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.
We only got to try the earphones with the 'balanced' sound
filter, but we imagine that regardless these aren't for people who love truly
trebly earphones.
The treble is excellent, though, with great detail and a
smooth finish. These are world class headphones, and we'll endeavour to get a
full review up soon.
Early Impressions
Bass rarely gets better than this. If you have the cash to
spend and want audiophile earphones that can pump out the low end, you need to
hear the Shure SE846.
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