Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones (Black)

by Shure

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 4.7 x 4.5 inches ; 1.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NDR2PA
• Item model number: SE420-K
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Color: Black

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer What 80 Years of Audio Experience Sounds Like Today

If you’re as passionate about audio as the musicians who use our microphones, you deserve the legendary performance of Shure earphones. As a leader in the professional audio industry for over 80 years, we’re proud to bring you personal listening products that reflect our experience and ongoing pursuit of audio perfection--and the new SE line of sound-isolating earphones is the latest step in approaching that perfection.

Isolation, not Cancellation

Shure Sound Isolating Earphones are unlike headphones that feature noise canceling technology. For listeners seeking maximum audio fidelity, the differences are key. Noise cancellation technology uses active circuitry to counteract background noise, which may introduce artifacts into your audio. Sound isolating earphones comfortably fill the ear canal and naturally block most background noise for a clear, detailed listening experience--all without the need to listen at high volumes which may risk damaging your hearing.

Legendary Performance At Any Level
Each model has its own unique sound characteristic, providing increased range and detail as you move up the line:

SE210 (white) / SE210-k (black): High-quality on-the-go audio utilizing Hi-Definition MicroSpeakers to deliver full range audio, the ergonomic design of the SE210 is ideal for premium on-the-go listening. The SE210 also offers a flexible design for multiple wearing positions.
SE310 (white) / SE310-k (black): Breathtaking sound and style featuring Hi-Definition MicroSpeakers with a Tuned BassPort, the SE310 delivers extended range audio and optimized low-end performance. The SE310 also offers a flexible design for multiple wearing positions.
SE420 (white) / SE420-k (black): Heart-pounding performance featuring Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers, the SE420 uses a dedicated tweeter and woofer to provide a detailed sound stage. Lows, mids, and highs are distinct and defined for accurate reproduction of all the details of your music.
SE530/SE530PTH: Pure audio precision--the SE530 uses Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers to create an expansive sound stage. A dedicated tweeter ensures that highs and mids are incredibly accurate and detailed, while dedicated dual woofers provide balanced, full-bodied bass. The Push-To-Hear Control (included with the SE530PTH) adjusts levels of external sound for maximum intelligibility.

Product Description

Heart-pounding performance featuring Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers, the SE420 uses a dedicated tweeter and woofer to provide a detailed sound stage. Lows, mids, and highs are distinct and defined for accurate reproduction of all the details of your music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

164 of 168 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shure SE420s Better than the SE530s: A Scientist's Conclusions, March 19, 2010

By 

Timothy Schmidt "loves two day shipping" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones (Black) (Electronics)

Preface: I am a medical scientist and performed a scientific comparison (as best I could) of the SE310, SE420, and SE530 Shure earphones. I used an iPod Touch 3G, playing mp3s encoded at 256 mbps. I listened to various types of music, including classical (Mendelssohn), pop (Lady Gaga), rock (Rodrigo y Gabriela), and "alternative" (Regina Spektor).

Analysis:

Comfort - This is an under-appreciated quality of earphones because - no matter how good a pair sounds - comfort will always get you in the end. The SE530s and SE420s are more comfortable than the SE320s. I'm not sure why this is, but it is probably a combination of factors. One, the actual plastic tubes that the sound comes out of are larger in the SE420s and 530s, making them less "pokey" when placing them in your ears. Two, though the SE310s are smaller and lighter, the do not nestle into the ear as well and thus the fit is less secure.

Style - Try to get the black earphones of any of these models as they are less bright than the white models. Because the SE310s don't fit as well, they stick out from the ears and look a little silly. The SE530s and 420s are more natural shapes, and fit in the ear a little more nicely (though they are large and still quite visible). The 530s have a plastic bronze exterior that may or may not please you.

Sound - You may think that this is the most important category, and it probably technically is. But I have a Southpark-esque truth to tell: The difference in sound between the SE310s and the trice-as-expensive SE530s is minimal. Yes, the SE530s have THREE "microspeakers" with two dedicated "woofers". However, these woofers are not meant to increase bass. They are only meant to give a more accurate representation of bass (i.e. each speaker tiny speaker does not have to handle the entirety of the bass output). This means less distortion on the low end. However, I was not able to detect a difference between the SE420s and 530s in terms of bass distortion or richness.

Soundstage was the major differentiating factor between the three models. The upper two models had more soundstage (i.e. the sounds of a complexly-produced album (e.g. 11:11 by Rodrigo y Gabriela) sound like they are coming from multiple directions and distances, making the listening experience very interesting and rich). I vigorously compared the SE530s and 420s and could detect differences, but my preference for which was BETTER was inconsistent. That is, sometimes the SE530s sounded better and sometimes the SE420s sounded better.

Hiss on mp3 players and my computer was a problem with the SE530s. I tested them using my Acer laptop, my Sansa Fuze mp3 player, and my iPod touch 3G. Each of those output devices created a very audible hiss in the SE530s. This is a major problem if you plan to listen to music as low decibel levels to save your hearing (which is, I think, one of the major advantages of noise-isolating earphones such as these). The audible hiss is due to the unnecessarily high sensitivity of the SE530s. Others have had this problem (see: [..]). The hiss was attenuated in the SE420s and almost gone in the SE310s. The only solution is to use the in-line attenuator supplied with the SE420s and 530s with the volume on the mp3 player turned up and the attenuator turned down. These is no reduction in sound quality with use of the attenuator.

