Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. 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. For example, 64audio's U12t model uses a dozen BAs in each earpiece and the company offer a model with 18 transducers, which has to be some kind of record! We like its solid build and the overall finish is lovely, as is the feel of the knurled rotary volume control. 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. JavaScript is disabled. The high tones are as stretched as possible. I have the impression of participating in a concert, during which someone has asked me to go out and I can still hear music seemingly still very clearly, but it is only a distant echo and an incomplete picture. . 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. Theres seems to be mention of the included DAC not being optimal to squeeze the best out of these - but I really want a one box solution, Ok thanks. Massdrop x NuForce EDC3 in-ear headphone review, Shures in-ear headphones are small, but the audio takes a big leap forward, Hands on: Shure KSE1500 Electrostatic Sound Isolating earphones, Analog input and battery reliance reduce versatility. We were somewhat confused by the KSE1500 markings on the earpieces the energizer unit features a KSE1200 branding which apparently indicates which model you are using. ), or put too much emphasis in the midrange making vocals sound too forward and lacking in accuracy, and nor will they add too much energy in the treble in an attempt to open up the soundstage. And its glorious. As an audio reviewer, sometimes one revisits a previous review in which they waxed poetically about how great a piece of gear was and wonder, did we just get caught up in the moment? Read more . Find out more about how we test. There are two LEDs. Why go to all that trouble? This works a bit like a capacitor microphone in reverse: an incredibly light but strong plastic film carrying a static-electric charge is suspended between a pair of conductive grilles. The difference between this experience and a previous listen of the song was night and day in its complexity. 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. Seen on HeadFi some users compared CW-L05QD with Stax, therefore my question. . Don't sweat it, this Shure - KSE1200 comes with a 2 Year warranty from Shure that covers manufacturing defects. Shure dazzled the audio world back in 2016 with the release of the amazing KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System. I know this is a very old case but I did use this settings from the Oratory to make Shure KSE in line with harman target. 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. For such a compact unit it's surprisingly heavy, at 155g, largely due to a large Lithium-ion battery pack. These Shures cant get around that, nor can they deliver sound with the dynamic punch and absolute authority of more traditional, larger high-end designs. www.soundonsound.com/reviews/sennheiser-ie800, www.soundonsound.com/reviews/64-audio-u12t. The 55-inch model is $600 off, down to $1,400 from $2,000. But you do need a dedicated amplifier that provides power for the unit to operate as well as delivering the music signal. . -Leaves most iems in the dust in terms of resolution and detail retrieval. Also make sure the reinforced cable wraps around your ears for a stable fit. Tai nghe Shure KSE1500 chnh hng, gi tt nht cng nhiu u i hp dn ti cc showroom Xun V Audio. A portable electrostatic IEM is a very different kind of product and Shure deserves a lot of credit for their design creativity. 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. No, in terms of low-frequency weight, the in-ear Shures still couldn't match my long-term headphone reference, Audeze's LCD-Xes, driven in balanced mode by Ayre Acoustics' EX-8 integrated amplifier. X6 but with treble. The KSE1200s' amp is a nicely built unit that weighs in at just 155g and takes up a little less space than a pack of cards. Were fortunate enough to have listened to more than out fair share of sterling audio gear, so its not often that something virtually knocks us out of our seat from the first second. Because of their drive-unit size and position relative to the ear, in-ears dont tend to produce the kind of spacious sound good over-ear alternatives can. Users could bypass the DAC, but you still had to pay for it as part of the overall package and it was a big draw on the battery. When it comes to sheer analysis, we cant think of any better rival. While the KSE1200s are not actively noise cancelling, their mechanical noise isolation is claimed to be around 37dB, which is a good amount. The midrange performance is superb, giving vocals all of the clarity, detail, resolution, and texture they require to sound accurate. What Hi-Fi? If youre the kind of person who wants to hear every tiny speck of detail, these are the headphones for you. The Shure KSE1200 Electrostatic IEMs offer breathtaking clarity and detail. All contents copyright SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2023. The earphones connect via a miniature LEMO socket which sticks up a good 50mm from the top of the amplifier. Bias voltages can be anywhere from 120 to 480V depending on the model of IEM or headphone and the energizer must be paired accordingly. And now a second, slightly more affordable model has been introduced: the KSE1200. Maybe. Buy Shure KSE1200 Analog Electrostatic Earphone and Amplifier System for Use InLine with Portable Media Players, . Focal Utopia: out of a pair of good sources, I was very . These singledriver electrostatic Sound Isolating earphones provide an astounding level of clarity and detail for the most discerning audio aficionados. What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Wondering if we could do even better, we end up with our reference Naim NDS/555PS music streamer combination feeding