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Philips SHL5305 Review | 93 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£25
  • Avg. price in US: ~$30
  • Form factor: over-ear
  • Connectivity: wired
  • Battery life: N/A hours
  • Active noise cancellation (ANC): no

Philips SHL5305 review. Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among headphones and if it is worth buying.

4.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.

Score components:

80.0%

4.5

Technical Score

20.0%

5.9

User score

Poor
4.5

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

4.9

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

7.2

Design

8.0%

6.2

Connectivity

6.0%

1.0

Battery

4.0%

4.4

Calls & Controls

Poor
5.9

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

7.2

User reviews

30.0%

3.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
(41)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(41)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Good
  • 2.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    35.0%

    0.0

    Audio latency

    25.0%

    0.0

    Low-latency game mode

    20.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    12.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    8.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

  • 1.8
    Travel

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Active noise cancellation (ANC)

    24.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    18.0%

    8.2

    Weight

    16.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    14.0%

    0.0

    Ambient sound mode

  • 2.7
    Calls

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    24.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    18.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    14.0%

    0.0

    Companion app

  • 4.5
    Workout

    Score components:

    28.0%

    8.2

    Weight

    24.0%

    1.0

    Water resistance

    20.0%

    4.0

    IP rating

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    12.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

  • philips-shl5305
philips-shl5305

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Philips CitiScape Fixie SHL5305 is a lightweight, on-ear wired headphone weighing approximately 117g, featuring 40mm neodymium dynamic drivers with Mylar domes and a CCAW voice coil for rich bass delivery. It operates with a frequency response of 18 Hz to 21,600 Hz, an impedance of 32 Ohms, and a sensitivity of 102 dB, all while utilizing a closed acoustic system to provide passive noise isolation. Key pros include its urban-inspired design with a stylishly embossed soft headband, pre-tilted earshells for an improved acoustic seal, and a 1.2m tangle-free flat cable equipped with a built-in microphone for seamless switching between music and calls. However, notable cons include the lack of active noise cancellation, a non-detachable cable that limits durability, and fixed earpads that cannot be easily replaced if worn out.

Technical Specifications of Philips SHL5305

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

4.9

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

7.2

Design

8.0%

6.2

Connectivity

6.0%

1.0

Battery

4.0%

4.4

Calls & Controls

4.5
Philips SHL5305 has a technical score of 4.54 points, which is lower than that of 70.1% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

7.2

User reviews

30.0%

3.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
(41)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(41)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

5.9
Philips SHL5305 has a user score of 5.95 points, which is lower than that of 93.9% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
3.0
Philips SHL5305 has a popularity of 3 points, which is lower than 60.4% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.8

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.4
Philips SHL5305 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.4 points, which is lower than 65.9% of products in this category.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
What it is: Reduces background noise using active technology
When it matters: When blocking office, travel, or aircraft noise is a priority.

Importance: HIGH

no
Philips SHL5305 does not support active noise cancellation. 27.4% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
What it is: Type of speaker driver technology used
When it matters: When the underlying sound character and driver technology matter to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

dynamic
Driver size
What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit
When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

Importance: MEDIUM

40 mm
Philips SHL5305 uses a driver size of 40 mm, larger driver size than 28.2% of headphones and equal to 53.6% of headphones.
Number of drivers
What it is: Total number of speaker drivers per earcup
When it matters: When multi-driver designs are part of your buying criteria.

Importance: LOW

1
Philips SHL5305 uses 1 drivers, equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=10 Hz

18 Hz
Philips SHL5305 reaches a lowest frequency of 18 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 49.8% of headphones and equal to 3.5% of headphones.
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Noise-canceling microphone
What it is: Built-in microphone reduces background noise during calls
When it matters: When you take calls in busy spaces and want your voice to stay clearer.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Philips SHL5305 does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 45.6% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Philips SHL5305 is headset-ready, 84.7% is not. 15.3% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
What it is: Total number of built-in microphones
When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2

1
Philips SHL5305 has 1 microphones, more microphones than 25.9% of headphones and equal to 52.2% of headphones.
Boom microphone
What it is: Includes detachable boom microphone for voice clarity
When it matters: When you need stronger voice clarity for gaming, streaming, or work calls.

