If you want a wired over-ear headphone with two detachable cable lengths and a broad listed frequency range for your MacBook, choose Superlux HD-681; if you need an open-back design with breathable ear cushions and a cushioned headband, choose Philips Audio SHP9500. The Superlux gives you more cable flexibility, while the Philips puts more emphasis on an open acoustic design and wearing comfort.
For a MacBook listener choosing between the Superlux HD-681 and Philips SHP9500, the practical difference is less about a single spec and more about how you plan to listen: at a desk, for longer sessions, or with a cable that can suit different setups.
Superlux HD-681 vs Philips Audio SHP9500 at a Glance
• Philips Audio SHP9500 strength: open-back construction, breathable ear cushions, and a double-layered headband cushion; trade-off: its supplied cable is 1.5 m rather than two selectable lengths.
• Superlux HD-681: a wired, over-ear option with 50 mm dynamic drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and a listed 10–30,000 Hz frequency range.
• Philips Audio SHP9500: a wired, open-back, over-ear option with 50 mm neodymium drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and a listed 12–35,000 Hz frequency range.
• Choose the Superlux if cable-length flexibility matters most; choose the Philips if an open design and cushioned, breathable contact points matter more.
The Superlux HD-681 is a wired, over-ear headphone built around 50 mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets. Its listed frequency range is 10–30,000 Hz, and its sensitivity is 98 dB SPL per milliwatt. Those figures describe the product’s specifications, not a guarantee that every listener will hear the same result. The useful point for a buyer is that this is a straightforward headphone design with familiar wired connectivity rather than a wireless setup to manage.
Its 32-ohm impedance makes it a sensible candidate for a MacBook listening setup, where a wired headphone can connect through the 3.5 mm audio jack if the computer has one. The supplied cable arrangement is the more distinctive practical detail: both a 1 m and a 3 m detachable straight cable are included. The shorter lead can help keep slack down when you are sitting close to the laptop; the longer one gives you more room to shift position at a desk. The connector is a 3.5 mm gold-plated stereo mini plug.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
The listed maximum input is 300 mW. That is a handling specification, not a listening recommendation, and it does not mean you should turn the volume up. I would choose the Superlux for someone who values the two cable lengths and wants a simple wired over-ear headphone. Skip it if your priority is an explicitly open-back design or noise-control features; neither is listed for this model.
The Philips Audio SHP9500 is also wired and over-ear, with 50 mm neodymium drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and a listed frequency range of 12–35,000 Hz. Its standout design fact is that the acoustic system is open. That is a different choice from a closed or noise-isolating listening experience: the product sheet describes an open-back construction, so I would treat it as a headphone for a suitable indoor setting rather than assume it will keep sound in or outside.
Philips lists a 1.5 m removable cable, a gold-plated connector, and a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter. That combination suits a desk setup where the headphone may be connected either to a standard 3.5 mm jack or to equipment with a 6.3 mm connection. For a MacBook, the 3.5 mm connection is the straightforward option when the computer provides that jack. The cable is a single stated length, so it does not offer the Superlux’s choice between shorter and longer leads.
Comfort-oriented details are a double-layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushions. The product description also notes angled drivers intended to align with the ears. Those are concrete design features to consider if you expect longer listening sessions, though they do not establish that the fit will suit every head or preference. I would lean toward the Philips when open-back construction and its cushioning details are higher priorities than cable-length choice. Skip it if you need a headphone designed to reduce outside noise or contain sound; the open acoustic system is not presented as noise control.
• Best for choosing between two cable lengths → Superlux HD-681. It includes detachable 1 m and 3 m straight cables, so you can pick the one that fits your desk arrangement.
• Best for an open-back design → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its acoustic system is listed as open; choose it for that design preference, not for isolation.
• Best for a MacBook with a 3.5 mm headphone jack → Either. Both are wired and list a 3.5 mm connection. Check your particular MacBook’s ports before deciding how you will connect.
• Best for a longer stated frequency range → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its listed range is 12–35,000 Hz, compared with 10–30,000 Hz for the Superlux. That specification alone does not establish which will sound better to you.
• Best for a removable cable and included adapter → Philips Audio SHP9500. It comes with a removable 1.5 m cable and a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter.
• Best for the higher listed maximum input → Superlux HD-681. Its maximum input is 300 mW; the Philips is listed at 200 mW. These figures describe input handling and are not a measure of comfort, sound quality, or safe volume.
• Best for stated headband and ear-cushion details → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its double-layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushions are specifically described.
• Best for a buyer seeking noise control → Neither based on the supplied specifications. Both sheets list noise control as none, and the Philips is explicitly open-back.
Buying Considerations Before You Choose
Think about cable reach next. The Superlux offers a 1 m cable for a close laptop setup and a 3 m cable when you want more room to move around a desk. The Philips provides one removable 1.5 m cable. That length sits between the two Superlux options on paper, but the included cable choices are not interchangeable: the Superlux gives you alternatives, while the Philips includes an adapter for a 6.3 mm connection.
The open-back detail deserves particular attention. The Philips is the one explicitly described as open, so it is the clearer pick if that construction is what you want. Neither product lists noise control, and the Philips’ open design should not be mistaken for a feature that blocks surrounding sound. If keeping outside noise out is central to your decision, the supplied information does not establish either headphone as a solution.
Comfort is personal, but the product details can still guide the shortlist. Philips names breathable ear cushions and a double-layered headband cushion. The Superlux is described as over-ear, but its sheet does not provide comparable cushion details. That is a reason to consider the Philips if those particular design elements matter to you—not proof that it will be the best comfortable headphone for MacBook users as a group.
Finally, be careful with category labels. Neither model is described as a spatial-audio headset, a children’s headset, or a bone-conduction headphone. Someone searching for a spatial audio kids headset for MacBook should not assume either one provides child-specific features or spatial-audio processing from the facts listed here. Likewise, these are over-ear wired headphones, not bone conduction headphones for MacBook. If a specific feature is essential, verify that separately rather than infer it from the driver size or frequency range.
I would choose the Philips Audio SHP9500 for my MacBook if open-back construction, breathable ear cushions, and a cushioned headband were my main priorities. Its removable cable and included 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter add useful connection flexibility for desk listening. I would choose the Superlux HD-681 instead when having both a 1 m and 3 m cable is the deciding advantage. For my MacBook recommendation, I give the Philips the edge for its clearly described wearing and acoustic design, while recognizing that the Superlux is the more flexible pick for cable length.
FAQ
Both are wired over-ear headphones with 32-ohm impedance and a listed 3.5 mm connection. The Superlux includes 1 m and 3 m cables; the Philips has an open-back design, a 1.5 m removable cable, and a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter.
Both have removable or detachable cable arrangements in the supplied specifications. The Superlux includes two cable lengths, 1 m and 3 m; the Philips includes a removable 1.5 m cable and a 3.5-to-6.3 mm adapter.
The provided product details describe wired, over-ear headphones with 50 mm drivers. They do not identify either model as bone conduction or specify spatial-audio processing, so those features should not be assumed.
• Edifier W800BT vs Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB
• Linsoul Tripowin Zonie 16 vs EPZ G20
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.