Shure SE425 Review
Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 17,806 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Shure SE425. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Shure SE425. For example, 87% of 2,701 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the Shure SE425 have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 88 Reviews
Great IEM's
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
Reviewed by Francisco on Guitar Center
The sound part of my review is further down. I was looking into buying some new IEM's because I lost my se215's about a year ago. I did as much research as I could, between the Shure se315, se425, se535, Westone Um Pro 10, 20, and 30... long story short I went with the se425's. I give this 5 starts for two reasons, THE SOUND QUALITY, and Guitar Center's Customer Service. I bought these July 2, 2015, I also bought the 3 year Pro Coverage.. I loved how they sounded, but That night I noticed a slight rattle in the right ear bud.. the next day I decided to see if Guitar Center would take them back, as they have a no return policy on headphones.. sure enough they took them back, only thing was they didn't have another pair in stock, so they shipped some from their warehouse. They arrived Yesterday July 7, 2015. Now onto the sound. Just a note: I listen to country, alternative rock, Mexican Music, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Classic Rock, Classic, Hip Hop.. Lots of other genres. If you do your research you will see that most people say it has more of a flat sound. and that is TRUE. Now some people who don't know what flat means probably think that they suck or something, that is not the case. Now I can only compare these to my 215's because that's all I've ever owned. Bass: The 215's seem to have slightly more bass with out any equalization, but not as pronounced as in the 425's. The bass in the 425's is more detailed, which I mean you can hear every single note played. which in other headphones and even the 215's the bass is more blended with your mids. I'm sure that has to do with the dual drivers. Mids: The first thing I noticed was the punchy sound of the mids, to me this is perfect. It is a nice balanced sound. Highs:The highs to me are "just right", some say the highs are rolled off, They are rolled off just at the point before it hurts your ears, so that I also like. I have not yet used these headphones as monitors in a live sound application, but what I did do was listen to some albums of music I have, that were recorded live, and wow does it sound great! One other thing, I do have an iPhone, and in my music EQ settings I use it in "Rock" because that's where it is perfect for how I like my sound. I have used these for sleeping, they are comfortable. :) I love the quality of Shure products. The quality of these IEM's are outstanding. the cable is thick, some say its bulky, no, its great. Another thing I like to do when I buy a new pair of headphones is test them, I found a great headphone test webpage. To me this is the best test I've found. Check it out. Note: Don't have your volume all the way up at the start of each test because it could blow your headphones. http://www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php ... More
Great Earbuds!
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Director's Chair AV on B&H Photo Video
I use these for music listening and for field monitoring.I bought them, in part, based on the Shure reputation for design, ruggedness, and accuracy.When I first received and tried these I did not like them. They fit poorly and the sound was very thin and lacking in bass and definition. I put them down after 5 minutes and considered returning them.But, as in most things patience (and reading the instructions) are indeed a virtue. I finally set aside a few minutes to fit those thing to my ears. A few minutes turned into about an hour but the results were worth it. The patience part comes in with finding the right earpiece. If using the memory foam earpieces it takes about ten minutes each time for the foam to conform to your ear. If you don't happen onto the right combo right away this can take awhile.Once I happened onto the right earpiece and it settled in things changed big time as it formed a good seal in my ear.The bass came back and was tight, well defined and very EXTENDED. Many of the earphones and earbuds I have owned in the past tend to exaggerate the bass and present it as a sloppy mess... Plenty of it, but overblown and muddy. Not so with the Shure earbuds... the bass was tight, articulate and well defined... and never present unless the material called for it. The high end opened up as well and was clear, extended and airy but never harsh. The midrange was clear and defined and never boxey like many earphones I have used in the past.With a good seal the isolation from ambient noise is mind blowing! Use caution if walking around with these on. Even with the music at low volumes you can not hear the world around you!I listened with a variety of music and material and found the sound very engaging and never fatiguing. I have gone through several extended sessions now and find them very comfortable now that I have fitted them and found the correct position for them.Summary; A bit pricy but worth it. Rugged and robust well designed piece of equipment. Once fitted correctly they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. High ambient noise isolation make them great for monitoring. Accurate, non-fatiguing sound with tight, articulate, extended bass; smooth, very listenable midrange and open, airy and never harsh highs.Highly recommended! ... More
