Ok, my budding audiophiles. It’s time to spend money on headphones. You’re looking in the $100 range. The Shure SE215 may be the ideal entry level headphone for the serious listener. What genres is the SE215 perfect for, and is it a good bang for your buck? Let’s find out in this Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review.
Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review
IN the BOX – Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review
Shure SE215 Sound-Isolating In-Ear Stereo Earphones (Clear)
3 x Pairs of Flex Sleeves (S/M/L)
3 x Pairs of Black Foam Sleeves (S/M/L)
Carrying Case
Limited 2-Year Warranty
FIT and DESIGN – Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review
The Shure SE215 has an over-ear fit, using a memory wire. The buds themselves are shaped to fit the contour of your ears. The result is a very effective sound isolation. In fact, I find Shure to be the best sound-isolating IEM’s on the market. The headphones also come with a detachable MMCX cable, which is easily replaceable. As for durability, they seem like they will be pretty long lasting. Just don’t step on them. #obvi
SOUND – Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review
Snappy, rich and smooth, the SE215 has a lot to offer. Let’s see the breakdown…
Lows
How low does it go? Pretty damn low. Great bass on these buds. It’s dry, grippy and very punchy. Certainly, a fast little headphone that is perfect for pop, hip-hop and EDM. The lows are also quite well separated from the higher frequencies, so you don’t get the muddiness that you find in cheaper headphone models.
Mids
The upper mids are slightly emphasized, causing some harshness that becomes especially apparent when listening to vocals. Even though these headphones have a rich flavor, the slight hollowness in the lower midrange makes them less ideal for rock and roll, especially when listening to full rock choruses. I wouldn’t call this a delicate sounding headphone. It’s got a slight thickness to it, so it misses some of the nuances in texture with respect to acoustic guitars and vocals. Therefore, it’s not perfectly suited to folk music either.
Highs
The highs are quite round, so there is no piercing treble. Again, the SE215 have a rich, almost thick feel to them, which doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a transparent sound, especially in this range. Still, what it lacks in clarity, it makes up for with it’s smoothness. Strings, for example, have a nice rolling quality.
Soundstage
The soundstage is bigger than the average headphone in this price range. You can certainly feel a substantial width, as well as a decent amount of depth.
SUMMARY – Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review
This is a punchy, solid sounding headphone. It’s perfect for pop, hip-hop and EDM. It also works well with classical music. However, I wouldn’t call it the ideal all-rounder; if you purely listen to rock and pop-rock or folk, you might want to keep looking. Otherwise, the SE215 is a great headphone for the new audiophile.
You can find these buds for the best price at:
Audio 46: Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Use our promo code “majorhifi” to get 10% off
Amazon: Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating Earphones with Single Dynamic MicroDriver
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SPECIFICATIONS – Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review
Frequency Range: 22Hz to 17.5kHz
Impedance: 17 Ohms
Sensitivity: 107dB
Isolation: Up to 37dB
Connectors: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo Mini Plug
Cable Length: 1.6m
Weight: 30 g
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