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Shure Se215 Plus Special Edition $139 @ Addicted to Audio

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Went to the store to buy a Sony NC headphone. Enquired about Shure and saw this on sale. Bought them instead and I am happy. Came home, plugged them in and am blown away by their performance.

SE215m+SPE features a tuned acoustic network for a unique sound signature that delivers detailed sound with extended bass.

Dynamic MicroDrivers
Detachable cables with formable wire and integrated remote + mic connectivity for hands-free use with Apple devices
Available in white
Includes SE215m+SPE, fit kit, zippered pouch and user guide

Features

Single dynamic MicroDriver earphones with detailed sound feature an acoustical network tuned for extended bass performance.
Detachable, replaceable, 50” reinforced cable with MMCX connectors extends product life.
Soft-touch integrated remote and microphone controls device playback, volume, and sound for calls and voice control apps.
Apple-certified Made for iPhone features:
Controls playback, volume and calls, and use with SIRI
Play Music, Pause Music, Volume Up/Down, Skip to Next Track, Skip to Previous Track, Restart Current Track, Fast-forward, Send/End Call, SIRI, Take Photo
⅛” Stereo connectors compatible with Apple-certified protective cases
Some features work with iOS devices only
Android compatibility is device-dependent
Comfortable, Sound Isolating™ sleeves block up to 37 dB of outside noise.
Passive sound isolation for uncolored, artifact-free sound.
Ergonomic earphone housing sits comfortably in the ear for hours of listening.
Wireform cable molds to wearer’s ears for secure, customized fit, even during high-intensity activity.
Included universal fit kit for personalized sizing ensures a perfect seal for maximum isolation and bass response.
Zippered pouch protects earphones and cable when not in use.
Performance-proven, road-tested Shure durability to withstand the abuse and rigors of daily use.

Note: The remote works only with iphone though. Can use the microphone anywhere mobile or computer. The remote is also working on my mac

Update after using for a day: It took me some time to try all the available earcaps and finally select one that fits me well. Unfortunately, only the silicon ones were fitting me. Even getting the fit right in the ears take some time to get good at. Once thats done, you do not even know they are there

The best of all, once I wore them comfortably, took a walk in our suburbs shopping precinct. I absolutely hear nothing. Their passive noise cancellation is amazing. You do not even need a battery to drive active noise cancellation. Because of their in ear fit, everything sounds pronounced. You hear sounds that you thought were never in there.

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closed Comments

  • +4

    i love my SE215s SE…

  • interested in these. has anyone here bought the cheap ones on ebay which can often be found around the $80 mark? one seller has sold over 765, but i still dont trust them!

    • +3

      Shure fakes are all over the place on ebay and amazon marketplace.

      I'd be wary.

    • +1

      Bought from 2 different sellers on eBay, both have had many sold. They were both fakes and confirmed by Shure. Ended up buying this one in Japan last year and is heaps good.

  • I bought Shure 846 through ebay shop

  • Recommend these too for those that don't want to shell out for the Bose/Sony ones. These have decent noise isolation and they are great on flights and small and portable to boot.

    Note I got mine here on ebay. They are legit have Australian warranty. Use PERK10 to get it down to about $130.50 delivered.
    EDIT: Mine were not the PLUS as per OP so that is the better deal if you want PLUS model.

    • what's the difference between the plus and non-plus?

      • The plus has remote/microphone. Non-plus doesn't - I have the non-plus version.

        • if that's the only difference might as well get the SE215 and a aftermarket mic (remote i assume is novelty)

        • sorry forget to mention that I bought my SE215 during an ebay sale and a aftermarket cord/mic and its come in handy as the original cord from shure is too long & annoying plus it broke

  • I love my SE215s. I have noticed that one side has started to cut in/out, it's either the physical connection between bud and cable or the cable connection to the tip. I expect it should be relieved with a clean or a new cable.

  • +3

    For anyone interested, Shure has recently released a bluetooth cable which attaches to your SE model earphone:

    https://www.minidisc.com.au/shure-shr-rmce-bt1-mmcx-bluetoot…

    They also have sell the SE215 with the bluetooth cable here:

    https://www.minidisc.com.au/shure-se215-wireless-in-ear-moni…

    And the cheaper SE112 version here:

    https://www.minidisc.com.au/shure-se112-bt1-bluetooth-in-ear…

    • FWIW, on Aliexpress i've seen some interesting aftermarket bluetooth cables in the US$40 region. The SE215's have standard MMCX ports. Much cheaper than the cable from Shure.

