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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Philips SHP9500 offers excellent sound quality and comfort with an open-back design, which means they excel in immersive listening experiences at home, providing natural soundstage. They are not wireless and their openness leaks sound, so they're not ideal for noisy environments or on-the-go listening. Conversely, the Skullcandy Dime 2 are budget-friendly, closed-back earbuds, making them portable and better for noise isolation. Being wireless with a microphone and sweatproof, they're more versatile for calls, exercise, and commuting. However, the Dime 2's sound quality, while good, doesn't match the Philips', and their smaller soundstage is less suited for dedicated at-home listening. 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 Skullcandy Dime 2
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
6.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is only fair.
Gaming
7.2
4.7
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
5.2
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
5.1
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Skullcandy Dime 2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.5
The Skullcandy Dime 2 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
N/A
3.0 Hours
The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery. The Skullcandy Dime 2 has 3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$48
$30
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Skullcandy Dime 2 costs $30.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.9
4.8
The Philips SHP9500 and Skullcandy Dime 2 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Philips SHP9500 and Skullcandy Dime 2 both have very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Skullcandy Dime 2 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Skullcandy Dime 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Skullcandy | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 4.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 8.5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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"
Skullcandy Dime 2
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | March 2022
"With the low price, it’s a low-risk investment. The Dime 2 is a decent set of backup buds for those times when you don’t want to risk your more upscale buds. If it weren’t for the lackluster battery life, I’d say everyone should have a pair as a spare for music."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Skullcandy Dime 2
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 Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
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Why trust us
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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