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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
To choose between the Etymotic ER2SE and the Philips SHP9500, consider your listening preferences and where you'll be using them. The Etymotic ER2SE earbuds provide excellent sound isolation and a secure in-ear fit, making them great for commuting or in noisy environments, but may be uncomfortable for extended wear for some people. The Philips SHP9500 headphones offer a more comfortable over-ear design with a spacious soundstage that's ideal for home listening sessions, but they don't isolate sound well, so they're not the best choice for noisy environments. Both provide good audio quality, but if you need portability and isolation, go for the Etymotics; if comfort and an open sound are priorities, the Philips might suit you better. 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 Etymotic ER2SE
- The Etymotic ER2SE has no clear advantages over the Philips SHP9500.
Advantages of the Philips SHP9500
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
6.2
7.2
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Etymotic ER2SE is only fair.
TV and Video
7.8
9.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Etymotic ER2SE is excellent for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Cost
$100
$48
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Etymotic ER2SE has a price of $100 and the Philips SHP9500 costs $48.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Etymotic ER2SE has excellent build quality, while the Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.8
9.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips SHP9500 to be excellent for music, while the Etymotic ER2SE is very good.
Phone Calls
4.9
4.9
The Etymotic ER2SE and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips SHP9500 to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
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How the Etymotic ER2SE and the Philips SHP9500 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER2SE | Philips SHP9500 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $48 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2019 | August 1, 2013 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 4.4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 294.8 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER2SE
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | April 2022
"Etymotic isn’t playing around: it takes audio seriously and has mastered the art of the noise-isolation earphone. Sure, the fit of the earbuds looks silly but it’s a signature Etymotic thing and could be considered charming by some. If you’re looking for best-in-class audio for a realistic price, the ER2SE is it."
Philips SHP9500
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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 Etymotic ER2SE or the Philips SHP9500
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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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