
9.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$48
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Philips SHP9500 costs $48.
Build Quality
9.2
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
4.9
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for phone calls.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Philips SHP9500 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Philips SHP9500 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $48 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | August 1, 2013 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 294.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Philips SHP9500
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones Lab
Brian Stone | April 2020
"You can’t go wrong with the Philips SHP9500 for their price. Their audio quality is superb, and the fact that you can use them for just about anything you can think of makes them well worth your money"
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Philips SHP9500
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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