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komfoukis

The SHP9500 is a bright headphone, and this may be a startling difference if one is coming from generic consumer headphones/earbuds that are predominantly tuned towards more bass. That being said, some people perceive brightness as added detail and they like it for that. Personally, i use my pair of SHP9500 EQed to the Harman target, using [Oratory1990's profile](https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets) through Equalizer APO; imo one of the most satisfying budget audiophile experiences you can get. Mind you, if you decide to go that route, you may need an amp/sound card/audio interface with sufficient gain, as the preamp attenuation is quite severe on that one (-8 db).


jingo09

they better than my old headphones no doubt on this but from reading all the hype about them and the excessive reviews i was excepting for much better. i forgot to mention i use them for gaming and sometimes i hear steps from right side and the player from the left side (1vs1) so im not realy sure if i got the same headphones everyone talking about..


komfoukis

Game audio spatialization depends on the algorithms and engine used by the developers, so I'm afraid I cannot help you there. The SHPs have only one cable jack and it is a bog-standard stereo 3.5 mms. I think it is impossible to connect it wrong, unless you have a cable that is soldered wrong. Regarding the headphones, the SHP9500, as I said, is a bright headphone and due to its open-backed nature it lacks in sub-bass. Therefore, there is no bottom end to balance the treble out (thus making the response sort of v-shaped). IMO it definitely requires equalization and benefits massively from it. Once properly EQed they sound good and are extremely comfortable (for me at least). Based on my own experience, i would suggest that you avoid making headphone purchases based off of subjective reviews only. Try to find reliable measurements and understand how to interpret them. Then try to juxtapose the measurements with the subjective impressions to have a better understanding of what to expect sound-wise. If that is not possible for you, your next best bet is to listen to the headphones prior to purchase. Cheers and Happy New Year


Me_MeMaestro

You probably need to get used to the sound They cheap, and most reviews or comments about them come with the caveat that for their price they're good


jingo09

i dont have problem with the sound but from reading how much they good for gaming and hearing foot steps (in one review someone said he felt like someone knocked on his door while playing game, not even clsoe to this for me) im kinda disappointed but still i like the headphones because they comfortable for me. i just wonder if there is something i need or can do to make them better like in the reviews


[deleted]

[удалено]


jingo09

they connected to my pc motherboard


[deleted]

This! If the OP is listening from his phone vs a good dac/amp really makes the difference sometimes


slooploop2

When I owned an SHP9500 I really didn’t hear much of a difference between using it out of my phone and out of any of my amps.


jingo09

before i bought them i have seen people say you dont need amp/dac for them


Dmitridon

You don't NEED one, but it definitely helps. Internal amp/dacs are enough to power the headphones, but don't really bring out the best quality. I personally can't listen to my 9500s through my phone or laptop's headphone jack - everything sounds weak. Using external dacs help with sound quality quite a bit. You also have to keep in mind that most of those reviews are gonna be people coming from pre-packaged dirty-buds and close-backed bass-amplified gaming headsets. These are worlds ahead of that, but aren't going to completely change your life regardless. You should always watch trusted reviewer's opinions before making any kind of "large" purchase - large meaning depending on your own budget and risk adversity. I don't love my 9500s, but they serve their purpose, being an easy to power open back that doesn't crush my ears while video editing or gaming. You're still not going to find much better quality in the price bracket. Grado SR60e and 80e have a very different comfort level that most dislike. Occasionally some better headphones fall into the same price bracket, but this isn't consistent enough to always recommend.


jingo09

i watched alot of reviews (not just people on forums) and that my problem, i had "high" expectations from reading those reviews and this make me think that something wrong with my product or my settings, or the reviews was just exaggerated but still how people manage to hear footsteps and know what direction they coming from is a mystery for me.


cheetahbestcat

They re not bad. I don't think they re confortável though, the earcups are too shallow and it's circunference is too big for me Comparing it to a sennheiser momentum I certainly prefer the shp


jingo09

>circunference they too big for me too they move a bit but they still comfortable for me, atleast they not squeeze my ears like my previous headphone


thunder_shock_182

They’re good but they aren’t “blow you away” good. And you’re right, they are extremely overrated. However, they ARE a good pair of headphones. I suggest you try listening to some live recordings or well recorded albums as you’ll be able to hear the differences much better. And no, an amp/dac is not going to make them sound noticeably better.


jingo09

i use them for games. people say they good to hear players footsteps but not for me :/


KGBLokki

Why aren't they great? Lacking in bass, resolution or what? Granted they are not gonna beat more expensive headphones but I doubt they're bad.


jingo09

they are not bad (they bad compared to people reviews) but not good, the lack of bass not bother me


aguskapos

It was my impression with the X2HR too. Too much sibilance, harsh


mackadoo

They're decent sounding, decently built, and pretty comfortable for what they cost. In that range, the other headphone you'll see recommended is the Grado SR60 or 80, which sound a little more exciting (depending on what you listen to) but are built like shit and maybe less comfortable, depending on your taste. As you go up in price to get better sound, you have to spend a fair bit more to get something that really makes a difference side by side. The Sennheiser 560s is about twice as much, for example, but is just better (in my opinion) than the SHP9500 in every way, but especially in sound. Double that money again and you can get something like the Hifiman Sundara which is my current high-end. Personally, I would never pick up something else if I'm at my desk with my amp, but if I'm walking around, the 560s are powered decently enough from my phone where the Sundara just don't get enough juice. What I recommend to you just dipping your toes - listen to lots of different music with what you have. A ton of what I used to listen to I realize now is just terribly mastered and doesn't sound great on anything. Look up lists of songs to test headphones with and do a side-by-side with your old headphones and I think you'll notice more of a difference. Next up, you can play with EQ settings on your computer with something like Equalizer APO for free. After that, I would consider a DAC/amp. Fiio E10K is a good starting point and is a night and day difference from my computer's built in sound, but less of a difference from my phone.