If you want semi-open studio headphones for focused listening and mixing at your desk, choose SAMSON SR850; if you need an open-back design with a removable cable for indoor listening, choose Philips Audio SHP9500. For office use, I’d lean toward the Philips if comfort and an open, airy design are your priorities, but neither model is built to block out workplace noise or offer wireless convenience.
SAMSON SR850 vs Philips Audio SHP9500 at a Glance
• Philips Audio SHP9500: Open-back design, 50mm neodymium drivers, and a removable 1.5m cable; trade-off: the open acoustic system is a poor match for quiet offices or noisy shared spaces.
• For studio-style listening: The SR850’s stated 10Hz–30kHz frequency range and semi-open design suit someone looking for a wired reference-style headphone.
• For indoor everyday listening: The SHP9500 combines an open-back layout with a breathable ear cushion and a cushioned headband.
• Choose the SR850 if you prefer its self-adjusting fit and want a semi-open studio-oriented option.
• Choose the SHP9500 if you want an open design and value its removable cable for indoor use.
The SR850 is the more studio-focused choice of the two. Its semi-open design and 50mm drivers are intended for listening with a sense of space while keeping the headphone’s purpose centered on music playback and reference-style audio. The listed frequency range is 10Hz to 30kHz, and its impedance is 32 ohms. Those figures describe the design, but they do not by themselves guarantee a particular sound preference or make it a substitute for a workplace headset.
Fit is another practical consideration. The SR850 has a self-adjusting headband and velour ear cushions, features that point toward longer desk sessions rather than quick, on-the-go use. It also includes a 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter, which can be useful when connecting to equipment with a larger headphone jack. It is wired, so there is no need to plan around battery charging, but the cable does tie it to a listening device.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The SHP9500 is an open-back, over-ear headphone built around 50mm neodymium drivers. Its listed frequency range is 12Hz to 35kHz, with 32-ohm impedance. Philips also describes the drivers as angled toward the ears, a design detail aimed at the listening experience rather than a feature that turns the headphone into a noise-blocking office model.
The physical details make it a straightforward wired option for indoor use. Its 1.5m cable is removable, and the package includes a gold-plated adapter for a larger headphone jack. A double-layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushion are intended to support longer listening sessions. The open acoustic system is the central trade-off: it may suit a listener who wants an open design, but it does little to separate the listener from nearby conversations or keep audio private.
I’d look at the SHP9500 if you listen at home or in a personal workspace, want a removable cable, and prefer an open-back design. I’d pass if your office is shared, you need to avoid disturbing people around you, or you want a foldable, portable headset. The listed design is over-ear and wired; no foldable construction or wireless connection is specified.
• Best fit for studio-oriented listening → SAMSON SR850. Its semi-open design, 50mm drivers, and stated 10Hz–30kHz range make it the more explicitly studio-focused option.
• Best fit for an open-back listening setup → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its acoustic system is open, and its removable 1.5m cable is designed for indoor use.
• Best for a self-adjusting headband → SAMSON SR850. That specific fit feature is listed for the SR850; the Philips instead specifies a double-layered headband cushion.
• Best for a removable cable → Philips Audio SHP9500. The cable is removable and measures 1.5m.
• Best for a larger headphone jack in the box → Tie. Both include an adapter: the Samson lists a 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter, while the Philips lists a gold-plated 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter.
• Better for a noisy shared office → Neither. Both are open-style designs, so neither is presented as a strong noise-isolating choice.
• Best bluetooth headphones for office → Neither. Both are wired models, not Bluetooth headphones.
• Best foldable earbuds for office → Neither. These are over-ear headphones, and neither sheet specifies folding earbuds or a foldable design.
• Best kids headphones for office → Neither by default. Both are described as adult headphones; the listed information does not establish child-specific fit or features.
The office question deserves extra attention. “Open” can be appealing when you want a less sealed listening experience, but it is not the same as noise cancellation. The SR850 lists passive noise cancellation in its product information, yet its semi-open construction still makes it a less obvious choice for keeping a busy workplace out of your listening. The SHP9500 explicitly has no noise control listed and uses an open acoustic system. If office privacy matters, consider a closed-back or noise-isolating model instead.
The two models also differ in the way they accommodate a desk setup. The Philips has a specified 1.5m removable cable, which gives you a clear cable length to plan around and the option to detach it. The Samson’s included adapter is useful for compatible equipment, but the provided details do not specify its cable length or whether its cable is removable. That makes the Philips easier to assess if cable handling is a deciding factor.
Their frequency ranges overlap substantially: the Samson is listed at 10Hz–30kHz and the Philips at 12Hz–35kHz. That difference is not enough, on its own, to tell you which one will sound better to your ears. The more useful distinction is the design: semi-open Samson for a studio-reference emphasis, open-back Philips for an explicitly open indoor listening setup. Both use 50mm drivers and have 32-ohm impedance, so the choice is less about a dramatic spec-sheet divide and more about fit, cable needs, and where you plan to listen.
For a personal desk setup, I would choose the Philips Audio SHP9500 if I wanted an open-back headphone with a removable cable and a breathable ear cushion. Its indoor-use details make the fit clearer for everyday listening.
For office use, though, I would not mistake either model for a noise-isolating or wireless headset. If my priority were studio-oriented listening and a self-adjusting headband, I’d choose the SAMSON SR850; if I wanted open-back indoor listening, I’d choose the Philips. My pick between these two is the SHP9500 for its removable cable and clearly described comfort features, as long as the open design suits the room.
FAQ
Neither is described as a wireless or strongly noise-isolating office headphone. Both have open-style designs, so they are better suited to a personal listening space than a noisy shared office where sound privacy matters.
Yes. The SHP9500 is listed with a removable 1.5m cable. The available details for the SR850 do not specify a removable cable.
Think first about the features you’ll actually use: the Samson’s self-adjusting headband and studio-oriented semi-open design, or the Philips’s open-back system, breathable ear cushion, and removable cable. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the cost can change.
• MEZE AUDIO vs YomauiYee Baby Ear Muffs: Adjustable Headband
• Sony Genuine Replacement Ear vs KCTIN Walkie Talkie Earpiece
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.