Short answer: the Philips SHP9500. It ranks #80 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $94.99. The Tanchjim Rita ranks #110, rated 3.7/5, at $89.99, $5 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Philips SHP9500: A preference score of 80 and a deviation of only 2.2 dB make the open back response smooth for the money, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the lower mids within half a dB of target. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 9 dB below target under 60 Hz, so electronic and cinematic bass lacks rumble and slam.
Buy the Philips SHP9500. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $5 you would save on the Tanchjim Rita does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Philips SHP9500 | Tanchjim Rita | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $94.99 | $89.99 |
| Ranked | #80 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #110 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 75 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.17 dB standard deviation | 1.91 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-10.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB | - |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 92 hours (51.5 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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- Audio-Technica ATH-M40x vs Philips SHP9500
- Philips SHP9500 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Philips SHP9500: $94.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 80 and a deviation of only 2.2 dB make the open back response smooth for the money, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the lower mids within half a dB of target. It is very easy to drive at 32 ohms and 101 dB sensitivity, so a phone runs it fine, and it weighs just 320 g. It costs far less than most headphones with a comparable score.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 9 dB below target under 60 Hz, so electronic and cinematic bass lacks rumble and slam. Presence is lifted about 2.3 dB, and a 6.7 dB peak near 6.2 kHz followed by a 4 dB dip near 7.7 kHz adds some edge to vocals and cymbals. The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation.
Full Philips SHP9500 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.17 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-10.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,734 Hz | -5.7 dB | 2.84 |
| Peak | 110 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.81 |
| Peak | 2,130 Hz | +3.7 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 412 Hz | +1.0 dB | 1.39 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,113 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.07 |
| Peak | 7,370 Hz | +2.1 dB | 5.98 |
| Peak | 4,477 Hz | -1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,566 Hz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Tanchjim Rita: $89.99 Wireless Amazon eBay
Full Tanchjim Rita review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2026 (8 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 92 hours (51.5 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.91 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons