Headphones
Shure SE425
Shure's audiophile earphones offer a distinctly rich sound with accurate musical detail at all frequencies, along with a comfortable in-ear fit suitable even for newcomers. The SE425 balanced armature contains tweeter/woofer micro-driver transducers arrayed within each earpiece for the ultimate in clear music reproduction and spacious instrumental separation. The choice for listeners wanting to bring true "listening room" sound quality on the road with their portable player of choice. Add a Shure smartphone or iPhone mic'd cable for full telecommunications. Choose Metallic Silver or Clear color.
Sorry, Shure products can only ship within the USA due to manufacturer restrictions!
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Product Features:
- Reference sound and clarity from dual-driver balanced armature design
- Detachable earpieces allow easy cord upgrade or replacement if ever needed
- Shapeable / flexible cable can be routed as desired
- Amongst most comfortable in-ear headphones available
- Free 2-year Shure 'repair or replace' manufacturer's warranty
What's In The Box:
- Shure travel case
- 5 sizes & shapes of eartip sleeves
- 1/4" stereo plug adapter
Applications:
Musicians have known about Shure quality products for decades but it was only with their big splash into the headphone world in the late 1990s that audiophiles got wind of the superior audio performance and great product durability that's made Shure famous for 85 years. Shure's high-end 'SE' series of in-ear monitors have become the defacto standard for serious listeners and music lovers demanding galvanizing sonics, an extra-comfortable wearing experience, and accurate response at all frequencies. The SE425 is designed with discreet dual drivers -- just like many big room speakers -- with separate tweeter / woofer arrays delivering precise timbral detail, fast dynamics and smoothly rendered voicing with a rich tonal palette that synergizes well with most music genres. Expect a tasty but controlled emphasis on the bottom-end buttressing a clearly defined vocal mid-range and spacious, open-toned upper treble response. The overall sound quality differences between this SE425 and three-driver Shure SE535 design remain somewhat nuanced, making this model the obvious 'bang-for-the-buck' favorite for listeners watching the budget. And, although not required, adding a quality headphone amp to the SE425 acts as the final icing on the audio cake, bringing a razorlight focus to the sound while deepening the soundstage image and increasing dynamic range extension. The earplug-like fit of the SE425 provides thorough noise-blocking and excellent listening privacy even in the noisiest environments, like during airline flights or whilst commuting. Highly HeadRoom-recommended product for audiophile mobile/portable listeners and music lovers on the move who demand the best in sound wherever they travel.
Shure's proprietary 'sound isolating' eartip sleeves deliver up to a claimed -37dB of isolation, meaning almost total blocking of ambient noise intrusion. The wide array of accessories and eartip shapes & sizes included with the SE425 ensures a comfortable wearing experience without the overly fastidious fit procedures of some deeper-inserting IEM brands. Remember to try all the various SE425 tip sets for the very best fit and, thus, the best sound quality performance. You can then (eventually) purchase a pack of your favored Shure tips separately and you're good to go for years. The SE425's cool detachable cable with 'wire-flex' routing enables easy cord replacement if ever needed, extending the life of your sonic investment while also offering a comfortable fit. Another of the SE425's big design advancements is their lightweight low-profile earpiece/ergonomics with an optimized earpiece nozzle angle specially designed by Shure engineers to rest comfortably within the ear. A handy over-the-ear cord routing style keeps cables out of the way and the user-detachable cable features a unique 'wire-form' flexible fit with durable Kevlar-reinforced sheathing, which allows for quick replacement or -- even better -- some serious high-end cable customization down the road. Gold-plated MMCX connector into the SE425 earpieces has a solid lock-snap mechanism for full 360 degree rotation ensuring comfortable fit and long-life product durability without worries.
NOTE: The free Shure 2-year manufacturer's product warranty on the SE425 remains in effect ONLY when proof-purchased (keep that receipt!) from verified Shure-authorized dealers, like HeadRoom.
Specifications:
- Headphone Type: In-Ear
- Connector Type: 1/8
- Isolation: -15dB ~ -35dB
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 37 Ohms
- Detachable Cable: Yes
- Cord Length: 5.2ft
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Ear Coupler Type: IEM
- Driver Type: Balanced Armature
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years
- Sensitivity: 109 dB
Average Rating
Posted by reeltime from Studio City, CA on 2013-05-07
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Great Sound
Cons: Horrible ergonomics
So when Shure announced the update and style change-- I approached with skepticism-- though Shure rarely gets a product wrong.
Sound-- well the sound is probably an upgrade over the E4C. The bass sounds deeper and more extended-- it's fair to say they're a nice sounding earbud.
HOWEVER-- to get all that bass into my skull there was only 1 tip that worked-- the triple flange. The tip extends so deep into the ear canal, the only phrase which appropriately describes the experience is ear rape. Yes, ear rape.
I am willing to go through great drama for great sound (most of us shopping here will do so). But I can't imagine spending more than 10 minutes with this silicon lodged deep inside my skull. It's beyond awkward and you are always aware they are there-- which distracts from the listening experience.
I can't recommend this earbud. Shure is a great company with excellent customer service. But pass on these-- there are equal or better buds for the price-- and they won't violate your ear canals.
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Posted by jonny on 2012-01-05
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: sound quality, sound isolation, durability
Cons: expensive
The sound quality on these is amazing, though those looking for booming base will be disappointed. You can certainly here the lowest frequency base your music has to offer, it's just balanced rather than over-amplified. I've found that you need to listen to these at medium-high volume for the best sound, and at low volumes certain aspects of the music fade.
If you can deal with the unique feel/fit of in-ear headphones, then you should be fine with these. They are a bit bigger than the E4C model, and as a result they push a bit on the front of your ear which can get uncomfortable after a couple hours of listening.
I recommend these headphones, though if you've never tried in-ear headphones before, it might be worth starting with a cheaper pair to see if the fit/style works for you.
edit: I've recently been using these with an Audinst MX2 DAC/AMP at home, and a Fiio E10 at work. These headphones sound SO much better with a good dac/amp combo, rather than straight from my laptop. Honestly, if you're going to spend this much on headphones, at least get the $80 Fiio E10, you will be very happy that you did. They sound richer, clearer, and the bass just sounds so much cleaner.
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Posted by Joshwuh from United States on 2011-07-05
Recommend Product: Yes
18 out of 34 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
