Shure KSE1500 Review - Shure KSE1500 Sound Isolating Electrostatic Earphones

[rpade]

Clip occurs when the song changes, but there is no noise during playback. No white noise even when the amplifier is at maximum volume.

The advantage of the balanced input is that modern DAPs place great importance on balanced output circuits, so full balance shows the true value of the KSE!

There is one problem: If the GND of the BAL cable is not connected, high-frequency noise will enter because the AMP is a high-voltage power supply.

Hey! I just noticed that there are a couple of versions of the "balanced" KSE1200/1500 amp. Can you tell us which is with 4.4mm line in?

Vendor hasn't replied to my inquiry yet.

edit: vendor replied after the sale ended. lol. I'll keep checking if it goes on sale again
efit2: vendor has replied and confirmed that both versions are with 4.4mm. Their pictures were from A&K 2.5mm era. You can request a video showing the amp having a 4.4mm line-in.

 

[rpade]

I recently purchased the Shure KSE Balanced Amp recommended by @Whiteil46, and it just arrived.

I tested it right away to see if the balanced line-in affects the performance of the KSE1500 with EQ. My initial impression is that the balanced line-in adds more thickness to the sound, creating a fuller head space. In contrast, using the single-ended (SE) line-in makes the amp behave similarly to the standard KSE amplifier, still having the airy sound signature.

This amp isn’t necessarily a must-buy unless you're looking to add a thicker quality to the KSE's sound, as opposed to its standard airy character. It pairs particularly well with female vocals.

Edit 1: DAP settings stayed the same for testing
Songs used: Die with a Smile, Moonlight (Kali Uchis), GNX album

Gear used to test was:
iBasso 220MAX balanced line out > 4.4BAL - to - 3.5SE cable > Shure KSE1500 amp (SE)
iBasso 220MAX balanced line out > 4.4BAL - to - 3.5SE cable > chi-fi amp (SE)
iBasso 220MAX balanced line out > 4.4BAL - to - 4.4BAL cable > chi-fi amp (BAL)

Only negative I've found is that the amp has "electric hiss" when changing volumes.

Edit 2: on Miley Cyrus' Used to be Young, there's a massive screech @1:00 with the KSE's

 

[TYATYA]

I never trust in bal - to - se interconnect.
Pros: None
Cons: yes

 

[Turrican2]

I got, at the same time as purchasing my KSE1500, a coupon code for some custom tips from SNUGS, as an existing customer they already had my ears scanned so these were delivered in a very short time

Thanks for the recommendation. Just got my SNUGS for the KSE, these things are huge! But quite good I’ve got to say. Takes a while to get used to compared to the set I got for my akg k3003 a few years ago as the KSE shells literally disappear into them making them seems huge. After a few sessions I’ve got quite used to them. Sound wise no complaints at all, very happy. Was very nervous about putting them into add the silicon, the sound tube on these has always seemed like a weak point but no dramas at all.

 

[LWR999]

these are unused cases
these are not earphones
there are no drivers inside
I bought the cases separately
but never used them
maybe now they will be useful to someone

I broke the nozzle on one of my KSE1200's. Sent them back to Shure who insisted I had to buy a whole new set of IEMs. They said the voltages are too high to risk a repair rather than a remanufacture. They sold me a service repair item

 

[masterpfa]

Thanks for the recommendation. Just got my SNUGS for the KSE, these things are huge! But quite good I’ve got to say. Takes a while to get used to compared to the set I got for my akg k3003 a few years ago as the KSE shells literally disappear into them making them seems huge. After a few sessions I’ve got quite used to them. Sound wise no complaints at all, very happy. Was very nervous about putting them into add the silicon, the sound tube on these has always seemed like a weak point but no dramas at all.

I'm glad these have worked for you too. I had the same fear with the sound tube being so narrow, but with the fit and isolation it is great when I use it on the London Underground as the isolation is top notch which is needed to allow one to enjoy the sound of these wonderful IEM's

Happy Listening

 

[rpade]

I never trust in bal - to - se interconnect.
Pros: None
Cons: yes

I'm not sure about trust, but I used the 4.4BAL-3.5SE adapter included with my iBasso DX220MAX, which has only a 4.4BAL line out.

I bought the amp and tested it out of curiosity of a Chinese 3rd party amplifier. I expected it to perform at least as well as a KSE1500/1200 amp. Any performance beyond that would be a bonus.

 

[TYATYA]

I'm not sure about trust, but I used the 4.4BAL-3.5SE adapter included with my iBasso DX220MAX, which has only a 4.4BAL line out.

I bought the amp and tested it out of curiosity of a Chinese 3rd party amplifier. I expected it to perform at least as well as a KSE1500/1200 amp. Any performance beyond that would be a bonus.