Noise Isolation - Isolation was similarly excellent in all three models. This is perhaps my favorite feature of the Shure line and what makes them my earphone of choice. The SE530s come with a push-to-hear in-line microphone. This seems to be a useful feature when you find you can't hear your friends' words when you are playing music with these earphones in. However, the push-to-hear mechanism is bulky and irritating to use. You will most likely rarely use it if you get it. Also, in order to hear the external world, simply pause your music. Your ears adjust to lower decibel levels (the stapedius muscle - wiki it) with these earphones in and are quite sensitive to outside sounds without music playing.

Conclusion:

One of the popular reviews of the SE530s states that a comparison of the SE420s and 530s is wise considering the price difference. I did that comparison and concluded that the SE530s are NOT superior. Perhaps for an highly trained ear, there are consistent differences. But I would contend that just because there are differences doesn't meant that the SE530s are preferable. However, the SE530s are considerably more expensive and I suspect that they are quite a profit center for Shure (i.e. they don't cost that much more to make but are able to pull in people who "just want the best").

The SE310s are excellent and I highly recommend them. I ultimately stuck with the SE420s because of their greater comfort and soundstage - but those differences were quite marginal.

If you don't believe that the differences in sound are marginal, try buying all three models, doing a scientific comparison, and returning the two losers.

I highly recommend the SE420s. They provide incredible sound quality, comfort, and noise isolation. They will save your hearing while allowing you to appreciate the sweet details of your music that you have been missing out on!

If you have enjoyed my review, please click the button right below this indicating that it has been helpful. Thanks!

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars E2, E3, SE420--all good choices, August 26, 2007

By 

Daniel Leithauser (Grand Junction, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones (Black) (Electronics)

As I indicated in a prior review, I purchased some E3's to upgrade from my E2 when I bought a new ipod. I loved the E2's and as expected the E3 were even better--with more definition at all frequencies and sound levels.

Earbuds (or plugs) definitely have some sweet fit spots to get optimal bass and avoid some tinniness that you can hear when they are not inserted or sitting correctly in your ear. Shure provides a number of ear plug options to help everyone find something they like.

Now, I have compared the E3, the SE420, and my Bose Quiet Comfort headphones sitting in the rear of a jet while traveling (next to the engine). The less expensive E3 beat out the Bose headphones with better high and middle end definition and equivalent outside sound isolation. The Bose headphones have a bit better low end.. but nothing is bone shaking with earphones or headphones anyway. I almost think that the Bose headphones seem muddy in the mid and upper end after listening to the E3 and SE420. The SE420, in my opinion has a richer sounding mid end then the E3, while handily beating the Bose headphones. I think that the bass and most of the high end frequencies are about the same in the E3 and SE420--maybe pushing your budget to purchase the E3 or equivalent... since the E3 cost $179 or so, and the SE420 cost $350.

As for Shure customer service--I had a suspected loose wire in one of the E3 earphones (used for 8 months) leading to dropouts when I would move my head. I got a return form off the Shure website--filled it out and sent it along with a copy of my receipt to Shure. Within 10 days, they had sent out a completely new pair at no charge. THAT is great service. In the meantime I purchased the SE420's while I was waiting for my E3 "repair". I just had to have another pair and my budget could tolerate a higher price point.

I understand why price does come into some consideration on rating, and $350 (at an Apple retail store) is pretty high end for earphones, but considering these SE420's sound better (to me) than the E3--I am only rating sound quality. With price considered, the SE420 would probably only get a 4, simply because the E3 is a great value.

I would recommend the entire line of Shure earphones, buying whichever one best fits your budget.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SE420 - A Step In A Different Direction, January 11, 2008

By 

Jon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones (Black) (Electronics)

The Shure SE420 may be a dual driver design but it does not sound as so. I purchased these earphones to upgrade from my older pair of Shure E3c's and I was expecting to hear a quality difference between a wideband driver vs a dual driver design. I was shocked after spending time with these that suffice it to say they don't sound any different from my older pair. I had the chance to try out a pair of SE210's as well and I think the SE210's sounded the same as well. Sound is hard to really put into words though so everyone is subjective to there own opinion and experience. However I would like to add that I did my listening experience with these earphones during the day for a few hours and during the night for 6 hours. Day vs Nightime listening is the tests I put these through and for me I am able to hear clearer when I am relaxed so nightime was when I was hopeful to hear a difference but overall I did not hear anything new I could during the day. The bass and midrange don't seem to have any noticeable difference with the added driver vs a single driver design. I tried listening through several sources and it did not make a difference but overall I used a CD player as that was the highest quality source I had.

Comfort wise though the SE series from Shure is much more comfortable to place in your ear and comes with a greater variety of eartips. You don't have to squish the foam tips to place them in your ears. Rather you can just insert them with a bit of a twist. The cables are nice and sturdy and would take some effort to really break so they can stand up to abuse.

Perhaps you might buy these earphones even so and I still recommend you give them a try if you want. You never know how they will sound until you hear them but as for my experience these dual driver earphones don't sound as though they are dual drivers to my ears!

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