If you want a planar-magnetic, open-back headphone for computer listening, choose HIFIMAN HE400SE; if you need a higher-sensitivity dynamic headphone with a removable cable, choose Philips Audio SHP9500.
HIFIMAN HE400SE vs Philips Audio SHP9500 at a Glance
• HIFIMAN HE400SE’s biggest strength: planar-magnetic drivers and Stealth Magnet design; trade-off: its 91 dB sensitivity is lower than the Philips’s.
• Philips Audio SHP9500’s biggest strength: 101 dB sensitivity and a removable 1.5 m cable; trade-off: it uses conventional dynamic drivers rather than a planar design.
• Both: wired, open-back, over-ear headphones with 32-ohm impedance and no noise-control feature.
• Choose the HE400SE if planar-magnetic construction and its included 6.35 mm adapter appeal to you.
• Choose the SHP9500 if you want higher sensitivity and a removable cable for indoor listening.
The HE400SE is built around planar-magnetic drivers. Its conductive layer covers most of the diaphragm, and HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnet design is intended to let sound waves pass through the magnets with less interference. In practical terms, that gives this model a distinct design rationale for listeners interested in reducing distortion through driver construction—not a guarantee that every listener will hear the same difference.
For computer use, its wired 3.5 mm connection and included 6.35 mm adapter offer straightforward compatibility with suitable headphone outputs. The 32-ohm impedance and 91 dB sensitivity are useful context when considering the output of your computer or other source. HIFIMAN describes the headphone as suitable for low-voltage sources, but that does not mean every computer jack will deliver the same listening level.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The SHP9500 uses 50 mm neodymium dynamic drivers in an open-back, over-ear design. Philips lists a frequency range of 12–35,000 Hz and a sensitivity of 101 dB. Those figures describe the design, not a promise that it will sound better or deliver a particular experience on every computer. Its 32-ohm impedance and higher listed sensitivity make it a sensible option to consider when you want a wired headphone that can work with or without a headphone amplifier.
Its 1.5 m cable is removable, and the package includes a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter. The cable length is specified for indoor use, so check whether it suits your computer setup and seating distance. Philips also describes a double-layer headband cushion and breathable ear cushions, features aimed at comfort during longer listening sessions.
Choose the SHP9500 if those practical details—especially higher sensitivity and a removable cable—matter more to you than planar-magnetic construction. At 0.3 kg in the product information, it is lighter than the HE400SE’s listed 385 g. But it shares the HE400SE’s main limitation for some desks and rooms: its open-back design does not provide noise control, and sound can be heard by people nearby.
• Interested in planar-magnetic drivers → HIFIMAN HE400SE. Its planar design and Stealth Magnet structure are the defining differences.
• Want higher listed sensitivity → Philips Audio SHP9500. It is specified at 101 dB, compared with 91 dB for the HE400SE.
• Want a removable cable → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its 1.5 m cable is described as removable; the HE400SE information does not identify its cable as removable.
• Prefer an included 6.35 mm adapter → either. Both product descriptions specify an adapter alongside a 3.5 mm connection.
• Need an open-back wired headset for a quieter computer room → either may fit. Both are wired and open-back, and neither lists noise control.
• Want the lighter listed weight → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its product information gives 0.3 kg, while the HE400SE is listed at 385 g.
• Want a longer specified frequency range → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its listed range is 12–35,000 Hz; the HE400SE’s is 20 Hz–20 kHz. These figures alone do not settle which one you will prefer.
• Shopping for gaming or calls at a computer → compare the connection and room first. Both are wired headphones, but neither sheet specifies a microphone. They are not a basis for choosing a headset with a built-in mic, and open backs will not keep sound private.
My Verdict
In my opinion, I’d choose the HIFIMAN HE400SE for computer listening if I wanted to try planar-magnetic headphones and valued its driver design over a detachable cable. Its open-back construction also means I’d reserve it for a room where nearby sound leakage is acceptable.
I’d pick the Philips instead if higher sensitivity, lower listed weight, and a removable cable were my priorities. The choice is less about one being universally superior and more about which set of trade-offs suits the desk.
Both are wired, open-back headphones with 32-ohm impedance. The SHP9500 has the higher listed sensitivity, while the HE400SE uses planar-magnetic drivers. Check that your computer has a compatible headphone output and consider whether its output level suits your needs.
The Philips is listed at 101 dB sensitivity, compared with 91 dB for the HIFIMAN. HIFIMAN describes the HE400SE as suitable for low-voltage sources, too. Actual listening level can depend on the source, so the figures are useful context rather than a guarantee.
Neither is specified with noise control, and both have open-back designs. They are therefore not the right choice if your main requirement is blocking room noise or keeping audio from being heard by people nearby.
The Philips SHP9500 comes with a removable 1.5 m cable. The HE400SE includes a dual-sided 3.5 mm cable and a 6.35 mm adapter, but the provided information does not say that its cable is removable. For current price information, check Amazon using the page’s price button.
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