Hi, just bought a Shure 535, to finally replaced my antique E4C. I mainly use IEM with my A&K Junior.
The issue I have is the 535 is much louder than E4C...
The Shure SE535 has one of the highest sensitivity ratings among headphones at 119dB/1mW. My Aurisonics ASG-1.3 is at 120dB/1mW and on my old T-Mobile/Snapdragon SGS3 it goes from "just a little more" at two levels above muted to "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTURNITDOWN!!!" on the third, rendering it unusable, on top of a heck of a lot of electronic noise when using Neutron Music Player, and just a touch less noise than the SE535. A software update fixed both issues on the ASG-1.3 but I soon replaced the phone and didn't get to test it with the SE535 post-update.
My old E2C didn't have either problem but it has its own, like barely getting loud enough on my iPod and not having enough low end.
...and the sound is really bright and harsh.
That's extremely weird because if I would expect any negative opinion on the SE535 other than how most devices are too noisy with it, it would be that they seem "boring," ie, a lot of bass but without the upper end impact on Grados but not as much total bass as, say, the Sennheiser IE8(0) or ASG-1(.x).
If anything I prefer the SE420 for better treble extension without getting too harsh, or the SE425 since that one at least has more bass than the SE420.
Are you sure you're getting a good seal? They're not exactly the same shell design so even the same eartip type might not have the same seal or can't get as deep inside your ear canal.
I know maybe break-in some time may help, but really surprised the latest Shure sound when it compares to the ancient IEM from Shure.
Never really noticed break-in being a thing and without any other possible explanation (eg like how earpads are the ones that are really breaking in) other than on my home speakers before.
I checked 535 impedence is 35Ohm, while E4C is 29Ohm, I compared my other headphones such as HD580, 600, HD25-1 II... the loudness and impedence numbers are matching. However this 535 is weird.
I'm not sure I understand how they "match." The closest most direct relationship between impedance and loudness is how impedance used to matter a lot for sensitivity, ie, higher impedance means higher sensitivity. "Used to," in the sense that the 120ohm AKG K500 is at 94dB/1mW, the 62ohm AKG K701 is at 93dB/1mW, and the 300ohm HD580/580J/600 is at 97dB/1mW, but now you have the 22ohm HE400S at 96dB/1mW and the 32ohm AKG K553 at ~99dB/1mW without sounding like they came free with a Discman. Not to mention the 35ohm SE535 at 119dB/1mW and the 32ohm ASG 1.3 at 120dB/1mW.
The main difference from 535 to my aged E4C:
treble more delicate sparkles from E4C, the cymbals are more airy too.
I can't remember the e4c sound anymore but if the SE42x is any indication the treble is a lot louder than the SE535, it just doesn't get outright piercing sharp. It's like the treble on Stax Lambda...
the mid bass, 535 has more weight, but the mid frequency E4C is fuller.
...with the midrange on the SE420 being great with the treble however the SE425's low end makes all of the midrange better than even the SE535...
lower bass, 535 has more weight but E4C has more details.
...and while this seems to be more along the usual trend between the SE53x vs the SE42x/maybe e4c, it depends on the tips and fit. ShureOlives on them makes the SE535 bass overbearing more so since that reduces the top end as well; on the SE42x the treble isn't badly effected while the low end is improved enough to be more easily audible. Still even when the SE535 gets too loud at the low end the detail is there, ie, what is a "thumpthumpthump!" on teh SE425 just comes out as "THUMPTHUMPTHUMP!" and not "THWWWWWWUUUUWWWWUUUUMMM."
I hope I'm wrong with 535, maybe I need to replace cables or run-in can make big difference ??
The eartips can have a more immediate effect on the sound so try the others first, and maybe a few third party tips.