After 200 hours of burn-in, I will give a proper review on these cans.
Value: For an asking price of $34-76 these cans are very good. You get a total package of portability, flashy design, well-balanced sound, and unsurpassed comfort.
Audio Quality: After 200 hours of burn-in, I find these cans dynamic sounding. It controls the amount of lows, mids, and high exceptionally well. At this price point, you can compare them to Brainwavz HM3, but the HM3s are certainly better in every way.
As a drum musician myself, I know how drums sounds, I've played more than 30 drum-kits in my lifetime. There were claims that these are natural sounding and clean, but after really listening to them, I find graining in the sound of the cymbals and hhopens. The drum sound that are produced in these cans are similar to electronic drum kits such as the TR-606/808. That said, these are far from natural.
Auditioning these cans with tunes from the Far East Movement, they are very good since the bass on those tunes that are electronic in nature. But, when used them with Jazz tunes, they are lacking in punch. In Santana's Smooth, the bongo's drums are completely gone and the cymbals are completely grained.
The sound produced on these cans are fun, but not to be used as reference. They bass needs punch and the high lacks in smoothness. It's a consumer headphone, not for professionals.
Update: After listening to Santana's Smooth for the 20th time, I found the culprit, it doesn't have a very good music separation between the drums and guitars, which makes the drums sound electronic next to an electric guitar. In drum solo, the sound is there but it still lacks punch. It lacks conviction that tells "Hey, I am a drum" hear my beat. Lacks clarity on cellos too.
Design: This can is a beauty. It looks slick, the ear cups looks metallic; however, they are plastic. The ear cup holder is made out of anodized aluminum which is pretty sturdy. The headband however, I believe is made out of plastic. The design of the ear pads sits on your ear and it creates a very good seal. It doesn't leak your music at all. The wires are flat, but they aren't oxygenated rubber. The cables from Sony XB500/300s are better. These cans can also fold flat for storage.
Plus the head band itself doesn't stickout like Batman's ears. Most of headphones today sticks out, this is flat on the sides regardless if you have a big head.
Update on Design: Major design flaw with the hinge support. The designers have clearly overlooked this one. It's a major rule in design to make your design reliable first, then concentrate on the aesthetics later. This model, just like the Monster Beats product line stands "aesthetics first over the design reliability". A major deal breaker.
Probably that's why this model, SHL5500 is so hard to find in the market. Maybe Philips is silently killing this model due to the design flaw.
Again, I have to deduct major amount of points for this design failure.
Comfort: Spot-on, regardless how big your head is. The cushions are soft and Philips advertises them as cow-hide leather. It may not be as durable as pleather but atleast they are replaceable with generic 75mm pads. The headband doesn't have hard contact points and it is entirely made out of some foam material.
For the asking price of this headphone, they are very well recommendable. But, if you are looking for a better sound quality at the same price point, I would recommend Brainwavz HM3s.
But for the overall value for comfort, sound quality, and design this would be a better deal since the HM3s have an issue the ear cup seal and comfort. For long listening, commute, and decent sound quality this would be my number 1 choice for portables.
Update: deducted 1.5 stars for the major design flaw, it is a deal breaker after all. Too bad for a nice headphone.
Value: For an asking price of $34-76 these cans are very good. You get a total package of portability, flashy design, well-balanced sound, and unsurpassed comfort.
Audio Quality: After 200 hours of burn-in, I find these cans dynamic sounding. It controls the amount of lows, mids, and high exceptionally well. At this price point, you can compare them to Brainwavz HM3, but the HM3s are certainly better in every way.
As a drum musician myself, I know how drums sounds, I've played more than 30 drum-kits in my lifetime. There were claims that these are natural sounding and clean, but after really listening to them, I find graining in the sound of the cymbals and hhopens. The drum sound that are produced in these cans are similar to electronic drum kits such as the TR-606/808. That said, these are far from natural.
Auditioning these cans with tunes from the Far East Movement, they are very good since the bass on those tunes that are electronic in nature. But, when used them with Jazz tunes, they are lacking in punch. In Santana's Smooth, the bongo's drums are completely gone and the cymbals are completely grained.
The sound produced on these cans are fun, but not to be used as reference. They bass needs punch and the high lacks in smoothness. It's a consumer headphone, not for professionals.
Update: After listening to Santana's Smooth for the 20th time, I found the culprit, it doesn't have a very good music separation between the drums and guitars, which makes the drums sound electronic next to an electric guitar. In drum solo, the sound is there but it still lacks punch. It lacks conviction that tells "Hey, I am a drum" hear my beat. Lacks clarity on cellos too.
Design: This can is a beauty. It looks slick, the ear cups looks metallic; however, they are plastic. The ear cup holder is made out of anodized aluminum which is pretty sturdy. The headband however, I believe is made out of plastic. The design of the ear pads sits on your ear and it creates a very good seal. It doesn't leak your music at all. The wires are flat, but they aren't oxygenated rubber. The cables from Sony XB500/300s are better. These cans can also fold flat for storage.
Plus the head band itself doesn't stickout like Batman's ears. Most of headphones today sticks out, this is flat on the sides regardless if you have a big head.
Update on Design: Major design flaw with the hinge support. The designers have clearly overlooked this one. It's a major rule in design to make your design reliable first, then concentrate on the aesthetics later. This model, just like the Monster Beats product line stands "aesthetics first over the design reliability". A major deal breaker.
Probably that's why this model, SHL5500 is so hard to find in the market. Maybe Philips is silently killing this model due to the design flaw.
Again, I have to deduct major amount of points for this design failure.
Comfort: Spot-on, regardless how big your head is. The cushions are soft and Philips advertises them as cow-hide leather. It may not be as durable as pleather but atleast they are replaceable with generic 75mm pads. The headband doesn't have hard contact points and it is entirely made out of some foam material.
For the asking price of this headphone, they are very well recommendable. But, if you are looking for a better sound quality at the same price point, I would recommend Brainwavz HM3s.
But for the overall value for comfort, sound quality, and design this would be a better deal since the HM3s have an issue the ear cup seal and comfort. For long listening, commute, and decent sound quality this would be my number 1 choice for portables.
Update: deducted 1.5 stars for the major design flaw, it is a deal breaker after all. Too bad for a nice headphone.