Great IEM's
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
Reviewed by Francisco on Guitar Center
The sound part of my review is further down. I was looking into buying some new IEM's because I lost my se215's about a year ago. I did as much research as I could, between the Shure se315, se425, se535, Westone Um Pro 10, 20, and 30... long story short I went with the se425's. I give this 5 starts for two reasons, THE SOUND QUALITY, and Guitar Center's Customer Service. I bought these July 2, 2015, I also bought the 3 year Pro Coverage.. I loved how they sounded, but That night I noticed a slight rattle in the right ear bud.. the next day I decided to see if Guitar Center would take them back, as they have a no return policy on headphones.. sure enough they took them back, only thing was they didn't have another pair in stock, so they shipped some from their warehouse. They arrived Yesterday July 7, 2015. Now onto the sound. Just a note: I listen to country, alternative rock, Mexican Music, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Classic Rock, Classic, Hip Hop.. Lots of other genres. If you do your research you will see that most people say it has more of a flat sound. and that is TRUE. Now some people who don't know what flat means probably think that they suck or something, that is not the case. Now I can only compare these to my 215's because that's all I've ever owned. Bass: The 215's seem to have slightly more bass with out any equalization, but not as pronounced as in the 425's. The bass in the 425's is more detailed, which I mean you can hear every single note played. which in other headphones and even the 215's the bass is more blended with your mids. I'm sure that has to do with the dual drivers. Mids: The first thing I noticed was the punchy sound of the mids, to me this is perfect. It is a nice balanced sound. Highs:The highs to me are ""just right"", some say the highs are rolled off, They are rolled off just at the point before it hurts your ears, so that I also like. I have not yet used these headphones as monitors in a live sound application, but what I did do was listen to some albums of music I have, that were recorded live, and wow does it sound great! One other thing, I do have an iPhone, and in my music EQ settings I use it in ""Rock"" because that's where it is perfect for how I like my sound. I have used these for sleeping, they are comfortable. :) I love the quality of Shure products. The quality of these IEM's are outstanding. the cable is thick, some say its bulky, no, its great. Another thing I like to do when I buy a new pair of headphones is test them, I found a great headphone test webpage. To me this is the best test I've found. Check it out. Note: Don't have your volume all the way up at the start of each test because it could blow your headphones. http://www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php ... More
SE 425
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
Reviewed by Elliott on Guitar Center
Here is a quick review of this product. I had own these pair of in-ear monitors for about almost a month and i can say that they are a true flat frequency response sound, ideal for live performance (only) in my experience. I have found out that these were design for that purpose to be able to hear all frequencies of every instrument clearly which is a big demand of all of us musicians. You will need to do your own EQ if you like punch and bass response, otherwise you'll get straight flat response. I would not recommend this product for personal everyday music ipod listener because of its flatness, you'll be better of with regular headphones for that purpose, but great for live performing. ... More
Gave me a lot of trouble but once it worked, it worked
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Tri on B&H Photo Video
I bought these for my PC because wireless headsets gave me headaches so my only option was either being wired down, for a lighter headset, or getting wireless earbuds. Getting these bad boys to work for Windows 10 was a nightmare. When I initially paired it to my PC it would drop connection every couple of seconds. I scoured the internet for a way to solve this issue and nothing worked. After fruitless hours it suddenly hit me, maybe my on board bluetooth wasn't playing nice with my on board wifi. I disabled both devices and connected a bluetooth usb dongle I had lying around. FINALLY the connection wasn't dropping... but now there was no sound. One problem after another. When you pair on the PC two sound devices show in your Sound Control Panel. Shure BT2 Stereo and Shure BT2 Hands-Free AG Audio. These two options show up in both Playback and Recording. You have to disable Shure BT2 Hands-Free AG Audio on both Playback and Recording for the sound to work. Don't just disconnect it. DISABLE it. Now I can hear everything without issues, it connects and disconnects when I turn on and off my PC. The distance is nowhere close to a wireless headset but what do you expect? It's