In short, these are the best IEM's I've ever tried, but I'm not 100% convinced that they're worth $300.
I'm not really an audiophile, but I did a lot of research on IEMs (earbuds that sit deep in the ear), and I thoroughly tested a few of my finalists. So, in this review I'm going to compare the Shure SE215's ($99), Shure SE425's ($299), and Etymotic Research ER-4PT's ($299). My main selection criteria were comfort, sound quality, and ability to block out outside noise (note that for this reason I first tried the Bose QuietComfort 20i's, but the active noise canceling pressure made my ears hurt).
SHORT SUMMARY: I easily recommend the SE215's in terms of price-performance; but, if you have more to spend then get the SE425's. The ER-4PT's are very crisp, but they have some significant physical downsides.
LONGER REVIEW:
First of all, I hear that it's important to choose headphones based on the kind of music that you listen to. So, for my tests, I used ten songs representing my favorite genres of EDM (house/trance), synthpop, and pop rock. Songs included Instant Crush (Daft Punk), Good Morning Kaia (BT), Crush (Dave Matthews Band), and A Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay).
Overall, the SE215's are excellent, especially for the price. When switching back and forth between them and the 425's, I could notice a clear difference, but not necessarily a $200 difference. If $200 isn't a huge deal to you, definitely get the 425's; but, I think you'd have to be a very discerning listener to really appreciate the increase in quality.
So what's better about them? Everything is clearer. After listening to the 425's, the 215's feel almost like a light blanket was thrown over the speaker -- everything is just a little muddier and the individual instruments are less clear. There's less separation between the layers. But again, this wasn't a dramatic difference, so you'd still be very safe with the 215's (and I understand that $300 is an insane amount of money for most people to spend on earbuds).
What about the ER-4PT's? They were even clearer, but almost clinically so. It felt a bit like I was in a perfectly empty room listening to every little nuance of the sound, but that sound was less warm than that of the Shures. To be honest, though, this difference was minimal -- in most cases, there wasn't a hugely noticeable difference between the ER-4PT's and the SE425's. I most preferred the Etymotics in songs involving crisp cymbals and complex background noises; but again, it wasn't a huge difference, and overall I slightly preferred the warmer bass of the Shures.
More importantly, I found two dealbreakers that meant I couldn't keep the Etymotics: (1) That crisp clarity of sound sadly translated to the wire as well; every time I moved my head I could powerfully feel/hear the wire moving, to the point that it was quite distracting. I believe that this is called microphonics. (2) The plastic piece connecting the wire going to each ear was surprisingly heavy, to the point that its weight very quickly became annoying compared to the other earbuds.
The other nice thing about the Shures is how easily they slip into your ears. Fair warning that it took me a while to figure out how to get them in right -- I was about to return them because it was so confusing at first, but I watched a youtube video and realized you have to actually significantly bend the rubbery part. Once you get the hang of it, it's extremely fast and easy to fit them in compared to the Etymotics that I really had to work in every time while holding my ear open with my other hand.
So, like I said, I recommend either one of the Shures depending on how much money you can spare on headphones. One other tip, by the way: Be very careful about trying all the different types of tips that are included. I noticed a dramatic difference when I finally found the right set that made a truly tight seal in my ear canal -- the bass became significantly stronger and the overall sound became tighter and cleaner.
Overall, I definitely recommend IEMs over regular earbuds (unless you're riding a bike or something that demands attention), but keep in mind that none of these will fully block out nearby voices on their own -- I needed to play white noise or music to achieve the true isolation I was looking for.
UPDATE AFTER ANOTHER WEEK:
After going back and forth some more between these and the 215's, I can safely say that the 425's are clearly better for anything but casual background listening. For certain songs especially, the 215's now sound like they're covered in a blanket when immediately compared to the 425's -- they're just much duller, muted, and bass-heavy. I'd still certainly recommend them for the price, but I've decided to spend a little more and keep the 425's.
