Shure SE535
The basics
Shure's most expensive earphones yet, the Shure SE535s buds, trump the world-famous Shure SE530s, which are already seen by many audio nuts as the best earphones in the world.
The Shure SE535s take sound quality into a new dimension, and use a handy detachable cable, but they won't give you much change from £500.
The good
A triple-driver design gives the Shure SE535 earphones fantastic performance across the whole frequency spectrum. Big, bombastic bass, lush mids and detailed treble will make your music sound better than ever before.
Shure's foam and rubber tips offer fab sound isolation, so if you're on the tube or bus, all you'll be able to hear is your music, not the irritations of the world around you.
The removable cable means that the Shure SE535s are likely to survive much longer than your average earphones. Cable problems are at the root of most headphone woes – so if the connection goes a bit spotty, you can just buy yourself a new cable, not a whole new set.
Shure's bundled accessory kit is much more generous than you’ll see included with most other high-end audio kit. There are eight different sleeves – including foams, rubber tips and a pair of triple-flanged sleeves too – a carry case, 6.3mm adaptor, in-line volume control add-on and an airline adaptor, for plugging into your plane seat.
The bad
With an RRP just under £500, you'd be hard-pressed to find an MP3 player anywhere near as expensive as these earphones. Superb buds from rivals like Ultimate Ears can be had for half the price.
Nothing about these earphones is small. The price is big, the in-line volume control accessory is big, and the buds themselves are hefty too. You'll have to wear them with the cable draped over the top of your ears to make sure they don't fall out.
The bottom line
The Shure SE535s are the best earphones Shure have made yet, improving the sound quality and design of the classic Shure SE530s, but you'll have to open your wallet pretty wide to afford them.
If you're serious about sound quality though, these are the new buds to beat.
User comments (7)
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Ram16 August 2010
These In-Ear's are great! One gripe I have with the above review is related to the 'improved' sound quality statement. They do not 'sound' better than the SE530s at all. The internal components are the exact same. I highly recommend any of those two models.
Report as inappropriateam1945sy05 September 2010
Far, far too expensive for what they are. I do not know how they justify the price, I like a nice sound but £500 No, No and thrice No!!!
Report as inappropriatePeter10 November 2010
You get what you pay for! Me, meanwhile spent £40 on some Grado iGrado's and I love them :)
Report as inappropriateLeeZer14 November 2010
went for the Klipsch Image X10i's. half the price. awesome sound and after 2 mins in your ears, you can't even feel them unlike these reviewed Shure's
Report as inappropriateAnonymous17 November 2010
Frankly overrated and well overpriced-for posers and BMW drivers only. A 'signficant' price hike over the lovely Shure 530's with equal sound just a case redesign and 'finally' replacable cords. (bit slow on that one Shure) Shure cord tend to get brittle and split over the ear. I tested these against Sennheiser flagship ie8's IEM's and the difference was marginal but the price is +200% more! needless to say I got the Senn's. To Leezer - I owned and loved the darling little Klipsch X10's for 12 months and loved the sound/fit/comfort but hated the build quality. Cords split on both sides after 3 months on my originals and then their replacement. With refund monies went shopping again and ...........well look above. For high end IEM's ALWAYS go for replacable cords as this is their Achilles heel guys.
Report as inappropriateShane28 November 2011
After a lot of research I was amazed to find that a pair of top quality custom made earphones can be had for less than these. It was a no brainer. I have had my set of triple driver IEMs (from Minerva in Cardiff) and have found them a mile more comfortable and also block more noise than any high end phones I've ever had. Worth a look as an alternative.
Report as inappropriateMartin01 February 2012
I own the Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 and have owned these Shures. The UE have a recessed mid range while the Shures have an overbearing mid range. IMO they are not worth the hype, the midrange is so in your face its like the artists are shouting at you. I prefer my UE 10's but they could do with a bit more mid range prominence but they are much cheaper than these shues and have a superior high end.
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