These are well known in HiFi headphone circles for being able to compete with more expensive cans. I know of a few headphones whose value is higher than their price and this is one of those.

I believe on TAS most people are on to speakers, but if you have any need for headphones and you can find these for $80 to $120, these are worth that money, if you can tolerate open-back sound which leaks, so others will hear you if you're sitting next to someone.



SHP9500s price fluctuates wildly somehow throughout the year from $80 to $300.

I got it new on Amazon for $80, last year.

It's listed now for $229 on Amazon ($180 two months ago).

On eBay $300 and AliExpress has it now for $84.





I only heard of this headphone from Z reviews on YouTube.




Z did a review of them and he said he'd take these over his HD600 Sennheiser, a real classic. These do have enormous ear pads, less lush than the 600, but so damn comfortable.


Ive owned these for a year, but they were always outshined by my closed PSB's and my planar magnetic HE400i.

My 400i have a cable defect so are out of the rotation for a time, and I dropped the PSB's and have to work on them, so I was glad to have the SHP's around and get some time with them.


The build is no non-sense it's like a utility headphone with massive comfortable ear cups that extend from about an inch over the ear to just over your jaw line. Sturdier than other headphones I've used, and they don't feel like they would fall off my head. I use them around the house and they do not slip or budge.

It's like a hard plastic that feels like all one piece, like no moving parts.




But it's their sound that makes these a classic. For $80 this kind of sound is ludicrous. Actual soundstage can be heard. And things sound like they are coming from a few feet away from you, not just around your head. And this is not a bass-centric can, it has nice bass, not much sub-bass but the tuning here is well balanced a sounds refined.


In the $200 bracket you'd get much more for your money buying the he400i, a serious headphone that really gets you started on the path to HiFi.

But at $80 to $120 you can't beat the SHP9500s.

These are a lot better sounding imo even than the $400 AudioQuest NightHawks and the $300 Grado 325e and the $500 Grado RS2e, all open-backed cans, and the SHP outshines plenty of $200-$400 closed back cans as well.