Philips SHE9850 review

Now they've had £19 knocked off the retail price, we think these buds now offer good value for the money Tested at £70.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

There’s better at this kind of money

Pros

  • +

    Good detail in the presentation, good build, comfortable

Cons

  • -

    Painfully trebly, sound is brittle and grinds after a short period

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

The Philips SHE9850s look and feel quite weighty, but they're comfortable enough in the ear – and they sound quite weighty too.

Warm and substantial, they bring real purpose to low frequency information – though that's not at the expense of speed or dexterity.

The midrange can sound a little intimidated by all the kerfuffle in the bass, though, and the finest details can go astray – particularly at enthusiastic volume levels.

On the whole, though, the SHE9850s are an involving listen.

There's not quite the bite or attack from the highest frequencies that some other rivals offer, but if you hanker after a generously proportioned, solid sound, you could do a lot worse

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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