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 Philips SHP9500 is a strong contender if you're prioritizing comfort and sound quality for music listening, especially given its lower price point. Being open-back headphones, they offer a wider soundstage, which is excellent for an immersive music experience at home but not suited for noisy environments or recording situations where microphone quality and isolation matter. Conversely, the Rode NTH-100M, despite being more expensive, provides a premium microphone quality and better sound isolation due to its closed-back design, making it a better choice for calls, meetings, and gaming, where microphone use and less ambient noise leakage are important. Both models offer similar build quality and are wired, so you won't have to worry about battery life. Consider where and how you will use your headphones most frequently to guide your decision. 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
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Rode NTH-100M
- Best in class for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
9.2
8.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Rode NTH-100M is very good.
Gaming
7.2
8.9
The Rode NTH-100M is very good for gaming, while the Philips SHP9500 is good.
Phone Calls
4.9
9.5
The Rode NTH-100M is best in class for phone calls, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
7.7
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Rode NTH-100M is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Rode NTH-100M and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for noise reduction, though the Rode NTH-100M is somewhat better.
Cost
$48
$189
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Rode NTH-100M costs $189.
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Key similarities
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-100M is good.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Philips SHP9500 and Rode NTH-100M both have very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Rode NTH-100M compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Rode NTH-100M |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $189 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Rode | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | January 1, 2023 | |
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 | 9.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 9/10 | |
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 | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 10/10 | |
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 | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof 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-100M
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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-100M
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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