Philips SHP9600
Score: 81/100
Sennheiser HD 560 S
Score: 79/100Rankings
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 Sennheiser HD 560S are open-back, over-ear headphones delivering a neutral, linear sound signature ideal for critical listening. Their open design leaks sound and they need an amp for full volume, limiting portability. Perfect for studio engineers and audiophiles seeking an affordable reference headphone.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
50 mmbest | 38 mm | |
| ↓ lower better | 330 g | 240 gbest |
32 Ω | 120 Ωbest | |
101 dB SPL | 110 dB SPLbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio(4) | ||
Frequency Response | 6-35000 | 6-38000 |
Driver Size (mm) | 50 mm | 38 mm |
Impedance (Ω) | 32 Ω | 120 Ω |
Sensitivity (dB SPL) | 101 dB SPL | 110 dB SPL |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 330 g | 240 g |
Dimensions (H×W×D) (mm) | 201×172×100 mm mm | 89×115×48 mm mm |
Ear Cushion Material | breathable fabric/polyurethane | Velour |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
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.
Professional reviewers commend the HD 560S for its honest, linear tuning that excels in A/B comparisons and critical studio work, noting its deep yet controlled bass, brilliant treble, ultra-low distortion, and fatigue-free comfort, while also pointing out the open-back leakage, need for an amp to reach full volume, and the non-folding bulk as drawbacks.
Everyday users love the lightweight comfort, neutral sound without bass bloat, and spacious open soundstage, especially when paired with a portable amp, but they commonly complain about the need for an amp for adequate volume, sound leakage, and the bulky, non-folding design that requires a larger case.
“superb for hours of listening”
“Extremely comfortable/lightweight, neutral sound without bass bloat or distortion, spacious open sound, works well with amps (e.g., JM6 portable).”
“Needs amp for sufficient volume from phones.”
