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 offers excellent sound quality and comfort at a lower cost, making them suitable for critical listening at home, given their open-back design which isn't ideal for noisy environments due to less noise isolation. The Sony WH-1000XM5, in contrast, provides wireless connectivity with active noise canceling and superior battery life, suiting travelers and commuters better, albeit at a premium price. If you prioritize immersive, high-fidelity audio in quiet settings and are budget-conscious, the Philips is a smart pick, whereas for versatility in different environments with added convenience features, the Sony is recommended, 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 Sony WH-1000XM5
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
8.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good.
Gaming
7.2
5.6
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.9
5.5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
6.0
The Philips SHP9500 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair.
TV and Video
9.0
5.8
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
9.1
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
N/A
40.3 Hours
The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$48
$398
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.8
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Philips SHP9500 both have very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 40.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 249.4 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"
Sony WH-1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | February 2023
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Sony WH-1000XM5
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
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
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
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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