      Also, the Shure cable doesnt have aptX (if that's important to ya).

  • These get recommended a lot by word of mouth, but I really don't think they're for everyone. I find them to have unacceptably muddy mids and non-existent highs, if you have an audio shop nearby, 100% recommend that you go in and ask to try. If you still like it, come back here to snag it.

    • For that ~$200 price point, what do you recommend?

      I'm by no means an audiophile, but 6-7 years ago I wanted a decent pair of earphones for around $200 and as you noted, the Shure SE215 were highly recommended so I gave them a go. At first one side was cutting in and out so I had them repaired/replaced under warranty. Since then, it's worked flawlessly and I really like the sound of them. Right now, my SE215 is getting a bit old and it doesn't have a remote/microphone so it's not so convenient when a phone call comes in. I like the sound isolation and comfort of IEMs. I'm thinking of getting one of those bluetooth cables to upgrade my SE215, but am open-minded enough to try another brand.

      • +1

        IMHO, $200 is an easy UE900 (ie, the model replacing the triple.fi) purchase. As a bonus, comes with two cables :)

        Only other option i'd consider is Westone UM10s, but to be honest they don't really hit their stride until you get to the UM20s (at double the price).

      • +7

        I'm glad you asked, I'll just make a list of $200 and below for everyone. I spent a lot of time in Singapore, small country, a few major audio shops, so I got into this hobby and personally tried most of what's available on the market. I've also been into DIY for a few years so I understand the technical side a bit better than most as well. Another disclaimer: I can't vouch for the long-term durability and/or customer service of any of these, since I did not own them long-term.

        Personally, at estimated MSRPs (I'm not 100% sure if these are retailing in Aus):

        at ~$80, Final Audio E3000 is pretty amazing, but that form factor may not be for everyone. The semi-open grill also means you'll get noticeably less isolation than you're used to, but in quiet places this already beats the SE215 (and ~90% of the market) in every way possible. OTOH, this is a good choice if you still want to be able to hear your coworkers calling for you in the office.

        also at ~$80, Fischer Audio Omega Twins, they have really BOOMING bass. but miraculously it does not muddy-fy the mids and trebles - quite a feat. Really fun IEMs. BUT the shell design and cable quality is pretty terrible. Although they're small, you'll probably have a hard time fitting these properly unless you get those 3-flange or long foam tips.

        ~$110 Vsonic GR07 (classic) is also a great contender, but again the form factor is a bit of a downfall, it's a large cube, can't be beat at this price if it fits you comfortably. (The GR07x is a very flat/reference version, which, contrary to what some brands want to market, are NOT what the average person would enjoy).

        also ~$110, the Fiio F9: comfortable and technically proficient. But the treble may be a little hot/fatiguing for some. If you're used to the SE215 sound, this is probably too jarring of an adjustment.

        also ~$120, Simgot EN700: this is probably the starting point for "everyman" IEMs with great sound and build and comfort. Although I think it's been discontinued in favour of the ~$190 Simgot EN700 pro. No personal experience with the Pro, but some friends whose opinions I trust say it's good. This would probably be the last entry really within your budget.

        If you can stretch it a little, or catch it on sale, try to snag a ATH IM-02 (discontinued) or a LS200 (current version). They're really just repackages and re-marketing of the same IEM. They house the pretty famous Knowles GQ 30783 double BA monitors at a decent price and build. For that matter, any other GQ-30873 IEMs will be good substitutes. IIRC an older Westone 2-ba model also used this, but been discontinued for a while, and with their naming "recycling" scheme it's hard to find.

        From here on, diminishing returns really kicks your wallet hard. Although some day you might still find yourself reaching for a custom… check with me again if that happens (I hope this curse never befalls any ozbargainers).

        Most importantly: don't implicitly trust prices, marketing material (including stupid claims of FR like 10hz-40,000hz), driver size, or driver count. Many high-end IEMs sound extremely mediocre or downright flawed, and are milking their own brand reputations.

        • You seem like you've been at this for a while. Thanks for all of the recommendations and explanations.

          Do you have any experience with Sony's IEMs? I've got a pair of XBA-H1 that are on their very last legs, the right earphone is constantly cutting in and out, and it's to do with the cable (likely had simply worn down over the last few years) and I'm looking for alternatives. I've found refuge with the pair of generic HTC buds that came with my Pixel XL but they're hardly comparable. If you're familiar with the XBA-H1s, or I guess really any of Sony's hybrid IEMs, do you have any other suggestions outside of the ones you listed?

