Philips TAH9505BK/00

The Philips TAH9505BK/00 over-ear headphones bring best-in-class hybrid ANC and surprisingly good sound at a budget-friendly price, if you can avoid the baffling pricing errors. They're comfortable, foldable, and great for work or gaming, but call quality and battery life are just average.

If you're hunting for over-ear noise-canceling headphones that don't break the bank, the Philips TAH9505BK/00 probably landed on your radar. It's a bit of a sleeper, often flying under the radar because its pricing is all over the place. You'll see it listed anywhere from $58 to a laughable $16,006, which screams data glitch. But when you find it at a normal price, you're getting a very capable pair of cans. Hybrid active noise canceling, 40mm drivers with Hi-Res audio support, multipoint Bluetooth, and a foldable design make it a solid do-it-all headset for work and play.

We put it through our benchmark gauntlet, and it surprised us. ANC is best-in-class for this price bracket, and the sound signature is clean and engaging. Comfort also scored high, thanks to lightweight ear cushions. It's not perfect: call quality is just average, and battery life is fine but not amazing. Still, for under $100, it's a steal if you can dodge the weird listings. In our database, these Philips cans landed in the 93rd percentile for ANC and 88th for sound, meaning they outperform the vast majority of headphones we've tested, regardless of cost.

For gamers and remote workers looking to block out the world, the TAH9505 hits a sweet spot. Awareness Mode lets you pipe in ambient sound when needed, and the Philips Headphones app gives you custom EQ control. The 27-hour battery with quick charging (5 hours of play from a 15-minute charge) will get you through a workday and then some. Just double-check the price before you click buy.

Our measurements show ANC performance in the top 7% of all headphones we've tested. It smothers low-end hum like engines and AC units, and does a solid job with chatter. You won't get the absolute silence of a flagship Sony or Bose, but for the money, it's outstanding. Sound quality is right up there too. The 40mm drivers deliver clear treble, deep bass, and a balanced midrange that avoids muddiness. In our sound benchmarks, the TAH9505 landed in the 88th percentile, putting it ahead of most consumer headphones. High-res wireless audio (via LDAC on compatible devices) adds extra detail for those who care.

Comfort is another highlight. The rounded over-ear cups are plush, and the 249g weight stayed comfortable during marathon sessions. Our comfort scoring put it in the 87th percentile, so you can wear these for hours without ear fatigue. The battery clocks in at 27 hours, which is solid but not class-leading. Call quality is the weak spot. Our microphone evaluation gave it a 79th percentile, so it's fine for quick calls but won't impress anyone on the other end. Connectivity, on the other hand, is top-notch: Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint pairing works flawlessly, and the 3.5mm wired backup is handy.

Pinning down value here is tricky because the price tags we saw ranged from $58 to $16,006, a $15,948 spread that's obviously broken. The real going rate, once you filter out the nonsense, hovers around $80 to $100. If you can snag them at $58, that's an outright robbery for this level of ANC and sound. Even at $100, they're competitive with the JBL Live 770NC and Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT. But don't pay more than $150. At that point, the Sony ULT WEAR or Sennheiser Momentum 4 start pulling ahead in overall polish and features. Check the listing carefully before buying.

Stacked against the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B, the Philips holds its own in noise canceling but offers a more neutral sound compared to Sony's bass-heavy tuning. Some listeners will prefer the Philips signature for music and movies. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 delivers richer detail and a more premium build, but it costs significantly more. If you're on a tight budget, the JBL Live 770NC is a direct rival: it beats the Philips on battery life (over 50 hours) and has a more consistent retail price, but our tests show the Philips takes the edge in ANC effectiveness. The Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT is a lighter, super affordable alternative, but the Philips wins on comfort and isolation. The TOZO HT3 often undercuts everything in price but can't match the Philips on sound purity.

Frequent callers should look elsewhere because the microphone quality is just serviceable. If you need all-day battery life, the 27 hours might leave you charging more often than you'd like, so consider the JBL Live 770NC with its 50+ hours. And if you dislike relying on an app for EQ tweaks, know that the touch controls can be finicky without the Philips Headphones app. Anyone who wants a premium build and a more consistent retail experience should check out the Sony ULT WEAR or Sennheiser Momentum 4 instead.

If you can lock down a real-world price under $100, the Philips TAH9505BK/00 is a fantastic buy for anyone who wants top-tier noise canceling and comfortable over-ear design without spending a fortune. It's especially good for remote work or gaming sessions where blocking out distractions matters. The sound is well-balanced and the app gives you control over the EQ. But the chaotic pricing is a headache, and if you need clear calls or marathon battery life, you're better off elsewhere. As long as you do a quick sanity check on the listing, these headphones deliver a lot for the money.