Shure has a legacy in building formidable audio equipment and when they decided to foray into the headphones and in-ear monitor (IEM) domain, audiophiles everywhere rejoiced. Over time Shure headphones have become synonymous with quality: both physically and sonically. They don’t believe in making cheap headphones just for the sake of it. The folks at Shure are all-or-none kind of people. They make headphones with cutting-edge technology for the refined sound that’s hard to copy. The money goes into their accurate and vigorous audio, or their detachable cables or the carefully assorted eartips. Shure is focused on providing quality sound like a Taurus focuses on the red flag. And their products are designed solely around audiophile ambitions.
Are Shure headphones any good?
Audiophiles be turning in their graves right now. Shure is less heard of amongst the casual listeners because they are more focused on the music-purists crowd. They manufacture headphones with triple HD microdrivers, subwoofers and tweeters because their target audience understands the significance of these terms. They would sound just as great to a normal listener but only an audiophile will fully appreciate the trouble to which Shure goes to recreate the magic of the original recording.
How do I wear Shure earphones?
Most of the Shure IEMS have a patch of formable wire near the place they connect with drivers through MMCX connectors. These connectors can revolve 360 degree in their locked state. So you need to fix the eartips in your ears and loop the cord around the top of your ears. Shure reports that this reduces cable microphonics substantially and seals the ears against external noise.
Which are the best Shure headphones?
There were many to choose from and the choice was difficult. But we narrowed down to the 7 best Shure headphones based on the following constraints:
Audio: Sigh! The temptress that is sound. Shure is in constant pursuit of the original sound which will explain why they have IEMs costing a grand in their line-up. They generally aim at balanced audio with decent extent of bass and treble with detailed mids. All the headphones that conform at least to these grand requirements are on this best Shure headphones list.
Cost: The bestShure headphones can get expensive. We wouldn’t discriminate them for the high price but the cans we selected give us best value for their money.
Build: Most of Shure’s IEMs look alike and have similar build and capabilities. They are all robust and modulated for parts. The full-sized headphones vary in their designs from chunky retro style to sleek metal work.
Top 7 Shure Headphones
Picture |
Name |
Headphone Type |
Price |
Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Picture |
Name |
Headphone Type |
Price |
Rating |
 |
1. Shure SE535 Sound Isolating Earphones with Triple High Definition MicroDrivers | In-ear | $$$ | 4.4 |
 |
2. Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones | Over-ear | $$$ | 4.4 |
 |
3. Shure SE215 Sound Isolating Earphones with Single Dynamic MicroDriver | In-ear | $$ | 4.1 |
 |
4. Shure SRH1840 Professional Open Back Headphones | Over-ear | $$$ | 4.1 |
 |
5. Shure SE846 Sound Isolating Earphones with Quad High Definition MicroDrivers and True Subwoofer | In-ear | $$$ | 4.1 |
 |
6. Shure SRH440 Professional Studio Headphones | Over-ear | $$ | 4.1 |
 |
7. Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones with Dual High Definition MicroDrivers | In-ear | $$$ | 4.1 |
The startling clarity of Shure SE535 earphones is hard to conceive in their pint-size, yet Shure does it. They are almost ruthless in ratting out all the intricacies of the audio that’s played through them. Usually this is only possible with full-sized cans. These best Shure earphones are down and outright for audiophiles who enjoy the flat, detailed audio response and play high bitrate or high-quality audio recordings.
Audio Performance
Shure SE535 earphones create pure and unblemished music. They do not taint the audio with the slightest bit of warmth or frequency spikes. Audio reproduction is accurate to the last detail. Bass is tightly held with enough expansion to seem immersive. Midrange has a smidgen more clarity that their famed predecessor SE530. Highs are smooth without any hint of sibilance. Treble has the fizz to it and weighs equal with mids and bass.
These Shure earphones are unforgiving in their response to bad recordings. Whatever you sow, so shall you reap with SE535. An important concern with getting the maximum out of their potential is to select the correct pair of eartips. These earphones can provide you a surprising amount of passive noise cancellation if you get the eartips right.
Design and Features
Shure SE535 earphones are built to reflect their premium stature. As is usual with Shure SE line, the 535 driver casings are slightly bulky but they are much slimmer than the 530s. These driver casings are available in bronze, red or the awfully geeky clear casing. Eartips angle away from the driver casing.
