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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're looking for premium earbuds that are optimized for exercise, offer good battery life, and have active noise canceling, the JBL Live Flex 3 would suit you well. They are also sweatproof, feature wireless charging, and are tailored for both Android and Apple users. However, if you prefer headphones with a wide soundstage for an immersive listening experience, especially for music and TV, and prize comfort above all else, the Philips SHP9500 might be a better choice, even though they lack active noise cancelling and are not wireless. The Philips model is also significantly less expensive, making it a cost-effective option for high-quality audio. 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 JBL Live Flex 3
- Very good for exercise
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
8.0
9.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is very good.
Gaming
5.5
7.2
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
8.0
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.7
9.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The JBL Live Flex 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Flex 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery.
Cost
$216
$48
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Flex 3 has a price of $216 and the Philips SHP9500 costs $48.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
4.9
The JBL Live Flex 3 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The JBL Live Flex 3 and Philips SHP9500 both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Flex 3 and the Philips SHP9500 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Flex 3 | Philips SHP9500 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $48 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | August 1, 2013 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 40 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 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 | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 294.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
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 JBL Live Flex 3 or the Philips SHP9500
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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