OKAY! I have heard enough of the SE846. I figured it all out and I will be sending them back and maybe considering W50 or W60.
Bottom Line: I listen relatively loud to really engage myself into the music (but certainly not deafening volumes). Regardless of how good the bass is and even the midrange clarity of SE846 which is also excellent.....there are 2 issues that no tip or amp or EQ will ever cure that do not sit well with me.
1. Midrange is too forward for my tastes (but this is what Shure does).
2. There is surely an upper midrange spike I do not like.
Combine #1 and #2 with decent volumes and you have a very fatiguing earphone. Granted, I am not ripping Shure or anything, this is just my personal take based on the kind of sound presentation that works for me based on my music and listening habits. But it is also well worth noting. I stick the W40 back in my ears and yes, it is darker...but the treble still shimmers and it is SO much easier on the ears and quite frankly....just as engaging. Being lighter is also a plus. The better bass of SE846 is not enough to trump W40. I am not sure I would even trade SE846 straight up for W40. It's that close IMHO.
Really not much else to say other than I am sure Shure invested a lot of R&D in making SE846 but based on what you get with SE535 at about $400....man, I just do not see a over double price upgrade EVEN considering the law of diminishing returns which I am well aware of.
I will re-iterate from earlier post, the SE846 has nothing on the JH13 or JH16. Not even in the same class. It is simply a SE535 with a subtle subwoofer while still maintaining EXCELLENT clarity. Nothing more.
I might say be careful trusting ANY review where a reviewer was comped the IEM's. Huge bias going obviously.
IMHO if my W40's had a little bit more clarity in the midrange it might be the perfect IEM. It is soooo close to perfection. Bass is fine.....maybe 20% less abundant as SE846 but just as textured and detailed, no question. Let's not forget...when they made W4 it was about a "better" more detailed and textured bass (2 drivers) with a very transparent and neutral IEM. Then with W40, they bumped up the bass about 15-20%. What more would a person want?
On my way to go research W50 which would be waaay easier on the pocketbook.