The cable of these Shure earphones is detachable. This 64-inch Kevlar-reinforced cord connects to the earpieces through MMCX connectors via a rotating lock-snap connection. Some formable wire near the connectors is meant to be looped around the ears.
Additional Perks
The Shure SE535 earphones come with a ¼ inch studio adapter, nozzle cleaning tool, three sizes of flex eartips, three sizes of foam eartips, a pair of 3-flanged eartips, a pair of universal foam tips, a volume control and a hard zipped carry case.
Pros:
- Flat, neutral response
- Smooth exciting bass
- Highly refined audio
- Impressive passive noise isolation
- Detachable Kevlar-reinforced cable
- Slimmer driver casing than SE530s
- Uber-cool colors
- Whole bunch of useful accessories and customization kits
Cons:
- Getting the insertion right takes practice
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Shure SE535 Sound Isolating Earphones with Triple High Definition MicroDrivers>>
Shure SRH1540 headphones have the lively neutral sound that seems so natural yet is so hard to achieve. It takes delicate precision of digital voodoo to make playback sound like the real deal and 1540s seem to have that. They sound exciting without inducing any spike in the bass or midrange. Audiophiles will find their knees going weak at the pristine audio that’s versatile across genres.
Audio Performance
The Shure SRH1540 headphones start rumbling at 5 Hz and the frequency response continues all the way to 25 KHz. This fact is important because the bass and sub-bass impact of these headphones is phenomenal. There’s absolutely no boosting of the low-end, just the minutiae of bass that makes it vibrant. Mids sound very natural and are amiable to all sorts of vocals. Treble is clean but not detailed far enough to sound harsh.
One victory that propels these cans to the best Shure headphones list is their prompt transitional response. They can keep up with the pace of the most sophisticated music and not miss a beat. Their lithe movement with audio makes for crisp nuances and proper decays.
Design and Features
SRH1540 Shure headphones indicate they are classy with a quiet come hither look. They have Aluminum and carbon fiber construction, relatively lightweight at 10 ounces. They feature large closed-back earcups that are sheathed in Alcantara earpads that feel like Velour. Headband is also sufficiently cushioned without making the 1540s look chunky.
These Shure headphones have detachable cables that connect to both earcups through MMCX connectors and end in a 3.5mm plug. A spare cable of the same kind is also shipped with the pack.
Additional Perks
The SRH1540 headphones by Shure come with an airline adapter, replacement earpads and a robust hard case.
Pros:
- Balanced sound with deep bass and bright mids
- Treble detail is remarkable and highs are crisp
- Refined audio that works with all music genres
- Classy look with premium metal form
- Soft replaceable earpads
- Detachable cable shipped with spare
- Good haul of accessories
Cons:
- Space-consuming, not very portable
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones>>
Shure SE215 IEMs have been the best earphones in their price range for eons now and no IEM has been able to clinch that title. They are like the Michael Phelps of audio world. At their price they target a larger audience than the purists. These earphones are for anyone who wants to graduate to a more enlightened taste in audio, a middle stage between casual listener and a full-blown audiophile. They flatter all genres and sound warm.
Audio Performance
Shure SE215 earphones spruce up the audio with a slightly enhances bass. It is meatier in the middle giving a solid backbone to your music. Midrange is a tad forward. As a result, guitars and vocals sound rich and lively, earning these a place on the best Shure headphones list. Highs are crisp, but they roll off, probably to avoid sibilance.The response of 215s is fast and can keep up with complicated music.
Treble details on these Shure earphones match up to that of bass. They do not get harsh except on certain tracks. Spacious instrument separation is placed in an expansive soundstage.
Design and Features
Shure SE215 earphones have the build of much costlier headphones. They have ergonomic off-kilter eartips emerging out of slightly brawny driver casings. You can pick the set of eartips that sit flush in your ears and block maximum amount of ambient noise. These tips will also enhance your listening experience. The users suggest Shure olive foam tips for the best experience.
The cable of these Shure IEMs can be removed and replaced. It is a durable Kevlar-reinforced affair that locks into the earpieces through MMCX connectors and terminate in an angled jack. As with the 535s, they have a formable wire area that wraps around your ear. This way of wearing also reduces microphonics to a major extent.