Importance: LOW

no
Philips SHL5305 does not include a boom microphone. 15.6% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
What it is: Signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone
When it matters: When call clarity matters and you want your voice picked up more cleanly instead of buried in background hiss.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >80 dB

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Connectivity
What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

Importance: HIGH

wired
Philips SHL5305 supports wired connectivity, equal to 52.6% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
What it is: Version of Bluetooth technology supported
When it matters: When wireless stability, efficiency, and feature support matter more than treating Bluetooth as a box-check spec.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5.0

N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
What it is: Maximum wireless operating distance from source device
When it matters: When you move around rooms and want fewer dropouts from your source device.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=10 m

N/A
Audio latency
What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode
When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <60 ms

N/A
Multipoint support
What it is: Supports simultaneous connections to multiple devices
When it matters: When you switch often between a phone and a laptop during the day.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Show more
Ambient sound mode
What it is: Allows external sounds to pass through for awareness
When it matters: When you need to stay aware of traffic, voices, or announcements.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
EQ support
What it is: Allows customization of sound profile via equalizer
When it matters: When the stock tuning is not enough and you want to shape bass, mids, or treble to match your taste.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Philips SHL5305 does not support EQ customization. 23.3% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
What it is: Dedicated mobile app for customization and updates
When it matters: When software customization, updates, and extra controls matter.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Adjustable ANC levels
What it is: Allows adjustment of noise cancellation intensity levels
When it matters: When you move between quiet rooms, offices, streets, and public transport and do not want one ANC setting for every situation.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=4

N/A
Voice assistant support
What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

Importance: LOW

no
Philips SHL5305 does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
What it is: Playback time on a single charge
When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >45 hours

N/A
Battery life with ANC
What it is: Playback time with active noise cancellation enabled
When it matters: When you plan to keep noise cancellation on for most of the day.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >40 hours

N/A
Charging time
What it is: Time required for a full battery charge
When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=2 hours

N/A
Quick charge
What it is: Provides quick playback time with short charging period
When it matters: When a short top-up needs to deliver useful playback before you leave.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Battery capacity
What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery
When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=720 mAh

N/A
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Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Philips
Form factor
What it is: Overall design type of the headphones (over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, etc.)
When it matters: When comfort, portability, and isolation depend on the overall headphone style.

Importance: HIGH

over-ear
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <150 g

94.5 g
Philips SHL5305 weighs 94.5 g, lighter than 78.7% of headphones.
Acoustic design
What it is: Type of acoustic design (open-back, closed-back, semi-open)
When it matters: When you need the right balance of isolation, leakage, and soundstage.

Importance: HIGH

closed-back
Clamp force
What it is: Amount of clamping pressure applied to the head
When it matters: When comfort and fit security matter during long sessions.

Importance: MEDIUM

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Philips SHL5305 vs the average headphone

  • 56.7% lower weight
    Philips SHL5305 is lighter than the average headphone (94.5 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    What it is: Total weight of the headphones
    When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <150 g

    Philips SHL5305 is lighter than the average headphone (94.5 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.94.5 g vs 218 g
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    Philips SHL5305 includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average headphone does not. 38.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones end in a built-in 3.5 mm male plug instead of relying on a separate detachable cable.
    When it matters: When direct wired compatibility with older devices or adapters matters.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Philips SHL5305 includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average headphone does not. 38.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • In-line controls
    Philips SHL5305 includes in-line controls, the average headphone does not. 36.4% of headphones support in-line controls.
    What it is: Controls available on in-line remote of wired cable
    When it matters: When your wired setup depends on cable-mounted buttons or call controls.

