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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Moondrop Nekocake earbuds offer a wireless experience, better suitability for exercise, and a higher portability score, which might be ideal if you're frequently on the move or prefer not to deal with cables. They also have a built-in microphone, making them more convenient for calls. However, the Philips SHP9500 headphones have significantly better sound quality and comfort, an open-back design that provides an immersive soundstage, and are wired, suited for at-home listening where high fidelity and comfort are priorities. The Philips lacks a built-in microphone, though, and isn't suitable for exercise or travel due to its larger size and lack of portability features. If budget is a concern, the Moondrop Nekocake is less expensive while still offering good build quality and sound for its price. 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 Moondrop Nekocake
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
5.7/10
9.2/10
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Moondrop Nekocake is poor.
Gaming
4.6/10
7.2/10
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Moondrop Nekocake is poor.
Phone Calls
6.1/10
4.9/10
The Moondrop Nekocake is only fair for phone calls, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
TV and Video
5.0/10
9.0/10
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Moondrop Nekocake is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0/10
2.5/10
The Moondrop Nekocake is good for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
3.0 Hours
N/A
The Moondrop Nekocake has 3 hours of battery life. The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery.
Cost
$39
$48
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Moondrop Nekocake has a price of $39 and the Philips SHP9500 costs $48.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips SHP9500 to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Moondrop Nekocake is good.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The Moondrop Nekocake and Philips SHP9500 both have very good build quality.
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How the Moondrop Nekocake and the Philips SHP9500 compare to other earbuds and headphones
"What sets the Nekocake apart from its competition at this price point is the Moondrop Link app that allows the user to change the tonal balance of the Nekocake. This makes sure that it’s versatile enough to suit different sonic preferences while allowing some customization of controls."
"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 Moondrop Nekocake or the Philips SHP9500
About Moondrop
Moondrop is a Chinese brand of smart audio equipment, portable audio players, earbuds and headphones started in 2015. During the last few years they have become one of the major players in what is lovingly referred to as the Chi-fi market, the bulk of Chinese companies that have managed to actually compete with the western manufacturers in both prices and superior quality. Products such as the Blessing II, Chu and Kato are among the most popular offerings of the brand, more popular among those users that wish for good quality audio that won't break the bank. Besides audio, the brand also works in what they call the ACGN field (Animation, Comics, Games and Short Novels).
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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