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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Shure SE535

Disclaimer: Measurement has been carried out with a pair of Shure Olive foam sleeves. This pair, owned by a good friend named V.K., has been revitalized by cleaning the nozzle & adding a new pair of dampers. Enjoy!

Along with SCL5, SE530, which was released in 2001, was Shure's top-of-the-line IEM, featuring triple balanced armature drivers. And in 2010, Shure released a revised version, SE535. However, other than the detachable cable with MMCX connection, the sound quality of SE535 seemed to be more or less the same as the original.






PRO: Tonality smoothly follows the diffuse-field reference & low distortion.

CON: The high frequency bandwidth goes only up to 15 kHz & non-linear impedance characteristic.

ON SECOND THOUGHT #1: As there is no high frequency to begin with, SE535 is quite free from insertion depth-related issues & sleeve-related issues, as long as the IEM is not barely situated at the ear canal entrance.

ON SECOND THOUGHT #2: Just like Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10 Pro, it is advised to stay away from source devices with output impedance higher than 1 Ω, as even an addition of 33 Ω yields a sharp -6 dB dip at 6 kHz.

ON SECOND THOUGHT #3: Surprisingly, SE535 benefits from a damper modification. My personal recommendation is 2200 ~ 3300 Ω, as they closely turn the tonality of SE535 into that of Triple.Fi 10 Pro. If anybody finds the stock sound to be little too boring, this is the way to go for. Unfortunately, even with the damper modification, the high frequency bandwidth does not change at all.



ON SECOND THOUGHT #4: FYI, if any of you SE535 owners want to experience the sound quality of SE535 Special Edition, specially designed for the Japanese market, simply pop in a pair of 330 Ω gray dampers. Rly?? See it for yourself:

Left: Shure's official comparison chart // Right: My "emulation" of the comparison

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37 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 5, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    Where is the CSD graph? !!!!! :(((

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 5, 2013 at 11:12 AM

    this is quite unexpected. i used to own one and i found them very sibilant and muddy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rin ChoiMay 5, 2013 at 11:20 AM

      It is sibilant if your insertion is shallow. I am not sure about muddiness though.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 5, 2013 at 6:37 PM

      After several auditions I also personally found them muddy. Maybe it is the lack of high frequency extension? However there is little music detail at such high frequencies anyway.

      Perhaps it is the combination of a slight hump at 100 hz and downward slope from 1Khz?

      Delete
    3. Rin ChoiMay 5, 2013 at 7:38 PM

      Perhaps, or you simply prefer brighter tonality like me!

      Delete
    4. AnonymousMay 5, 2013 at 10:33 PM

      Could you measure the frequency response when inserted shallow then??
      Because of its shape I don't deep insertion can be achieved with stock olive, only possible with Comply P-series.

      Delete
    5. Rin ChoiMay 6, 2013 at 12:59 AM

      You may refer to "ON SECOND THOUGHT #1"

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMay 5, 2013 at 11:43 PM

    I think the graph below the "CON:" part is what you're asking for.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMay 6, 2013 at 7:01 AM

    Good review! Thanks for replacing my damper!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rin ChoiMay 6, 2013 at 1:24 PM

      You are welcome, brother. :D Your SE535 has been shipped back today.

      Delete
    2. UnknownMay 6, 2013 at 4:45 PM

      Good to know. I'll post on head-fi how it sounds.(Unless you don't want me to)

      Delete
    3. Rin ChoiMay 6, 2013 at 5:13 PM

      Of course I want you to. LOL Please do so!

      Delete
    4. UnknownMay 6, 2013 at 5:36 PM

      Yup. I'll also link your blog to the review!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousMay 6, 2013 at 6:03 PM

    Hey rin i wouldnt call SE535 special edition a scam. The graph you provided is not in the treble region where it is explicitly stated that

    "A newly tuned acoustic network delivers enhanced high frequency performance."


    IF there is only also cut off at 15KHz then you can call it a scam :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rin ChoiMay 6, 2013 at 6:40 PM

      Ok, calling se535se a "scam" might be little too harsh. How about a "hoax", then? :D

      Delete
  6. InksMay 6, 2013 at 10:08 PM

    The cut off is still there, the bandwidth of the driver simply remains, the best they could do is just underdamp it a bit for more treble precense. A hoax indeed, quite shameful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 7, 2013 at 6:03 AM

      so the change in the FR range by 0.5 kHz at the high end of the spectrum according to the manufacturer is non existent ???

      I thought that from 19khz (standard) to 19.5khz (special edition) would yield a real performance of 15khz to 15.5khz .....

      Delete
    2. InksMay 7, 2013 at 11:11 AM

      You're right actually, think there's a 0.5k increase in bandwidth. Problem is that its hardly noteworthy and does not fix the treble extension as claimed. If it at least reached 17k like some single BAs can then perhaps, but this is just a hoax

      Delete
    3. AnonymousMay 8, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      yeah i agree with that. At least 17. for example I can hear up to 18.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousMay 6, 2013 at 10:14 PM

    It does cost more money to paint the shells red...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Julio CesarMay 9, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    How do you extract and push in new dampers?
    I have never done so before and i have no clue on how exactly pull the thing out of the shell.

    Thanks for the answer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rin ChoiMay 9, 2013 at 6:42 AM

      According to Etymotic Research: http://i.imgur.com/2vZB0TI.png
      You definitely need a damper(filter) extraction tool from Etymotic Research.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 9, 2013 at 9:15 AM

      is it possible to accomplish that with small pliers? the one that women remove eyelashes? ....

      Delete
    3. Rin ChoiMay 9, 2013 at 10:54 AM

      You may try, but I can't guarantee.

      Delete
    4. UnknownMay 9, 2013 at 11:49 AM

      I just did it with the stock wax loop. Just be careful, and it's not that hard.

      Delete
    5. UnknownMay 10, 2013 at 3:48 AM

      I posted tips on pulling the dampers out on the link below. http://www.head-fi.org/t/663273/more-sq-improvement-than-cable-dampers#post_9423128

      Delete
    6. Julio CesarMay 15, 2013 at 4:54 AM

      Wow, thanks a lot for the answers. Gonna try it out. :)

      Delete
    7. UnknownJanuary 6, 2018 at 3:33 PM

      Would this also work with the se315 model?

      Delete
  9. UnknownMay 9, 2013 at 11:59 AM

    Here is my review of how each dampers sound. Just few more hours of listening, and I'll post on how the grey filter sounds. http://www.head-fi.org/t/663273/more-sq-improvement-than-cable-dampers#post_9423128

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rin ChoiMay 9, 2013 at 12:35 PM

      Can't wait for the impression, brother. Can't wait..

      Delete
    2. UnknownMay 10, 2013 at 3:49 AM

      Posted picture. I feel like I need more time for impressions though.

      Delete
  10. HellMay 21, 2014 at 2:58 AM

    Hello, I want to ask if you could help me with my westone 3, the vocals seems to be sibilant specially when some part of the lyrics of the songs with "S" that just sounding like a sharp sssssssssss, and its quite uncomfortable, maybe you can help me whats the right dampers if I'm going to buy a set of these?

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownAugust 25, 2014 at 8:31 AM

    Hi there,

    I currently own the Se535 LtdJ, is there a difference between the grey filters used in knowles and the ones used in the red Shure? As inside in the knowles it is made of metal, and it seems metal tubes are superior as seen in the fit ear 334 To Go. Also would that be the reason why the knowles white filter sounds better than the white filter used in the stock normal 535? Many thanks.

    Jonathan.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ScutuStudios.comFebruary 21, 2017 at 8:53 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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