If you want open-back planar magnetic headphones with a cable for focused listening, choose HIFIMAN HE400SE; if you need an open-back wired headphone with higher listed sensitivity and broad frequency coverage, choose Philips Audio SHP9500. Neither is designed for hiking: both are wired, open-back over-ear headphones, so they are better suited to listening in a quiet indoor space than on a trail.
HIFIMAN HE400SE vs Philips Audio SHP9500 at a Glance
• HIFIMAN HE400SE strength: A planar magnetic driver with Stealth Magnets, a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range, and 91 dB sensitivity. Trade-off: It is an open-back, wired headphone with no noise control.
• Philips Audio SHP9500 strength: A 50 mm dynamic driver, 101 dB sensitivity, and a listed frequency range of 12 Hz–35 kHz. Trade-off: It is also open-back and wired, so it is not a portable, isolating option.
• HE400SE is for listeners who want to explore planar magnetic design and value its supplied dual-sided cable and 6.35 mm adapter.
• SHP9500 is for listeners who want a straightforward open-back headphone with a removable 1.5 m cable and a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter.
• Neither is a sensible hiking pick: if your search includes Bluetooth earbuds for hiking or sweatproof clip on earbuds for hiking, these full-size wired headphones are a different category altogether.
The HE400SE’s main distinction is its planar magnetic driver. HIFIMAN describes the conductive layer as covering nearly the full diaphragm, and its Stealth Magnets are designed to let sound waves pass through with less interference. For a listener comparing driver designs, that gives the HE400SE a clear point of interest: it is built around a planar approach rather than the dynamic-driver design used by the Philips.
Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz–20 kHz, with 32-ohm impedance and 91 dB sensitivity. The maker says its sensitivity makes it a match for low-voltage sources, including portable hi-res audio players, and that it can deliver sound without a bulky amplifier. It comes with a dual-sided 3.5 mm cable and a 6.35 mm adapter, so it can connect to compatible devices with either jack size. The adjustable lightweight headband is intended for extended listening, while the open-back design makes it a better fit for a room where sound can move freely than for shared or noisy spaces.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-13 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The SHP9500 takes a different route, using 50 mm neodymium dynamic drivers in an open-back, over-ear design. Its listed frequency range is 12 Hz–35 kHz, and its sensitivity is 101 dB at 32 ohms. Those figures distinguish it on paper from the HE400SE, though specifications alone cannot settle which sound presentation an individual listener will prefer. The Philips is a conventional dynamic-driver option for someone who wants an open headphone without choosing a planar model.
The included cable is 1.5 m long and removable, and the headphone comes with a gold-plated 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter. Philips describes the headband cushion as double-layered and the ear cushions as breathable, details that suit long sessions at a desk or in a listening room. The angled drivers are described as aligning with the ears. Its open design and wired connection are central to the product, rather than add-ons to overlook: expect sound to pass through the earcups, and plan to listen near a compatible source.
I’d look at the SHP9500 if you want a dynamic open-back headphone, a removable cable, and the higher listed sensitivity of these two models. Skip it if you need isolation, Bluetooth, or a compact headphone for hiking. It is not presented as a weather-resistant or sweat-focused product, and the open-back form is not the right design for keeping outside noise out.
• Best fit for trying planar magnetic design → HIFIMAN HE400SE. Its driver uses a conductive layer across nearly the diaphragm, with Stealth Magnets designed to reduce interference with passing sound waves.
• Best fit for a larger listed frequency span → Philips Audio SHP9500. Philips lists 12 Hz–35 kHz, compared with 20 Hz–20 kHz for the HIFIMAN. These are specification ranges, not a guarantee of preferred sound.
• Higher listed sensitivity → Philips Audio SHP9500. It is specified at 101 dB, while the HE400SE is listed at 91 dB. Both have 32-ohm impedance.
• Best match for a portable hi-res player, according to the maker → HIFIMAN HE400SE. HIFIMAN specifically describes its sensitivity as suitable for low-voltage sources and says a bulky amplifier is not needed.
• Removable cable → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its 1.5 m cable is described as removable. The HE400SE includes a dual-sided cable, but the supplied information does not describe it as removable.
• Best for an included 6.35 mm adapter → Either. Both packages list an adapter for connecting to compatible larger headphone jacks; Philips specifies a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter.
• Best for long indoor listening based on the listed comfort details → It’s a close call. HIFIMAN highlights an adjustable lightweight headband; Philips specifies a double-layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushions. Fit is personal.
• Best for hiking or a search for the best volume limiting true wireless earbuds for hiking → Neither. These are wired open-back over-ear headphones, not true wireless earbuds, and neither sheet lists volume limiting or sweat protection.
Buying Considerations
The open-back design deserves attention before either model’s driver specifications. Open-back headphones let sound pass through the earcups rather than sealing the listener away from the room. That can make sense for a quiet desk or a listening space where awareness of nearby people is useful, but it also means they are poor choices when you need to block surrounding noise or avoid disturbing someone close by. Neither model lists noise control.
Connection needs are straightforward but worth checking. Both use a wired 3.5 mm connection and include an adapter for a 6.35 mm jack. The Philips cable is explicitly listed as removable and 1.5 m long; the HIFIMAN includes a dual-sided cable. If cable replacement or removal matters to your setup, that stated difference may make the Philips the more convenient fit.
Finally, don’t let the hiking-related searches blur the product categories. Someone looking for Bluetooth earbuds for hiking needs a portable wireless design; someone seeking sweatproof clip-on earbuds needs explicit guidance about sweat resistance. Neither is stated for these headphones. Check the current price on Amazon if that matters to your decision, but make sure the form factor and connection suit your actual use first.
In my opinion, I’d choose the HIFIMAN HE400SE for focused indoor listening because its planar magnetic design is the more distinctive reason to pick one of these two, and its supplied adapter adds connection flexibility. The Philips is the more straightforward choice if you value its removable cable, 50 mm dynamic drivers, and higher listed sensitivity. For hiking, though, I would buy neither: I’d look for a purpose-built wireless option instead.
Neither is designed specifically for hiking. Both are wired, open-back over-ear headphones, and neither product information lists wireless operation, sweat protection, or noise control.
Which headphone has higher sensitivity?
HIFIMAN says the HE400SE can work with low-voltage sources without a bulky amplifier. Philips describes the SHP9500 as usable with or without headphone amplifiers. The listed impedance is 32 ohms for both.
Probably not if blocking outside sound is important. Both models have open acoustic systems and list no noise-control feature, so consider a different design for noisy travel or situations where you need isolation.
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