    Importance: LOW

    Philips SHL5305 includes in-line controls, the average headphone does not. 36.4% of headphones support in-line controls.
  • 3.6x cheaper
    Philips SHL5305 is cheaper than the average headphone (£25 vs £90).
    Philips SHL5305 is cheaper than the average headphone (£25 vs £90).£25 vs £90
  • 56.7% lower weight
    Philips SHL5305 is lighter than the average headphone (94.5 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    Philips SHL5305 includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average headphone does not. 38.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • In-line controls
    Philips SHL5305 includes in-line controls, the average headphone does not. 36.4% of headphones support in-line controls.

Total
Overall
Design
Connectivity
Calls & Controls
  • Fixed cable
    Philips SHL5305 has a fixed cable, while the average headphone has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • Tangle-prone cable
    Philips SHL5305 uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average headphone is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • No travel bag
    Philips SHL5305 does not include a travel bag, the average headphone does. 65.2% of headphones include a travel bag.
  • 8 dB lower max SPL
    Philips SHL5305 has a lower max SPL than the average headphone (102 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
  • No voice assistant support
    Philips SHL5305 does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • No voice assistant support
    Philips SHL5305 does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
    What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
    When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

    Importance: LOW

    Philips SHL5305 does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Fixed cable
    Philips SHL5305 has a fixed cable, while the average headphone has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
    What it is: Cable can be removed or replaced
    When it matters: When you care about easier cable replacement, simpler storage, or the option to swap to shorter, longer, or upgraded leads.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Philips SHL5305 has a fixed cable, while the average headphone has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 34.5% lower user score
    Philips SHL5305 has a lower user score than the average headphone (5.95 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
    Philips SHL5305 has a lower user score than the average headphone (5.95 vs 8.000).5.95 vs 8
  • Tangle-prone cable
    Philips SHL5305 uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average headphone is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
    What it is: Cable designed to resist tangling
    When it matters: When you often carry wired headphones in a bag or pocket.

    Importance: LOW

    Philips SHL5305 uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average headphone is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • No travel bag
    Philips SHL5305 does not include a travel bag, the average headphone does. 65.2% of headphones include a travel bag.
    What it is: Comes with a protective carrying case or pouch
    When it matters: When protection in transit matters right out of the box.

    Importance: LOW

    Philips SHL5305 does not include a travel bag, the average headphone does. 65.2% of headphones include a travel bag.
  • 5.7% worse value for money
    Philips SHL5305 has worse value for money than the average headphone (6.37 vs 6.736).
    What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
    When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
    Philips SHL5305 has worse value for money than the average headphone (6.37 vs 6.736).6.37 vs 6.74
  • 8 dB lower max SPL
    Philips SHL5305 has a lower max SPL than the average headphone (102 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    What it is: Maximum safe sound pressure level
    When it matters: When high-volume headroom is part of your use case.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=116 dB

    Philips SHL5305 has a lower max SPL than the average headphone (102 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.102 dB vs 110 dB
Total
Overall
Design
Sound
Features

Graphic comparison of Philips SHL5305 and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
41 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
41 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about Philips SHL5305?

  • Rich, punchy bass performance delivered by 40mm high-quality neodymium drivers
  • Excellent passive noise isolation via the 'MusicSeal' closed acoustic system
  • Stylish, 'hipster-inspired' urban design with embossed headband detailing
  • Comfortable for long sessions due to lightweight flexible metal arms and soft on-ear cushions
  • Integrated microphone and remote for seamless switching between music and phone calls
  • Anti-tangle flat cable design improves everyday convenience

What customers dislike about Philips SHL5305?

  • Warm sound signature may lack the clarity and detail required for critical or analytical monitoring
  • On-ear design can lead to heat buildup on the ears during extended use
  • Lacks active noise cancellation (ANC), relying entirely on passive isolation
  • Non-detachable cable makes the unit harder to repair if the wire is damaged
  • Soundstage is relatively narrow compared to open-back or higher-end over-ear models

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