Shure SE420

The market for premium quality earphones is quite large with several manufacturers trying to make their earphones excel in comfort, sound quality, and durability to make their high cost well worth the money. It is true that a small pair of earphones like the Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones can be priced around $200 and has features that standard earphones lack considerably. The real concern is how these features weigh against other models in this price point. Based on the features, the SE420 is purely a solution for studio professionals and audiophiles that really want to make the most out of their music, but cannot afford the high-end SE530.

Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones

Design and Comfort

The Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones weighs just about twice as much as the lower end models because of the dual speaker integration. Style isn’t sacrificed as the pair still has the elegant curvy style and comes in black and white designs. The cable length remains the same as all of the other SE models measuring 18 inches long, but it can be extended to 54 inches using the modular cable that it comes with.

Comfort isn’t sacrificed either as it can use the same Flex and Foam Sleeves that each come in three different sizes to fit different ears. Exclusive to the SE420 and higher-end models is the Triple Flange Sleeves that also provide a good seal and brings even more comfort. This alone should give enough options for people to experiment which pair fits perfectly to get the full sound experience.

There are also more offerings that expand on the existing Deluxe Fit Kits offered in lower-end models. This package is known as the Premium Fit Kit which adds once nifty accessory including a 2-inch adapter for plugging into home stereos as well as two other accessories for frequent travelers including an airline adapter for usage in European airplane armrests and a Level Attenuator for comfortable listening in the airplane. A compact carrying case is also included that can hold the earphones and keep them untangled.

Features

The most significant change from all the models below the Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones is the Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers configuration. This configuration makes use of a dedicated tweeter and a woofer forming a more detailed sound stage. This means that distinct levels of sound can be heard with amazing clarity whether they are low, mid, or high levels.

Some people may not tell the difference between the single driver configuration so it is the best pair for real audio enthusiasts that have good portable music players like iPods or plan on using the 2-inch adapter for the home stereo or other device. The Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones performs very well across all genres of music including the ones that have a lot of base thanks to the embedded woofer. For best performance, listen to music formats that are either lossless or have high bitrates. These high-quality formats may even reveal some hidden details of the track that cannot be heard with other earphones or earbuds.

The Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones also provides the same sound isolating features as the other Shure SE models that effectively block more than 90 percent of the ambient noise. Like other sound isolating earphones, there is a small learning curve in fitting the earphones perfectly to achieve maximum comfort and get all the benefits.  With the addition of the universal fir Triple Flange Sleeves, all it takes is some experimentation and following of the manual to get the right possible fit.

Bottom Line

The Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones costs around twice as much as the low-end SE210 with key differences being the dual driver configuration and the added accessories with the Triple Flanged Sleeves being the most significant. These alone add much to the sound quality level and comfort making the SE420 a premium solution for people that have large high-quality music collections. This is also the recommended pair of earphones if strong bass is a necessity.  There are not many improvements to the durability, but the 2-year warranty adds to the value nicely and has been tested by pro musicians ensuring that their quality meets the asking price.

Average User Rating:
Actual User Reviews:
• “I ordered these for my husband because he travels a lot for business. He loves them. I have used them a few times and they are wonderful. The sound is superb. On airlines, you can’t even hear any noise at all. It’s like having a symphony inside your head. – W.Nisewonder (NC,USA)

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• “The sound quality is out of this world and they block out pretty much all outside noise. They are really comfortable and, overall, the best earbuds I’ve ever owned. My only complaint… I never exercised in them, never got them wet, never stepped on them, or abused them in any way… and the right earbud stopped working after 5 months. Needless to say, this was infuriating seeing as they cost over $150. Fortunately, Shure has a great repair policy and they will repair at no cost within first two years. I mailed them to Shure, and received a brand new pair within a week. Incredible sound quality, great comfort, and (fortunately) great customer service. Despite questionable durability (at least in the pair I received), I would highly recommend them. – M.Scholl (CA, USA)
• “For those that like in-ear earbuds, these are absolutely the best as far as fit and noise isolation. It is like someone took the world’s volume from 100% down to around 20%, its great for being able to hear music in a loud environment. Although, that is the greatest drawback as well, you shouldn’t use them when hearing your surroundings is vital. About the sound, amazing for a pair of earbuds. It’s like stepping into a concert when you put them in, minus the crowd and sensations of bass notes coming through the ground. The highs and mids are clear and the bass is smooth and tight, not muddy like most earbuds. Although the bass could be more, it is still amazing. Don’t buy these expecting thumping and loud bass, because that isn’t what they deliver. They deliver the clear and undistorted bass that makes sound truly good.

Overall, amazing earbuds, the only set thats better is Shure’s SE530, the next level up, which i beleive is truely the best pair on the consumer market, although i decided to go with these and save a few bucks. Either way you go, these SE420′s, or SE530′s, know that you are getting an excelent pair of earbuds.” – L.Shollenberger (USA)

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