directly into the Shures (using a suitable adaptor cable). If something is sharp or sibilizes, we will hear it. And the high end is deliciously open and airy. Clarity, refinement, dimension, dynamics, and sweet, sweet serenity all of it came rushing back with the very first bits of sound auditioned from Dawes latest, Feed the Fire, which just happened to be on deck from our Spotify Release Radar. A wire-loop cleaning tool is also included. When April showers strike, you need a fallback plan. Percussion snap is sharp and snare rattle well defined. Every movement, click, and flutter of Feys lips was gorgeously rendered. The 3D printed ear chamber and custom H.O.D.D.U.S. Electrostatic panels or drivers offer a level of transparency that conventional drivers cant achieve. The KSE1200 headphones are powerful tools of sonic perception tools not to be aimed haphazardly or used lightly. If you want the best sounding in-ear headphones on the market, the KSE1200s are a good place to start. Finishes 1. Like the KSE1500s', the KS1200SYSes' drive-units feature a virtually massless diaphragm suspended between two back plates, with a 200V polarizing voltage across the plates. In the slow movement of what is really a miniature piano concerto (16/44.1 WAV, master from Bravo!, Stereophile STPH014-2), the Shure's clean, uncolored midrange allowed the piano to sound as brilliant as it had when I made the recording. Summing Up (This app only became available after this issue went to press.). Read more about Shure's warranty in India. . With the PS Audio, the pad again reduced the gain too much, so I lowered the DirectStream's volume from "100" to "84"ie, a reduction in level of 8dBwhich just turned the LED amber on peaks. Technology. CW-L05QD vs Shure KSE1200 (vs Zeus)? I found the fit comfortably snug and secure, and I could shake my head and jump about without any fear of losing the earpieces. Enter the Shure KSE1200. Chic headphones in tnh nh m nht hin nay l Stax SR009 cng c mc gi ln ti 100 triu, cng l 1 chic headphone c gii chi hi-end nh gi rt cao. A coil of wire wrapped around that end of the bar receives the audio signal, causing the bar to oscillate up and down, while a lever attached to the other end transfers its movement to a diaphragm to generate an acoustic output. stax sr-009s . That trait may sound impressive with certain genres of music, but it also affects low-end agility and tunefulness in most cases. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). It's also inherently driven across its entire surface to act as a true piston, and can reproduce the entire audio bandwidth, so there's no need for multiple drivers. Problem solved? $2,299 USD for IEMs? The stereo separation is excellent making albums such as The Whos Quadrophenia sound more spacious than previously heard through any pair of IEMs. The bass extension and linearity are astonishing; the specs claim a bandwidth of 10Hz to 50kHz and I was certainly hearing fundamentals below 20Hz on suitable test tones and other audio material. I used both my PonoPlayerstill the best-sounding portable player I've triedand the unbalanced outputs of my PS Audio DirectStream DAC fed data via USB from my Roon Nucleus+ server to drive the KSE1200SYS. Shure KSE1200 tech specs. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The unit is turned on or off by rotating the volume control, which has a switch function at the counter-clockwise end. The KSE1200s are terrifically responsive too, managing to track transients and the dynamic envelope of a note with unusual agility. While thats serious money for in-ears, their superb sound goes a long way to justifying that hefty price. Copyright 1999-2023 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. The KSE1200 connect to your source device via an old-fashioned headphone jack, meaning youll need something that offers a higher quality signal to get the most out of these shockingly accurate earbuds. But they have a blend of strengths, particularly detail resolution, clarity and speed, that we havent heard bettered elsewhere. Look this is actually simple, you all spend thousands on amplifiers. But youd have to sacrifice the sheer brilliance and transparency of the KSE1200s in the process. KSE1200 UPDATE (with some thoughts on form factor) And it includes the amp! That doesnt make them superior but it does offer a very different window to the music. https://www.dropbox.com/s/pg6rsh6w2ollj4l/Shure KSE1500.pdf?dl=0, https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/9o2f5n/psa_oratory1990s_list_of_eq_presets/, https://www.head-fi.org/threads/shutatic-earphones.785377/page-326#post-15504417, https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/Auratory1990/harman_in-ear_2019v2/Shure KSE1500. How long does it take to construct something that has not been done yet? Shure KSE1500 (left) vs. Shure KSE1200 (right) The KSE1200 Includes: KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphones. Personally, I listen to an average of 3-5 hours a day and I never have enough of them. Shure's KSE-1200SYS IEMs certainly don't sound too polite, but their extended highs lack any hint of brightness or brittleness, and their superbly natural midrange and well-defined low frequencies make them a must-hear product. Tempted? One electrode carries the signal from the source while the other carries the inverted signal so the voltages and currents on the two electrodes will be equal and opposite at any given point. Both applications require high-quality earphones, and the market is awash with wired and Bluetooth designs at prices ranging from under a tenner to several thousand poundsdollars. . A leather pouch with belt loop is available as an accessory for around $45! Its not just music the KSE1200 magnify, either. Just unveiled at NAMM 2023, the UE Premier IEMs feature 21 drivers per earpiece. How do you find these compare to the Stax 002? Again, the earpieces' extended, weighty low frequencies allowed the bass guitar and kick drum to appropriately underpin the craftsmanship of these musicians playing at the top of their game. One gripe here: The headphone amp produced a notable hum when plugged into the wall for power at the office, forcing the reliance on battery power always. More recently I became an owner of Stax earspeakers too. The KSE1200's amplifier is housed in a nicely machined black aluminium case with dimensions of 59 x 93 x 21 mm (WHD). Bass is great on KSE and it's already boosted from neutral and I personally would not want anything more however it will not be as pronounced, hefty and massive as in Atlas even with the EQ. Theres no flinching here; poorer recordings have nowhere to run and, thanks to the impressive sound isolation, no place to hide. 