A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The JBL Quantum 100 is a budget-friendly choice that offers decent sound quality and an excellent microphone for calls and gaming; they are also quite comfortable for longer sessions. Meanwhile, the Philips SHP9500 features superior overall sound quality and an expansive soundstage thanks to its open-back design, making it well suited for an immersive music and TV experience; however, it lacks a microphone, has lower noise isolation due to its open design, and may not be ideal in noisy environments. Consider the JBL if your budget is tight or you need a good mic for gaming, and the Philips if you're after high-quality sound at home. 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 Quantum 100
- Very good for gaming
Advantages of the Philips SHP9500
- Excellent for music
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.0
9.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
8.5
7.2
The JBL Quantum 100 is very good for gaming, while the Philips SHP9500 is good.
Phone Calls
5.5
4.9
The JBL Quantum 100 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for phone calls, though the JBL Quantum 100 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.5
8.0
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
7.1
9.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The JBL Quantum 100 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for noise reduction, though the JBL Quantum 100 is somewhat better.
Cost
$20
$48
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The JBL Quantum 100 has a price of $20 and the Philips SHP9500 costs $48.
Build Quality
6.5
8.5
The Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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How the JBL Quantum 100 and the Philips SHP9500 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Quantum 100 | Philips SHP9500 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$20 | $48 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2020 | August 1, 2013 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.5/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.2/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4/10 | 4.4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 10/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 220 Grams | 294.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
JBL Quantum 100
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Dig into reviews and images
CNN Underscored
Wes Davis | July 2023
"I appreciate a functional piece of tech as much as I do gear on the bleeding edge, and the JBL Quantum 100 certainly falls in the former category. The sound is reasonably good, the built-in microphone is surprisingly reliable and it has a thoughtful design for the price. It lacks the convenience of Bluetooth, sure, but sometimes it’s nice not to have to worry about the finicky nature of wireless communication and go with good old hard-wired tech."
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 Quantum 100 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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