Additional Perks
The Shure SE535 earphones come with 6 pairs of eartips and a soft carrycase with carabiner clip.
Pros:
- Pleasant sound with meaty bass
- Forward, warm mids
- Clear vocals
- Huge soundstage with discernible instrument separation
- Comfortable design
- Detachable Kevlar-reinforced cable which locks comfortably
- Reduced microphonics with directed way of wearing
Cons:
- Treble extent is not at par with bass extension
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Shure SE215 Sound Isolating Earphones with Single Dynamic MicroDriver>>
Shure SRH1840 headphones are for music-lovers and not music-purists. They have a lovely, engaging sonic output that is not all details but all fun. They sound natural like Audio-Technica M50x, only slightly richer and fuller. These Shure headphones can play all genres well and flatter even bad recordings to some extent.
Audio Performance
The Shure SRH1840 headphones are meant for people who pursue music as a serious hobby. So they require to be routed via an amplifier and a DAC. The RSA SR71-A would be good choice to exploit their delectable audio.
These Shure headphones have impactful bass without any artificial push from the sound engineers. This comes at the cost of surgical details that you would find in high-resolution headphones like Sennheiser HD800. Bass is tightly controlled, though, and doesn’t encroach on mids’ territory. Midrange is smooth, yet lively. This means that they have enough details to sound lively, yet not enough to sound clinical. Treble extent is good and highs rise crisply with these Shure headphones.
Soundstage of the SRH1840 Shure headphones is majestic. It is lavish in width and depth and stereo imaging is organized in a voluminous area. As a result, the playback seems like a live concert, trait worthy of one of the best Shure headphones. This is where each and every penny of their price seems worth it.
Design and Features
The SRH1840 headphones by Shure, sure impress us with their minimalistic, yet intelligent construction. Made out of aircraft-grade Aluminum alloy and stainless steel, these headphones perch lightly on your head. The headband is only lightly padded with less pressure areas on the crown. Earcups have a generous amount of cushioning. Earpads can be swapped out for the accompanying Velour pads.
These Shure headphones come with two detachable cables. Each cable has a Y-portion that locks into each earcup and terminates in a threaded 3.5mm jack. Noise isolation is very low and noise leakage is significant since these are open-back cans.
Additional Perks
Two 7-feet cables come with the Shure SRH1840 headphones. Should you end up damaging one, you can use the spare.
Pros:
- Warm and smooth sound
- Massive soundstage turns listening live
- Comfortable lightweight design
- Smooth mids and forgiving audio
- Stylish Aluminum alloy build
- Detachable cable with spare cable
- Earpads can be replaced
- Velour pads and studio adapter provided
Cons:
- Low sensitivity, needs amp with portable playback devices
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Shure SRH1840 Professional Open Back Headphones>>
Shure SE846 earphones are ultra-premium audio equipment. With their price-tag, they leave Sennheiser IE-800 some ways behind. Even at the mammoth price, they match up with their capabilities, hence their place in the best Shure headphones list. These IEMs bring their A-game to the sonic field and give you the audio that draws parallel with full-sized premium cans like Sennheiser HD800. The targeted audience?Only the people who can afford it.
Audio Performance
When you have greens to shed, be prepared to see some unimaginable feats. Shure SE846 earphones portray them with user-customizable frequency response and dedicated built-in subwoofer. Audio response can be tweaked to suit your balanced, warm or bright taste via different nozzles. The bright nozzle adds fizz to the treble and brings life to the music. The warm nozzle mellows down the music for more laid-back listeners.
On the balanced nozzle, bass has some terrific clout. It thumps with a lot of authority but strictly avoids bleeding into mids. SE846 has much voluminous midrange than the IE800. Treble extension can be a wee bit more to suit their price. Soundstage is wide open in these Shure earphones. They have generous height and depth to accommodate instruments lavishly.
Design and Features
Shure SE846 earphones have an intricate circuitry that deserves to be on display for the world. So they come in the clear driver shell design. Other colors like blue, black and bronze are also available.
Being pricey, these IEMs come with detachable cable. These reinforced wires fit the typical Shure way: a formable wire loop goes over the top of your ears and holds the earpieces in place. We grudgingly agree that this way of wearing these earphones indeed reduces microphonics. There are two cables in the pack: a 46 inch one and a 64 inch one.
