The SRH840 headphones are the priciest of the bunch.
(Credit: Shure)Last month, Shure announced its first foray into the full-size headphone space, but the scope of availability was limited to the U.K. Now, the company is introducing the cans in the U.S. market--a move that's sure to please Shure fans based in the States.
Unlike the company's established in-ear line, the circumaural sets are geared toward at-home listening, particularly for novice DJs and others who are passionate about music but can't afford the professional models on the market. The new line includes three sets, which are outlined below.
- SRH840 Professional Monitoring Headphones: ($199.99) Optimized for studio recording and critical listening, the SRH840 features reference-quality frequency response, rich bass, clear midrange, and extended highs. The model's ergonomic fit and collapsible construction offer added comfort and portability.
- SRH440 Professional Studio Headphones: ($99.99) Tuned to deliver accurate audio reproduction, the SRH440 is optimized for professional audio equipment, including DJ mixers, mixing consoles, and headphone amplifiers. The adjustable headband and collapsible construction make the SRH440 ideal for recording and monitoring.
- SRH240 Professional Quality Headphones: ($59.99) Calibrated for connection to consumer-listening devices and professional equipment such as mixing consoles, the SRH240 headphones reproduce full bass with detailed highs.
As with the in-ear models, these new full-size sets will include Shure's excellent two-year warranty. The release date is ambiguously set as "this summer." My guesstimate? Start looking for these in August.
Q: Recently I have been considering a new pair of headphones because I am getting quite tired of the standard Apple earphones that the iPods come with. I have three products in mind, and I am having trouble deciding which one is the best choice. They include the Bose QuietComfort 3, the Beats by Dr. Dre, and the Shure SE530. As you can tell, they aren't the cheapest ones out there, but price at this point really isn't an issue. Which one out of the three is the most comfortable, has the best audio quality, and is the most durable; again, price really isn't a factor. Thank you very much for your help. -- John, via e-mail.
A: Comfort is a very personal thing, especially when you are comparing such different styles of headphones--in this case, an in-ear canalphone, an on-ear (supra-aural) set, and a full-size (circumaural) pair. Personally, I think they all offer excellent sound quality, although my personal preference probably pushes the Shure to the top with the Bose very slightly under that and then the Monster Beats very slightly beneath those. In any case, you are going to get great audio quality, so narrowing it down will probably come to comfort.
The safest bets in terms of comfort are probably the on-ear style (Bose) and the full-size set (Beats), but here I would eliminate the Beats because I noticed a slight rattle in the right earcup (where the noise-cancellation module is) whenever I walked around with the headphones on. Although it's only a minor annoyance, this leads me to think that Monster needs to fine-tune the design of those headphones before they are a sure-fire winner. Also, some people find that full-size cans make their ears sweat, which can lead to discomfort.
By process of elimination, that leaves us with the Bose, though if you have average-to-large size ears and are looking for something very compact, you would probably be quite satisfied with the Shures as well. However, the large earpieces will not fit all listeners comfortably.
MP3 Mailbox Monday is a recurring feature in which I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, but if you prefer to remain completely anonymous, please state as much in your e-mail.)
The Shure SRH240 headphones are just one of three models set to go on sale in the U.K.
(Credit: Shure)Shure has earned a well-deserved reputation for its high-quality line of in-ear headphones, but curiously, the company has never seen fit to create a line of full-size headphones. That is, until now.
The U.K. arm of Shure is showing off its 2009 product line, which aside from the usual assortment of pro-audio microphones and adapters, includes three pairs of glossy, black, over-ear headphones. The models include the SRH240, SRH440, and SRH840, with prices starting at $114 for the SRH240 up to $229 for the SRH840 (presumably, the SRH440 falls somewhere in between).
No details yet on frequency response, or driver specs, but it looks as though the headphones are geared toward a consumer audience, as opposed to the golden ears of mixing engineers and audiophiles.
U.S. pricing and availability are still unknown, but U.K. heads can expect the rocking to start in July.
(Via Pocket-lint)
Shure has been a well-known brand among audio professionals for decades; heck, the company's SM57-LC microphone has even been used during presidential inaugurations. These days, Shure's consumer-friendly line of sound-isolating earphones get the most attention in mainstream tech press. Models range from the entry-level SE110s for $110 to the audiophile-worthy $500 SE530s. Over the past five years since the introduction of its first consumer line, Shure has remained loyal to a neutral color scheme for its earphones. However, that has changed with the introduction of the SE115, a $120 set that comes in a choice of four colors. But how do they sound? Read on for the answer.
