Stock picture of the Philips SHQ3000 sports actionfit earhook headphones.

Philips SHQ3000 Earhook Earbuds Review

Philips did a complete turnaround when they developed these Philips SHQ3000 Action Fit Earhook Sports Headphones. These are so much better than the SHQ1000-28 offering.

Unlike some of the other earhook-featuring earbuds we’ve reviewed, these Philips SHQ3000s route the audio cable in a better way.  They use the earhook itself as a router.  So, the cable exits the earbud at the far end of the earhook, not at the bottom.  This way, jerks and pulls do not dislodge the ear piece nearly so much as earlier designs.  Detail: The earhook here is a hollow tube. Then through this, they route the cable from the ear speaker. It goes around the outer ear, and then leaves the earhook at the bottom of the ear, behind the lobe.





This makes it harder to pull out the earbud, should you tangle a pumping arm in the cables. Why?  Because this design allows the cable to leave the earbud from behind the ear, not from in front.  So you have the added restraining that your ear lobe provides.  This better secures the earbud.  It also means that tugs on the cable do not mis-align the ear drivers.  Furthermore, this cuts down on the need to readjust them too much for best sound.  Once you put these on, they indeed stay in place until you remove them.  Why?  Because in this design, the outer ear absorbs much of the pulling before it reaches the bud.

Stock picture of the Philips SHQ3000 sports actionfit earhook headphones held under a water stream.
Philips SHQ3000 sports actionfit earhook headphones under a water stream, stock photo.

Benefits, Features, Pros, and Advantages of the Philips SHQ3000 Earhook Earbuds

Sweat Proof and Washable

First of all, yes, sweat proof, perhaps.  But do not submerse these earbuds, for they are not waterproof.

Performance Guarantee

One year limited warranty.

Durable Cable and Connector

3.5mm gold-plated connector and super flexible audio cable.

The Philips SHQ3000 Ear Buds Have Decent Sound

Frequency response: 15 – 22,000 Hz.  Sensitivity: 102 DB.  Maximum power input: 20 milliwatts.  Impedance: 16 ohms.

Philips indeed traded away the waterproof feature for the greater high fidelity sound of these ported earbuds.  But they left the hallmark durability and ruggedness in this sweat proof and washable model.

Excellent Strain Relief  

supplied at all cable exit points.

Quite Comfortable

Wearing fatigue is low, perhaps due to the low weight of these buds.





Sufficiently Long Cords

You get just over four feet of audio cable.

Very Low Microphonics on the Philips SHQ3000 Earhook Earbuds

Sound and vibrations do not readily reach the earbuds along the audio cable.

Comfortable Fit

Stability, high fidelity sound, and great fit accurately describe the SHQ3000s.

Included Instructions Sheet

They show how to change the ear tips in the included instructions.

Anti Microbial Ear Pads

Three sizes of anti-microbial ear tips included.

Stay in Ear During Exercise

Snug fit and stability fairly describe this earphone set. that you use during intense exercise.

A definite improvement, these Action Fit in-ear, in-canal headphones not only sound much better than those waterproof SHQ1000-28s. But they also feature flexible earhooks.  These are not only comfortable. But they hold the buds stubbornly at the right position in the ear.  Plus, they stay there through even the most strenuous sports-related activities and exercises.





The Philips SHQ3000 Buds Have a Cable Clip for Attaching to Shirt

Find a cable-securing black spring-loaded clip on the cable too. You can move this cable keeper up and down the entire cable length. Used to stop excessive cable flapping during exercise.  Fasten it mid-way up to your clothing for best results.

Travel Case Included

There’s also a black carrying pouch to put your earbuds in when not in use.

Endure Most Workout Environments

Work well in both indoor and outdoor exercising.  However, due to the ports, avoid exposure to heavy rain.

Noise Isolating

These phones block surrounding environmental noises very little.  This helps ensure your safety while riding or jogging along busy streets.

Stereo Channels Marked on Each Earbud

They clearly mark each headphone at the top of the cable strain relief stem.  It has a white letter on a black background.  This indicates either left (L) or right (R) channel.

