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I’ve been a full-time mastering engineer for the last 16 years, and recently I wanted something that would let me work remotely out of the studio now that I’m living in Europe and traveling more. Nothing that needed to replace my primary studio monitors (Tyler Acoustic D2x’s), but at least something that were reasonably accurate so I could still consult with clients on their tracks before they send them in for mastering.
I’ve been a long fan of Shure IEMs, having used the E2c’s, E3’s, and most recently the SE425 for the last few years. For some reason I’ve always found working in IEMs translated better than normal headphones like my Focal Spirit Pros, LCD-X, or any of the Sennheiser cans I’ve owned over the years. So I was very keen to try the 846’s, especially as I mostly work with electronic music and the low end on the 425’s was definitely not accurate enough for me to work from. They will typically be driven by a Lynx Hilo DAC, using the stock comply foam tips.
I spent the first week with the 846’s just breaking them in and trying all the different filter options, and re-trying the different tips. Right away I could hear a huge improvement on the low end compared to any other headphones I’ve owned, scary how good they sound on deep bass in fact. Definitely more than good enough for me to judge client work on the road with.
Imaging is nice too, though I’ve been also experimenting with Can Opener during this time, both the iOS version and the Studio plug in Goodhertz also makes. Neat app, I like it for enjoyment listening, though for work related duties sometimes I feel it masks imaging issues instead of enhancing them. Still doesn’t sound like the imaging on my full-range speakers either.
I struggled for awhile to find the right filter set up that gave me a revealing midrange without it being too harsh over longer listening session. After a lot of trial and error, I settled on the stock blue filters with one of the foam pieces removed. I also made sure that the remaining foam piece was centered inside the nozzle. Surprisingly placing the foam too far in or too close to the end of the nozzle changed the tone noticeably, but dead center suited me the best.
Another thing I liked over the SE425’s was that the bodies of the phones are more rounded and actually a bit smaller inside my ear, so while they stick out a bit farther to the side than I’m used to, they fit much better overall. The cable is a real improvement over the SE425’s too, which I know is polarizing for some people. I like the robust feel of it, and the pieces that go over your ears are very comfortable for me. Overall the SE846’s are a lot better than I was expecting, and I think will work perfectly for the remote work I need to do outside the studio.
Sadly, a week after I received them the left earpiece started getting a buzzing inside on loud bass notes. Thomann.de where I bought them have been great with the replacement process though. So while it sucked having to send them back for replacement so soon after getting them, the new pair is already on their way back to me. Can’t wait to use them when I return to Seattle in a few weeks. These are quite possibly the nicest headphones I’ve ever used.