bluetooth. It pairs perfectly with any other device, like my mobile phone, without problems. There is slight latency as expected from bluetooth so I won't be playing any rhythm games with these. You don't even notice it on things like youtube videos or games that don't require reaction time. I can hardly hear anything when they're in my ear. They don't fall out easily, I fell asleep with them in on accident. I don't recommend this but know that they didn't fall out even though I'm the type that ends up on the other end of the bed by the time I wake up. I really like how it bends over my ear for a nice form fit. The battery has lasted as long as the nice voice tells me every time it powers on. The only gripe I have is that when it's dying instead of just warning beeps to tell you, the voice has to repeat Battery low. It interrupts anything you're listening to when it does this. I would give them 5 stars if there was more helpful support on how to troubleshoot this issue but honestly it was more the fault of hardware and Windows 10. ... More
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Excellent mid-priced IEM's
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by John on B&H Photo Video
These are the third set of Shure IEM's that I have owned. Most recently I had (and still have) a pair of SE315's. Compared to the 315's the 425's have deeper bass and a generally fuller sound. I am a headphone junkie who has owned more phones than I can count. I constantly experiment. As a former recording engineer and record producer, I am hypercritical. I bought these to try with a Shure BT2 bluetooth adapter, but I am also using them with a FiiO X5III DAP and an aftermarket balanced cord set. Because they have MMCX connectors the cords can be easily replaced or swapped out. Overall, I am very pleased with the sound and balanced response. Some will find these more weighted in the mid and high ranges, but see my comments about ear tips and bass response below. They are very enjoyable even after several hours. I have never tried any of the more expensive Shure IEM's and cannot compare these. I do have a pair of FiiO FH5's and while they have excellent sound, they are not as comfortable as the Shure IEM's and do not provide as much isolation. Shure IEM's were designed for use by musicians to use on stage. They have extreme isolation when properly fitted. The isolation is claimed by Shure to be 37db across the audio spectrum. This is greater than any active noise cancellation phones. I use them when flying with very good results. Since they are passive there is no worry about charging. There are some caveats to be aware of. Bass response and noise isolation are highly dependent on using the correct tips. I have experimented, but always come back to the yellow foam universal tips. Your results may vary. A number of different types and sizes of tips come with the phones. Keep trying them until you get the best results. Shure makes aftermarket cords with remote controls and a microphone for iPhones. With a Lightning adapter these work well. The stock cord is very heavy and durable. As mentioned above balanced cord sets are also available from other suppliers with MMCX connectors. If you are looking for moderately priced IEM's with excellent isolation and sound these are well worth considering. ... More
Truly excellent
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by John on B&H Photo Video
This is my third pair of Shure IEM's. My SE 315's developed a balance problem after many years. The output of the left earpiece was just slightly lower than the right. I decided to replace them with the SE425's. As a long-time owner of Shure IEM's I already had the microphone cord and a recently acquired BT2 adapter. I also have a FiiO balanced cord which I use with DAPs that have balanced outputs. I own several other professional headphones and IEM's. I have always liked the sound of Shure IEM's. They have a clarity which I enjoy. Bass response has been criticized by some. It is solid without being overwhelming. However, it is important to note that the selection and fit of the various ear tips will greatly affect bass response. The wrong tip will reduce bass response and sound isolation. I have experimented with various tips and always returned to the old yellow universal fit ones. Your results may vary. I travel frequently and love the isolation of the Shures. With the properly fitted tips they will out perform any of the active noise cancelling headphones I own. No battery to charge either. Shure claims approximately 37db of isolation and this is across the spectrum not just in some areas. How do these compare to full size headphones? My current favorite are the Neumann NDH 20's. The Neumann's base response is superior to the SE425's, but only a little. In terms of clarity, the Neumann's are also a little better. However, they are twice the price of the Shure's and, while they offer good isolation, they are not equal to the SE425's. I also own the FiiO FH5 IEM's. Excellent sound, but lack the isolation of the Shure's even fitted with Comply isolation tips. You have to set your priorities. Mine are sound isolation when I need it and the ability to use Bluetooth and the SE425's are quite excellent in both respects. All in all a very good value. ... More
Amazing... Clear.. A little bit of punch..
