3-Way Review: Shure KSE1500 vs. SE846 vs. Sennheiser IE800 (Pt. 3) 

Finally a comparison and analysis more than only saying "it sounds very good"

I fully agree with the others here, I've been looking through multiple reviews and all of them quickly glossed over the details so I had to glean as much information as possible. Thanks to you I don't need to hop between so many videos to reach a verdict. You have saved me hours of research, truly an in depth review.

Thank you. Been vacillating between IEMs lately, and I appreciate the transparency. ✌️

Dude... You do a phenomenal job with your videos. This channel is a diamond in the rough. Glad I stumbled across this series.

This is actually the only real video review of the SE846 on RU-vid in the 2+ years it's been released. Was debating on getting the 846 since the new colors were introduced and these videos made me finally check it off the wishlist.

Really fantastic set of reviews. Thanks man :)

The best audiophile review I've ever heard. I want your autograph dude. PS, I currently own the ie800's.

Superb review!! You went through every single detail by comparing each of them with each other. Keep comparing

Thanks for the super detailed review, esp regarding the SE846, those things you described are pretty much why I kept it and sent the IE800 back instead. Also really appreciate the 3-way with KSE1500 which I probably won't get in this lifetime lol.

really good job you have done, incredibly helpful!

I think this is best review for high end eaphones . I ordered shure 845 cause you chose them . Can't wait to hear their amazing sound . Good job , you did amazed me of your professional review .

That was an awesome review, thank you! Helped too much..

Thanks for the great review👍 lots of detail:)

Damn, that review got me going! Im about to go out and drop 3K lol! Well, I am interested in IE800 earbuds. I know exactly what you are talking about with Sennheiser products. The HD800 are nice, I have the same issue with the vocals having a sibilance when listening to music. Although albums are mastered with different techniques regardless, there is a consistency with the vocal observation particularly. The sound staging is airy and spacial which is a positive aspect; however, the vocals struggle to prevail through inherit recorded distortion and master process of the album. I know if I get the IE800, I may run into them having a lack of bass compared to Shure SE 846. I am a sucker for the spacial 3D sound-stage Sennheiser has to offer. The review was very helpful as opposed to the other reviews which don't get into sound detail. Not for nothing, I have agreed with your observations on headphones thus far, which makes it easy to alleviate the mystery of purchasing costly audio devices.

Thank you for a very in-depth review.

An exceptional presentation. Nice work.

Damn! you said everything that I didnt want to hear about KSE1500. I wish you would have said that "the KSE1500 made listening more fun compared to SE846" . I have been using SE846 as a daily driver for 5 YEARS and I love them for the same reasons as you do. I really thought that the KSE1500 would be my upgrade path but, nope... awesome review!

Great review :) I have the SE846 and I can’t really express my self how much I’m loving them more than everything else I’ve tried from over ears and IEMs. I tried it over several years switching the filters and concluded the white was the most comfortable best sounding to me also. I modded the filter a little bit. Inside the filters there are small foam pieces divided in to or three and after some tips I took one of the foam pieces from the blue filter since I got extra set filters and put it in the white filter, that when the magic happened to my ears. Of course this can be different experience for different individuals, but for me at least this is what I landed on. The only thing I can say as a recommendation to all who buy the SE846 is don’t buy the silver oxidative cables, they get green very quickly and it looks really nasty. The other thing is, get a short hi quality mmcx adapter/converter before start using them because after switching between cables and BT devices they have a weakness so they get loose in the connection and start losing contact if switching to often. But kudos to Shure, they’ve replaced mine three times, but after the third time they told me that’s the last time they will replace and send me new monitors. Even though in the package it was, BT2, cables with microphones for calls plus’s to silver cables, one short and one long. I supposedly thought they were meant for being able to switch between.

Crystal clear review 🔥

Very very detailed review. Thank you sir.

Dude your reviews are amazing, very detailed in every way. May I ask what dac/amp do u use?

do the kse1500 sound narrow? compared to open back headphones ?

Thanks for the review that never gets old ❤ .. i had ( have but broken after 10 years of everyday use ) se535 and was confused between aonic 5 ( newer se535 ) for those mids 🤩🤩🤩 and the se846 .. but now i know that i should wait and save more for the 846 if they have the same mids but improved treble and bass ❤❤❤

Wow what a detailed comparison! Wish you labeled the three videos based on their content instead of labeling them as part 1,2,3 etc.

great review. thanks. 👍

would you still recommend the SE846? 4 years later?

Thanks for the video.

Tnx man... really good review.

How would you say these three IEMs stack up against the Ultimate Ears 18 Pro IEMs? I also would like an opinion on the Fostex TH900 MkII headphones, as I've heard rave reviews on this headphone.