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From the manufacturer
SE425-CL: Clear, Standard 3.5mm detachable cable (64”).
Exploded View Diagram
Above: Take a closer look at legendary Shure quality and superior construction.
Below: Available Options.
- SE425-V+BT2: Silver, Bluetooth 5.0 wireless + Universal 3.5mm remote + mic (Apple & Android)
- SE425-V+UNI: Silver, Universal 3.5mm remote + mic for Apple & Android
- SE425-CL: Clear, Standard 3.5mm detachable cable (64”)
SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
True-to-Life
The SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones feature dual high-definition drivers for accurate, natural sound in a secure, over–the-ear design with innovative detachable cable system.
- Secure, over-the-ear configuration keeps earphones in place and cables out of the way for unmatched, long-wearing comfort.
- Wireless models pair with most phones, laptops and tablets with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and provide up to 10 hours of battery life and 30 feet (10 meters) of wireless range.
- Universal communication models come equipped with remote + mic control and selectable iOS/Android functionality with 3.5 mm connection.
- Inline remote and mic on select models offers seamless control for phone calls, voice commands, and easily accessible operation of volume and music playback.
Key Features
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Two Hi Def DriversDual high-definition drivers (dedicated tweeter and woofer) deliver accurate and natural sound in a convenient and portable package. Sensitivity: 109 dB SPL/mW. Frequency Range: 20 Hz –19 kHz. Speaker Type: Dual High-Definition. Impedance: 20 Ω. Additional specifications are available in the user guide. |
Sound IsolationComfortable sound isolating sleeves block up to 37 dB of ambient noise. Sound isolation technology prevents outside noise from interfering with your listening experience, whether onstage or on-the-go. Shure Sound Isolating Earphones require a proper fit to achieve the best sound. |
Detachable CableDetachable cable system enables multiple connectivity options for long-term device compatibility, upgrades, and ease of maintenance. See below for four different connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Lightning, USB-C, and Universal 3.5 mm. |
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| SE215 | SE425 | SE535 | SE846 | |
| Detachable Cable | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sound Signature | Detailed Sound with Enhanced Bass | Accurate and Balanced Sound | Spacious Sound with Rich Bass | Extended High-End Clarity and Unparalleled Low-End Performance |
| Sensitivity (1kHz) | 107 dB SPL/mW | 109 dB SPL/mW | 119 dB SPL/mW | 114 dB SPL/mW |
| Impedance (1kHz) | 17 Ω | 20 Ω | 36 Ω | 9 Ω |
| Noise Attenuation | Up to 37 dB | Up to 37 dB | Up to 37 dB | Up to 37 dB |
| Frequency Range | 22 Hz – 17.5 kHz / 21 Hz – 17 kHz (SPE) | 20Hz – 19kHz | 18 Hz – 19 kHz / 18 Hz – 19.5 kHz (LTD) | 15Hz – 20kHz |
| Color Options | Black, Blue, Clear, White | Clear, Silver | Clear, Bronze, Red | Black, Blue, Bronze, Clear |
| Available as Wireless? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Already own a pair of SE Earphones with a detachable cable? Convert/upgrade with cable options:
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Bluetooth Earphone Communication CablesConverts all detachable Shure Earphones to wireless, and provides up to 10 hours of battery life with seamless control of playback, volume, phone, and voice commands. Model: RMCE-BT2 (Bluetooth 5.0) |
Lightning Earphone Communication CableEnables direct connection of Shure Earphones to Apple devices with a lightning connection, featuring an integrated DAC/Headphone Amp for 24-bit/48 kHz digital audio and mic + remote for inline control and communication. Model: RMCE-LTG (discontinued) |
USB-C Earphone Communication CableEnables direct connection of Shure Earphones to Android Devices with mini-USB, featuring an integrated DAC/Headphone Amp for 24-bit/96 kHz digital audio and mic + remote for inline control and communication. Model: RMCE-USB (discontinued) |
Universal 3.5 mm Earphone Communication CableEasily switch between Android and iOS in one switch with seamless control of music playback, volume, phone, and voice commands. Will work with all Shure Sound Isolating SE Earphones with detachable cables. Model: RMCE-UNI |
From the brand
Compare with similar items
