AKG K702
Score: 77/100
Philips SHP9600
Score: 81/100Rankings
The Philips SHP9600 are open-back, over-ear wired studio headphones offering a spacious soundstage and excellent comfort at a low price. Their open design causes sound leakage and they miss modern wireless features. Ideal for home audiophiles and casual studio monitoring.
The AKG K702 is an open-back, over-ear reference headphone with a 45 mm driver and an expansive 10-39.8 kHz frequency response, delivering neutral and detailed soundstage. Its open design provides no isolation and the weight can be heavier than advertised, limiting use outside quiet studios. Ideal for critical listening and mixing in controlled environments.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
45 mm | 50 mmbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 235 gbest | 330 g |
62 Ωbest | 32 Ω | |
105 dB SPLbest | 101 dB SPL |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio(4) | ||
Frequency Response | 10-39800 Hz | 6-35000 |
Driver Size (mm) | 45 mm | 50 mm |
Impedance (Ω) | 62 Ω | 32 Ω |
Sensitivity (dB SPL) | 105 dB SPL | 101 dB SPL |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 235 g | 330 g |
Dimensions (H×W×D) (mm) | 212x199x113 mm mm | 201×172×100 mm mm |
Ear Cushion Material | 3D-foam | breathable fabric/polyurethane |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the K702 for its comfort, neutral tonal balance and expansive soundstage, noting the flat-wire coil and Varimotion diaphragm provide linear performance. However, they criticize the lack of isolation, light clamping force and the fact that real-world weight exceeds the advertised spec, which can be a drawback for non-studio use.
Everyday users love the immersive, airy soundstage and the long-lasting comfort of the velour pads, often highlighting the detachable cable and replaceable pads as practical benefits. Common complaints revolve around the open-back leakage, heavier-than-advertised weight and the absence of isolation, making the headphones less suitable for noisy or shared environments.
Professional reviewers commend the SHP9600 for its exceptional comfort, easy driveability, and neutral, spacious sound signature, emphasizing the 50 mm drivers and low impedance as strengths. However, they criticize the open-back design for sound leakage, the modest bass response, and the lack of premium build materials and modern wireless features, positioning the headphones as a value-driven option for critical listening rather than a high-end flagship.
Everyday users consistently praise the headphones for their comfort and wide, detailed soundstage, describing them as superb for long home listening sessions. Common complaints revolve around sound leakage, modest bass, and occasional cable durability issues, with many noting the product is best suited for stationary use rather than on-the-go scenarios.
“Open-back leakage and zero isolation frustrate users in shared spaces”
“Actual weight often exceeds official 235 g spec (up to 300 g without cable)”
“superb for hours of listening”
