Tag Archives: shure

10 Best Headphone Christmas Gifts 2014 – Under £250

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With Christmas coming, we thought it would be a good idea to suggest what we think are the best headphone gift ideas our site has to offer. Here is a rundown of our favourite headphones, earphones, portable players (DAP), amps and DAC’s that 2014 has to offer.

SOUNDMAGIC ES20

SoundMAGIC ES20 – £24.95

Coming in under £30, the ES20 punches well above its weight. The build quality is superb with braided cables and tough speaker housing. The sound quality will blow you away – fun and punchy with great detail!

Similar Items – Fidue A31s £19.99 | DUNU DN12 £29.99

Shure SE112 – £42.99

Shure are famous for their high end IEMs, but their lower priced earphones follow Shure’s high standards. The SE112’s build quality is very solid and comfortable. The sound is rich with plenty of power and smooth detail – these earphones will sound great with whatever you throw at them. There is also the Shure SE112M+ for those who will use them with a smartphone.

Similar Item – SoundMAGIC E10S £39.99

SoundMAGIC P30S – £69.99

SoundMAGIC’s new portable on ear, the P30S, not only sounds great but it can work with any smartphone out there – thanks to their compatibility switch you can manually set the headphones to work with your phone. The P30S is extremely comfortable and folds up nicely for easy storage. The sound is fun and punchy with plenty of detail and great bass!

Similar Items – Sennheiser PX100-IIi £44.95 | SoundMAGIC P21S £49

Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear – £89.99

For the asking price, the Momentum In-Ear is incredible value; giving great sound as well as swish styling and all in a very rugged and classy looking case. They are available in versions compatible with Apple devices as well as Android, so you needn’t be cutting down your choice of handsets with the Momentum In-Ear.

Similar Items – Beyerdynamic MMX102iE £79.99 | RHA MA750i £89.95

FiiO X1 – £99.99

Now that high quality audio is becoming more commonly available, it is time to upgrade your music player. The FiiO X1 supports very high audio (up to 192kHz/24bit) and will play most formats (APE/AAC/FLAC/ALAC/WMA/WAV/MP3) – most devices like mobile phones and more basic players can’t handle the higher quality and different audio formats. There is enough power to drive some of the more demanding headphones and the sound is crystal clear and very well balanced. The X1 will hold one micro SD card – with this you can have up to 128GB of storage.

Similar Item – FiiO X3 £159.99

FiiO E18 – £119.95

For anyone who listens to their music or watches films from their android phone, laptop or desktop computer – the FiiO E18 is a must have. Not only is it a powerful headphone amplifer, able to be used with most devices, it is also a DAC. This means that you can connect it to your computer or phone and the E18 will take over all of the audio processing and amplification – giving you extremely high quality sound on the go.

Similar Item – FiiO E07K £79.95

Audio Technica ATH-OX5 – £129.99

New on the scene, the ATH-OX5 by Audio Technica is possibley the best sounding on-ear portable headphone in it’s price range. For less than £130 you get amazing sound – tight bass, clear detail and lots of energy. The OX5 also has replaceable cables with an option for an in-line mic and controls for smartphones. These are perfect for anyone looking for an affordable on-ear headphone to use with their phone, music player or other portable device.

Similar Items – Audio Technica ATH-AX5iS £74.99 | Sennheiser Urbanite £149.99

Jaybird Bluebuds X – £149.95

In-ear headphones are becoming more and more popular, so it makes sense to have an in-ear Bluetooth headphone. Jaybird have done this very well with a great sounding earphone that has a fairly balanced yet warm sound. They are also very comfortable and come with a number of different ear tips. Another great feature is that they are very secure in the ear, so they are popular amongst the more active user too.

Similar Item – Jaybird Freedom £94.95

Sennheiser RS170 – £162.95

Another popular idea is the wireless Sennheiser RS170 full-size headphone. The RS170 can be used all around the home, so that unmissable TV moment might never elude you again! Also the RS170 is excellent for music, and features an enhancing ‘bass boost’ feature for a little extra kick. Being a closed-back design, they afford good privacy and so you need not disturb others while rocking out.

Similar Items – Sennheiser RS120-II £99.95 | Sennheiser SET 840TV £219.95

Pioneer SE-MX9 – £249.99

For those that like their bass – look no further! We feel that the Pioneer SE-MX9 truely are Beats beaters. They have the big bass but they also have great detail and an open sound. The quality of the bass is extremely good with no bloatedness or muddyness – you hear every detail in the music. Not only do they sound better, but they are cheaper than Dr Dre’s Beats too!