This Item  Shure SE425 PRO Wired Earbuds - Professional Sound Isolating Earphones with Detailed Sound, Dual-Driver Hybrid, Secure in-Ear Fit, Detachable Cable, Durable Quality - Clear (SE425-CL) |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $269.00 | -5% $17.98 List: $19.00 | $144.90 | -7% $99.00 Typical: $106.89 | -33% $39.99 List: $59.99 | $24.95 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 7 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 7 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 7 | Get it Feb 7 - 9 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Feb 6 | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Comfort | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | AUDIO EQUIP | Solotech Ecom USA | Linsoul Audio | Soundprofessionals |
| connectivity tech | Wired, Wireless | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Bluetooth |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | In Ear | In Ear | In Ear | In Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | 3.5mm Jack | — | Wired | 3.5mm Jack | 3 5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | — | sound isolation | sound isolation | sound isolation | — |
| headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| cable feature | Detachable | Retractable | Detachable | Detachable | Detachable | Retractable |
| control type | Media Control | Media Control | Media Control | Wired cable connection | Media Control | — |
Reviews with images
425s vs 535s vs 530s
This is a review of both the Shure 535s and 425s. I have previously owned the Shure E5s and 530s. I am replacing my 530s because I accidentally left them on a plane in a rush between flights, bummer.So after reading other peoples Amazon reviews of the 425s and the 535s I decided to try the 425s to save some money. My first impressions were: Nice build. Cool detachable wires. I am glad they brought back the formable wire around the ears. The cord is lighter, stronger, and nicer. The cord is not modular anymore. I like the silver color under the clear plastic. They fit kinda differently, mildly uncomfortable in my concha (not the ear canal). The sound is the clearest yet. Where is the BASS? (yes I know how to make a proper seal in my ear canal)I hoped maybe the 425s needed to be broken in properly, though I previously haven't had a need to break in my other Shure headphones. So I let them play for a few days and then tried again, but as I had feared the 425s still sounded very lacking in the low end. The odd part is they can reproduce frequencies all the way down to 20Hz, but they really roll off in volume at about 100Hz. If the music had any mids or highs the bass felt lacking. So I ordered the 535s.First impressions of the 535s: Exactly the same shape as the 425s, the cords are interchangeable and the dimensions are identical. I like having the clear plastic option again but think I prefer the new color on the inside of the plastic style. Here is the bass the 425s lack. The 535s sound very much like the 530s but even clearer. With the increased clarity, they also sound brighter than the 530s.To my ears the 425s and 535s sound the same above about 100Hz. In fact, to me, the 425s sound like a great pair of bookshelf speakers with a misplaced subwoofer. Keeping with the speaker analogy, the 535s would be towers in the same line with the same tweeter and mids but also integrated subs. In terms of production I cannot imagine the 535s cost $200 more to make, but to my ears the 535s are the only way to go. As someone else mentioned if you only listened to older recordings or classical music (without timpani or cannons) the 425s would most likely work well, but they do not work for rock, rap, or electronica.I think I actually would choose the 530s over the 535s or the 425s. The reason is, I find the 535s a bit too bright despite them being clearer (I am the type of listener who prefers tubes and electrostatic speakers). And while the new cables are better, have the formable wire around the ear again, and are replaceable I miss the modular design and don't like how the headphones rotate. Since they rotate around where the wire connects to the headphone it is harder to use the formable wire to maintain the proper alignment in my ear and insert them. All of my comparisons to the 530s are based on memory, because I lost them. I will be returning the 425s and keeping the 535s.I did most of my listening using my zune 120 and hp laptop with a nuforce icon mobile headphone amp using high bitrate ripped wmas and amazon bought mp3s.
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