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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize overall sound quality and are willing to invest more, the Focal Elex stands out but with a higher price point. However, if budget is a concern and you still seek good audio performance, the Philips SHP9500 provides excellent value at a significantly lower cost, with very good sound quality ratings and top comfort. Both options feature an open-back design for natural sound but lack noise isolation, making them best suited for quiet environments. Neither are tailored for exercise or travel – they are not sweat-resistant, dustproof, nor portable; also, neither offer active noise cancelling or built-in controls. Neither have a microphone, so for calls, meetings, or gaming where you need to communicate, you'd need an external mic. Both are wired and don't support low latency codecs, so wired connections are necessary for gaming and TV to avoid delay. If you like to customize your audio experience through an app, be aware that neither model offers companion app support. 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 Focal Elex
- The Focal Elex 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
Music
7.7
9.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Focal Elex is good.
Phone Calls
4.3
4.9
The Philips SHP9500 and Focal Elex are both poor for phone calls, though the Philips SHP9500 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
8.0
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Elex is good.
TV and Video
8.3
9.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Focal Elex is very good.
Cost
$749
$48
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Philips SHP9500 costs $48.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
6.9
7.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips SHP9500 to be good for gaming, while the Focal Elex is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The Focal Elex and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for noise reduction.
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How the Focal Elex and the Philips SHP9500 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Philips SHP9500 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $48 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | August 1, 2013 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 294.8 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Focal Elex
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Dig into reviews and images
Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
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 Focal Elex or the Philips SHP9500
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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