Philips SHP9600 Review, Measurements, Mods

The only other measurements I have of Peerless drivers are ETA GenP (picked best looking measurements I had but all pretty consistent). Other headphones that use these same drivers are Kennerton Vali, Aurorus Borealis, Hyland, and LTA (now LTS).

 

That driver is easily tweakable If you want to try some stuff. This might now work with shp9600 housing but it's free, easy and reversable. In my build blocking the smaller holes on the magnet reduced midbass without compromising subbass. Blocking the center hole will reduce bass quantity in general but I did not like overall impact it had on sound. You can also try something to extend the center vent. Make that hole protrude from the magnet. I don't remember what it did but in my build it is mandatory. I use a iem foam tip.

My peerless modded headphones have a Grado type of housing with foam pads. It sounds really nice. There is a hint of Grado like forwardness but with a lot(maybe too much) bass and smooth highs.

Standard HEQ compensation with HD650 for a reference.

 

I do want to try some stuff. Extending the port reminds me of @E_Schaaf sushi roll used in his excellent TH900 mods. Do you know the reason why port vent extension helps? I figure its just a damping method, the longer extension slows air flow, like breathing through a straw. But what would be difference between that and just covering vent with something more commonly used for damping like foam etc. ? Reminds me of bass reflex port tuning but I doubt its same but Im no expert.

@purr1n or any mod change thread title to include Peerless Tymphany driver mod please. Also available on digikey. I have a few more pairs coming and will probably try other configurations especially Grado something like @Roderick . If you could share more info on enclosure that would be appreciated Roderick. I dont know if Grado cups would fit, so may have to go custom build or try a knock off style from diyearphonelabs or aliexpress. The driver is pretty close to exactly 50mm in diameter. Ive no calipers.

 

I've been reading about E_Scaaf's mods before, amazing stuff, but somehow missed the sushi thing. It does seem similar to what I've been doing with that foam tip but for different purpose. I checked and in my build it affects bass not high-mids/treble. Maybe it works differently in a open back build?

Blue=vent open
Orange=blocked with foam
Green= Foam tip
Black= Fully sealed

So I guess it was not "mandatory" like I said just my preference. It might not look like much but HEQ does not even show midbass hump of HD650 so that in mind that black line is close to what bass on something like LCD-2C would measure. It's a shame fully sealing that went makes the headphones sound "smaller" and somehow congested.

I don't know why it works the way it does but it is quite different than sealing it with just foam. With foam seal it has impact from 150hz down and with that hole extension things start to change already at 500hz. I suppose it is kind of like breathing through a straw like you said. More concentrated airflow. Moving tons of air is actually what this "grado peerless" build is particularly good at. It's quite crazy. Something about this driver in a tube just works. I actually think this might be more effective in moving air than TH900 and Utopia and I suppose those should have the inherent advantage because Fostex and Focal are capable of higher driver excursion. I've been listening to these more than other headphones for past couple of months and now some other headphones make me nauseous because they sound like they're holding back so much in their presentation. It's kind of like listening to ASMR. I feel physically irritated when I listen to ASMR.

I'm using the aliexpress shell AKA openheart oh2000.

€ 46,86 40%OFF | HiFi Headphone Over Ear Open Back Headset Full Range Metal Housing High Quality Audio Wired Monitors Music Comfortable earpads
https://a.aliexpress.com/_msJ4EVX

It's great for modding because both driver cover and back have a screw on mechanism. It's like opening a jar.

Opening for the driver is perfect size but peerless driver is too thick so edges need some trimming. Other option is to ditch the mesh cover and figure out some other way to protect the driver. Trimming the driver edge is easy when
it is mounted in the shell. It's a tight fit so you don't need to glue it at this point (or at all).

 

Steady hand.

Ive messed with those Grado style enclosures before, nice metal cups. Would definitely want to keep grill. Thanks for the info and impressions.

 

Listening to SHP9600-P a bunch today. Peerless probably rock even more as a supra aural. Comparable bass to THX00 (would need a/b to determine winner, havent used in awhile), but better mids/highs. Smoother, with more detail. Philips enclosure and pads so comfy. Dont want to listen to anything else.

 

Peerless driver is excellent for $20 per pair. Spectacular considering its a cheap open dynamic. I compared bass to THX00*, but I still consider that bass a bit behind (or atleast different) to a nice planar or ETA Gen-G. From memory, Foster bass is a bit more controlled vs Peerless but I think you may get a little more speed and impact in return (would need a/b, will get into eventually). And like the highs it can be altered with mods, different enclosure, or pads. Any 50mm driver designed enclosure may work. The SHP9600 pad adapter can be set aside and you may slap x ~90mm(guess) diameter round pad onto the round driver baffle (will try later).