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
Reviewed by Giovanni G��́lvez on Guitar Center
So i have read many reviews about these headphones... many bad simply stating not enough bass... Well these headphones aren't meant to drill your ears with bass. As a drummer i like to hear a lot of kick and bass, but with so much of that it distorts, these headphones are meant to reduce it, but still have the bass in the background and not overpowering. I have played with many iems, and i gotta say i love these. I usually play at churches were they have avioms, so if i want a little more punch i turn the bass up a little bit. In general i think these are great headphones for drummers because of the isolation and the clarity. for the people who complain about ipods/iphones sounding to flat... theres an app for that lol.. Its called "EQu" it enhances the equalizing and gives you more control. I recommend them. ... More
Low End Lacks, Mids Good, Quiet+Harsh Highs
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
Reviewed by Ty on Guitar Center
I bought these earphones for listening to music and for use as monitors in live setting or tracking in a recording studio. The sound isolation works, and they deliver a very forward and full mid range, which is good for monitoring guitar and many vocalists. The low end is weak, which isn't so bad for monitoring in a live performance, since you would hear a lot of the bass leaking in coming from the bass amp on stage. But for listening, it will disappoint you, because low end bass will need to be boosted with eq a little to reflect how the music is recorded (supposed to sound), but the speaker is pretty bad at producing those frequencies also, and the bass will sound muddy or sloppy, with bad definition. Treble is the worst though, worse than any headphone or earphone I've ever tried at any price. It is both very subdued and very sharp and harsh with no presence. Cymbals sound terrible. My first instinct was to boost the highs with an equalizer, but it just makes it sound worse because of the harshness. Surprisingly, I found myself preferring to instead take out some of the highs, and boost the mids a bit, because the mids are the only range that have a pleasant sound, which is actually nice. Overall, they work, but not that great, as monitors for live performance, but if you are a drummer, brass player, bass player, or singer with higher voice, etc, then it is pretty subpar. Would be good for a guitarist or some singers, if they don't care about hearing the cymbals etc. ... More
superb clear, non bassy sound
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Knut on B&H Photo Video
I have owned the Shure SE425 in-ear headphones and the SE535 for some time now. I love the clear and non-bassy reproduction of the Shure SE425, on my iPhone 6s especially in conjunction with the in-line remote/mic cable. In conjunction with the Bluetooth 5.0 Communication Cable, the bass is much more pronounced, almost too much for me! The Shure SE535 headphones sounds warmer, the frequency response may score better in tests, but in conjunction with my iPhone, I prefer the SE425. However, things are different when pairing my Android phone with a DAC headphone amplifier: Here, the Shure SE535 headphones clearly show their strengths compared to the SE425. ... More
astounding
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by R on B&H Photo Video
I've been a Sennheiser fan for years and have never had a complaint about the sound quality (still don't) but the Shure SE425s are another level or two above anything I've heard from in-ear 'phones before. Brilliant crisp high-ends counterpointed by strong, but not overpowering, bass while still leaving the mid-range crystal clear. The sound is literally amazing. I'm hearing a whole other level to the music. I'm blown away. So why did I give it 4 stars? (I would have liked the option for 4.5) The cable. It's ridiculously and annoyingly long. I can hang the cable free while the buds are in and it reaches the tops of my sneakers. (I'm 5'11) It's way too much cable unless you're in the studio and need the length to move around. A detachable cable (I believe the previous incarnation of this model had one) would be ideal and allow for some customization in cable length. It's enough of a problem that it does detract a little from the listening experience as it gets tangled and is heavy. I've resorted to coiling it and using the twist-ties it came with to try and manage the length- a truly inelegant solution. ... More
Good value for the price.
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Henry on B&H Photo Video
First, the sound is very very good, especially considering this is a $250 product. Bass response is more than adequate and can be improved by choosing the best fitting sleeves and making sure they're properly inserted. That took a little practice. Separation is excellent and the treble is clear but not shrill. My main complaint is the cord. The Kevlar-reinforced cable chafes uncomfortably. Coating it in rubber or silicon would be a huge improvement. It is inflexible too and coaxing the portion of the cable near the ear to curl over the ear properly is very difficult. Because of this, the earbuds tend to slip out of the ear and the inflexibility makes turning your head comfortably inconvenience. All in all, a good product with room to improve. ... More
worth the money!