I'm wondering headphone set-up do you use for home listening?

great review

I'm loving the se846 with the white filters. Much more detail. Absolutely blown away by them. My klipsch x20i have amazing highs and detail with no bass. Se846 are the best all around package

Hi. What happens if you use no filter at all in the 846 and leave the tube empty? Thanks

It's hart to choose a product like the KSE1500 when at that price range you have Stax? Beautiful review ! thx :-D

What music sources do you use listening to the SE846? When i try them using Tidal on Hi-Fi tracks i always feel like the bass is missing (using Fiio M11 DAP). When I use PowerAmp and crack up the bass to ~20-30% its soooo much better, but unfortunately my flac collection is non existing and mp3's don't make justice for the SE846's.

whats stopping u from using an equalizer app on your phone for the kse1500s? for eg, v4a and dolby atmos (which is what i use)

how do the sure 846 compare to the sennheiser IE80 . I've only used the IE80 and was wondering if there is a big difference. thanks

i have ie 80 and shure se215 and planning to choose either ie 800 or se 846.. u have really helped me decide. My choice now is se846

great review! you should try the flare r2pros if you get the chance to. I feel it bests these 3 sound quality and comfort wise.

Could you make a comparison video with the westone iems? umpro 50, w60, w80 or so. I want to know where westone would stand if possible. Great video!

Hello! Love your thorough review! Would you mind doing a review of Audeze EL-8 open?

I'm trying to choose between SE846 and/or Hifiman Sundara. I need earphones but my primary usage is for headphones. Would SE846 cover all bases or sound-wise open headphones are better?

Great! review. I just bought a pair of shure se535. After watching your very detailed review and in it shure se846, made me think over again. Would you please do a review on shure SE535 in comparison to shure SE846? would love to hear what you say. thank you so much in advance.

Are the Shure KSE1500 durable for several years ?

my SE846 set up- Left ear warm nozzle, right ear neutral nozzle, music player I use is the FIIO x7 with Poweramp, the module I use with the x7 is the AM3 which has a 2.5 balanced input socket so I use the ultra thin balanced Westone cable, eartips used are the Westone truefit foam, trust me people, using this set up really ups the already phenomenal sound of the SE846 and the balanced cable also makes the treble shine more so than said in the review, Poweramp blows away the opposition in the saturated music player apps, for my ears this is easily the best way to fulfill the potential of the SE846.

hey, you pointed me towards the fidelio x2 in the last few days. Im looking for a sound experience that when I play my rock music like kings of leon etc i feel im actually there with the band hearing it in crystal clear sound. The se846 sound exactly like what im looking for..... finally! The question is.... do you know of a headphone that sounds like the se846?? i enjoy headphones and hadnt really considered iem's but it would make sense to have iem's for my usage as open backs are location pending listening. Thanks man

What would you recommend as an alternative to KSE1500 with the same sound characteristics?

Are you going to keep the ie800 and se846?

I like my SE 535s, coming from SE530s, they have that sound in a lighter form factor and detachable cables using mmcx , yeah I can get better sound out of my tin hifi p1s if I use an amp but for if I don't want to have to a bulky setup and I just want to take my dac on the go I love them for just the form factor and how they really do provide a rich sound whatever you plug into, the 846 honestly probably sounds amazing but the fiddling with the filters to tweak sound probably would drive me a bit crazy XD.

i also would consider in ear stage diver 4 as a great option :D

How would you compare the bass and sound quality overall in IE800 to that of the v-moda zn??

Man. Hands down, the most comprehensive review of audio gear I’ve ever heard. Thank you. That in mind, your thoughts on the most musical mobile over the ear headphones? I ask cos’ for EDC I have Shure 535’s, over the ear Sennheiser Momentum 2’s, an AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt Amp-DAC & an iPhone 8Plus. I’m thinking to upgrade my 535’s to 846’s, but don’t see or know of anything more compelling than my M2’s. Wired the M2’s sing! Wireless, they’re super convenient & James Bond, but not as loud or as rich as when wired. So,let me know what you know, if anything (better), regarding OTE, musical, mobile cans. Thanks again.

Good good dude!

for the Shure846, what DAC/AMP would you think is best to power the IEM?

Sennheizer ie800’s or shure se535s?

Awsome ❤

Glad I went for the SE846 !! .. Nobody wanna carry that heavy Amp. around using the KSE1500 + these are not bluetooth enabled

Which of these IEMs do you suggest for everyday all day heavy metal listening with lots of distortion in the guitar and heavy bass.

Very thorough spot on review, I have the ie800 and enjoy it very much, very tempted on the KSE1500, what about the sound isolation of it, does it live up to its -35dB claim.

Say dude, how would you consider the KSE1500 to something of a similar price point like JH Layla and Ultimate Ears Live?

Could you say which of these are on top of sound isolating capabilities? If they are too similar, I would still like to know the top 3 in your opinion, KSE 1500, SE 846 or IE 800? Thank you!