Additional Perks
SE846 Shure earphones come with the three nozzles for audio response setting, cable clip, ¼ studio adapter and an assortment of eartips.
Pros:
- Customizable frequency response
- Three nozzles to choose between warm, neutral and bright sound
- All three response sound as intended
- Massive soundstage and great instrument separation
- Dedicated subwoofer
- Detachable cables in two lengths
- Many colors available
- Expensive accessories included
Cons:
- Treble extension does not meet the price
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Shure SE846 Sound Isolating Earphones with Quad High Definition MicroDrivers and True Subwoofer>>
Balanced and clean audio is Shure’s signature and that’s evident from the Shure SRH440. There has been some debate about the audio output of these headphones. We suggest you burn them in for over 100 hours and then cement your judgement of them. Now that their prices have also relieved a bit, they are the best Shure headphones in that price-segment.
Audio Performance
The sonic output of Shure SRH440 headphones sounds unbiased. All their musical elements are above average. Bass has a nice punch to it but does not extend too far into the sub-bass region as the more expensive cans do. It is meatier in the mid region. Midrange is bam on the line with no inclination to stray from the flat response line. It has the requisite amount of clarity and sound slightly bright.
Treble response of these Shure headphones has decent amount of details and get sparkly. It may get a shade harsh at very high ends but that’s a kink you can easily EQ out. Soundstage is slightly congested compared to peers, as is usual with closed-back headphones.
Design and Features
Fashionable cans, Shure SRH440s are not. They look slightly chunky defying their new-age audio response. If you are into retro looks, these may be what you need. Earcups are large oval designs with pleather earpads. They provide good passive noise cancellation.If you are a fan of Velour, you can swap them out for those earpads. Headband is thick and similarly cushioned.
These Shure headphones sport a coiled detachable cable that is 10 feet long. They are more suited for listening at home rather than foraying out in the city.
Additional Perks
Shure SRH440 headphones come with a 1/4inch studio adapter for music production use.
Pros:
- Balanced, crisp sound
- Meaty bass
- Good bass-midrange-treble partnership
- Retro look
- Replaceable pleather earpads
- Comes with detachable cable
- Coiled cable has some ‘give’.
- Comes with 6.3mm studio adapter
Cons:
- Soundstage lacks depth
- Bass does not extend too much into sub-bass region
<<Latest customer reviews and prices of Shure SRH440 Professional Studio Headphones>>
Shure SE line is known for their renowned products and SE425 Shure earphones live up to the hype. With the trustworthy build that earns Shure respect from many an audiophile, these headphones have an all-flattering sound. If you dabble in classical and rock as much as you do in hip hop, R&B and EDM, these earphones are the best you can get.
Audio Performance
It’s hard to find fault with the Shure SE425 earphones because they sound really good to a point. They jumped in pretty fast into the best Shure headphones bandwagon for that reason. Considering their price-tag and comparing, we literally have to nit-pick to find a flaw. Because if we were to close our puristic senses for a moment, then these sound great with whatever you throw at them.
Bass is plentiful in quantity and quality. It’s not bloated or colored in any sense. The midrange stands out in spite of its neutral nature because of its exhaustive detailing and energetic clarity. Highs are sparkly. Treble is spot on with bass but rolls off slightly before hitting any sibilance. The roll-off can be discerned only by practiced ears.
Design and Features
Shure SE425 earphones look pretty much like the other IEMs in their line. The architectural blueprint remains similar across the board probably because Shure doesn’t fix what’s not broken. Cable is detachable, as usual. It uses MMCX connector to lock into the ear pieces of these Shure headphones. The lock snaps in the connectors pretty tight while slowing them to rotate 360 degree. A section of memory wire near the driver is for you to wrap around the ears. Heed Shure’s advice for proper fitment and reduced cable-noise.
Additional Perks
The Shure SE425 earphones come with assorted eartips, a handy zippered case and a screw-on6.3mm adapter.
Pros:
- Generally amicable sound fit for all genres
- Detailed and rich sounding
- Good soundstage and fantastic stereo imaging
- Great passive noise isolation
- Detachable cable design
- MMCX connectors to fix the cable allows 360 degree swiveling
- Stylish appearance
- All sorts of eartips, zippered carry case and studio adapter provided
Cons:
- Treble rolls off slightly
