One of the issues I had with the original SHP9500 was that treble could occasionally be a little uneven, with peaks that could make treble tones present themselves as a strident and, at least for me, disagreeable. The SHP9600 seems to share the same treble peaks as the SHP9600, but they seem to have been greatly subdued. The main elevation in the treble sounded to me as though it was centered at 6K, which introduced some noticeable glare, a bit of sibilance, and made cymbal crashes in particular come through with just a little added grit and harshness to them. For me, there also seemed to be the tiniest bit of extra presence at 8.5K, but it was hardly noticeable, and at worst would only add the slightest edge to consonant sounds. I will reiterate, though, that these peaks have been greatly reduced when compared to the SHP9500, and they don’t make the SHP9600 sound as unnaturally brightened as its predecessor; I would just be cautious if you are treble-sensitive, as these could become a little fatiguing in prolonged listening sessions if you don’t use some sort of EQ. Whether or not you’ll actually need a DAC largely depends on how good or bad your phone is, and how good or bad the internal soundcard on your laptop/PC is. The good news is that the SHP9600 uses 50mm Neodymium dynamic drivers and carries a 32-ohm impedance making them acceptable to use with both headphones and laptops. You’ll still want to power these with high-end AV equipment if you have it, but the low impedance makes it possible for pretty much everyone to use these with their current setup.

SHP9600 vs AKG K361 : r/HeadphoneAdvice - Reddit SHP9600 vs AKG K361 : r/HeadphoneAdvice - Reddit

i was expecting these headphones to be a significantly better than my KZ ZST earphones but they sound significantly better than my new pair of Philips shp9600. where my impressions of my KZ ZST have a more cleaner bass sound where i can hear and distinguish different instruments clearly and my Philips shp9600 have specific genres that these are better on but the bass are more muddy and i cant distinguish sounds clearly. The fit is snugger like a bug in a rug this time, and even despite the cups being smaller in both length and width, there is still ample room for my big Dumbo-sized ears inside. I honestly think it’s a bit of both, and I’ve talked quite a bit about this with folks over the last few months… I’m glad Philips didn’t butcher the headphones with an overly accentuated low end, so don’t get me wrong. Hi all, I just got my hands on the SHP9600 and I noticed there aren't a lot of impressions out there. Obligatory "I'm no audiophile" lol but here are my impressions after about an hour of listening.Note: The 9600 actually weighs a bit more than the 9500 (I included this in the about section on the graphic in the video), but was surprised. It doesn’t really make much of a difference in practice though as most mobile devices will power either of them just fine. There seems to be a protective measure taken in looking at the greyish-blue cap, a stark contrast to the rubbery, flimsier material inherent in the original 9500. The separation to me is really decent for the price of these and probably the aspect that jumps out at me the most about these. I think it works pretty well for Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B, Indie Pop, etc. which is what you’ll primarily be using it for should you decide to take the plunge. Mid-range

Philips SHP9600 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews - Head-Fi.org

Again, the small attention to detail here from Philips is more than admirable, it’s outright amazing that they would adjust and improve the fit. You don’t feel a strong emotional bond with her. You never find yourself having deep conversations about anything. But that isn’t her fault nor yours. It just is.This is where things get really interesting, as the 9600 does present a stark contrast to the flatter, more neutral, airier 9500. Being that I bought the 9500 a while ago, I can’t actually remember if the clamp was as tight as the 9600’s straight out of the box. In other words, you don’t really feel them because they clamp just right and don’t press into the sides of your head all that much.

Philips Over Ear Headphones/Wired Headphones ideal for Laptop

I had read something a few years ago that claimed Classical actually needs more bass, and now I know why. It’s taken quite a while to find something, but the 9600’s added “meat” seems to really help tame the volatile nature of the genre. Still, I’d recommend an Amp/DAC for best results sound-wise. I listened to both with a wide array of setups: It’s still numbered like the 9500, and not only is it easier to settle on a number appropriate for your head, but it actually holds its place this time. You will notice the grille on the 9600 is a tad smaller, perhaps reducing a bit of air that was present in the 9500, making it a bit less of a “fully open” headphone. More on that in a bit.

Which of these headphones sounds like YOU? I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…

The 9500, while feeling like complete air, did tend to move around a bit more than I’d like, which was the trade-off. I’ve almost never had to take either off of my head for any reason at all, and quite literally can wear them for hours on end – even when I’m not listening to music! Both come in at 32 Ohm, but the 9600 is actually a dB more efficient at 102dB, vs. 101 for the 9500.