Philips 6000 Series Over-ear Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones TAH6509BK/00 (Black) review

Philips' Black TAH6509BK/00 is a current-reference, over-ear ANC headphone whose clearest documented strengths are Bluetooth multipoint and a long stated wireless runtime: up to 45 hours of music with ANC on, or 70 hours with it off. Its analog and USB audio documentation is less settled than the headline makes it seem. This is a source-based assessment of the exact U.S. model, not a hands-on test or a measurement of noise reduction.

Identify the U.S. model before comparing it

The U.S. product page identifies the headset as TAH6509BK/00 and describes it as a 6000-series over-ear wireless noise-cancelling headphone. Its live product material highlights adaptive Noise Canceling Pro, Awareness and Quick Awareness modes, 40 mm drivers, and a low-lag setting for games or films. The matching English product sheet also identifies the Black color and this model number. Other Philips TAH-series names are not interchangeable: the newer TAH8000BK/37 has different battery, codec and wired-use documentation, so its capabilities should not be assigned to the TAH6509.

What the runtime figures establish

Philips lists up to 45 hours of music playback with ANC enabled and up to 70 hours with it disabled. A five-minute quick charge is advertised for three hours of playback, and the manual says a normal full charge takes about two hours. These are manufacturer ratings, not measured results from this review. They cannot tell you how long your own calls, volume, radio conditions, temperature, codec or battery age will allow, and the 70-hour ANC-off number should not be substituted when ANC is a requirement.

The controls cycle among ANC, ANC off and Awareness; holding the ANC button briefly enables Quick Awareness. Philips describes adaptive cancellation and its app lets users adjust sound and manage connected devices. Those descriptions establish modes and controls, not how much engine, street, office or cabin noise a particular listener will perceive. Fit and seal remain variables; the sources include no independent attenuation measurements.

Multipoint is for switching, not mixing

The TAH6509 uses Bluetooth 5.3 and Philips lists multipoint. The user manual explains the practical behavior: two devices can be connected, but music plays from one at a time. If audio is playing on the first device and a call arrives on the second, the first stream pauses; the call routes to the headphones, and the earlier playback resumes when the call ends. Pairing memory and simultaneous active connections are different things, and neither feature combines two music streams. A phone-and-notebook owner who wants convenient handoff has a documented use case; someone expecting live audio mixing does not.

The product specification sheet lists SBC as the supported Bluetooth codec, up to 10 m operating range, one call microphone and two microphones for ANC. It also lists USB audio support. The user's manual, however, labels the USB-C socket for charging and does not walk through a USB listening setup. Treat digital USB audio as a manufacturer-listed capability whose host and operating details need a current-model confirmation, rather than assuming that every charging cable or device connection will carry sound.

Do not guess about the analog cable

Philips includes an audio cable, but the exact plug bridge is unusually important here. Its sheet states a 2.5 mm headphone socket while describing the supplied cable as a 3.5 mm-to-3.5 mm lead. The manual's box illustration identifies an audio cable and an audio-cable connector but does not resolve that mismatch or say whether ANC works over the cable. Because of this conflict, the presence of a cable should not be read as proof of the headset-side connector, powered cable ANC, or passive listening after the battery is depleted. Before choosing the TAH6509 for a wired source, confirm the exact cable/adapter in the U.S. package and the desired operating mode with the current seller or Philips support.

Fit, materials and practical limits

Philips calls the TAH6509 over-ear and closed-back, lists a 265 g weight, and describes memory-foam cushions with synthetic-leather covering. The ear cups fold flat and swivel inward. That combination is useful when checking portability and head-size fit, but the listed weight and comfort language cannot predict clamp, heat, glasses pressure, ear clearance or long-session comfort. The documentation does not establish a water-resistance rating, replaceable battery, or user-serviceable parts; those stay unknown here rather than being assumed from the series name.

Who should keep it on the shortlist?

It deserves consideration if you want over-ear ANC, a phone/computer multipoint routine and a manufacturer-stated 45-hour ANC-on Bluetooth maximum. Its app and ambient-awareness modes also give a documented way to change how much outside sound is admitted. Compare the operating plan rather than the product headline: the Bluetooth ANC rating is not a wired rating, and the cable's model-side connector remains unclear in Philips' own sheet.

The TAH8000BK/37 is a useful internal comparison if wired ANC or a battery-depleted cable fallback matters more: its manual explicitly describes those 3.5 mm arrangements, and Philips rates 50 hours with Bluetooth ANC on. That does not make it a better fit for every head, or establish better noise reduction. For either model, check the exact U.S. suffix, box contents, source ports and return terms before deciding.

Primary sources: Philips' U.S. TAH6509BK/00 product page, English product specification sheet, TAH6509 user manual, and U.S. support page.