spinali
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2003
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I'm fresh from MacWorld 2006 with news on the new Shure IEM.
The E500PTH looks a little different than your typical IEM. Rounded and black with a black cable, it also has a PTH - push to hear - control switch. In the inactive position, you can listen to your music; while activated, it acts like a condenser mike and lets you talk to people without removing your pads.
Among the other features:
- Three drivers, though they call it "Triple High-Definition Drivers." Actually, they use "a tweeter and two woofers."
- Noise reduction, said to eliminate "30 - 37db" external noise
- Compatible with a variety of tips - the usual ones
- Optional accessory kit
I listened to a protoype, though it will be officially released in May 2006. I could only sample sounds from my 3g iPod for ten minutes or so, but I was able to try a bunch of genres with different sound qualities. Since this is a prototype, this should only be regarded as a preview, not a review.
First, I listened to the E4C, which had good synergy with my iPod in a number of different EQs. It has a prominent treble, but I was surprised how good the bass sounds. When I amped it with a Xenos 3HA (yes, I actually brought it in with me, to the surprise and curiousity of the staff), the E4C gained clarity and depth, though it's clear that amping is unnecessary.
Then, I sampled the E500, at the staff's insistence. My first impression was "wow, there's no way I could amp this." The sound was very full, but without, say, the UM2's over-bassy sound signature.
For the first time in my experience with IEMs, reggae dub sounded as it should - thick, and with depth and clarity. Japanese pop gained a clarity and luster, and seemed very "musical." Instrumentals were fuller and more pleasant than I've experienced with Etys or the UM2. On some thickly recorded punk, however, there was a tad too much bass for my tastes, detracting from the clarity of the presentation. When I EQ's various tracks, I discovered that Treble Boost becomes too grating; you're best with Classical or even Flat. On most pop tracks, the sound had surprisng depth, and sometimes even a liquid quality. As with most good IEMs, a great deal depends on the quality of your samples.
It became clear that the Shure E500 does a number of things exceedingly well. In one word, the sound is "rich."
Of course, no IEM will compare to the sound of a good pair of standard headphones, though there were a few moments when this IEM came close enough for a tie.
With those cheap yellow earpads, the E500 is very comfortable; you forget you're wearing it. They're attractive, and according to a member of the staff, do not need custom earpieces to make them sound at their best; its sound isolation feature works well by itself, which was proven amply in my situation - in the middle of a loud, busy convention floor.
The E500 will retail at $499.
The E500PTH looks a little different than your typical IEM. Rounded and black with a black cable, it also has a PTH - push to hear - control switch. In the inactive position, you can listen to your music; while activated, it acts like a condenser mike and lets you talk to people without removing your pads.
Among the other features:
- Three drivers, though they call it "Triple High-Definition Drivers." Actually, they use "a tweeter and two woofers."
- Noise reduction, said to eliminate "30 - 37db" external noise
- Compatible with a variety of tips - the usual ones
- Optional accessory kit
I listened to a protoype, though it will be officially released in May 2006. I could only sample sounds from my 3g iPod for ten minutes or so, but I was able to try a bunch of genres with different sound qualities. Since this is a prototype, this should only be regarded as a preview, not a review.
First, I listened to the E4C, which had good synergy with my iPod in a number of different EQs. It has a prominent treble, but I was surprised how good the bass sounds. When I amped it with a Xenos 3HA (yes, I actually brought it in with me, to the surprise and curiousity of the staff), the E4C gained clarity and depth, though it's clear that amping is unnecessary.
Then, I sampled the E500, at the staff's insistence. My first impression was "wow, there's no way I could amp this." The sound was very full, but without, say, the UM2's over-bassy sound signature.
For the first time in my experience with IEMs, reggae dub sounded as it should - thick, and with depth and clarity. Japanese pop gained a clarity and luster, and seemed very "musical." Instrumentals were fuller and more pleasant than I've experienced with Etys or the UM2. On some thickly recorded punk, however, there was a tad too much bass for my tastes, detracting from the clarity of the presentation. When I EQ's various tracks, I discovered that Treble Boost becomes too grating; you're best with Classical or even Flat. On most pop tracks, the sound had surprisng depth, and sometimes even a liquid quality. As with most good IEMs, a great deal depends on the quality of your samples.
It became clear that the Shure E500 does a number of things exceedingly well. In one word, the sound is "rich."
Of course, no IEM will compare to the sound of a good pair of standard headphones, though there were a few moments when this IEM came close enough for a tie.
With those cheap yellow earpads, the E500 is very comfortable; you forget you're wearing it. They're attractive, and according to a member of the staff, do not need custom earpieces to make them sound at their best; its sound isolation feature works well by itself, which was proven amply in my situation - in the middle of a loud, busy convention floor.
The E500 will retail at $499.
