shure

Shure SE102 earphones play nice with music phones

Purists might not like it, but mobile phones and MP3 players are converging at a record pace. Even reputable professional audio companies are starting to take notice, as evidenced by Shure's latest personal earphone offering, the SE102 MPA.

The $99 sound-isolating set comes bundled with an extension cable with an inline mic and call button, so it's designed to play nice with your iPhone or other music phone. The SE102s aren't the best Shure earbuds we've laid ears on--the type and number of ear fittings is limited and audio is a bit brittle at times--but they'… Read more

Australian study on hearing implicates iPods and other portable players

"Justin...Justin...JUSTIN!!!"

This happens at least once a day...I'm at my desk, typing up a review or blog post on my computer, when all of a sudden someone sneaks up behind me and unintentionally make me jump 10 feet in the air with a simple tap on the back. How do I allow this to happen? Am I deaf? Well, not right now, but it's quite possible that I might be if I continue to constantly blast music out of my Princess Leia headphones.

A recent report out of Australia titled "Is Australia Listening?" … Read more

My headphones are better than yours

Koss has a bad reputation for manufacturing terrible audio products, but it struck gold back in 1984 with one set of headphones, the PORTAPROS. They're still being produced with continued success after 23 years and are, in my opinion, the most underrated headphones on the market, and here's why:

Price: $35 with free shipping on Amazon. Maybe less on eBay. Sound quality: Best sound I've heard out of sub-$200 cans. Instead of telling you how awesome these are, I'll let these 249 people do the work for me:

CNET Review (Review on its way, but … Read more

Mike placement for rock band recording

Last week I had the opportunity to watch an experienced producer do the initial miking to record a traditional rock band in a more-or-less live setting--two guitars, bass, and drums, recorded simultaneously. (Vocals are almost always overdubbed later, even in this kind of set-up. This band was also adding keyboards later.) I've been on the other side many times as a bass player, but this is the first time the producer asked me for my opinions, then explained why he was placing the mikes where he was.

Now, entire books could be (and have been) filled with advice on … Read more

Shure announces $99 SE110 earphones

This morning, Shure announced another addition to its SE line of sound-isolating earphones, the SE110. The new model continues the Shure tradition of top-notch sound quality but brings a significantly lower starting price point to potential customers--the SE110 will set you back just $99. (Comparatively, the next model up the line--the SE210--is attached to a $179.99 price tag.) That's not exactly inexpensive in the scheme of earbuds, but then the SE110s aren't cheap in any regard. These earphones employ a balance armature driver in each 'bud, rather than cheaper and more common dynamic speaker drivers found … Read more

Reviewing the Shure SE530 (or, There's no going back)

I can't really complain about my job. Oh, who am I kidding? Sure I can! But still, it's pretty sweet getting to test out hot new audio products day in and day out. (Don't lie...I know you all are jealous.) Yet there is an unforeseen downside to this gig, and that's that I often review things I can't afford to buy, and then I have to return them. Do you have any idea how painful it is to have a spectacularly sweet product wrenched from your loving (and slightly deranged) grasp? At best, it'… Read more

Shure's iPhone adapter

One of the little-mentioned aspects of the iPhone is its recessed headphone plug, liable to render some earphones incompatible. If you've invested in a sweet pair of high-end headphones or earphones for your iPod, and you're feeling a little iffy about the iPhone sending you back to the stock Apple "mug me" earbuds, then Shure's new Music Phone Adapter might be just the thing. It's a cable adapter with a built-in microphone and a control button, allowing your existing set of earphones to be adapted for the iPhone. The product, to retail for $39.… Read more

Shure's audible ear orgy

Having seen the SE210s (review on its way) and the SE310s, we felt it only fair to get hold of a pair of what Shure claims are its most advanced sound-isolating headphones to date--the new SE530s. These ultra high-end studio-grade headphones sport three of what Shure calls "TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers"--aka drivers--which are made up of one tweeter and dual woofers.

Shure may be a little pretentious in giving its technology such hi-falutin' terminology, but we're prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt. The company has led the way in pioneering the most advanced studio-grade headphones … Read more

Shure's new 'buds

Shure dropped some new sound-isolating earphones, dubbed the SE line, onto the masses. The company redesigned its popular E series and gave the models spiffy new looks as well as new, more confusing names. The SE210 ($149.99), the SE310 ($249.99), the SE420 ($349.99), and the SE530 ($449.99) all offer far better sound than those garbage earbuds that came with your MP3 player.

The SE210 and SE310 are both single-driver models and come with deluxe fit kits that include sets of replaceable tips, so you get that all-important ear canal seal (and so you don't gross … Read more