Shure SE846 Impressions Thread

[fablestruck]

In my opinion, the fact that this question keeps coming up should tell you it is still relevant. Whether it is overpriced can only be really answered by the ultimate purchaser. Also, they can be purchased for less than MSRP (I got mine on sale for < $700 on Amazon a few years ago and they were worth every penny to me). I have seen some dealers offer discounts in the US. As has been said by many others, Shure does not try to roll out a new model every two years and, as much as I would love a new pair of (currently nonexistent) Aonic 8s, I am glad they do not. While they may not be for everyone, I think they are perfect for my tastes and still enjoy them every day (I am very sensitive to treble). They are also super comfortable to me and fit my ears really well.

I also have a pair of SE535s that lasted approx. 8 years before I needed to get them repaired/replaced (new set now on a TW2 adapter at the office) and a set of SE425s that are 8 years old next month (still use as monitors for my Zoom calls every day). Shure definitely makes a durable and quality product and the SE846 are no different. My SE846, and before that the SE535, were my daily drivers for commuting (pre-COVID) and the gym and have survived many snags on the train and subways in NYC and on the treadmill. I also use them to sleep so they have been rolled on and dropped on the hardwood floors many times as well.

Agreed.
I would though be curious to hear what Shure will present next as a successor.

 

[plakat]

I fully understand the question wether the SE846 is still worth it: an 8+ years run is nothing you come across that often in todays market. But this is an aspect I really like about Shure... that they don't follow the hype and publish paintjobs as something revolutionary every year. We would be better off if this example would have more followers I think: long product runs plus repairability (this is obviously a problem with IEMs though)

 

[SoundNewbieOG]

Yeah, I read through some of this thread and it's really nice that the company doesn't act like you're a bum on the street after something breaks when they already have your money. I've even read some people in here say that theirs had issues out of warranty and they either got replaced for free or at a reduced price.

 

[plakat]

Yeah, I read through some of this thread and it's really nice that the company doesn't act like you're a bum on the street after something breaks when they already have your money. I've even read some people in here say that theirs had issues out of warranty and they either got replaced for free or at a reduced price.

Important point for the longevity of a product: it’s not just about making something reliable and offering spare parts, it’s also about standing behind a product and caring about the users. I‘ve never had the need, but Shure seems to do this really well as far as I can tell from reports here.

 

[SoundNewbieOG]

Well, somebody who had the same question might be wondering what I ended up doing. I ended up buying the 846's. It wasn't the only model I was thinking about, but I just went with the one that I thought I was most likely to keep.

So, there have already been tons of reviews, so there's not much for me to say. Personally, I think the sound + the support is worth it. However, there's one thing I need to work out before I keep them. I can wear them for hours with no comfort issues, but there have been a few times where I've gotten headaches.

One of those times, I'm pretty sure I inserted too deep, because I rolled them in a circular motion before inserting and I felt they went deeper than before. I took them out within 15 minutes because I had a headache and one of my inner ears was very slightly sore for a couple days.

I'm not a loud listener at all. I use an iPhone and I have Apple Music, and even the notch right before halfway is too much for me. I really don't know what could be causing it, but I have a suspicion it just might be the bass. I had the SE215 for years and never really had this happen. I'm going to give them a go for another week and if I'm still getting headaches at that point, I'm gonna have to send them back.

That's gonna suck, because the 846's have upgraded my ears. The 215's sound like I'm listening to the sound coming through a tin can now.

 

[fablestruck]

Well, somebody who had the same question might be wondering what I ended up doing. I ended up buying the 846's. It wasn't the only model I was thinking about, but I just went with the one that I thought I was most likely to keep.

So, there have already been tons of reviews, so there's not much for me to say. Personally, I think the sound + the support is worth it. However, there's one thing I need to work out before I keep them. I can wear them for hours with no comfort issues, but there have been a few times where I've gotten headaches.

One of those times, I'm pretty sure I inserted too deep, because I rolled them in a circular motion before inserting and I felt they went deeper than before. I took them out within 15 minutes because I had a headache and one of my inner ears was very slightly sore for a couple days.

I'm not a loud listener at all. I use an iPhone and I have Apple Music, and even the notch right before halfway is too much for me. I really don't know what could be causing it, but I have a suspicion it just might be the bass. I had the SE215 for years and never really had this happen. I'm going to give them a go for another week and if I'm still getting headaches at that point, I'm gonna have to send them back.

That's gonna suck, because the 846's have upgraded my ears. The 215's sound like I'm listening to the sound coming through a tin can now.

My friend the answer to your predicament is called Spinfit CP-800.
Soft silicone = no pain

 

[TK33]

My friend the answer to your predicament is called Spinfit CP-800.
Soft silicone = no pain

@SoundNewbieOG Westone STAR silicone tips also work great as well.

 

[xSDMx]

My friend the answer to your predicament is called Spinfit CP-800.
Soft silicone = no pain

@SoundNewbieOG Westone STAR silicone tips also work great as well.

Both excellent choices and recommendations I can heartily second.

IMHO the STAR tips are a little firmer and fit better for physical activity. The Spinfit tips are definitely more comfortable, but can collapse easily if you have a narrow ear canal. Both are much more comfortable than the Shure silicone olives which are IMHO way too bulbous (very snug and secure fit, with great isolation, just not great for comfort!) Given your requirements, I'd probably try the Spinfit tips first.

For my personal requirements, the SE846s + STAR tips are my absolute most comfortable IEMs.

