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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for an immersive music listening experience, the Philips SHP9500 offers superior sound quality, better soundstage, and higher comfort, which are ideal for long listening sessions at home. However, keep in mind they are open-back headphones and offer little noise isolation, so they're not suited for noisy environments or recording tasks where microphone leakage can be an issue. The Rode NTH-100, being closed-back, provides better noise isolation, making them a better option for environments where you need to block out sound or for recording purposes; but they don't match the Philips in terms of sound quality and comfort. If budget is a key factor, the Philips SHP9500 is the more affordable choice and brings excellent performance for its price, but if you need to manage external noise better and require a headphone with isolation features, the Rode NTH-100 is a better fit despite the higher cost. 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 Philips SHP9500
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Rode NTH-100
- The Rode NTH-100 has no clear advantages over the Philips SHP9500.
Key differences
Music
9.2
8.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Rode NTH-100 is very good.
Gaming
7.2
6.5
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Rode NTH-100 is only fair.
TV and Video
9.0
7.7
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Rode NTH-100 is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Rode NTH-100 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for noise reduction, though the Rode NTH-100 is somewhat better.
Cost
$48
$149
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Rode NTH-100 costs $149.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.9
4.8
The Philips SHP9500 and Rode NTH-100 are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
7.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips SHP9500 to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Rode NTH-100 is good.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Philips SHP9500 and Rode NTH-100 both have very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Rode NTH-100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Rode NTH-100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $149 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Rode | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | March 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 349.2 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
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"
Rode NTH-100
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Gamer
Kizito Katawonga | March 2023
"The NTH-100M is a closed-back headset aimed at professional audiophiles—streamers, podcasters and content creators included—looking for masterful audio and a detachable 'broadcast-grade' microphone."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Rode NTH-100
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.
About Rode
Rode is an Australian audio equipment manufacturer. Rode was founded in 1967 as Freedman Electronics, transitioning into its modern brand in 1990, and it’s mainly known for their high-end microphones and audio production equipment. In 2022 they entered into the headphone market with their NTH-100 closed back headphone which was received with very good reviews from the community.
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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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