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. Shure dazzled the audio world back in 2016 with the release of the amazing KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System. Shure Tech Portal open_in_new. Given the 200V biasing voltage employed here, the custom-designed cables running into each earphone are a little thicker than normal due to additional insulation around each conductor. Dimensions (hwd) 9.3 5.3 2.1cm. The tonal balance is excellent, and the bass is nigh onto unbelievable. If you're expecting similar levels of bass you will not be satisfied here. Finishes 1. Despite all the challenges, though, and after eight years of development, Shure created the world's first (and currently only) electrostatic earphone, the KSE1500, a couple of years ago. But with so many new (and classic) movies being added to the libraries, it can be hard to stay on top of the new options to watch. While such a design has many advantages, it never seems to render the more forceful aspects of music replay with the muscle of more conventional drive-unit technologies. We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, and the best movies on HBO. Bias voltages can be anywhere from 120 to 480V depending on the model of IEM or headphone and the energizer must be paired accordingly. Technology marches on and that created a dilemma for Shure; whilst the energizer and earphones kept pace with the market the 24-bit/96kHz DAC started to really show its age and was no longer competitive with other products in the market. 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. Upper midrange feels hollow, thin, and is extremely shouty. Why does Shure supply an amplifier in the first place? You must log in or register to reply here. Modern electronics have solved that problem, though. Tempted? 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. 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. Veiti 23.03.2019. It took roughly 8 years of development time for Shure to bring the original KSE1500 to market as they worked through the challenges of building a portable electrostatic IEM. Rechargeable battery providing up to 12 hours of operating life. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. Nevertheless, the cables are still very flexible and the usual sliding 'cable cinch' can be used to hold them securely at the back of the head. About $50 in parts. Thom Yorkes vocals come through with impressive nuance and passion. For the Money: B+. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. www.soundonsound.com/reviews/sennheiser-ie800, www.soundonsound.com/reviews/64-audio-u12t. . . Thats amazing considering the high regard in which we hold those headphones. Right-angled plugs simply rotate under tension and are far more reliable, in my experience. 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. Der Shure KSE1200 bleibt fr lnger . 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. The front panel includes a large volume knob that doubles as the on/off switch, two LEDs, a 3.5mm input port, and the port for the earpiece cable. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. These headphones are so clear that such things are obvious. . . Would you guys consider the bass to be anemic on the Shure KSE1200/1500s? Shure Asia Limited, 22/F, 625 King's . 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. Though thats hardly a practical portable solution, it certainly shows us the Shures true range of abilities. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. Shure KSE1500 (left) vs. Shure KSE1200 (right) ), 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. 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 . This was not the case with either the KSE1500 or KSE1200SYS earpieces, which played the low-frequency, 1/3-octave warble tones on my Editor's Choice (CD, Stereophile STPH016-2) cleanly and with full weight down to 32Hz, provided the sleeves were making good seals with my ear canals. I am coming from a dynamic driver that is more bass-oriented IEM; the Campfire Audio Atlas. A dedicated amplifier module (more below) sits in the presentation box alongside a tough zipped carrycase to store the earphones, adaptor cables and spare earbuds (but not the amplifier). Kek. How long does it take to construct something that has not been done yet? JavaScript is disabled. I'd written that the KSE1500s' balance was a touch bright, but I didn't find that to be the case with the KSE1200s. This allows air to flow over the main surfaces and helps prevent overheating. 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. 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. Shure claims up to 12 hours of use on a full charge, though much depends on the source material and volume level you listen at. For example, a sports mode smoothens the image and adjusts the colors to highlight sports better. Tai nghe Shure KSE1500 chnh hng, gi tt nht cng nhiu u i hp dn ti cc showroom Xun V Audio. In 2016, the KSE1500 headphones along with the portable amplifier the KSA1500 with DAC function were introduced with shocking price tag of 2999$. In order to use the full potential of the headphones, it is definitely recommended to connect it via a line in input. Shure KSE1200 tech specs. 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). As such, the KSE1200 keep you constantly off guard when bouncing around to different selections for better, and of course, for worse. And suffice it to say, even at two grand, were in love. Having listened to a number of electrostatic headphones over the past five years, I had very high expectations for the KSE1200. All of these produce music in a less fatiguing way than their counterparts. Then build your own 20x attenuator board, or wait for me to release mine. But youd have to sacrifice the sheer brilliance and transparency of the KSE1200s in the process. 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. They also made some modifications to the battery to extend the playback time. The rear panel has a single micro-USB port for charging and a single switch marked PAD with 0dB and -10dB positions. 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. Here's Oratory's EQ settings for Harman IE 2017 target. It takes a ton of power (relatively) to complete this process, which is why the KSE1500 and KSE1200 are both tied to a dedicated amplifier system the old audiophiliac ball and chain. The high tones are as stretched as possible. 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. I spent quite a bit of time stuck on a chair in the air this year. Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. 