Shure SE215 Wireless
No sooner has Shure upgraded their whole SE collection of in-ear headphones from the traditional wired connectivity, and took the next innovative step of embracing the new standard of wireless connectivity.
One of Shure’s entry-level wireless IEMs that I’ve decided to test is Shure SE215, which is also a product worth to be ranked among the top earphones with wireless under $100. The rich content might not pertain to everybody, but hopefully, those who have long fancied something alike will greatly appreciate this piece.
Despite being the second most affordable unit, with $50 more than SE112-GR, the newly reworked headphones retain the same sound quality in their wireless stance as before; even better, they preserve a hefty audio performance that a few high-end earphones proudly hold.
Overview
The Shure SE215 is a pair of entry-level in-ear monitors with Bluetooth 4.1 that are highly viable for professional use cases, mostly for musicians on stage or DJs hence the massive passive sound isolation, but can be used for traveling or casual listening too for their glorious detailed playback.
Key Features
- Good and in my opinion very neutral sound
- Large frequency spectrum range
- Valuable processing
- Very good price / performance ratio
Shure SE215 Review
My choice of reviewing this product has a bit more reasoning behind, which is necessary for you to know why I’ve decided to review Shure SE215 today instead of other in-ear monitors in case you have considered multiple first-class options but still haven’t called the shots.
The comparison of Shure SE215 with other high-end in-ears from the same series is relevant because the SE215 has the sound of a headphone which might cost twice as much.
I wholeheartedly enjoy the beautiful and extensive stereophony as well as the excellent separation of instruments. The scenic music has a favorable sense of depth and clarity, which is something indeed impressive, especially at this mid-tiered price bracket. The voices carry a lot of details, thus giving the listener a genuine experience and expressive instrumental sounds.
Although there is a small dip at 3 kHz and an uphill climb around the 8 kHz mark, the music is a bit colored and somehow still retains neutrality. Perhaps 5-7 dB off from the sound source does not make much of a difference.
Details
Brand
Shure
Model
SE215
Specialization
Traveling, Casual listening
Package
Airplane adapter, Soft carrying case, Replaceable cable, 6.5 mm jack adapter, Silicon ear tips, Foam ear tips,
Some reviews on the internet compare it with Powerbeats3, but I see no correlation in that. The Shure SE215 is much similar to B&O BeoPlay H3 with Active Noise Cancelation on pretty much all departments. The BeoPlay H3 and Shure SE215 have almost the same sound response and dark sound with pleasant bass presence but slightly less sub-bass in comparison to Shure’s. The difference between the two is minor.
Shure SE215 vs Pioneer SE-CH9T
Another comparison that is as much valid is Shure SE215’s similitudes with Pioneer SE-CH9T. Both of them, as well as BeoPlay H3 ANC, have almost the same sound response but with minor variations, the difference between the two, is Pioneer’s in-ears have a similar bass highlight, but instead is well rounded, whereas Shure’s have a flat, elevated and tight frequency with a marginally pregnant deep bass, however a moderately recessed treble. By using the memory foam tips provide, SE215’s timber quality will improve noticeably.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Shure SE215
The element which makes Shure SE215s special is unmistakably the music expressed by two single dynamic MicroDriver speakers, one in each housing, that bestows with a dark sound signature, rich in detail and ample in bass, yet full bodied sound sufficient to create a pleasant warmth onto the left side of the spectrum.
I haven’t touched other subject as much; therefore, I now will express my take on Shure’s build and different strong points. The IEMs have a standard appearance that I’m pleased of. The headphones designed with stiff transparent frame are of absolute excellent craftsmanship, and the detachable cable is fairly robust as well, enveloped in a sheath of Kevlar. The frequency range is probably as wide as you could hear, with a spectrum between 22 Hz and 17.500 Hz.
Overall, the most significant issue is also the most visible one: The sound which is a tad dark emphasizes the bass, and since the low-mids are underdeveloped in contrast to the low frequencies, some soft masking might have their way into the music.
- Great stereophony with plenty of details
- Sound suffers no distortions
- The cable is removable and replaceable
- The bass feels heavy
Conclusion
I’ve been quite busy comparing these three products. While BeoPlay H3 ANC and Powerbeats3 are twice the prices, yet the one from Pioneer has the same price tag, I aimed towards the Shure SE215 in-ears to test first after I analyzed the competition, and I rightfully proceeded similarly with the others to secure an authentic grasp on each of them and be more insightful in my review of SE215.
Fortunate to say, I was not disappointed by my intuition to choose Shure’s headphones, which proved to be a very versatile, fierce contender that could keep pace with headphones twice its price.