 

[SoundNewbieOG]

My friend the answer to your predicament is called Spinfit CP-800.
Soft silicone = no pain

@SoundNewbieOG Westone STAR silicone tips also work great as well.

Thank you! So when we say pain, we're saying this would affect the headaches? Believe it or not, I was actually looking through this thread and I saw you guys talking about the CP800. I actually went and bought 2 sizes. I wasn't sure which one would fit me.

 

[fablestruck]

Thank you! So when we say pain, we're saying this would affect the headaches? Believe it or not, I was actually looking through this thread and I saw you guys talking about the CP800. I actually went and bought 2 sizes. I wasn't sure which one would fit me.

If with the biggest diameter tip you can achieve a relatively more peripheral (not deeply inserted) placement, I believe it would be the most comfortable.

 

[nuqqi]

Hi guys! I have an onkyo dp-x1a and i am using a balanced cable to utilize the dual sabre dacs. Ofc its about the 846. I realize i might need an 2.5mm balanced 80ohm adapter, but.. i cant find any? Help? <3 or any suggestions?

 

[plakat]

Hi guys! I have an onkyo dp-x1a and i am using a balanced cable to utilize the dual sabre dacs. Ofc its about the 846. I realize i might need an 2.5mm balanced 80ohm adapter, but.. i cant find any? Help? <3 or any suggestions?

honestly I'd not bother with balanced, especially not with the SE846, which is quite sensitive and has very low impedance (making it hard for a balanced amp, where each amp only sees half the impedance, which is 4,5Ohm in this case -- very low for headphone amps). The main purpose of balanced is additional power for headphones that need it. Yes, I know those myths around balanced... in most cases a competent classic amp architecture is more than sufficient.

 

[nuqqi]

honestly I'd not bother with balanced, especially not with the SE846, which is quite sensitive and has very low impedance (making it hard for a balanced amp, where each amp only sees half the impedance, which is 4,5Ohm in this case -- very low for headphone amps). The main purpose of balanced is additional power for headphones that need it. Yes, I know those myths around balanced... in most cases a competent classic amp architecture is more than sufficient.

Hmm.. Then would a better cable than the included 3.5mm be a better choice? i do expefience MUCH more detailed and oscilating lows and wider, more clear and more immersive soundstage by using a balanced cable in the 2.5mm jack. Do you suggest that the rated ohm resistance of the 846 is total across both iems and not each one?

My theory of the high sensitivety of these iems and other posts made me believe an 80ohm adapter to increase the resistance of the output would be a wise choice? hehe i did get the dual dac player cause 1 dac each for each iem sounded very logical for sound quality. I have owned this setup for 4 years now and i experience superior listening experience with pre-amp set to lower the DB.

sorry if my english is lacking

 

[plakat]

Hmm.. Then would a better cable than the included 3.5mm be a better choice? i do expefience MUCH more detailed and oscilating lows and wider, more clear and more immersive soundstage by using a balanced cable in the 2.5mm jack. Do you suggest that the rated ohm resistance of the 846 is total across both iems and not each one?

My theory of the high sensitivety of these iems and other posts made me believe an 80ohm adapter to increase the resistance of the output would be a wise choice? hehe i did get the dual dac player cause 1 dac each for each iem sounded very logical for sound quality. I have owned this setup for 4 years now and i experience superior listening experience with pre-amp set to lower the DB.

sorry if my english is lacking

No problem.

It may well be that the balanced implementation of that specific player is better than its single ended output — that I do not know.

In general I think it’s easier to design a good single ended amp than a good balanced amp. Plus there is no inherent deficiency in single ended, and no inherent gain in balanced (except for more power, which sometimes is exact what you need — just not with IEMs

Balanced is louder by design (more power output, lower load impedance), so that may seem like „better“.

In general I’d say don’t bother, especially not with the SE846, which is not lending itself well to being driven by a balanced amp diente it’s high efficiency and low impedance. Putting an additional resistor in the path may resolve that — but, again, balanced per se is not better. So why go an extra mile?

I don’t think Onkyo builds a bad amp into its DAP… I don’t think there’s anything to gain by trying to fix the SE846 to the balanced output instead of single ended.

 

[TK33]

Hmm.. Then would a better cable than the included 3.5mm be a better choice? i do expefience MUCH more detailed and oscilating lows and wider, more clear and more immersive soundstage by using a balanced cable in the 2.5mm jack. Do you suggest that the rated ohm resistance of the 846 is total across both iems and not each one?

My theory of the high sensitivety of these iems and other posts made me believe an 80ohm adapter to increase the resistance of the output would be a wise choice? hehe i did get the dual dac player cause 1 dac each for each iem sounded very logical for sound quality. I have owned this setup for 4 years now and i experience superior listening experience with pre-amp set to lower the DB.

sorry if my english is lacking

I use 3.5mm single ended for my SE846 due to the low impedance. It works fine. I found switching cables to improve comfort and sound quality due to a better deal. I always disliked the stock Shure cables. The SE846 is definitely picky when it comes to amps and you really need one with a low output impedance (definitely less than 1 and as close to 0 as possible). I use mine with the Dragonfly Cobalt for portable use, RME ADI-2 DAC for desktop, and also have an Aurender Flow and Grace m900 that work fine with them. I rarely get very high on the volume knob on any of these and concur with others these don't really need balanced cables.

I use a 3.5mm Meze Rai Silver Plated cable for my SE846 that I bought based on some recommendations here and it has been a great cable. I do have some other balanced cables for my other Shure IEMs but never really saw the need for them with these.