The Shure SE846

Shure SE846 Review: Hands-on at CES 2014

What are the Shure SE846?

The Shure SE846 are noise isolating earphones. They're the highest-end earphones we've seen from Shure, costing more than double the amount of the Shure SE535 – themselves highly acclaimed earphones.

They're interesting technically and sound fantastic if you like your music with real bass clout.

Shure SE846 – Design and Features

The Shure SE846 are quad-driver earphones, adding an extra driver from the previous flagship SE535 model. They don't look hugely different from the other top-end Shures, though.

There a bit bulbous, and are designed to be worn over the ear, with a stiffened length of cable up by the join with the earbud. Build quality takes a step up with the SE846, and the earphone aperture is made of metal rather than the usual plastic.

This is really necessary as you're able to take the end of the earpiece off. Like the AKG K3003 and Phonak PFE 112, the Shure SE846 use removable filters that tailor the sound to your taste. You need a little tool to do so, and we wouldn't recommend doing it daily, but it's a neat idea. Shure explained that there are three different filters, and they alter the mid-range response, giving you a balanced, mid-heavy or slightly scooped sound that emphasises the treble and bass a little more.

Like the other high-end Shures, the SE846 cable is removable – a good job given how much these earphones cost.

There's a lot of clever engineering that has gone in these headphones, and Shure shows it off with a clear finish that lets you see the micro driver housings.

Shure SE846 – Sound Quality

Although it's easy to think of the SE846 as merely a four-driver version of the SE535, there's actually some different things going on inside. The output from the bass driver is sent through a maze of tiny little metal holes designed to filter out all the frequencies a bass driver isn't designed to handle – so the bass driver functions much like a hi-fi subwoofer, leaving out the top-end and upper-mid frequencies.

The result is immensely impressive bass. The comparison with a subwoofer is a good one too, as we've rarely heard bass this punchy, this low, this powerful, in a pair of headphones, let alone a pair of IEMs. It's seriously impressive, and is the characteristic that really separates the SE846 from the SE535.

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10 Best Tech Gadgets 2013

Each year we celebrate the very best products in each category in our TrustedReviews awards. If you've not checked out this year's results, do so now.

However, this 'best of' round-up is a little different. We're going to look at the products that are important in another sense.

These gadgets mark a change, either for the market, or for the company making them. And some of them will be product remembered for years and years to come.

There are no real winners here, but if you want to know which products are the sign of things to come then you've come to the right place.

And if you think we've missed any, feel free to let us know (politely) in the comments.

Sony Alpha A7

Perhaps the most exciting photographic announcement of the year came only recently – the Sony Alpha A7 and A7R. They are the first compact system cameras to have full-frame sensors. Using such a sensor makes these cameras pretty cheap for their £1,200 starting price.  DSLRs with such sensors are normally a good deal more expensive.

They look good, feel good and produce excellent photos. To really get the most out of the camera, though, you’ll need to invest in one of the prime lenses rather than the kit lens. It’s no cheap solution to pro-quality pictures, but it is a game-changing camera that arguably heralds the beginning of the end for the DSLR.

Asus PQ321Q

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of the Asus PQ321Q. Most people haven’t. However, it is a fairly important gadget of 2013 to note.

It was the first 4K-compatible monitor to surface, with 3,840 x 2,160 pixel native resolution. And it costs a mere three and a half grand in US dollars. Very few of you will end up buying one of these, but it’ll be a good fact to impress your geeky mates in five years when 4K monitors are the norm.

Motorola Moto G

There’s nothing technologically impressive about the Moto G as an abstracted piece of hardware. What makes it truly interesting is that Motorola has managed to make a phone of this calibre for under £100 (it has sold for as little as £89.99).

At this price there’s simply nothing that can come close to this. Look at Samsung’s line-up and you’ll need to spend three times the money to get something as good. Motorola has set

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Best headphones to buy 2014

1. Urbanears Humlan

Brand spanking new ‘phones look great and sound better, hence are idea for musos. Available in a range of colours, there’s a Humlan for every human. The washable parts ensure you can get these dirty, then bung them in the wash and there’ll be right as rain.

Price: £39

2. Focal Spirit One

Clearly not the pair of ‘phones to buy if you’re looking to blend in with the crowd, these are colourful and chunky, really quite chunky. No matter though, the sound is the most important part and they have a real hit of punchy noise, extremely balanced bass and great volume. Another nice touch is that they are foldable, making them nearly in your bag.

Price: £139

2. KEF M500

Boasting highly detailed sound, memory foam constructed ear pads for extra comfort and a design that just reeks of style and sophistication we have to say these cans are easily some of our favourites. The lack of sound leak is also highly welcomed – both by us and others who may wear them.

Price:

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Top 10 best Earphones

Call them what you want - in-ears, in-ear-monitors or inter aurals - these tiny earbuds are among the most common gadgets around. The most obvious upgrade for anyone with a smartphone whose bundled in-ears are about as dynamic as George Osborne, a good pair of earbuds can take tunes to a higher level for relatively low spend.

We've included models from across the range of current selling prices, of course, though there are obvious differences. Pricier pairs generally offer more detail, range and bass, and better noise isolation (handy on trains and possibly even planes), though even £50 / US$60 / AU$70 buys a pretty high-end experience.

Almost all now include an in-line remote for tweaking volume, changing tracks and hands-free calling, though most are primed for iOS devices. The remote button sometimes works with Android phones, but the volume keys don't. Almost all models come with a choice of tips, where which one you choose is crucial for sound quality, noise isolation and comfort, so don't be afraid to ditch those default tips.

1. a-JAYS One+ - £40/US$50/AU$60

Tangled earphones are the bane of every commuter's morning, and it's doubtful many of us even get to the bus stop with cables in-situ. Swedish design takes a stab at this ungodly problem with the completely flat cables of the a-JAYS One+, which are also a great value attempt at bringing hands-free options to the wider smartphone community.

Connecting to any brand of phone using a neat L-shaped 3.5mm jack, it's a cinch to operate volume and

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