Shure SE535 Earphones – A Class Apart

When I was told that the Shure SE535 earphones had arrived, I was really looking forward to testing them out. I’ve tried out previous models such as the SE530, but could never afford them. Now finally, I had a pair of SE535s all to myself. Well, at least for a while. So lets see how they fared.

A little bulky, but sounds great!

Design and Features
The first thing you might say when you see these earphones is that they’re huge. But they’re actually a bit smaller than their predecessors, the SE530. And with 3 drivers (one tweeter and two woofers), I don’t think they could have made these any smaller. The earphones can be a little anal when it comes to fitting the extra earpieces provided. It took a me a while to get the original fitted foam pieces of as I was scared I’d break something (goodbye salary) if I tried too hard. But I eventually managed to take the foam pieces off and replaced them with the right sized silicone earpieces.

Plenty of accessories, including an earwax cleaner!

The SE535s come with a bunch of extras and I’m not talking about just the carrying case. Shure has also provided a big bunch of extra silicon and foam earpieces. Apart from that, they’ve thrown in an airline adapter (with two 3.5mm jacks), a large phone jack, a seperate volume controller and an earwax cleaner! The cable for the SE535 is pretty long, at over five feet and seems to be really durable as well. One disadvantage with the cable is that it does not split in the middle like the older models. This is a little sad as the cable is heavy and will probably get in the way if you plan to use these while running or exercising.

Check out the technical specifications:

• Speaker Type - Triple High-Definition MicroDrivers
• Sensitivity (1kHz) - 119 dB SPL/mW
• Impedance (1kHz) - 36 Ω
• Noise Attenuation - Up to 37 dB
• Frequency Range - 18Hz – 19kHz
• Input Connector - Gold-plated 3.5 mm (1/8")
• Cable - 64" Detachable (at ear) with wireform fit

Performance
These are definitely one of the best sounding earphones I have ever tested. If there is anything you do not like about the SE535s, the quality of sound will just negate that almost instantly. I listened to a bunch of genres, and each and every one of them sounded nothing short of spectacular. I even tried them out on a bunch of devices from the iPhone 4 and Macbook to the Mototrola Milestone and the Nokia E7, and the experience was great!

Not the ideal way to wear earphones

The great thing about these headphones is that they truly isolate noise and cut out a lot of ambient sound (Shure says up to 37dB). This makes the bass sound even better, although never overpowering. There’s just the right amount of every frequency.

One thing I did find annoying about the SE535s is that the earpieces have to be worn just right. A little out of position, and you may feel them slipping out of your ears. Shure has left a little bit of memory wire attached to the earpieces, but I did not feel comfortable about wrapping this around my ear.

A nice, albeit expensive package

Verdict
This is my favourite part, as I get to tell you about the price and imagine what your face is going to look like. These earphones have a market price (MOP) of Rs. 27,000. Yes, that is correct. While this is definitely way too expensive for a regular guy like me, I’m sure there are audiophiles that would love to get their hands on the SE535s. They sound great, are comfortable once you get used to them (despite the size) and look like they’ll last a while. So if you have this kind of money to splurge, I'd definitely recommend these earphones, as it doesnt really get much better than this.