Page 4 - Conclusion
When I started using the Philips SHP9600, I was hoping it would be a benchmark to compare other headphones against. In some ways, the SHP9600 does achieve this. Starting with the build and construction, the Philips SHP9600 is passable with its plastic build and reinforced steel headband. This will do for its intended use at home, but it also is not exactly memorable. I do appreciate some small touches, like the visual indicators to show how much each ear is extended out. In terms of comfort, the SHP9600 is light and comfy. The foam in the ears and on the top headband is good and plushy enough. Furthermore, it has sufficient clamping pressure to stay on your head unless you enjoy headbanging with your music often. Altogether, this should mean for long periods of listening without needing to adjust your headphones. The long cable included with the SHP9600 can get in the way at times, but should not be an issue for home use. In our audio testing, the Philips SHP9600 showed its accurate and flat sound signature, boasting good detail and a wide soundstage. It offered a relatively thick sound with the layers and a clean output. It does not necessarily excel in the lower end of the frequencies, but this is to be expected. There were some dips over the frequency spectrum, but it is not always noticeable. In reality, the real thing I would change with the Philips SHP9600 is its build quality. Our SHP9600 comes in at a retail price of $130 USD, which represents a fifty dollar increase on its predecessor. With this extra charge, I would have liked to see more refinement in its construction quality and possibly a storage case for the headphones. I also would have liked for Philips to provide an additional shorter cable, as I found this cable too long for use at home. All in all, the Philips SHP9600 provides an accurate and clean sound, punching well in its price region.
Philips provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.0/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Philips SHP9600 is an open-back, wide soundstaging pair of headphones at a reasonable price for use at home.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