Philips SHE9850
Q: I read that I could send an e-mail for help on products?! I am only 16, so I couldn't really say that I am an audiophile or have mastered the world of sound. I do, however, love music and the art/technology of sound.
I used to own a pair of Shure SE120, which really introduced me to the world of above-standard sound. Those broke twice, but I got a new pair each time from Shure and I was very happy. Right now, I own a pair of Phillips SHE9850 and am very happy with those.
I was thinking of moving up from earbuds to full-size headphones. As I said, I am only 16 so around $100 is what I'm looking for, and I've seen many good-looking sets for sale. I always look to CNET for reviews, and I just realized something: there are no 5-star headsets, and I highly recommend you implement them. There is no way for me to tell what the difference between a $500 set and a $50 set is when they are both 4 stars and recommended.
Do you have any personal recommendations for a full-size headset in my price range?--Steve, via e-mail
Shure's SE530 earphones will set you back nearly $500.
A: First, let me answer your question regarding the price differences for two headphones that have the same rating. We always take several factors into consideration when reviewing headphones--fit/comfort (design), features (any extras that are included), and sound quality (performance). We then weight all of these things against the price to consider the overall value of the product. In this way, a four-star $50 headset doesn't necessarily sound as good or offer as many features as a four-star $500 headset, but it gets four-stars for being an excellent value, all things considered. That is, we think it sounds good, fits well, and/or offers an impressive array of extras for the money. (By the way, if you hover over the stars with your mouse, you can see a bit more granularity with the scoring.)
We don't pit $50 headphones head-to-head against $500 headphones because that just wouldn't be fair: they're not in the same playing field. Also, five-stars for us is basically a perfect score. I have yet to come across a perfect--or nearly perfect--pair of headphones. I still hold out hope, though!
As for full-size or earcup headphones in the $100 or less category, I would recommend the following: the Sennheiser HD280 Pro, the Sony MDR-V700DJ, the Koss PortaPro Headphones, or the Sony MDR-710LP.
Shure's new SE115 headphones are as tough as they are pretty.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)Shure unveiled its new SE115 line of in-ear headphones today at Macworld 2009. Aside from being colorful (offered in red, blue, or pink), the SE115 share the same design as the SE110 headphones we reviewed last year, with the exception of the audio-driver technology, which has changed from a balanced armature driver to a dynamic driver.
Shure was nice enough to let me try on a pair, and the sound was undeniably beefier than I recall hearing on the SE110 but a bit lacking in the crispness associated with the balanced armature driver found in its predecessor. I only listened to the Shure SE115 for a few songs from my Zune 80 (yes, I brought a Zune to Macworld), so I'll reserve judgment until I get to spend more time with them. My first impressions, however, weren't earth-shattering.
Sonically, I think Apple's $79 dual-driver in-ear headphones offer better detail and overall balance. However, nothing can beat Shure when it comes to construction quality.
Still, at $99, the Shure SE115 are great for bass-heads and offer the same awesome build quality and professional cabling you'd find on any of its higher-end models. You also get Shure's unique "black foam" ear-tip fit kit and a generous two-year warranty.
On Sale Now: $67.50 - $119.99
View the latest prices for Shure SE115 earphones (black)
On Sale Now: $64.99 - $99.99
View the latest prices for Shure SE115 earphones (red)
On Sale Now: $99.95 - $119.99
View the latest prices for Shure SE115 earphones (blue)
On Sale Now: $69.95 - $119.99
View the latest prices for Shure SE115 earphones (pink)
In marketing materials for its new $150 in-ear headphones, Monster headlines its package with the question, "The world's best-sounding earphones?" I'm not sure if we should take this as a declaration or an actual question, but so far the answer from Amazon reviewers and some blogs is a pretty stiff "no."
Monster's new $150 earphones promise great sound.
(Credit: Amazon)To be fair, some blogs have reviewed the Turbines favorably. It's also worth noting that Amazon reviews can be written by anyone, including PR reps from other manufacturers (not that we're accusing anybody of anything). But it's rare that you see a product get a one-star rating from virtually every "reviewer" (at the time of this writing there were 11 one-star reviews and one four-star review).
