Some of this is down to their electrostatic nature. These IEMs will not reproduce bass with enough impact to rattle your teeth (why would anyone desire that? The unit is turned on or off by rotating the volume control, which has a switch function at the counter-clockwise end. Watch the video to find out which headphones won the head-to-head shootout and how close the final scores were. With the KSE1200, any such concerns over our KSE1500 writeup dissolved the very instant we put the earphones in and pressed play. The SE846 represented the top of the Shure lineup for years until the release of the KSE1500 in 2016; the package included a set of electrostatic IEMs, DAC, energizer, and battery pack in a convenient portable package the size of a smartphone (2016 version) but with twice the thickness. Apart from the KSE1500 (which essentially just add more features and options for more money), there arent many headphones worthy of comparison to the KSE1200. . Personally, I listen to an average of 3-5 hours a day and I never have enough of them. Advertisement. Why you should buy the Hisense A6 Series The electrostatic drivers are the soul of these earphones which might be a strange phrase to use because the technology is often praised for recreating the most accurate sound possible. You literally can't get anything better than this under $5. Note that there is no noise-cancelling technology here; this is purely mechanical sound isolation. Upper midrange feels hollow, thin, and is extremely shouty. Strangely enough, where the midrange really stood out for me was with rather complex and fast orchestral pieces that can be challenging for a lot of headphones and IEMs. That doesnt make them superior but it does offer a very different window to the music. Simply put, Shures electrostatic earbuds are the best, most accurate in-ear headphones weve ever heard. How does it respond to EQ? If something is sharp or sibilizes, we will hear it. This can be recharged via a USB micro-B socket in the base from any standard USB port (a USBA to micro-B cable is . That amp now has only one input, a 3.5mm jack. Where to buy: $1,999 at Shure.com | Amazon, Home > Latest > Reviews > Headphones > Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones > Shure KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System: Review, Your email address will not be published. A slide switch on the base next to the USB socket engages a 10dB input pad, which could be useful when connecting high-level analogue sources. If you thought earbuds were a compromise, think again We all like to listen to music on the move, and many of us also appreciate the benefits of in-ear monitoring when performing. But they have a blend of strengths, particularly detail resolution, clarity and speed, that we havent heard bettered elsewhere. The main difference between the KSE1200 and the KSE1500 is that the KSE1500 system is equipped with a DAC and extra eq options, while the KSE1200 is designed as a pure analog headphone amplifier. The same sections of the KSE1200s' cables seem more flexible than I remembered the KSE1500s' being, and while the Kevlar-armored section of the cable still tended to pick up clothing noise, this wasn't a problem when I sat still. In-ears, like most types of headphones, have inherent strengths and weakness. Every movement, click, and flutter of Feys lips was gorgeously rendered. Close. The dynamic inflection with the KSE1200 was palpable here, giving a bigger sense of space and expansiveness, realism, and immersion for a live-studio feel. Shure SE846 Gen 2 Sound Isolating Earphones Review, Ultimate Ears UE Live Custom Fit IEM Review. For such a compact unit it's surprisingly heavy, at 155g, largely due to a large Lithium-ion battery pack. I can compare it to applying a hand to a flame at exactly the same distance where I can feel the heat but it is not physical pain yet. Use Impressively, these KSE models are no more expensive than many high-end multi-BA offerings from Shure's competitors, and actually the KSE1200 reviewed here is less expensive than the 64audio U12t, reviewed in SOS February 2020: www.soundonsound.com/reviews/64-audio-u12t. This allows air to flow over the main surfaces and helps prevent overheating. There is a large chin slider to help hold the earpieces in place along with the ear hooks with memory wire. A detachable sleeve slides over the tube, seals the ear canal, and provides significant isolation from external sounds. Look this is actually simple, you all spend thousands on amplifiers. Problem solved? What is the output level difference between Shures Beta 87A and SM58? You think the DAC quality is really noticeable? Yes, we realize the phrase quantum leap is equal parts tired clich and nostalgic 90s TV show, but it really is the best way to describe what Shure accomplished with its first electrostatic earbuds. Zeus might not be similar, but I can't afford getting more than one option, so add it to comparison . If youre the kind of person who wants to hear every tiny speck of detail, these are the headphones for you. Bass is deep, powerful and tightly controlled. Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. But youd have to sacrifice the sheer brilliance and transparency of the KSE1200s in the process. Shure KSA1500 ( KSA1500) . The flagship KSE1500 model's amplifier module is about 1cm taller to incorporate a small OLED menu screen and an internal DA converter which accepts a digital audio signal via its USB port. Next to the Power LED on the front panel theres a signal strength indicator that tells you whether the input feed is at a sufficient level. This is why an electrostatic headphone cannot be used with a standard amplifier; in addition to amplifying the signal to feed the electrodes, the amplifier used with electrostatic headphones must provide the bias voltage and current for the diaphragm itself. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Make sure to grab this TV before it completely sells out. The midrange performance is superb, giving vocals all of the clarity, detail, resolution, and texture they require to sound accurate. At sensible listening levels transducer distortion was utterly inaudible, even with complex multi-tonal sources; but more than that, I'd have to say these are the most transparent and natural-sounding earphones I've ever heard. I personally recommend the KSE1500 however, I do have a user defined EQ on mine, and if I didn't, I would probably settle for an IER-M9 or Z1R over the KSE1200, unless using software EQ. While the A6 series doesn't come with something as fancy as QLED, it still provides excellent picture quality for its price tag, which it achieves using various image enhancement modes. I have that set and really do love them, but admittedly they are harsh in poorly-mastered songs and not so great with modern genres. The Sony Bravia XR A90J OLED 4K TV offers 4K Ultra HD resolution on its 55-inch screen, which is powered by Sony's Cognitive Processor XR that delivers intense contrast and vivid colors. Campfire Audio has re-engineered three of its high-end IEMs for 2023 which are priced from $1,450 to $3,375. I review TVs for a living, and this simple trick will massively improve picture quality, Why the Q Acoustics 5000 speakers' new cone technology is a rather big deal, The best home entertainment buying advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Percussion snap is sharp and snare rattle well defined. Cymbals and bells beautifully tick in the first row, however, do not have smooth and softened characteristics. Considering the lack of quality of the older models DAC circuitry, thats not a great loss, nor do we much miss the originals range of equalisation features. This can be recharged via a USB micro-B socket in the base from any standard USB port (a USBA to micro-B cable is included), and a full charge provides around 12 hours of listening. Then you can measure 2200vpp on any of the meters you desire. Shure KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System: Review. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. The vast majority just havent got the insight or sonic finesse to get close to allowing these headphones to show what they can really do. However, I noted in my review that the LCDi4s had almost no isolation from external sound, a somewhat polite balance, and less low-frequency bloom than Audeze's LCD-X headphones. Cringe. More recently I became an owner of Stax earspeakers too. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. The cable length seems to assume the amplifier will be pocketed, but although a couple of wide rubber 'amp security' bands are provided (presumably to minimise case scratching), Shure don't supply a belt hook or pouch, which seems a bit stingy given the price of the system. Read more about Shure's warranty in India. At $2999, the KSE1500 was and is pricey, and recently Shure introduced a less-expensive electrostatic headphone system, the KSE1200SYS ($1999), with the same amplifier and earpieces but just an analog input. While the KSE1200s are not actively noise cancelling, their mechanical noise isolation is claimed to be around 37dB, which is a good amount. The premium KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System is an electrostatic earphone and amplifier system for use inline with portable media players. Why are they more accurate sounding? Has anyone compared the KSE1500 to campfire Solaris? What Hi-Fi? 2. email . Like the KSE1500s', the KS1200SYSes' drive-units feature a virtually massless diaphragm suspended between two back plates . Shure have designed an amplifier that can be attached to your smartphone or DAP and that took a lot of clever engineering to accomplish. . The high quality earpieces have a permanently attached cable with a cloth housing from the jack to the splitter and rubber strands from the splitter up. Most in-ear monitors employ either balanced armature drivers (tiny tubes wrapped around a voice coil) or dynamic drivers (the piston-like voice coil-and-magnet drivers commonly associated with speakers and headphones). In this pursuit of technical perfection, however, I never have the impression that anything is excessively strained, on the contrary it feels calm and composed as if the transducer itself was able to transmit much more but it's simpy not needed at this time. I spent quite a bit of time stuck on a chair in the air this year. Posted by 2 years ago. The TV's XR 4K Upscaling will let you enjoy HD content in nearly 4K quality, while XR Motion Clarity ensures smoothness and clarity even when there are fast-moving images such as in action movies and sports programs. Why does Shure supply an amplifier in the first place? Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Like very good monitor speakers, the sound isn't 'instantly impressive' at all, but careful listening quickly reveals just how well balanced, and how revealing, these earphones are. The tonal balance was extremely accurate and it made listening to the violin and piano a rather different experience because most IEMs cant get the timbre correct the Shure KSE1200 are superb in that regard. I've listened to quite a few expensive, elaborate and high-end earphones, but these Shure KSE1200s really raise the bar further than I thought possible. With the PS Audio I used a 2m-long, RCA-to-3.5mm AudioQuest Coffee cable. If you want the best sounding in-ear headphones on the market, the KSE1200s are a good place to start. MQA has gone into administration: what does this mean for Tidal and supported products? Sound If you're not too familiar with Hisense, it's a company mainly focused on high-quality but budget TVs, although in the last year or so, they've started breaking into the high-end TV market. The Shure's midrange offered superb claritysomething that, with hindsight, I hadn't made enough of in my review of the KSE1500. Selectable pad for attenuating analog line input signals to 0dB and -10dB. . The KSE1200 headphones are powerful tools of sonic perception tools not to be aimed haphazardly or used lightly. And the KSE1200 are no exception. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. In some ways, the KSE1200s dumbed-down analog system may be more future proofed than their digital cousins, though with the continual demise of the headphone jack in phones, you may want to buy a dedicated player. The earphones connect via a miniature LEMO socket which sticks up a good 50mm from the top of the amplifier. Youll need something that offers a higher quality signal to get the most out of these shockingly accurate earbuds. That's why we do it for you in this weekly roundup! Like all IEM's the KSE 1500's sound like they're in my head, where the Stax over-the-ear stats have an airier image. Kek. Were big fans of the shape of Shures in-ear designs, but take care to find the right tips, as you lose bass when the seal isnt right. Balanced-armature transducers are highly power-efficient, but typically only over a narrow bandwidth. Sound isolation 37dB. Similarly, there's a game mode made for gamers, and while the panel only has a 60hz refresh rate, it decreases latency to help make the game feel faster and smoother. It was the pinnacle of Shures product lineup offering state-of-the-art performance with a rather high price tag. Shure KSE1500 (left) vs. Shure KSE1200 (right) Those superb in-ear headphones have long since been returned to Audeze, so I couldn't compare them with the Shures. Technology. Shure Tech Portal open_in_new. All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty. The KSE1200's amplifier is housed in a nicely machined black aluminium case with dimensions of 59 x 93 x 21 mm (WHD). The overall soundstage performance is good; nothing is exaggerated but you will notice that the sound does move both outside and inside your head as musicians move around the stage. On pieces with a lot of inter-play between musicians, the KSE1200 did a wonderful job of clearly defining each musician in their proper place, and revealing every nuance that lesser IEMs cant recreate. The battery performance has also been improved from the KSE1500; we managed to achieve an average of 11 hours of playback time with each full recharge. For example, a sports mode smoothens the image and adjusts the colors to highlight sports better. A 'balanced armature' (or BA) transducer employs a tiny bar or armature which is balanced at its centre on a pivot, with one end sitting within a magnetic field from a permanent magnet. In fact, the 70-inch A6 series is a great example, as it's packed with features yet still has a reasonable price, and there's even an Amazon deal you can take advantage of that brings it down to $500 from $590. Why you should buy the 55-inch Sony Bravia XR A90J OLED 4K TV External noise was also highly attenuated I'd estimate over 30dB across the full bandwidth. One of the best of that line, the Sony Bravia XR A90J OLED TV, is currently on sale at Best Buy. As with many other Shure models, the earpieces are identified with coloured dots (blue for left and red for right) and inserting the earpieces requires the same simple technique as other Shure models. Summing Up All of these produce music in a less fatiguing way than their counterparts. M hp: The clean, clear highs in "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," from Bill Frisell's classic East/West (16-bit/44.1kHz ALAC ripped from CD, Nonesuch 7559-79863-2), allowed the cymbals to breathe, while the resolution of the subtle reverb on Frisell's electric guitar in the opening was simply delicious. The separation is brilliant but would like to have even more space and more air between the instruments. We're unlikely to see an OLED TV from Sony get this cheap again anytime soon. Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? It takes a lot of engineering prowess to manufacture an electrostatic loudspeaker or pair of headphones/IEMs. The end result is one of the best sounding IEMs available at any price. . While we use our iPhone 6s with Tidal to test the KSE1200s portable credentials, we get a far better performance when using our MacBook loaded with Audirvana music playing software. It is a single-driver electrostatic sound isolating earphone. The KSE1200SYS come with a two-year limited warranty for parts and products, and a one-year warranty for the battery. Looking back at my notes, the one thing that sticks out is the degree of accuracy that the KSE1200 are capable of. In short, there is (currently) no better method of reproducing sound! The biggest difference between the Shure and Stax electrostatics is the listening perspective. The KSE1200 is presented in a soft-finish black cardboard box with shiny black writing this kind of packaging seems de rigueur for expensive hardware these days! Report . On the bottom is a single -10dB pad switch. Electrostatic headphones have particular electrical requirements that mean they cant simply be plugged into any old headphone output. Even the KSE1200s dont manage to get around these. If we had to name the best sounding in-ear headphones weve heard, its fair to say that Shures KSE1500s would top the list. 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