          I grew to really like the sound signature of the XBA-H1, the BA driver seemed a little overpowering at first but I got used to it after adjusting for a bit from the bass-heavy cheap earbuds I'd been using up until then. They also came with some hybrid silicone/foam tips that made for excellent noise cancellation (great for frequent train trips), in addition to significantly improving the overall sound signature in my opinion (with the normal silicone tips they could sound a little harsh and lacking in bass).

          I've been very tempted in the past to import a set of XBA-N1 or XBA-N3 IEMs from Singapore or Japan but have found myself struggling to justify spending that much money on an audio product I can't actually try out. With the XBA-H1s it was an easier sell as they were something like $100 with a local warranty directly from Sony at the time. The XBA-N1 and XBA-N3 seem like direct successors and upgrades to the XBA-H1 that are a bit smaller and more comfortable but I'd much prefer to buy an alternative locally if it means I have the option of trying them out first and also save some money.

        • @tmr3:

          I'm actually not that familiar with Sonys, especially when they tweak their lineup slightly almost every year, I lose track of them. Mostly because of their design, I find it unacceptably bulky and un-ergonomic. Back when I was paying attention to them, I recall finding the XBA A2 having the best sound in the lineup, but still the Sony sound signature is generally pretty dark, while I prefer brighter ones. That said, I'll probably be visiting SG again in ~2 months, and I could try the N1/N3 and take some notes for you, if you're still in the market then.

          For now, at that price, and for a hybrid, I'd still say go for the Fiio F9, especially if you're ok with sparkly-er trebles, beware the recessed mids.

          See here for some F9 measurements.
          http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/fiio-…
          Above link's FR chart uses slightly different dB steps, so things look a bit weird, the below one is what most people are used to when looking at these charts, measured by the same person:
          https://i.imgur.com/gS4kIN2.png
          He's harsh, but he usually uses ~$3k and up customs so slightly different perspectives.

          P.S. RIP Sony's hybrid silicone-foam eartips. Those used to be sold for $1 each at Sony's repair centers, should've stocked up on them while I had the chance. Now they're only sold in marked-up packs with a stupid amount of sizes that you'll never use.

        • @xrailgun:

          Yeah, they refresh their line-up fairly often and given how anything after the XBA-Hx series of buds got basically zero attention out here, it wasn't until earlier this year that I even knew about the XBA-A1/2/3 or XBA-N1/3 existing. If you're visiting again and get the chance, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the N1/N3, if only for the fact that there seem to be so few impressions of them online outside of one thread on Head-Fi. It's not something you have to go out of your way for though, obviously. The N1/N3 have a revised design where I believe the dynamic driver faces in towards the ear, so they look bulkier but they actually stick out of the ear a bit less than some of the previous models. It's still hardly the smallest design in the world however.

          Just based on the recessed mids alone I'm not sure the Fiio F9s are for me. I'll keep looking around though, I may end up having to choose a purely dynamic set of buds just down to the fact that there don't seem to be many hybrids around at the moment (or I'm just not looking in the right places).

          The N1/N3 come with a new style of hybrid eartips apparently, though like the ones that came with the XBA-H1 they're not necessarily something you can easily find outside of buying the actual product: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-hybrid-tips-where.82863…

          I ended up losing one of the original eartips that came with my H1s, so I bought a replacement set off of eBay but they weren't the same - the foam was grey instead of red and simply sat inside the eartip while the original ones had foam that was glued in place and sat much more securely. At the very least it's given me the ability to take the foam out and put it into other eartips, but it's never quite been the same.

        • +1

          @tmr3: I just dropped by the Sony centre, they had the n1ap and n3ap. Had a short listen, I preferred the n1ap. It was a bit brighter, much better tonal balance, and better hf extension.

          In other news, I checked a local shop, and found that they still had the 'normal' Simgot en700, with good stock numbers, Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, and free worldwide shipping. I personally prefer this over either Sony bud's http://www.lendmeurears.com/simgot-en700/

        • @xrailgun: Hey, thanks for getting back to me. With the N1AP being so much cheaper than the N3AP they'd probably be my choice out of the two at this point. Any thoughts on the size and fit of the Sony buds?

