Shure SE Series ErgonomicsThe latest Shure SE535, SE425, SE315, and SE215 earphones are the best universal-fit earphone I’ve experienced regarding the ergonomics of insertion into your ear. The body of the headphones is small, and easily fits within the concha of the ear. An ample array of tips are included --- I personally like the “olive” tips, which are the black, rounded foam tips --- and once you’ve found one that fits, the nozzle is very nicely designed in angle and length to fit perfectly in the ear. The new rotating connector ends, and the angle at which the wire leaves the headphone, allows the cable to easily wrap over the ear without strain. This end of the cable also has a wire stiffener that will take and hold its shape nicely over the ear. The Line-Up
The current Shure line-up of in-ear headphones includes four products: the SE215 ($129 MSRP) single driver; the SE315 ($249 MSRP) single driver with bass port; the SE425 ($349 MSRP) dual driver; and the SE535 ($549 MSRP) with three drivers. Though there are some slight differences, the size and shape of the earpieces in this line are all very similar; all are available in a clear with a clear cable, or in a second color with a black cable. Two headset replacement cables with microphones and player controls are available for use with iDevices and smartphones; simply unplug the stock cable and plug the earpieces into the replacement cable. Sound Quality
During the whole process of refining their headphone’s ergonomics, Shure has also been steadily improving the sound quality. I can think of no point at which a new product introduction has failed to be a sonic improvement over its predecessor, and this latest line-up is no exception. As I worked my way up through the line the balanced character of each headphone impressed me. If Shure’s goal has been to deliver a line of headphones that is faithful to the music, they have done so, and given professionals and consumers alike a great opportunity to hear the music as it was intended to be heard.
Shocked! Shocked, I tell ya! Wow, what a great little headphone. I’m thinking this may be the best sounding sub-$100 in-ear headphone I’ve heard. This is a somewhat bass-heavy headphone with nice tight lows and a tasteful emphasis. It’s slightly lacking in detail in the upper registers, but that is preferable to the common failure at this price where highs can often be strident. The impedance curve also indicates it will be driven well by portable players with little coloration. I’d say this is a great headphone for rockers and urban music thumpists where a solid bass and freedom from harshness will greatly please. Highly recommended!
SE315 – 
With a more neutral presentation than the SE215, the SE315 has a more natural tonal balance with a slight midrange emphasis. The highs sound slightly slower to me than the SE215, and detail is lacking. The dynamics are excellent, however, and coupled with the good spectral balance these cans are solid performers in their category, though I don’t think these have nearly the price performance ratio of the SE215. Still recommended.
SE425 – Now with the addition of a second driver to divvy up the work load, I hear a meatier low end and more finesse in the highs. The bass is not over-emphatic, but is tight, well extended, and quite satisfying. Mid-range balance is excellent and blends well into the higher ranges, and the treble is nicely detailed with little sign of harshness. I like these headphones, and think the $100 step up to them from the SE315 a worthy investment. Recommended.
SE535 – Ahhh! Someone slipped liquid gold into my ears! The genies at Shure did some real magic here. A look at the squarewave response will show that they’re playing some interesting games with the tweeter crossover to speed up transitions and it certainly shows up in the sound of these cans. The highs are airy and deep, mids are pure gold, and the low end is bottomless. Short of spending the big bucks on a pair of JH13 custom earphones, these are the best sounding universal fit in-ear headphone I’ve experienced. Highly, highly recommended.
Frequency response of the Shure SE family of in-ear headphones. Summary Shure’s efforts to evolve ergonomically correct and excellent sounding headphones have born some delicious fruit with this line-up. All of these headphones fit extremely well in the ear and are very secure on the head. The build quality and features are excellent across the board. All these headphones perform well in their price category, but the SE215 and SE535 are, in my mind, the shining stars of the line-up. Replaceable headset cables with microphone and remote switching are available. Thank you Shure, for being thoughtful with your development process and pursuing great sound and a great fit instead of bling. How refreshing! Resources after the video! Download the Shure SE family measurements PDF. Big Head-Fi threads for the SE215, SE315, SE425, and SE535. And a big shout out to HeadRoom for letting me borrow the products for review!
