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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value sound quality and have a quiet environment, then the Philips SHP9500 with its open-back design would provide an immersive experience, particularly for music and TV. However, these are unsuitable for noisy environments due to poor noise isolation. The Sony WH-CH520, on the other hand, offers a closed-back design making them better for calls, meetings, and gaming with the added benefit of a microphone and wireless connectivity which the Philips lacks. They are also more portable, have active features like app control, and offer significantly longer battery life. Consider the Philips if you prioritize audio fidelity above all, and the Sony if you seek convenience, versatility, and frequent use in different settings, all at a more affordable price point. 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 Sony WH-CH520
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
7.6
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Sony WH-CH520 is good.
Gaming
7.2
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Philips SHP9500 is good.
Phone Calls
4.9
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
8.2
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
4.6
The Sony WH-CH520 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony WH-CH520 is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
52.0 Hours
The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$48
$40
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.5
7.0
The Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
8.0
The Philips SHP9500 and Sony WH-CH520 are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 147.41 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-CH520
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | September 2023
"If you’re looking for headphones that simply do what you ask them to: the Sony WH-CH520 is a decent option, even if it isn’t very exciting. Sony’s WH-CHXXX line fits this role quite well, and the WH-CH520 offers a decent raft of quality-of-life updates over its predecessor that should keep listeners happy. If the Sony WH-CH520 were a car, it’d be the boring-but-safe commuter compact."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Sony WH-CH520
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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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