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by drainocam on B&H Photo Video
I have owned shure earbuds in the past. single driver ones because I didn't want to pay the money. Well, I am finding out more and more, you get what you pay for. And in this case, it's a good thing!! The sound quality is fantastic. You can hear every instrument individually. And for an avid METAL listener like me, that is very important. I liked these ear buds so much, I bought another pair for my girlfriend a week later. The only catch is you must get used to the proper way to put them in your ears. BUT, once you do it, you got it down! If you are a music enthusiast or a musician, these are buds are way worth the money!!! Also, I travel most of the year, these ear buds are an absolute must for frequent travelers!!! Kills all plane noise.....AND KID NOISE ... More
Great headphones
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Adam the computer guy on B&H Photo Video
The sound quality is amazing, and the sound isolation is fantastic. Initially, as many have reported, they can be slightly painful, but I believe the material softens up over time, I've had them a few weeks now and they don't hurt at all. I had owned a set of similar Shure earbuds for years, they were great! They had survivied a severe rain storm (I figured that'd be the end of them, but no), and I accidentally ran over the with my motorcycle, yet they kept going strong. Ultimately it was the cord that finally failed, but the ear buds themselves and the speakers inside them still work great. These new earbuds, with the replaceable cord, should last forever. They're well worth they cost in my opinion. ... More
Great In Ear Headphones
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by HGFC on B&H Photo Video
I have been in search of quality, noise-canceling, in-ear headphones for a long time. In truth, I have delayed investing in a really good pair of headphones because it was always a tough cost-benefit analysis for me. However, I am also a professional vocalist and have been considering investing in a really good set of earphones that can serve as in-ear stage monitors as well. I am now so glad I purchased these headphones....the dynamic range and accuracy of these headphones is impeccable. The noise-canceling ability is, frankly, scary. I have never achieved such sound immersion and isolation with any other pair of headphones I have owned. ... More
Better than I thought
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones
Reviewed by Kola A. on Reverb
A lost a jacket that had a pair of 215s in them and I might as well upgrade to the 425s. It's a really good step up to get two drivers and you really get to hear things with amazing clarity. The sound profile took a little time to get used to. Flat is probably the word I would use, but it's weird to be able to hear things with such clarity and precision while seemingly flat. It's changing the way I think about sound. Good IEMs! They are also great for on-stage stuff. I changed the tips to those yellow foam cylinders and they block out so much noise. It's good protection and an investment for the ears. ... More
Elegance of songs
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Shang on B&H Photo Video
I own both SE215 and SE425. Does SE425 worth 2+ times the price of SE215? It depends. If you are looking for a piece of instrument that excites you by revealing every single details in techniques and emotions embedded in the diva's rendition, then you will find SE425 is that cutting edge gadget. If you feel reluctant to spend over $200 for just casual listening, SE215 is more than enough. To conclude, I recommend SE425 if you are a big fan of female singers (e.g. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, etc.). SE425 is born for listening to divas.
Top Notch Audio!!
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I have used Shure earphones for many years in my helmet while motorcycling. I decided to upgrade from an earlier product to the SE425 for the durability and low profile fit. The design makes it easy to get a snug full-face helmet over the earphones without dislodging them. The cable is extremely durable and holds up very well to flapping in the wind at highway speeds. The sound is awesome, crisp tight base, and very clean highs. Very good sound isolation from wind noise when I'm not playing my music. Very, very satisfied with the quality and ruggedness of the SE425. ... More
Excellent IEM
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
Very nice item from Shure, Sound quality is very good for under $500 IEM, the clarity is great and the sound stage is very broad. the only small miss is the low end of Bass is absent as other reviewers have also noted( only reason for 4 stars), but if you are not looking for deep base these are great. very comfortable and the sound isolation is very solid. the bluetooth cable is formed a touch different then most, it takes some working to get it to where i could like it, i used the bowtie method.
Great for live monitors & daily use!!!
Shure SE425 Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Clear)
Reviewed by Jammin Babe on B&H Photo Video
I use these headphones as in-ear monitors for live gigs and they have been amazing! The contour of the ear bud attachments fits right in the curvature of your ear which means they lock in and stay put. Love the range of lows and highs. I finally have headphones that don't fall out and give me a full mix! I've also been using them for when I'm getting work done at coffee shops and the snug fit means you block out the noise around you and can get stuff done! I'd highly recommend these headphones. Great for people who want high quality but can't afford customs. ... More
