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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize overall sound quality and listening to music, the Philips SHP9500 would be a better fit with high scores in these areas, but they have open-back design which means less noise isolation. On the other hand, if you need a microphone for calls or gaming, the Turtle Beach Recon 70 has a built-in microphone and is more suitable for calls, meetings, and gaming. The Recon 70 also offers some noise isolation due to its closed-back design, which could be preferable in noisier environments. The Philips is often more expensive, so if budget is a concern, the Turtle Beach might be a good option, balancing cost with a decent overall performance. 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
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Turtle Beach Recon 70
- Best in class for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
9.2
7.1
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is good.
Gaming
7.2
8.4
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is very good for gaming, while the Philips SHP9500 is good.
Phone Calls
4.9
9.6
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is best in class for phone calls, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
7.5
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.6
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 and Philips SHP9500 are both poor for noise reduction, though the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is somewhat better.
Cost
$48
$40
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Turtle Beach Recon 70 costs $40.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
7.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips SHP9500 to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is good.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Philips SHP9500 and Turtle Beach Recon 70 both have very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Turtle Beach Recon 70 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Turtle Beach Recon 70 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Turtle Beach | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | May 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.3/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 309 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
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"
Turtle Beach Recon 70
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Sound Guys
Sam Moore | September 2022
"There aren’t many considerations to make here. The Turtle Beach Recon 70 sounds decent, offers solid chat audio, feels good to wear over long periods, and it works everywhere. If you’re in the market for a simple plug-and-play option, you could do a whole lot worse (and spend a whole lot more money). Regardless, if getting something cheap that works well is the only thing you care about, this is a great option."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Turtle Beach Recon 70
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.
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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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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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