As-is I like these SHP9600-P a lot. There is some “value” and “diy mod” influence on my appreciation though. The open-ness of the enclosure and pads are comfortable and possibly positive to the sound. The ETA Gen-P while also very open and with better frequency response used smaller ear opening leather pads that may have made the experience less engaging, however I barely was interested in GenP because I had the mesmerizing GenG as an option instead. I would bet that GenP is the better headphone vs SHP9600-P due to likely better tamed bass and highs. I also tried the Peerless driver in a Hyland headphone before and was not so impressed, especially when considering cost.

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*Will compare the Lawton cupped EMU @E_Schaaf is modding for me to THX00 ebony soon? The THX00 though padrolled and ebony is still a litte strong in the highs for me. I know EMU ESx highs will sound better just from previously trying some of Ev’s mods shared in his TH900 thread on the EMU.

 

Any change you measured the frequency response of the Hyland headphones?

 

No, sorry. I heard them when I was first getting back into hobby and didnt have EARS yet. You can see my review here. Next page I compare to my then main headphone the 4XX.

 

Ordered 2 more sets of SHP9600 for Peerless upgrade. One to gift, and one to donate to SBAF loaner library. Send me instructions please.:
@purr1n @ChaChaRealSmooth

 

Yay. Donation accepted to SBAF loaner library.

SHP9600-P is a hybrid of THX00 and HD600 (yes, the brighter one) approaching their strengths but without their flaws. THX00: good bass but tizzy highs. HD600: good mids+highs but poor bass. Peerless approaches their realm of technical aptitude from weak base chain like mine: Vali2 and ModiMB. And from iphone dongle poops on Senn for sure. SHP9600-P has its own unique strengths vs other two: cost, and comfort. HD6XX clamp is not compatible with my melon while Foster is a little cumbersome and fragile.

A cheap headphone doesnt make sense for loaner library. However, SHP9600-P requires a soldering iron which some people do not have (unless there is some other method like a type of tape or glue?). If wanted Id be willing to assemble for cost of parts and shipping in exchange for x donation to SBAF (raises price). Also, adding this headphone to loaner library makes more aware that this cheerful Peerless driver can be applied cheaply vs other Peerless builds out there.

I guess a new thread will be started for SHP9600-P loaner and impressions. Id like a credible witness to review before wasting other’s time and money accepting build requests - I may just be over excited and satisfied with myself.

Eventually a diy headphone thread will be started where known and hidden gem drivers are shared and discovered from places like Aliexpress.


Ill reinsert grill on the loaner set.

 

Stock pads are glued on. I glued on new ones to try. Fostex T50rp pads ($10-15 per pair). Haven’t tried using yet. The earpad adapters are also risers that prevent pads from blocking baffle vents.

 

Listened but no measurements. Sounds very midcentric. The point was to reduce highs only. Would need either deeper pads (T50rp pads extremely shallow) also with narrow ear holes, or shutter some baffle vents. When I sealed baffle vents previously with stock pads it did balance out highs but also produced a 2kHz dip. Will see how T50RP pads measure before I plan next mod. Boooo! more work. Stock pads is still plan “A”cceptable because easy.

 

I want to keep this as cheap as possible, but padrolling trial and error can be expensive. And tuning vents to increase bass could be time consuming mod madness which I'd also like to avoid. I'll order 1-2 pads to try then move on to Grado style enclosure like the one roderick's using. SHP9600 stock pads would need a little eq on the highs. I've been thinking Loki+ might be very nice to have in my life.

 

A little smaller effect than expected. I think maybe there is a loss in seal due to t50rp pads being undersized. I'll try sealed vents with stock pads since I had only tried that experiment with stock drivers.

 

edit: excuse me, forgot to seal both sides before doing subject impressions. one minute please
edit2: Okay, improvement! Highs no longer a concern. I'm going to try this on for awhile.

 

Thank you for the advice @Hands . Generally I stay away from front filters as I worry they reduce resolution. However, I only liked DT880 with stock front filters because of that treble attenuation.:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/beyerdynamic-dt880-comparison.9732/page-3

Placing pads directly on the round driver baffle instead of using the adapter ring would be great. T50RP pads are too shallow, the protruding tabs for the earpads adapter ring are taller and T50RP width dimension is just slightly too narrow to fit over and around them. I could cut the tabs down but thats a permanent mod.

I haven't sent the loaner library set to chacha yet if you want them first to mod. I can send as parts so you could build, would include damplifier pro. The stock SHP9600 drivers are not bad!

edit: I'll try your suggestions.