Part of the problem stems from the fact that Monster has its share of both fans and detractors. As one reviewer from Amazon's End User blog notes, "Monster Cable has always had a bit of an embattled reputation amongst enthusiasts--strong opinions on both sides fly back and forth on message boards and newsgroups like verbal trebuchets whenever their name comes up."
Personally, I think it's risky for a manufacturer to go overboard with marketing hyperbole, especially when you're entering a fairly mature market. Yes, you want to make a splash, but there's the danger of over-promising and under-delivering.
In its press release, Monster says the Turbines are the "world's first high-performance in-ear headphones with specially engineered drivers that deliver impeccable audiophile-quality sound." Well, that's simply not true. Shure makes earbuds that deliver audiophile-quality sound. Etymotic, too. And several other companies would make the same claim.
What do you guys think? Is Monster getting a bum rap? Or are the Turbines as good as the company makes them out to be?
P.S. We'll have our own review of the earphones early next year, after the holiday break.
Ding! Ding!
Earbuds are subject to personal taste perhaps more than any other gadget, making them ideal candidates for a head-to-head battle. This first-ever earbud Prizefight pits two sound-isolating sets against one another: the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones and the Klipsch Image X5 Earphones.
Both pairs are of the canalbud variety, meaning they must be inserted into the ear canal for optimal sound and fit. By nature, these earphones are ultraportable and durability can be an issue because of their small size. Earbuds, in particular, are subject to the whims of the wearer (dependent on personal ear size and shape) when it comes to comfort. Also, they vary greatly when it comes to sound quality, though any set in this price range should be plenty impressive. So who will reign supreme in this bout between the tiniest of music maestros? The Shure SE310s with their stellar warranty and modular cable? Or the Klipsch Image X5s with their supersleek, ultralight design? Let the battle of the 'buds begin!
(Credit:
Shure)
Purists might not like it, but mobile phones and MP3 players are converging at a record pace. Even reputable professional audio companies are starting to take notice, as evidenced by Shure's latest personal earphone offering, the SE102 MPA.
The $99 sound-isolating set comes bundled with an extension cable with an inline mic and call button, so it's designed to play nice with your iPhone or other music phone. The SE102s aren't the best Shure earbuds we've laid ears on--the type and number of ear fittings is limited and audio is a bit brittle at times--but they're still a big improvement over the sets that come with most music mobiles.
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
"Justin...Justin...JUSTIN!!!"
This happens at least once a day...I'm at my desk, typing up a review or blog post on my computer, when all of a sudden someone sneaks up behind me and unintentionally make me jump 10 feet in the air with a simple tap on the back. How do I allow this to happen? Am I deaf? Well, not right now, but it's quite possible that I might be if I continue to constantly blast music out of my Princess Leia headphones.
A recent report out of Australia titled "Is Australia Listening?" reported 70 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 experience a constant ringing in their ears, which can be a symptom of permanent damage to the ear canal. The report goes on to claim that 76 percent of young adults in Australia listen to music through headphones on portable MP3 players, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a higher number in relation to the United States.
At 24, I represent the first generation to see the rise of portable music players. I remember when the headphones to my first Sony Walkman cassette player might as well have been glued to my ears. Since then, I've been addicted to personal, portable audio and I fear that I, along with the rest of my generation, will soon experience severe hearing loss due to years and years of listening to loud music through headphones. Professor Harvey Dillon of the Hearing Australia program says his general rule of thumb is if "people have to raise their voice or actually shout at you to make themselves understood while you are listening to music in your ears, then that is loud enough to be potentially damaging." As a self-professed audiophile, I take every opportunity to listen to my music. It moves along a boring work day, drowns out crazies on the subway, and helps put me to sleep at night. Some days, I feel like I spend more time with my headphones in than out. I also listen to a lot of different kinds of music, from hip-hop to metal to classical to Disney, but no matter what the genre, I must admit that I crank up the volume to the highest possible level to experience the bliss of surround sound. It sounds like my days of listening to music might be numbered...
But what about these new noise-cancelling and inner ear-canal headphones that are starting to pervade the industry? I wonder if those particular types of monitor earphones pose a greater danger than the over the ear style? Either way, my future doesn't look very bright. Are there any Millennials out there who have already started to experience hearing loss? I'd love to hear other opinions on how these listening trends will affect our health down the line.