          Either way, I'll keep your thoughts in mind when I get around to shopping for a new pair of buds, and I'll definitely be considering those EN700s. Thanks!

        • +1

          @tmr3: Much better than the previous generations', seeing that they're using smaller and differently arranged dynamics now. They're absolutely fine as far as this 'style' of buds go (though generally I prefer the "Shure"-esque fit), and probably won't fall out at all under normal use.

    • i agree. many many years ago i bought the se5xx (can't remember exactly what the numbers were, i still have them) for almost 400 dollars, i completely agree with your comments about that sonic "gaps" in the ranges.. it's not for everyone. definitely not.

  • How do these differ from the original SE215? Are the differences worth the extra $20?

    • Nope. No difference . You get the mic and remote.

    • The original SE215 (non-plus version) do not have the microphone and remote - I have the original SE215.

    • i would say u can't tell the different from the sound, worth the extra $20 or not will depends on whether you need a mic on the cable or not.

      To be honest, it doesnt sound as great as ppl claimed. If u got a samsung mobile or tablet, the earphone came with it sounded very simular to the se215, if u ar not super familiar with the song then u can't tell the different too, and of coz the SE215 is much more comfort then the samsungs.

      • +2

        If you can't tell the difference between bundled earphones and these, you probably need a hearing check before streaming your 64kbps kpop on the train.

        • +1

          Thanks jjcf7 - the water that I was drinking came out of my nose after reading your comment!

        • Oh I dunno… I got Sure SE315s and they sound like garbage, may as well have gotten some more earpods.

        • -2

          have u tried ? im not saying any "bundled earphones" just the white one from samsung, also not saying "can't tell the difference" in close compare, what i said was if u ar not listening to something u ar familiar with then u can't tell the difference. love the way you bs like this dude!

          and just for ur concern, i got se215, 315, 425, i can hear the differences between those, nothing wrong with my hearing thx for asking.
          i also got vip from xiami, all their vip musics ar in 1000+kbps.

        • @UKn0Me:
          SE215 sound better then SE315, top dynamic driver vs shit armature driver, don't expect too much form SE315.

        • @samelight: Seeing as though I got them to replace $80 UE600's (also armature, and sound great) I thought they'd sound phenomenal, but no.

        • and btw not all "bundled earphones" ar as shit as u think, the S8 came with Harman AKG!

        • @UKn0Me:
          its shure dude! u paid for the build quality durability and comfort, not the sound,
          shure always cost more then other brands with the same sound quality.

      • The only stock earphones that made me go Wow were the zen ear ones that came with Asus Zenfone 2. Later I found that chinese audio maker 1more makes the earphones for them, but they also have some patented asus technologies in them

  • +1

    I've had the standard se215 for a couple of years now and they're still going strong. I wish there was a option for mic/remote when I got mine and would've definitely spend $20 more for this special edition. I'm not a audiophile but here's my opinion on them.

    Wearability - Can be fiddly and weird to put on at first but you'll get the hang of it after each use.
    Sound - I wouldn't say amazing, but good enough for the price (<$100)
    Isolation - Blocks off the annoying music and chatty people on the train but can still hear the announcements. (Was a pretty important feature for me)
    Cables - Durable and thick, my cords never get tangled. Nice pouch to keep it tidy.
    Earbuds - Lots of options, I really like the foam ones as they fit nicely in my ear.

  • +1

    Thanks OP. I were going to replace my now broken 10 year old Shure E3's with the se425; but at this price will give them a try. I loved my last pair.

  • I love my shure SE215 earphones but I paid $100 for them with a aftermarket cord from china which includes mic, so this too me is not a bargain of any kind.
    Also believe it or not the aftermarket cord is more reliable than the one that came from shure & not as ridiculously long

    • Thank you for the words of appreciation. Is this new or second sale. If new, can you confirm if you were able to register them with shure? Thank you.

      • +1

        @genuinedude.. I bought em from an ebay seller at 15% off sale but in my personal opinion this is not a bargain. It was brand new in the packaging and came with the register docs. I haven't bothered registering as the ebay seller was fantastic and even sent me a replacement earphone under warranty when one of mine broke

  • Does anyone know if these work well with the OnePlus 3T seeing as OP said Android compatibility is device-dependent and I don't want to fork out $100+ for it not to work. I wasn't specifically looking at this model but more the non plus model (SE215)

    Would this also be the best earphone for around the $100 price range?

    Thanks

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