Almost Flat Frequency Response on the Philips SHQ3000 Earphones

Not overdone on the bass, and plenty of clear-sounding treble

Attractive Colors

The SHQ3000s we bought look as follows.

  • They have a red cable.
  • White-backed driver units (speakers).
  • Red strain relievers for the cords on the jack body.
  • Red anti-microbial ear tips with black stripes on the tops of the earhooks.

Compatible with Most Apple Players and Phones

An effective, high-performing accessory for iPod and iPod Touch media players.





In-Bed Listening

Comfortable to listen to in bed, no matter what your head position is on your pillow.

Reasonable Price

We paid $25 roughly for the SHQ3000s.  For that cost, we like the decent construction and sound.

Stock picture of the Philips SHQ3000 sports action fit earhook headphones along with extra earcushions included.
Philips SHQ3000 sports action fit earhook headphones along with extra earcushions included, stock photo.

Disadvantages, Cons, Limitations, and Problems of the Philips SHQ3000 Sports Earbuds

Not Waterproof

Don’t take them into the swimming pool.

Putting Them In can be Hard

A bit harder to put on than earbuds that do not include earhooks.  How?  Because the hooks often get tangled up with the ear pieces of eyeglasses.

Not Very Sensitive

Volume output is a bit lower than the average of other earphones I’ve tested.

The Philips SHQ3000 Earbuds Must Go Into the Correct Ear

The left and right earbuds are not interchangeable.  Insert them backwards (right bud into left ear, and left bud into right ear).  Then, they neither fit as well, sound as good, nor are they as comfortable.

Some Audio Spill

So avoid playing these too loudly on trains, planes, and buses.  But if you don’t, you might disturb other passengers and force them to hear your music as well.





No Mic, Volume, or Pause Play Buttons

No microphone or remote control in this model.  However, they designed these for sports applications. So we expect that a remote at least, would get little use.  Since such remotes tend to feature very small buttons, it’d be hard to work them while exercising.

Our Rating for the Philips SHQ3000 Earhook Sports Earbuds

We rate these sports phones thus, at 95 out of 100.  Indeed, we find them  durable, sounding pretty good, and not overly expensive.  Furthermore, they come with a one-year limited warranty.  Other companies should follow Philips’ lead here, and put the high-quality construction found in these earbuds into their own.  Even non-sports earbuds could benefit from the hearty build techniques found herein. Thus, we suggest these to sports enthusiasts and audiophiles alike.

Where to Buy the Philips SHQ3000 Action Fit Earbuds Earhook Sports Headphones

We bought ours at Walmart.  But you can find them on Amazon, eBay, and other larger online stores and outlets. So look for them in the red, white, and blue box, and the clear plastic inner packaging. Further, a window on the front allows viewing of the headphones and some of the included accessories inside.

Related Posts to Philips SHQ3000 Earbuds

  1. Philips ActionFit SHQ1000-28 Waterproof, Sweat Proof In-Ear Sports Headphones Review
  2. Sony MDR V700 Headphones Review, Dynamic Stereo
  3. Apple Earpods Earbuds Earphones for iPod iPhone Review
  4. Koss Tech 2 Headphones Review, Vintage Stereo
  5. Philips SHS3200 Earhook Sports Headphones Review
  6. iWorld Earbuds, Sonic Series, with Mic Review
  7. Sony MDR 7509HD Professional Headphones Review
  8. Philips SRP5107/27 Universal Remote Control Review
  9. iWorld Sonic Earbuds with Mic Review
  10. Sony MDR 7506 Headphones Review, Studio Monitor

References for the Philips SHQ3000 Action Fit Earbuds

Revision History

  • 2019-03-21: Added tags, meta description, subheadings, and key phrase targeting. Shortened sentences and paragraphs and fixed typos as well.
  • 2017-02-10: Added pictures and revised the tags list.
  • 2015-12-13: Added more appropriate tags.
  • 2015-10-08: Added appropriate tags.
  • 2015-01-10: Revised and extended the content.
  • 2014-11-25: Added white space, adjusted ad placement, extended the References section, and revised the content.
  • 2012-10-03: Originally published this piece.