Nothing but the white filter sounds accurate to me and even then the lower midrange might be a touch thick, but the phones are so listenable and non-fatiguing, you can listen for hours and hours.  Can't say the same thing of more "neutral" phones or "detailed" audiophile speakers I've owned. 

Even if you asked Shure, they may just state the policy not to honor the warranty for non-authorized dealer sales.  In practice, they might be nice and honor it, but not sure you'd get a solid answer by asking ahead of time.

I'd characterize the sound of these as somewhat lean / clinical but very pleasant.  Though the sound is relatively neutral, that treble doesn't stick out and isn't brash at all.  You can hear the recording for what it is and all the details in every frequency range come through.   Really enjoy...

On the other hand, my ears needed some break-in time to adjust, having come from relatively lean IEMs in the PFE132.

It's not just the DAC chip itself, but the analog stage that follows it, which contributes to differences in sound between DACs.   As for the Da Vinci DAC, there are a lot of propriety technologies and custom implementations that Lightspeed developed.  If you read their marketing page, you can...

Well if the idea is patented, then other companies cannot copy it.  Just depends on what exactly Shure's patent covers.   In any case, JH already has their unique selling point: "Freqphase".  I'm sure they are perfectly happy with the crossover on their Roxannes, so I don't seem them needing...

I use my iPhone 5S with these SE846s most of the time.  The biggest improvement when I went to an external DAC/amp was that the bass is much tighter and the treble a bit cleaner.

  Not sure I understand you.  The SE846 has detachable cables, so you would take the stock cable off the IEMs first.  The Logitech iPhone cable is the same one that comes with the UE900s.  Like most cables designed for voice calls, the mic is inline on the right side so it hangs around your...

  I bought Logitech's iPhone cable to use with my SE846s.  I will often get phone calls when traveling and it's a big hassle to take out the IEM while walking through the airport to answer a call.  Or maybe I'm at the gym.  It's just more convenient.   Not a big believer in cables at all, but...

  I tend to prefer speakers when I'm just watching at home in my living room too, but I definitely get the appeal of sticking to headphones.  For $1500, you can have a great headphone system, or at least something well into the land of diminishing returns.  $1500 towards a speaker system buys...

  If you want another pair, I'd try contacting the dealer first.  You should also try the second second of cables that come with the SE846, sometimes it's not the earphone's fault.  For example, both of my stock Shure cables never cut out, but sometimes my Ultimate Ears iPhone cable cuts out...

  Never heard the SE535, so cannot compare.  I hope you find the SE846 worth the money, but it definitely won't be twice as good, law of diminishing returns and all that.  I think the SE846 is 30-40% better than my Phonak PFEs, which I bought for only $130.  But the SE846 is worth it.  Things...

  I don't have experience with your player, but can only comment on an iPhone 5S vs. JDS Labs C5D.  The sound coming out of the former is far less controlled in the bass region, which somewhat muddies the entire sound spectrum, but it's passable.  The iPhone is also less precise overall.

  As I mentioned in the W60 thread, I find the SE846 remarkable in the sense that it does not have my preferred sound signature (lean and analytical), yet I love the sound.  Your ears tend to focus on the midrange and the articulation / weight of the bass.  There is definitely a lot of openness...

  That's interesting because it should be both in the United States.  Mine came everything inside of a plastic case, which was packaged inside of an nice cardboard flip box (which was packaged inside of a thin cardboard package).  See Jude's first post in the thread:  ...

  I think the most remarkable thing about the SE846 is that they don't match my preferred sound profile (I gravitate towards thinner sounding, more clinical sounding earphones).  Yet I really like them and decided to keep them after a 30 day trial period.  They are awesome in environments like...

Speaking of cables, I purchased the Logitech cable with mic/iPhone buttons intended for the UE900.  Very comfortable, lightweight cable.  Microphone works okay, but not as well as the one on my PFE 132.    However, sonics have degraded from stock Shure cable.  I'm am NOT a believer in cables...

  Started thinking why my Shure SE846 sounded more relaxed and somewhat veiled while listening through my PC vs. iPhone (both through my JDS C5D AMP/DAC).  Noticed my iTunes was set to directsound and after switching to windows output session, I agree with you.  Very noticeable difference.  I...

On cn11's Sony Hybrid recommendation, I used the tips from my Phonak PFEs.  They sure do open up the sound stage and add some additional air compared to the stock tips.  The change is similar to what some people report when using rubber tips vs. Comply foams.  I was getting some weird tonality...

Yep, I wasn't meaning to contradict your findings, but report that the C5D made more of a difference with my SE846's and PFE 132's.  I forgot to mention that the unit yielded a nice improvement with my Bang & Olufsen H6's as well.  I can get away with just the iPhone 5S with the PFE 132's...

If you are having trouble getting the nut to screw down all the way flush with the body of the earphone, then twist the metal tube a bit.  It will eventually lock into the lowest position, permitting you to screw the nut down all the way.  Once I realized that, changes became much easier. ...

Anyone know when retailers might have these to ship out?

Bass is way more controlled and instrument separation is better with my C5D paired with the Shure SE846.  With my Phonak PFE 132s, I'd say the bass is more impactful and the treble more clean.  The iPhone 5S is a bit messy in the upper treble, kind of splashy.

  Agreed.  The black filter doesn't just reduce the highs further.  Seems like it also makes the bass more mellow, leading to an overall more relaxed sound that is polite in the treble and the bass.  At least that was my impression in the five minutes I listened to it.  Personally I only stick...

  I really like the SE846s overall and if the W60 wasn't coming out, I wouldn't think twice about keeping them.  If they are lacking in an area, it would be upper treble (> 8khz) extension and air.  Since I'm still within the return period, naturally the W60 is something I'd also like to look at.