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. There's also a 3.5mm socket to quarter-inch plug adaptor for connecting to full-sized headphone outputs. Seen on HeadFi some users compared CW-L05QD with Stax, therefore my question. -Leaves most iems in the dust in terms of resolution and detail retrieval. But the difference in source volume between amber (okay) and red (audible overload) was relatively small. A portable electrostatic IEM is a very different kind of product and Shure deserves a lot of credit for their design creativity. All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty. Focal Utopia: out of a pair of good sources, I was very . 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. What's interesting here again, electrostatic technology flexes muscles because these sharpness is never annoying. And the KSE1200 are no exception. Shure KSA1500 ( KSA1500) . Read on for the best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime, HBO, and other streaming services. Are they really worth $2,000? Fortunately, there are many, many movies available on the major streaming services. 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. I'm afraid that wasn't something I wanted to test, but it was clear that the amplifier was capable of going way louder than I would ever need I rarely had the volume control more than halfway. KSE1500 are faster, more detailed, more direct, more tangible, more holographic, and above all more real than anything I've heard so far. . While thats serious money for in-ears, their superb sound goes a long way to justifying that hefty price. As always with earphones, the external sound isolation and lowfrequency response is entirely dependent on how well the sleeves fit the listener's own ear canals, so having such a comprehensive range of options is very helpful. It comes with an amplifier system that can be used for the in-line portable media players. Technology. 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. $2,299 USD for IEMs? 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. Thats what youll get with the KSE1200 from square one. The midrange performance is superb, giving vocals all of the clarity, detail, resolution, and texture they require to sound accurate. If I go for the 1500 thats my entire budget gone for cans such as the lcd4z or possibly the stax 007mk2 but I would need to get the carbon to go with the 007s. When spending $2,000 on a pair of IEMs, it is more than reasonable to expect world-class performance. The better the recording, the richer the experience, and in a lot of ways you really dont know whats coming in your own library, simply because most headphones dont have the accuracy and sheer sonic magnification required to understand exactly whats been recorded. The electrostatic transducer modules are encased in transparent bodies (although there's nothing interesting to see), and the cable entries have the usual stiffened sections which can be shaped tightly behind each ear. 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. Hidden under the earphones, which are presented neatly in a foam cradle, is a cardboard box containing sets of 'soft-flex' rubber, soft-foam, and triple-flange earbud sleeves, each of which come in three different sizes. Shure have designed an amplifier that can be attached to your smartphone or DAP and that took a lot of clever engineering to accomplish. 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. 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. If we had to name the best sounding in-ear headphones weve heard, its fair to say that Shures KSE1500s would top the list. Well add that weve yet to hear Audezes iSine LCDi4 planar magnetic earphones (which run $2,500) and we adored the sound of the $500 iSine 20, so they may be worth considering as a rival. 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 Incorporated, 5800 West Touhy . The charging process is not very fast with the micro-USB plug and one should expect between 3-4 hours to fully recharge the energizer once it is fully drained. But there are few products of either type that will do justice to these Shures. We suspect Shure would point you towards the talented four-driver SE846 (869) if this aspect concerns you. Shure took eight years to develop those original '1500s to the point . How do you find these compare to the Stax 002? At the low end of this spectrum, a live recording of Grateful Deads Cold Rain and Snow sounded like it had been dug up among Mayan ruins. Theres really nothing quite like Shures Electrostatic buds. X6 but with treble. That clarity can be something of an issue when it comes to system matching. 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. They were all well below dangerous levels. The inclusion of this amplifier adds considerably to the cost. I cant find an official case for the 1200 amp so Im wondering if anyone else has experienced this and found a workable solution?? Shure - KSE1200 Electrostatic In-Ear Sale price 179,999 Regular . Tonally these are beautifully even. Bass is deep, powerful and tightly controlled. 2. One such moment came from an old favorite from Weens White Pepper, the tropical parody anthem, Bananas and Blow. Close. The Shure KSE1200 Electrostatic IEMs offer breathtaking clarity and detail. We reviewed these electrostatic buds back in 2016, and their combination of clever engineering and brilliant sound was enough to bag five stars and our whole-hearted affection. Find out more about how we test. Looking back at my notes, the one thing that sticks out is the degree of accuracy that the KSE1200 are capable of. Why go to all that trouble? Sound isolation with the largest-diameter sleeves was excellent, the external world not intruding on my listeningone night, I almost missed dinner! Bravia is one of Sony's best TV lines. 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. The combination of low-frequency clarity and weight in "Happiness Is Easy," from Talk Talk's The Colour of Spring (DSD64 file ripped from SACD, EMI 591452), made the sparse interjections from Danny Thompson's double bass and Alan Gorrie's electric bass sound suitably forceful. Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyerdynamic T5P. Shure KSE1200SYS electrostatic in-ear headphone system. What is the output level difference between Shures Beta 87A and SM58? Look this is actually simple, you all spend thousands on amplifiers. 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. When April showers strike, you need a fallback plan. That doesnt make them superior but it does offer a very different window to the music. Some designs also stack multiple drivers covering each band to gain more power efficiency. 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