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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and comfort for extended listening sessions, you may find the Philips SHP9500 to be worth the extra expense. They typically offer a more natural sound stage, which is preferable for listening to a wide range of music genres and for audiophile-grade audio experiences. On the other hand, if you're looking for something with modern features like Bluetooth connectivity, on-the-go listening convenience, and portability, the Sennheiser HD 250BT can be a better choice. Keep in mind, however, the Sennheiser may not match the Philips in sound fidelity and might be more suited for casual, everyday use due to their wireless design and built-in microphone for phone calls. 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
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 250BT
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
6.5
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair.
Gaming
7.2
8.8
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for gaming, while the Philips SHP9500 is good.
Phone Calls
4.9
7.2
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is good for phone calls, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
8.4
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
N/A
25.0 Hours
The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery. The Sennheiser HD 250BT has 25 hours of battery life.
Cost
$48
$68
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Sennheiser HD 250BT costs $68.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Sennheiser HD 250BT has excellent build quality, while the Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
8.1
The Sennheiser HD 250BT and Philips SHP9500 are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Sennheiser HD 250BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Sennheiser HD 250BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $68 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | May 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 25 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 125 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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"
Sennheiser HD 250BT
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Pete Scholßnagel | 2020
"As a lightweight, robust audio provider with a long battery life, the Sennheiser HD 250BT offer a lot for their price: very good Bluetooth codecs, an app connection and an extremely understated design. These headphones may not be among the most comfortable, but they deliver adequate sound – without overdriving or distortion."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Sennheiser HD 250BT
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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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