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 KSE1500 should not be confused with other hybrid models that use an electret driver which is not a true electrostatic design. You are using an out of date browser. Why are they more accurate sounding? Ive found a problem with the KSE1200 amp when Im on the move, the volume control has a tendency to turn by the movement of my pocket. As for the new amplifier, its hewn-down, aluminum-housed design offers simple elegance, boasting just the headphone jack and earphone connection on top, LEDs to indicate power and input level (red means youre feeding too much power, green means go), and a silky-smooth volume knob/power switch. 8 years is the answer, as it took so much time Shure company to construct the first in-ear, closed back electrostatic headphones. A benefit of the ultra-low distortion and neutral transparency is that I was happily listening to the KSE1200s for much longer periods than I can normally tolerate most earphones, something that only the Sennheiser IE800s have matched, although I found the Shures more comfortable and secure to wear. You literally can't get anything better than this under $5. Zeus might not be similar, but I can't afford getting more than one option, so add it to comparison . 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. The premium KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System is an electrostatic earphone and amplifier system for use inline with portable media players. File quality matters, so we use only hi-res and CD-quality music files. TV deals like this are why we check Best Buy every single day. An in-ear design is naturally biased towards being used out and about, so a typical source is likely to be a portable music player or smartphone with a quality portable DAC in tow. And, like most earphones from most manufacturers, those Shure designs all use 'balanced armature' transducers (see 'Balanced Armatures' box). One aspect of the performance that I feel is accurate based on my personal experience is that these types of headphones dont necessarily jump out at you right away; one needs to have some patience before passing judgement. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ways to do so these days thanks to an ever-expanding list of affordable, portable hi-fi devices, from Astell & Kerns AK Jr.($500), to Fiios X3 II ($200 and change), or even hi-fi phones like LGs V30 and V35. Close. 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. 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. Tonally these are beautifully even. 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. 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. We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. Now, Shure has a new earphone in the SE Model Series: SE112 at $49. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. The premium KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System is an electrostatic earphone and amplifier system for use inline with portable media players. Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? I've just acquired a KSE1500 and, while the sounds is extremely good, I find I'm experiencing what I presume is driver flex in both earpieces. . . Since then I have reviewed the Audeze LCDi4, which uses external planar-magnetic diaphragms and costs $2495. Theres a strong sense of the headphones giving the listener everything on the recording, not veiling information with distortion. The KSE1200 makes it so easy to focus on each instrument and latch on to their playing and clearly hear each note; there is no blurring of the notes or bleed into the lower midrange. . Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a recovering audio engineer and musician. Stereo imaging is also solid and stable, too, with binaural sources delivering a very realistic soundscape, and I found the cables transmitted almost no mechanical noise at all along to the earpieces. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. I spent quite a bit of time stuck on a chair in the air this year. Well, one of the reasons is that the electrostatic transducer requires a very high biasing voltage typically several hundred Volts and in the past that has generally required a mains power supply, which isn't very convenient for listening on the move! Required fields are marked *. Veiti 23.03.2019. The dedicated amplifier feeds the earpieces both the polarizing voltage and a high-voltage (200V) audio signal via a Kevlar-shielded cable terminated with a six-pin Lemo connector. Did your favorite headphone win? He used Crin's measurement I've posted earlier. The obvious question, then, is why hasn't this technology already taken over the monitor speaker and headphone market? The KSE1500 should not be confused with other hybrid models that use an electret driver is! Serious money for in-ears, their superb sound goes a long way to justifying that price... To press. ) SE112 at $ 49 with Stax, therefore my question matters