Similar Items – Sennheiser Urbanite XL £199.99 | Sennheiser HD7 DJ £229.95

 

Shure SRH1540 and SRH1840 – Shure’s Flagship Showdown

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Shure’s recent flagships, the closed-back SRH1540 and the open-back SRH1840 have teamed up to bring the price of great quality headphones under the £500 mark – but not at the expense of quality or an extremely enjoyable listen. We decided to note down some impressions; both to explain just how these headphones are so good, and also because it was such a great excuse to try them for a while..

Shure SRH1840

Totally immersive – don’t forget your life jacket and emergency flares for when you inevitably get lost in there. It’s unusual for a highly esteemed brand’s flagship headphone such as the Shure SRH1840 to be going for under £500 (particularly headphones as good as this), so take advantage of Shure’s generosity! – Read the full review HERE

Shure SRH1540

As I come to appreciate slightly brighter headphones and presentations, the SRH1540 is one of the guiding lights along the way. The balance of lightness and impactful bass makes for a wonderful sense of space, realism and.. fun! Even the heaviest rock can be made to prance, skip and gambol yet retain its innate power. – Read the full review HERE

Shure SRH1840 Review – Yes We Shure Can!

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Verdict

Totally immersive – don’t forget your life jacket and emergency flares for when you inevitably get lost in there. It’s unusual for a highly esteemed brand’s flagship headphone such as the Shure SRH1840 to be going for under £500 (particularly headphones as good as this), so take advantage of Shure’s generosity!

Pros

  • Sound Superb
  • Comfort
  • Spares included
  • Removable cable

Cons

  • Some may find headband underpadded

Despite the recent growth of the headphones market and the high standards attained by makers generally, it’s easy to recognise products Shure puts out; always nice to the touch as well as the ear, solidly built and sounding great. So with heavy hearts we find another predictably fantastic pair of headphones for review!

Key Features

Shure has seen fit to include some spare earpads and a spare cable with this model, as it has with the SRH1540. Spending this kind of money on headphones probably gets people searching for extra value and they won’t be disappointed here. Also a storage case is included.

First Impressions

Having not long put down the SRH1540, it was surprising how light the SRH1840 still felt. These headphones are almost not even there, particularly when worn. Some would prefer more padding on the headband, but the negligible weight is borne mostly by the earpads.

Sound Quality

Warm without being bassy, crisp without being strident – Shure has really done a good job here. Things can get a little harsh with a raft of flutes playing, but that’s the nature of the sound which the SRH1840 brings out faithfully. Also an amp will be an advantage – the impedance and sensitivity of the SRH1840 is not suited to being used straight out of a portable player or phone. My Fiio X3 can power them but seem as if it is straining a bit. An E12 gave a more relaxed presentation, and the bass boost was not lost on the SRH1840, giving some added weight to proceedings. There may be a bit of a bump on the SRH1840 at the top and bottom ends of the range, but midrange is still fully represented.

Summary

Close to perfect. For those who want just a little more detail without spilling over into strident territory the Shure SRH1840 is certainly worth considering. Together with the modest price and incredible comfort, the SRH1840 is a flagship model indeed!

Score 9.5/10

Shure SRH1540 Review – Light Luxury

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Verdict

As I come to appreciate slightly brighter headphones and presentations, the Shure SRH1540 is one of the guiding lights along the way. The balance of lightness and impactful bass makes for a wonderful sense of space, realism and.. fun! Even the heaviest rock can be made to prance, skip and gambol yet retain its innate power.

Pros

  • Great comfort
  • Light
  • Solid Build

Cons

  • No carry case as such

Shure’s recently released SRH1540 follows some very good quality headphones and experiences in general with Shure’s products. Does this top notch closed-back deserve to be at the top of this pleasant pile?

Key Features

The Shure SRH1540 comes with a removable cable of good quality, and porous earpads – this may improve soundstage over the more traditional style but it does leak sound a little. Also Shure has provided a spare cable and a further pair of earpads which is always a good touch. A great quality case brings up the rear; this is more of a storage case than a carry case however.

First Impressions

As with most of Shure’s range, the feel of quality is apparent; but not at the expense of weight. It’s a little like a sports car; the available power is hidden away in preference of styling but it’s obviously under the hood, and in spades.

Sound Quality

Straight away, the sports car analogy comes back. The presentation is one of speed, agility and lightness. The Shure SRH1840 is not what I would call top heavy, but the upper frequencies are well represented in relation to the bass. Snares give a good realistic crack, but this doesn’t spill over into anything too bright. The rubber still meets the road in terms of bass however – it’s well controlled, impactful, and goes low if called for. Midrange doesn’t take a backseat exactly, but there is a slight recess in that range. Soundstage and separation are very good, with plenty of space left in the presentation for subtler parts such as reverb tails.

Summary

The Shure SRH1540 has its work cut out when it comes to outshining its esteemed siblings. But for me, the SRH1540 is a current favourite. It gives good weight and rich harmonics are brought out adding realism and depth to vocals and the like. It’s a full-size headphone which thinks it’s a portable, and it’s just as at home in either scenario.