Because of I am lazy, you can read
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ct-balanced-to-single-ended-connection.13034/

 

[rpade]

Because of I am lazy, you can read
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ct-balanced-to-single-ended-connection.13034/

so how do I connect my KSE1500 amp to my DX220MAX that has only 4.4BAL line out?

Maybe @Paul - iBasso can give us clarity to whatever cable is included in their products.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

so how do I connect my KSE1500 amp to my DX220MAX that has only 4.4BAL line out?

Maybe @Paul - iBasso can give us clarity to whatever cable is included in their products.

You can't with the stock KSE amp safely.

Yes you can buy adapters to convert balanced to SE, but if you guess wrong, you will likely damage amp.

That's what makes this aftermarket amp interesting.

 

[yabba235]

rpade said:


so how do I connect my KSE1500 amp to my DX220MAX that has only 4.4BAL line out?


Just use an amplifier with a balanced input - then you can safely connect a balanced source.
So don't use an original shure amplifier that doesn't have a balanced input.

 

[rpade]

You can't with the stock KSE amp safely.

Yes you can buy adapters to convert balanced to SE, but if you guess wrong, you will likely damage amp.

That's what makes this aftermarket amp interesting.

rpade said:


so how do I connect my KSE1500 amp to my DX220MAX that has only 4.4BAL line out?


Just use an amplifier with a balanced input - then you can safely connect a balanced source.
So don't use an original shure amplifier that doesn't have a balanced input.

Thank you for the words of warning. But the question still persists of how to connect my ONLY DAP to KSE1500 amp safely?

Is this adapter ok to use? https://ifi-audio.com/products/headphone-adapter-3-5mm-to-4-4mm

or this one? https://bloomaudio.com/products/ddhifi-dj44b-dj44c-adapter?variant=39974331940939

I've bought the balanced Chinese amp because of curiosity of what higher voltage from desktop DACs do to KSE earphones. Found out that KSE1500 just clips when too much gain is sent to it.

As I've tested the balanced Chinese amp and found out that it doesn't add much for the price, I'm thinking of returning it and going back to using the original KSE1500 amp (but connected to SE as this group suggests)

edit: I found this excerpt from @twister6 review of the DX220MAX "Due to 4.4mm balanced Line Out only, the included custom cable “converts” LO from BAL to SE by using GND pin and only L+/R+ side of the connector pins. The 4.4mm side of the cable even has a directional arrow to make sure you plug it in the right away." Is this good?

 

[Daniel Johnston]

edit: I found this excerpt from @twister6 review of the DX220MAX "Due to 4.4mm balanced Line Out only, the included custom cable “converts” LO from BAL to SE by using GND pin and only L+/R+ side of the connector pins. The 4.4mm side of the cable even has a directional arrow to make sure you plug it in the right away." Is this good?

Yes. iBasso apparently designed the balanced output to convert to SE with the included cable. Using one phase of the L/R is a way to convert balanced to SE at the cost of gain and driving power. Neither of these would pertain to the KSE amp, so you should be fine.

 

[TheFritz]

Yes. iBasso apparently designed the balanced output to convert to SE with the included cable. Using one phase of the L/R is a way to convert balanced to SE at the cost of gain and driving power. Neither of these would pertain to the KSE amp, so you should be fine.

You can also use the dd-Hifi adapter DJ65M(4.4) to convert a balanced 4.4mm output to a SE signal using only L+/R+ and the _S_hield/Ground ring from the TRRRS plug (= L+,L-,R+,R-,Gnd).
Granted, this is super-bulky and you would need an additional 6.3-to-3.5mm cable but as all dd-Hifi stuff, it is very well build.

All those adapters obviously only work correctly, if the fifth ring actually is connected to ground. Even some 4.4mm sockets and many 4.4mm extension and conversion cables (meant for headphone outputs and cables where the ground-pin is not relevant) have only 4 connections/wires for L/R +/- and do not work for this. Same goes for 4pin-XLR headphone outputs and 4pXLR-to-4.4mm adapters where there is usually no grounding... but that is not relevant for your DAP.

This specific adapter works well and is safe but I guess your iBasso-cable is less bulky. Your DAP 4.4mm output seems to support this conversion with a "real" TRRRS Line-out.
As already mentioned, you get only "half" the signal swing.

 

[TYATYA]

so how do I connect my KSE1500 amp to my DX220MAX that has only 4.4BAL line out?

Maybe @Paul - iBasso can give us clarity to whatever cable is included in their products.

If you put an 8Ohm or more to link two negative poles then it is no harmfull anymore, BUT, still no pros from Bal signal concept.

Awful adapter will connect direct two negative poles. Never use it even when you do not see the dap damaged in few weeks!