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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Philips SHP9500 headphones offer an open-back design for a spacious soundstage, exceptional comfort, and sound quality, making them ideal for critical listening at home; however, they lack portability and are not suitable for noisy environments, as they don't block out noise and also leak sound. The Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds are a more versatile choice with effective noise cancellation for travel, good portability, and wireless convenience, which is great for an active lifestyle, but they may not match the Philips' sound quality for home listening, and similarly, they might not be ideal for gaming due to potential latency issues. If you're on a budget and primarily listen in quiet spaces, the Philips will provide great value, but if you need an all-rounder with noise cancellation and are willing to pay a premium, go for the Sony. 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 Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
8.0
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.
Gaming
7.2
5.1
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
4.9
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
5.4
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$48
$298
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.9
5.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Philips SHP9500 and Sony WF1000XM5 both have very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 6 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"
Sony WF1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Sony WF1000XM5
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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