Question about the Shure SE series...
Oct 30, 2008 at 4:26 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 16

Lifeguy

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Well Im in the market for a new pair of Shures and I was wondering which model I'd be best off with. I have a friend who is able to get me any pair, besides the SE530, for an employee discount price so I'd definitely like to go w/ Shure.

So my qustion is, besides the SE530, which model has the best bass response. I understand Shures arent known for great bass but I wanted to know which had the best out of the SE110, SE210, SE310 and SE420.

Thanks in advance!
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 4:39 PM Post #2 of 16
i would certainly say the se420 gives the best bass response, but along with that it manages to offer the flattest sound of the bunch.

the se310 is also pretty good but that extra driver in the se420 does improve the response.
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 4:47 PM Post #3 of 16
I Owned the SE210, the SE310 and now the SE530.
The SE210 is is pretty nice, but the SE310 is more refined, more accurate and well.. looks better.
But the SE530.. WOW! That one blew me away! The bass, the midds, the detail, the soundstage, the instrument separation..
All that summarized in just one word : WOW.
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:00 PM Post #4 of 16
I preferred my E4c (should be SE310 now, thanks to ClieOS below) to the SE530, for a more balanced sound sig (not bass-heavy). Some people may find it bass-shy.... YMMV
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:04 PM Post #5 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by parrot5 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I preferred my E4c (should be SE420 now) to the SE530, for a more balanced sound sig (not bass-heavy). Some people may find it bass-shy.... YMMV


I think E4c is SE310 now. SE420 is E5c. The second number in the model name tells you how many transducers in each side.
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:09 PM Post #6 of 16
+1 to clie

i don't fancy the 3 series and below.. not for that price.. but of course with employee discount it's a diff matter.
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:40 PM Post #7 of 16
Thanks for the correction. I edit my original post to avoid confusing readers later.
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 7:18 PM Post #9 of 16
I've owned the SE420 for some months, yes, the've good bass, but for sure it is less than SE530; SE420 give something more in the hightest frequency too.
But the overall SE420 is very balanced and neutral, while keeping good bass.

The overall SE530 sound is warm, not bassy at all, but bass is strong and very present (dependig of your source too), very full; the upper hights shine less than SE420, but are good enough.

Mids are similar on both models, with good details and clarity.

I'd say i prefer the SE420 for some kind of music (classical, Jazz, pop) while the SE530 are better for rock, metal, blues.

Owned Shure SCL2 too (e2c) and liked them at the time, their balance is very very similar to SE530, with the bass being as loud but not as full and textured like the 530, and the sound very good while less refined.
 
Oct 30, 2008 at 7:36 PM Post #10 of 16
What about the SE310s? No one seems to talk about those.
 
Oct 31, 2008 at 2:45 AM Post #12 of 16
Go for the 420, the 310 and lower are all either dynamic or single armature drivers, and don't have nearly the reputation of the high end shure phones. Even with the discount, you could probably find better value with other phones from the 310 and lower series.
 
Oct 31, 2008 at 11:26 AM Post #13 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by ClieOS /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I think E4c is SE310 now. SE420 is E5c. The second number in the model name tells you how many transducers in each side.


e4 doesn't have as good bass and soundstage and separation as se310 does.
e5 is completely different to se420, the sound not at all the same and the spec are very different as well.


I'll say go for the se310. it's a very solid product. detailed balanced. se420 really doesn't worth the extra dollars IMHO.

or if you want the real difference, go for se530.
 
Oct 31, 2008 at 11:27 AM Post #14 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by schneller /img/forum/go_quote.gif
What about the SE310s? No one seems to talk about those.


these are upgrades to e4(slightly)

Go read the e4 posts and you'll get a feel of what se310 is like.
 
Nov 4, 2008 at 1:57 PM Post #15 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by schneller /img/forum/go_quote.gif
What about the SE310s? No one seems to talk about those.


Let's just say that I'm very glad to have spent the extra $100 over the SE210s. The SE310s are more refined and less rolled off than the SE210s. Though I would have loved to hear the SE420s or SE530s, I would have had to purchase über-high-end (to me, anyway) equipment or a good vintage PCDP in order to hear a jaw-dropping difference with those higher-end Shures - and none of my current digital source equipment is more than mid-fi to begin with. In other words, had I gone with the SE530s, it certainly would have been "crap in, crap out" (or "garbage in, garbage out") to my ears.

By the way, I had to go all the way to the Apple Store just to find the SE310s "locally". My local Best Buy does not currently stock anything above the SE210s price-wise (with the exception of the Bose OE and noise-cancelling headphones from Sony and Monster).
 

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