Shure SE210 In-ear phones

We first ran the piece through a some software tests, consisting of audio tones and sweeps, to check the caliber of sound produced. I generally don’t do this for consumer level in-ear phones, but these are from Shure, and they deserve a respectable run through.

The bass response below 30 Hz rolls off very sharply, while at around 2-4 KHz I had to reduce the volume somewhat to bring back comfortable listening levels, hinting at a bump around that area. That's it though, we’ll keep it to the subjective tests – it's the quality of sound that matters in the end.

So we moved on to music, consisting of some .flacs and CDs first, then we tried some MP3s at 128 kbps upwards. The sound was definitely loud, and also had a well-segregated dynamic range, which exposed subtler nuances that are easily discernible in uncompressed music. The body of the sound was thick and whole; this coupled with brilliant noise isolation results in a very intimate and clear response.

As for criticism (that’s what we’re paid for!) I didn't find the bass all that spectacular, considering the price. The mids were a tad forward for my taste, though not harsh at all, just a wee bit up. Highs were clear and airy, and the overall response might appeal to many listeners. The sound is much better than in some cheaper pieces, with more depth and decent punch, but again, that ‘thumping’ tightness is not there.

Conclusion
The Rs 7500 price tag is not overly high, but I must say I'm a little disappointed. For this price I'd expect more. The clarity on the high frequency side is good, and I’m sure stuff like this doesn’t get 'spoiled', so it’s a one time investment – provided you don’t chew the wires. The previous Shure SE110 we reviewed was way better. For this one, if possible, I'd recommend an audition before purchase.