Score 9.5/10

Shure SE112 In-Ear Sound Isolating Earphones Review

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Shure SE112 In-Ear Sound Isolating Earphones

Hifi Headphones Rating – 9 out of 10

Price – £46

Buy Shure SE112 In-Ear Sound Isolating Earphones here

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Nice rounded capsule housing design
  • Non-removeable cable – similar in build to that of Shure’s other cables
  • Good level of bass and detail
  • Can be worn with the cable up or down
  • 2 year warranty period

Cons

  • Some may find the cable a little ungainly for a budget in-ear
  • Capsule housing can stand proud of the ear when worn

Summary

Shure has obviously been looking at how the in-ear market has been developing; the popularity of the sub-£50 in-ear headphone has inspired a new addition to its esteemed lineup in the form of the SE112.

As can be expected, the included accessories are basic and limited in number. There’s 3 pairs of eartips (S,M & L) and a wax loop tool for maintenance. Also there’s a little velour draw-string bag for storage.

Key Features

  • Impedance 16 Ohms
  • Sensitivity 105 dB
  • Dynamic microdriver

The Shure cable features a right-angle jack, much like other higher-value models; strain reliefs are moulded as part of the capsule housings in keeping with the rounded look of the SE112.

First Impressions

Shure has taken a departure from their usual in-ear designs; previous housings have been designed to sit fully in the ears’ conchas. The SE112 is similar in its rounded and shaped style but is appreciably smaller; isolation is not affected however, these really take down the volume of everything around which might compete for the wearer’s attention.

Sound Quality

The SE112 compares favourably to similarly-priced equivalents. They have a warm, smooth bass without being boomy, and have a clear midrange. Higher frequencies are rolled off a little. When compared to the scene-stealing SoundMAGIC E10 of recent years, the SE112 is certainly a contender.

The sound is much like that of the E10 but differs slightly; there’s a little more high-frequency rolloff (but not much), however what appeals to me is the low-mid or upper bass area, there’s a lovely chunky-silky quality to it which I always enjoy when listening to 70s rock and library music.

Verdict

The SE112 is a very likeable earphone for its modest price; the build quality is reminiscent of higher value models and they are very comfortable. The isolation renders me virtually incommunicado.

Shure has stuck with its 2 year warranty which pushes up the value for money aspect somewhat, not that any part of the SE112 is weak or looks vulnerable to accidental damage.

My verdict is that I’m buying them right now!

Shure SRH1840 Professional Reference-Class Open Back Studio Headphones – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Professional Reference-Class Open Back Headphone from Shure, the SRH1840 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Let us introduce the flagship of Shure’s reference-class headphone line, the SRH1840. The Shure SRH1840 open back headphones have been developed with premium materials and precision engineering. They are ideally suited to professional recording, mastering and audiophile listening applications.

Shure’s SRH 1840 features individually matched drivers for unparalleled acoustic performance with smooth, extended highs and accurate bass. Custom-crafted, the Shure SRH1840 is extremely lightweight and durable. Steel driver frame with vented centre pole piece improves linearity and eliminates internal resonance for consistent performance at all listening levels. Individually matched 40 mm neodymium drivers for unparalleled acoustic performance with smooth, extended high-end and accurate bass.

An included storage case, replacement set of velour ear pads, and an additional cable ensures years of uninterrupted listening enjoyment.

  • Open-back, circumaural design for exceptionally natural sound
  • Lightweight construction featuring aircraft-grade aluminium for enhanced durability.
  • Steel driver frame improves linearity and eliminates internal resonance
  • Ergonomic dual-frame, padded headband is lightweight and fully adjustable
  • Oxygen-free copper cable (OFC) with Kevlar reinforced jacket
  • Dual-exit cables with gold-plated MMCX connectors
  • Replaceable velour ear pads with high density, slow recovery foam
  • Additional cable and zippered storage case included

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Shure SRH1840 Professional Reference-Class Open Back Studio Headphones

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Shure SE846 Quad Balanced Armature In-Ear Monitor Earphones – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Quad Balanced Armature In-Ear Monitor Earphone from Shure, the SE846 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Shure’s SE846 represents the pinnacle of personal monitor technology. Equipped with four dedicated high-definition balanced armature drivers and innovative low-pass filter the SE846 offers unparalleled True Subwoofer bass performance whilst retaining harmonious sound across the entire frequency range.

Shure have configured the SE846 in a three way system with dedicated drivers for bass, midrange and trebles to ensure an even distribution of sound. Advanced low-pass filters enable unequalled True Subwoofer low-end without distortion. User replaceable audio filters offer fine-tuning of the frequency response for a more balanced, warmer or brighter sound stage, making the SE846 a versatile music machine.

