 E2, E3, SE420--all good choices |
| Review Date: August 26, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Daniel Leithauser, Grand Junction, CO USA |
As I indicated in a prior review, I purchased some E3's to upgrade from my E2 when I bought a new ipod. I loved the E2's and as expected the E3 were even better--with more definition at all frequencies and sound levels.
Earbuds (or plugs) definitely have some sweet fit spots to get optimal bass and avoid some tinniness that you can hear when they are not inserted or sitting correctly in your ear. Shure provides a number of ear plug options to help everyone find something they like.
Now, I have compared the E3, the SE420, and my Bose Quiet Comfort headphones sitting in the rear of a jet while traveling (next to the engine). The less expensive E3 beat out the Bose headphones with better high and middle end definition and equivalent outside sound isolation. The Bose headphones have a bit better low end.. but nothing is bone shaking with earphones or headphones anyway. I almost think that the Bose headphones seem muddy in the mid and upper end after listening to the E3 and SE420. The SE420, in my opinion has a richer sounding mid end then the E3, while handily beating the Bose headphones. I think that the bass and most of the high end frequencies are about the same in the E3 and SE420--maybe pushing your budget to purchase the E3 or equivalent... since the E3 cost $179 or so, and the SE420 cost $350.
As for Shure customer service--I had a suspected loose wire in one of the E3 earphones (used for 8 months) leading to dropouts when I would move my head. I got a return form off the Shure website--filled it out and sent it along with a copy of my receipt to Shure. Within 10 days, they had sent out a completely new pair at no charge. THAT is great service. In the meantime I purchased the SE420's while I was waiting for my E3 "repair". I just had to have another pair and my budget could tolerate a higher price point.
I understand why price does come into some consideration on rating, and $350 (at an Apple retail store) is pretty high end for earphones, but considering these SE420's sound better (to me) than the E3--I am only rating sound quality. With price considered, the SE420 would probably only get a 4, simply because the E3 is a great value.
I would recommend the entire line of Shure earphones, buying whichever one best fits your budget. |
Respectable upgrade from the SE310 and q-Jays
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| Review Date: January 23, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Adam Miarka, Fishers, IN |
***Please see updated at the end of the review.****
Recently purchased the SE420s after using the SE310s and the Jays q-Jays. Wanted to try another set of dual driver headphones to compare to the q-Jays and was interested in the comparison between the SE310s.
The SE420s provide as much of the clarity as the SE310s but adds the bass that was missing. With the SE310s, I need to change the EQ to rock to get the sound that I wanted. With the SE420s, I do not need to do this which is a good thing.
Compared to the q-Jays, I feel the SE420s edge them out in terms of quality of sound. The SE420s provide a better sound stage and it's easier to locate instruments while listening to my music. The only downside is that the SE420s are probably 3 times the size of the q-Jays.
Also, the new version of the SE420s that I received came with an extension cable that fits the recessed jack for the Apple iPhone. This was a nice surprise. Shure must be doing this for all of their latest headphone extension cords.
Price was right as I was able to pick up the SE420s for $250 shipped from an eBay reseller of Shure headphones. I thought the $250 was a good deal from the $300+ that you usually see for these headphones.
***Updated***
Found an awesome deal on the Shure SE530s ($50 more than what I paid for the SE420s). After careful comparison, I've decided to sell my SE420s and keep the SE530s. For the $50 premium, I feel the SE530s are the better deal. The fit isn't as flush the SE530s, but they are still comfortable to use and the sound is absolutely amazing! If you have the money and keep looking, you can find the SE530s for under $300. The SE530s also came with a new modular cable that works with the iPhone. |
Great IEMs...after you break them in and fit them correctly
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| Review Date: August 12, 2007 |
| Reviewer: D. Halamay, Corvallis, OR |
After doing a ton of research on In-Ear Monitors, and comparing the E4c's, the Etymotic E4-P, and several other models, I decided to go with the SE420s. It took me a while to get used to these IEMs, since I had previously been using some Etymotic E6i's. These SE420s have a much wider sound stage, with great bass and midtones. It has taken me some time to get used to the rolled-off treble that is characteristic of the Shure line. However, after experimenting with the different sizes of foam inserts, I finally was able to "lock-in" the sound with these 420s...and, I must say, it is definitely worth the time that it takes to get them right.
I listen to an extremely wide variety of music, from classical to electronica, to pop, to rock...you name it, I've tried it with these 'phones. I'm really happy with the satisfying bass that these produce. Mind you, it is definitely not overpowering like some might like, but it feels overall tonally balanced, and for headphones as small as these, it is quite remarkable. What really wowed me as I've broken these in has been the clearness and sophistication of the midtones that these IEMs produce. It feels like there is such a concentration on bass and treble (essentially, the extremes) these days, that really good-sounding midtones are harder and harder to come by. That is certainly not the case here. And speaking of treble, I definitely would not call these overly bright, but after I worked to get the SE420s fitted right, I am happy with the higher-frequency characteristics of these IEMs. The treble is not "in-your-face" but is definitely well-balanced and just "sounds right." And I found that turning up the volume slightly on my sources helped to bring out the high-end better, while never distorting the low end. This is probably just part of the sound characteristics of these IEMs.
Overall, I feel like the SE420's are worth the 5 stars. I admit that patience is necessary to get them fitted right and broken in, but if you are willing to work with them, at this price segment, they really are great. |
Excellent IEMs
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| Review Date: November 8, 2007 |
| Reviewer: strudel, |
I lost my previous pair of canalphones, Sony MDR-EX90LP, and decided to purchase some really high end canalphones. (or in ear monitors or IEMs as I will refer to them from now on) I purchased a pair of the Shure SE420 IEMs and haven't regretted the purchase for a second.
These IEMs sound absolutely incredible. They sound is so clear and detailed that I notice new details in songs that I had listened to dozens if not hundreds of time. In a complex musical passage it is easy to follow every note of a single instrument which is not an easy feat with most headphones. Some may argue that the bass is a little on the weak side with these IEMs but I would beg to differ, I find it extremely precise and detailed, never boomy or bloated. I will admit that these sound a little thin (bass shy) when hooked up to my iPod Nano but when I hook them up to my portable headphone amp they really wake up and sound incredible. These IEMs prompted me to order a new portable mp3 player based on sound quality (the Sony NWZA818) because these IEMs revealed the sonic shortcomings of the Nano clear as day. If you are willing to spend the money, I think you will be happy with these IEMs, I know I am!
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Simply Awesome - Music Nirvanna!!!
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| Review Date: June 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: A. Dotson, |
| I've had the SE420's for about a month now and they are out of this world. I was looking to buy the 530's but just couldn't justify the steep price. I found these babies new online for about $215.00 and words can not describe the pure musicality of these IEM. For all the folks that complain about bass response, this is more user error than a issue with the 420's. Being that I have a Zune, I don't have the luxury of having a EQ, which is fine with me. The 420's give you exactly whats recorded. To quote the 1970's R&B Funk group the Ohio Players "Heaven Must Be Like This". |
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