[bosiemoncrieff]

When the KSE1500 first came out I was intrigued but the presence of the DAC was superfluous to my needs.
I never listen to music on my phone, it's a phone not a DAP, and have a number of better DACS. I get the fact they limited the DAC capabilities due to the limitations of the Apple and Android
phones and the adverse effect a better DAC would have on battery life.

You can fairly say it's not a *dedicated* DAP, but it plainly *is* a DAP, if one of poor quality. It holds a quarter terabyte of data, and it's already with me. I get that some folks tolerate a lot of bulk and weight in pockets, or always travel with large jackets, but I do not, and I wish that the form factor of the KSE1500 was more conducive to not injuring a lightning to microUSB cable.

I wonder whether there are any tiny nib-like bluetooth attachments I could plug in ala the wireless mice of 2005. I suppose that would degrade the sound quality...

 

[TYATYA]

Materials and tool for diy ear tip for kse1200/1500.

A pair of spinfit CP800
A pair of spinfit CP155
A pair of shure stock black tip.

Comparision :
Cp800 has more bass and treble than stock black foam. A bit metalic on some high notes. Sound stage is not the same as stock (smaller). Cp800 emphasis on low and high, sacrifice sweetness
Diy tip : balance sound. Open sound than stock. Extend both ends, have rumble but keep solid bass, detail and sweet treble, no harsh, no metalic.

On Ksa1500 amp, I can listen to CP800 tip, but on ksa1200 I can not(harsh) .
Stock sound of 1500 and 1200 is not same (to my ear 1200 has more detail and faster and clearer low and high).
I am satisfy with black foam tip (drives by ksa1200) so I have 2 weeks to listen on before this moment : diy tip.

This tip is not 1st time I did, but it impressed me much as the 1st time.

 

[Piotr Michalak]

Stock sound of 1500 and 1200 is not same (to my ear 1200 has more detail and faster and clearer low and high).

Could someone measure both please and confirm*? I'm asking as KSE fan myself
*Note, sometimes there is nothing on the measurement, but it still sounds very different, I have no disregard for that fact.
However the above statement somewhat surprised me, if KSE1200 and 1500 are really different amps?

 

[TYATYA]

KSE1200 and 1500 are really different amps?

Suppose 1200 is a cut off dac from 1500, still have some points on 1200 IMO is better for sq.
Exam the screen. It make noise at volume 23 24 25 on 1500 when it is ON

 

[Misson07]

Suppose 1200 is a cut off dac from 1500, still have some points on 1200 IMO is better for sq.
Exam the screen. It make noise at volume 23 24 25 on 1500 when it is ON

So you saying they're the same amp but the KSA1500 is worse because they have screen and all other things that lead to more interference or something like that? I mean this is just me who quite can't quite understand that statement and try to make sense of it...

 

[joshnor713]

Do most people use Shure's included interconnect cable to connect to external sources? Wondering if it suffices. I'm looking around at third-party ones but blown away at how expensive a short cable can be.

Any bang for the buck recommendation that anyone's had success with? Paying exorbitantly for a little cable isn't something I care to do.

 

[jeffhawke]

KSE1200 and 1500 are really different amps?

Even if the amps are the same, the difference might be due to the presence of the DAC in the 1500 as opposed to a different (and most likely better) external DAC as a source to the KSE1200.

 

[Piotr Michalak]

Even if the amps are the same, the difference might be due to the presence of the DAC in the 1500 as opposed to a different (and most likely better) external DAC as a source to the KSE1200.

There is no DAC when you connect to line-out.

 

[jeffhawke]

Do most people use Shure's included interconnect cable to connect to external sources? Wondering if it suffices. I'm looking around at third-party ones but blown away at how expensive a short cable can be.

Any bang for the buck recommendation that anyone's had success with? Paying exorbitantly for a little cable isn't something I care to do.

https://shopee.ph/Interconnect-Cable-3.5mm-to-3.5mm-i.94514384.2059323688?smtt=0.0.9
$8.-

 

[Piotr Michalak]

Do most people use Shure's included interconnect cable to connect to external sources? Wondering if it suffices. I'm looking around at third-party ones but blown away at how expensive a short cable can be.

Yes, I do, but I tend to hear huge differences between cables in general. Some people are just satisfied with a general feeling and tuning given monitor has, but I just can't stand it if there's a lack of synergy. And also I found the KSE stock interconnect very lacking, moved to a few 8-wire totl cables here. I use Forza Noir (OCC cryo copper x8), Noir Hybrid, Lavricables both 12 and 20-core silver (single core) and all of these work great for me. Haven't tried anything more fancy yet (looking at Brimar here, which works superb for my other IEMs). So! I'd recommend you go with a 12-core Lavricable which will not cost a fortune, and also best to order a 50 or 60 cm one to put the source and KSE in different pockets for portability.

 

[jeffhawke]

There is no DAC when you connect to line-out.

True. I just wasn't sure this is how TYATYA connected his source, his post was not very clear to me on that point.

 

[TYATYA]

True. I just wasn't sure this is how TYATYA connected his source, his post was not very clear to me on that point.

Spk ->3.5 interconnect->ksa1200.
Second string is same but ksa1500 exchanged.
Audio out is not same. Bass on 1200 is more solid beating. Mid is same. Highs abit brighter.
Earpiece in the string is kse1500 (one unit in comparision).
The bass on ksa1200 by stock black foam is similar the on on ksa1500 with Spinfit cp800m.
Event not count the dac in ksa1500, in analog mode have other electric component work in compare to 1200 :
Digital volume control.
Screen.
Input pad

 

[Piotr Michalak]

Audio out is not same. Bass on 1200 is more solid beating. Mid is same. Highs abit brighter.

I mean no disrespect here but I just can't see how that can be better than 1500 knowing that it already has pronounced bass and highs which need to be tamed (W-signature). It's only neutral on very shallowly inserted comply foams. I prefer it with my silicone full shells and I sometimes use EQ with both low shelf @100Hz and high shelf @10kHz at -6 dB to make it more neutral. Additional bass and highs? That would make it unbearable to me

 

[siruspan]

Last year i've been comparing KSE1200 head to head with 64audio Tia Fourte and u18T and now i have Oriolus Mellianus, Noble Khan and KSE1200 on my hands waiting to be reviewed

 

[jeffhawke]

Last year i've been comparing KSE1200 head to head with 64audio Tia Fourte and u18T and now i have Oriolus Mellianus, Noble Khan and KSE1200 on my hands waiting to be reviewed

Man, can't wait to hear some serious impressions/comparisons. What's the source you're going to use? Could you please post a link to your last year comparison? Thanks