To ensure a comfortable listening experience with high sound isolation the SE846 have been ergonomically designed to prevent external noise from tainting the sound. As every ear is different Shure has included a broad array of eartips in different variations to ensures the perfect seal in any ear canal.

With customisable sound, replaceable cables and a wide selection of accessories the Shure SE846 universal monitors are sure to enthral music enthusiasts.

Features

  • Quad High-Definition Balanced Armature MicroDrivers with True Subwoofer
  • Extended high-end clarity and unparalleled low-end performance
  • Removable frequency filters allow adjusting of sound signature
  • Sound isolating sleeves block ambient noise
  • Robust, ergonomic housing with sweat-resistant construction
  • Secure over-the-ear cable configuration
  • Rugged Kevlar reinforced detachable cable
  • MMCX connector with lock-snap mechanism
  • Formable wire ensures secure placement
  • Wide variety of accessories

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Shure SE846 Quad Balanced Armature In-Ear Monitor Earphones

Review: Shure SE in-ear sound isolating headphone range

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Review: Shure SE in-ear sound isolating headphone range

 

If you’ve decided you like in-ear sound isolating earphones it’s quite likely that you have come across theShure SE in-ear sound isolating headphone range . This round-up is a brief review summary of Shure’s range of ear canal headphones.

Shure have a long heritage of designing microphones and earphones for the professional audio industry. Shure’s build quality is normally excellent, you get good value for money and their headphones come with a reassuring 2 year Shure warranty. Shure’s previous range of ear canal headphones (EC2 and EC3) were generally very well regarded and the SE range is the evolutionary next step.

So let’s see what they have to offer…

Shure SE110 and SE210 – entry level

Currently the entry level in-ear headphone is the Shure SE110 sound isolating earphone. The SE110 is a very worthwhile upgrade from standard iPod headphones. You will be able to hear detail in your music that you simply could not hear before. Saying that the SE110 does lack the bass punch that many listeners expect when upgrading to a more ‘expensive’ pair of headphones.

Shure SE110

The Shure SE210 earphone adds another layer of definition and a small amount more bass response than the SE110. For the modest difference in price it really is worth upgrading to the SE210’s.

Shure SE210

Both the SE110 and SE210 earphones are very sensitive and you may find that you have to watch the volume levels. For example when listening to an iPod Nano I found that anywhere over half volume is too much for extended periods. With the standard iPod headphones I regularly listened upto 75% volume. This is partly due to the fact that they are sound isolating and your music is not competing with the sounds around you, but is also due to the sensitivity of the headphones. It’s unlikely you will want a headphone amp with either the Shure SE110’s or SE210 headphones.

Shure SE310 – midrange

The Shure SE310 earphone is still just a single armature driver design, but the sonic clarity is absolutely spot on. The single speaker design gives the SE310 the advantage that it’s smaller than it’s bigger brothers (the SE420 and SE530). This mid-range offering from Shure has quite a bit of competition, including the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro, but holds it’s own with the best of them.

Shure SE310

While the SE range are ideal iPod headphones you will only really get the best from your headphones when listening to uncompressed (e.g. AAC and FLAC) digital music. If you try listening to poor quality, low bitrate MP3’s you may be disappointed by all the sonic artefacts you can hear in your music, e.g. normally resulting in a ‘crunchy’ sound. If uncompressed audio is not possible then 192Kbps is really a minimum when listening with good quality in ear sound isolating headphones.

Shure SE420 – audiophile quality with twin micro-speakers

This is the first in Shure’s range to introduce the idea of more than one driver within the earphone, much like a multi-way speaker. The Shure SE420 earphone utilizes a dual armature driver, with the lows driven by one driver and the high frequencies driven by another dedicated speaker. The result is an extra clean punch to the bass and a slightly more accurate response across the board than the single driver SE310. Compared to the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro the SE420’s bass response is stronger and overall slightly warmer sounding. If your preference is for clean and accurate response then you may prefer the UE 5 Pro.

Shure SE420

Shure SE530 – top of the range

The flagship in-ear-monitor from Shure is currently the spectacular Shure SE530 earphone. Whilst not cheap, this headphone really is the pinnacle of consumer ear canal headphone technology. The earphone utilizes three tiny micro-drivers, just like a three way HiFi speaker. The end result is an extremely accurate, dynamic earphone with deep, powerful bass response.

The fact that the Shure SE530 headphone contains three speakers does increase the size a little, but the earphone is very comfortable to wear for long periods and is as easy to fit as the other Shure models.

Shure SE530

The bottom line is that the SE530 is one of the best in-ear headphones you will find. The SE530’s sound absolutely stunning, with accurate response across the full frequency range and when called for a deep powerful bass response.