[edwardsean]

  LouisArmstrong, you have noted lackluster sound with the KSE1500 using the onboard DAC.  I found the same, which made sense after reading in this thread that the KSE1500 uses a Cirrus Logic CS4272.  As you might imagine, DAC technology and SQ evolves rapidly and there has been a great deal of progress since this DAC was released more than a decade ago (http://www.cirrus.com/en/products/pro/detail/P1045.html).  Given that the onboard DAC is quite disappointing I would urge you to give the KSE1500 another try vs. your Laylas using a high quality DAP and the analog input - you may be pleasantly surprised.  

From Jude's and other impressions it seems like a higher quality source will definitely bring the KSE to a higher level. However, in comparison to the Layla's remember he was feeding the Layla's from an iPhone. 

 

[expat852]

Edwardsean, that is a good point. Still, given the age of the KSE 1500 DAC design, it would not surprise me if a recent iPhone DAC was superior. In either case it would be interesting to hear impressions of an apples to apples comparison of either:

IPhone to Layla vs. iPhone to Kse1500 analog input

High-end DAP to Layla vs. same DAP to KSE1500 analog input

One more note- when using the analog input on the KSE1500, a hot signal will cause distortion so if meters are in the red you may have to change the setting on the KSE1500 to reduce the input signal by 10dB.

 

[DatGuy]

  LouisArmstrong, you have noted lackluster sound with the KSE1500 using the onboard DAC.  I found the same, which made sense after reading in this thread that the KSE1500 uses a Cirrus Logic CS4272.  As you might imagine, DAC technology and SQ evolves rapidly and there has been a great deal of progress since this DAC was released more than a decade ago (http://www.cirrus.com/en/products/pro/detail/P1045.html).  Given that the onboard DAC is quite disappointing I would urge you to give the KSE1500 another try vs. your Laylas using a high quality DAP and the analog input - you may be pleasantly surprised.  

i have to agree with @expat852 here. I tried that 1500 with the dac out of my iphone. The dac was pretty unspectacular, tried line in and definitely had improvements even on a short listening session. Will go back on saturday for a longer demo.
 
Kind of disappointing that you need to carry around an extra dap/dac in your stack to get the best out of these

 

[raypin]

  Have mine two days already, really the best earphones I ever heard

 
mmmm......what DAP did you use?

 

[mitch751]

Just from iPhone 6 +

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Still, given the age of the KSE 1500 DAC design

A DAC chip does not a DAC make.

 

[DeeKay10]

Just pre-ordered a set (and with a lovely $450 discount ). This will be a worthy successor to my five years old SE535.
Bit of a bummer about the unit's supposed DAC performance, but I won't be forming opinions till I listen to it myself.
ETA 30 days.

 

[audionewbi]

It is going to be an epic journey for me, I am in and I should be taking an early mark off to get mine tomorrow after work from the store. Big shout out to wing at minidisc audio who despite been on the other side of the planet enjoy a vacation with his family, patiently responding to my FB PM.
 
This purchase has set a new limit to me. Not to sound dramatic but this purchase perhaps make or break me (i am sure this was a country music song). I will either have taken the next or final step in my journey or have probably ruined this hobby for me.
 
I was contemplating a lot of different option with the amount KSE1500 selling for. I could have gotten the HD800, a set of balance cable and the Luxman P-700U. I have listened to that, enjoyed a lot but than again I spend very little time in my room for various reasons. I enjoy music as the oddest places, and this is very I always placed such a high regard to IEM and portable audio. 
 
I will certainly report back, I have tested and owned all the main stream IEM out there. I currently have the Kaede II which I value in higher than JH Layla, its resolution is truly second to none. 
 
Once again holiday saving back to the figure I am use to seen, $0

 

[Max Choiral]

A DAC chip does not a DAC make.

Not really true in some cases

 

[goodvibes]

Yes it was quite clear to me that the Layla had better details despite having a more full bodied or "thicker" sound. The Shure is more like a boosted version of the er4p but there was no doubt I heard more things layered through the Layla. I listened to a song where the two singers were singing two sets of completely different lyrics at one point. With the Layla I could pick out the lyrics of either voice easily but with the Shure it was harder to do so.

I don't doubt your impressions for a moment but do find them surprising due to the contrast of others. Are you certain that the DAC wasn't in use? It will be in the loop with an analog input under various circumstances like EQ or sound profile.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

I don't doubt your impressions for a moment but do find them surprising due to the contrast of others. Are you certain that the DAC wasn't in use? It will be in the loop with an analog input under various circumstances like EQ or sound profile.

I thought it was written that he compared the Layla out of the iPhone's headphone out with the KSE1500 through the DAC via the iPhone's Lightning USB output.

 

[truckdriver]

Despite having owned Shure universals for 8 years prior to getting the 846 in 2013, I thought for a while afterward that the 535 sounded better. The 846 bass was bloated and not deep (with a one note sub-bass). My initial view of the 846 was that it must have been designed for the hard of hearing. I discovered that the DAP sensitivity needed to be lowered for the 846 (among other things...).

Another initial issue with the 846 compared to the 535 was sound stage and imaging. Despite using the same tips on both, the result was the 846 had a congested stage and warped left/right balance. I had to make adjustments in how I wore the tips and so on...


Long story short, don't over analyze initial impressions. They make up a string of data points.

 

[truckdriver]

A DAC chip does not a DAC make.

I've never been able to comment on the sound of a DAC because it's part of a unit that has an amp (of some sort). I used the LGV10 to toggle back and forth between the two DACs in it (with separate amps sections) and couldn't hear a distinct difference with a 9 ohm IEM. I'm sure the difference is there with a higher impedance headphone, but I wouldn't know if it were the DAC or the more powerful amp section. I know my FiiO amp doesn't sound like my Headstage Arrow amp

If a DAC does have its own distinct sound, I'd assume Shure would mate a warm sounding one with the KSE1500.

 

[robm321]

I really hope the DAC is not inferior to the iPhone. That would be more than a bit disappointing. 
 
Quote:

  It is going to be an epic journey for me, I am in and I should be taking an early mark off to get mine tomorrow after work from the store. Big shout out to wing at minidisc audio who despite been on the other side of the planet enjoy a vacation with his family, patiently responding to my FB PM.
 
This purchase has set a new limit to me. Not to sound dramatic but this purchase perhaps make or break me (i am sure this was a country music song). I will either have taken the next or final step in my journey or have probably ruined this hobby for me.
 
I was contemplating a lot of different option with the amount KSE1500 selling for. I could have gotten the HD800, a set of balance cable and the Luxman P-700U. I have listened to that, enjoyed a lot but than again I spend very little time in my room for various reasons. I enjoy music as the oddest places, and this is very I always placed such a high regard to IEM and portable audio. 
 
I will certainly report back, I have tested and owned all the main stream IEM out there. I currently have the Kaede II which I value in higher than JH Layla, its resolution is truly second to none. 
 
Once again holiday saving back to the figure I am use to seen, $0

 
Congrats! I hope they work out for you. I look forward to your impressions. 

 

[goodvibes]

I thought it was written that he compared the Layla out of the iPhone's headphone out with the KSE1500 through the DAC via the iPhone's Lightning USB output.

Thanks. This is what happens when you don't go back far enough.

My mistake then and makes the compare subject to source. Sounds like this and other reviews could both be correct and not contradictory relative to source or at least to a subjective extent without too much debate.