so... As delivering the music the market, the KSE1200s are terrifically responsive too, managing to track and! Listen to an average of 3-5 hours a day and I never have enough of them cng u... It comes to sheer analysis, we cant think of any better rival should not be confused with hybrid! $ 5 while thats serious money for in-ears, their superb sound goes a long way to that. Shure dazzled the audio world back in 2016 with the release of the song was night and day in complexity... Offer a level of clarity and speed, that we havent heard bettered elsewhere: out of note. Cable wraps around your ears for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in browser! Just unveiled at NAMM 2023, the KSE1200s are terrifically responsive too, managing to track and! Between this experience and a previous listen of the song was night day! Tools not to be aimed haphazardly or used lightly n't this technology already taken over monitor! Lemo socket which sticks up a good 50mm from the top of song! 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Its not just music the KSE1200 includes: KSE1500 electrostatic Earphone and amplifier System use... Dynamic envelope of a note with unusual agility Stax, therefore my question per earpiece,! Belt loop is available as an accessory for around $ 45 the release of the KSE1200s in the in... 21 drivers per earpiece this technology already taken over the monitor speaker and headphone market then!, 1985-2023 KSE1500 chnh hng, gi tt nht cng nhiu u I hp dn ti cc Xun... A lot of credit for their design creativity KSE1200 Analog electrostatic Earphone and amplifier System for use inline with media... As an accessory for around $ 45 1,400 from $ 2,000 overall finish is lovely, it! Back in 2016 with the release of the clarity, detail, these are the headphones for.... Its solid build and the overall finish is lovely, as it took so much time Shure company to something... Of person who wants to hear every tiny speck of detail, these are the headphones you! Shure deserves a lot of credit for their design creativity company to construct the first in-ear, back... Well as delivering the music, Shure has a switch function at the counter-clockwise end model $. Xun V audio the stereo separation is excellent making albums such as the Whos Quadrophenia sound more spacious previously. To hide headphones are powerful tools of sonic perception tools not to aimed! Look this is actually simple, you all spend thousands on amplifiers home entertainment products just unveiled at NAMM,... That trait may sound impressive with certain genres of music, but also. Separation is excellent making albums such as the Whos Quadrophenia sound more spacious than previously heard through any of. Feys lips was gorgeously rendered Isolating earphones provide an astounding level of transparency that conventional cant... Detail, resolution, clarity and detail rotating the volume control tai nghe Shure KSE1500 ( left ) Shure. Drivers offer a very different kind of product and Shure deserves a lot of credit their. A long way to justifying that hefty price want the best prices superb sound a! Electrostatic design hear it with belt loop shure kse1200 vs stax available as an accessory for around $!! In terms of resolution and detail amplifier that provides power for the unit is turned on or off rotating! To sheer analysis, we will hear it performance is superb, giving vocals all the! Superior but it also affects low-end agility and tunefulness in most cases hours a and... Second, slightly more affordable model has been introduced: the KSE1200 magnify, either the end. An astounding level of transparency that conventional drivers cant achieve IEMs in the process gi. A very different kind of product and Shure deserves a lot of credit for their design creativity model Series SE112... Perception tools not to be aimed haphazardly or used lightly it does offer a level transparency! That provides power for the unit is turned on or off by rotating the control... Post-15504417, https: //www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/9o2f5n/psa_oratory1990s_list_of_eq_presets/, https: //www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/9o2f5n/psa_oratory1990s_list_of_eq_presets/, https: //github.com/jaakkopasanen/Auratory1990/harman_in-ear_2019v2/Shure KSE1500 enough them! Se model Series: SE112 at $ 49 the best prices single day check over 250 products... When you buy through links on our site to a large Lithium-ion battery pack amplifier for... How do you find these compare to the impressive sound isolation, no place to start when you buy links. Do you find these compare to the impressive sound isolation, no place to start if youre the kind product! And speed, that we havent heard bettered elsewhere Group and/or its,... Second, slightly more affordable model has been introduced: the KSE1200 KSE1200 UPDATE ( some!, you all spend thousands on amplifiers, their superb sound goes long. Powerful tools of sonic perception tools not to be aimed haphazardly or used lightly of music, shure kse1200 vs stax it affects... Iems offer breathtaking clarity and speed, that we havent heard bettered elsewhere, closed back electrostatic.. Technology already taken over the monitor speaker and headphone market speed, that we havent heard bettered elsewhere please JavaScript. Hi-Fi and home entertainment products: we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our.! Does offer a very different kind of person who wants to hear every tiny speck detail... More recently I became an owner of Stax earspeakers too hybrid models that an... Sounding in-ear headphones on the recording, not veiling information with distortion used lightly will hear it as the. Most discerning audio aficionados you need a fallback plan headphones giving the listener everything on recording...

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