I just bought some astell kern billie jeans and it is the best earphones i ever owned listening to miles davis, Led Zeppelin, muddy waters. It blows my mind but then i see reviews on se846 and campfire and your guys say its the best of the best and it just makes me wonder if this iem i have only cost 400$ how much am i missing listening on $1000 iems

I have the Shure 846s and I play them through my Astell and Kern AK240. WOWWWWWWW is the best way to put it

Hi! Between the IE 80 and SE535, which one would you choose? I have the IE 80 and sound great and loud but i think the SE535 will give me the same plus bass. am i right?

Thanks

Which one do you prefer is the se846 or the ie 800s?

So basically the KSE1500 is a super talented and masterful earphone with no personality but the SE856 whilst still talented has an amazing personality!

I recently purchased the Shure SE846 and am thrilled with them. The sound quality rivals my much higher priced over-the-ear headphones. As you said, the bass extension is phenomenal. I prefer the warm filter, but get plenty of treble. I think the airiness of the treble depends partly on the player or amp that is driving them, perhaps due to the very low impedance of the 846. If you didn't get good treble extension with the neutral filter, try a better amp.

How would the Sony's MDR-Ex1000 compare to SE846? Regards / great review !

Can you give me a comparison between KSE1500 and HD800 in terms of clarity, bass, sound quality, soundstage and imaging and overall sound

For a bass player, is it worth going for the 846s instead of the 425s?

Say if I wanna make the investment and I’m prone to be terrible at keeping earphones ( 8 months with a razer adaro is the best I was able to pull off ) would you recommend the se846 in terms of durability that is

Ok , please just tell me which is best for hiphop ? Only bass?

I currently have the Shure SE846 and they sound phenomenal! I am looking to buy a pair of Bluetooth over ear headphones which ones are the best in terms of sound quality for HipHop and Reggae? I guess what I am asking is which Bluetooth headphones are just as good or better than the Shure SE846 in terms of reggae music and HipHop?

Thanks for the review. Appreciate that. I wish if you could compare SE846 with Campfire Audio Vega.

What dap should I use if I want to buy the Shure kse1200?

do u think the ZN is in the same lvl of ie800 and se846 ?

Is the kse compatible only with its proprietary dac?

Thankfully a really good review. I'm contemplating the purchase of a shure sha900 Dac to go with my 846. Is it worth the investment?

I am aware that these are top of the line but under 200 dollars... what do you recommend. like best overall in your opinion? Like your reviews. doing a good job

Thanks for the excellent review, how does the se 846 compare to the se 535 in term of size and comfort wise ?

Between V-moda m100 vs the IE-800 which one would you chose ,?

great great review, i compared many IEMs and 846 the musicality for daily commute are perfect for many many kind of musics, as the 1500 is good for sit home listening, but then i can get a pair of electrostatic cans for that.

Awesome review man! Any idea how the the 846 will pair up with a Dragonfly Red DAC/AMP? I just ordered the 846 off eBay mint/used for 650.

Did you hear that ambulance sound?

I have both 846 and UE11pro 846. Base and sub-base is extremely phenomenal in 846 UE11pro can not reach it at all and event if you are a beginner you will feel it. UE11pro though have better mid range, so if some one speaks you will hear it much more perfect, also UE11pro is louder (better) than 846 by maybe 30% at least sometimes 40%. Tweeter wise I don't know yet because I have to switch 846 to white filter to see how it will increase it, but with software (treble boost option selected) and the balanced filter and wireless TW2 (they sell these with them too) they sound better.

Just confirmed my order for the Shure se846. I am upgrading from Sony XBA H3. While using Creative X3 amp. Lets see what the hype is about.

Im jealous the end

se 846 or the 535 have better quality for their price ?

Can you do a review of the IE 800s?

This is off-topic but are you thinking of posting some Gears footage or have you lost interest? Maybe a separate channel for game plays? I loved watching you play Gears 3.

If you ever get a chance have a listen to the AKG K3003.

I'm finding it so hard to decide whether to get SE846 or IE800. I think it really depends what you're listening though. Both appear to be very different. From my impression it seems like the SE846's are good all rounders, but for listening to orchestrial, ambient or soundscape, the IE800 it seem like they'll thrive. I hear very enthusiastic responses to how well the soundstage is and also how the high notes sound. I also hear reports of people absolutely loving the bass too. I guess I nede to just try for myself. I can't afford to buy em both though. I also heard that if you get a good enough DAC the SE846's also become as good as the IE800's in its strengths.

Ordered the SE846 and I’m coming from Powerbeats Pro

very nice long review I enjoyed it, previously i own shure se846 ,flare r2 pro and ie 800 , after 3 months I kept 1 iem and that's flare r2 pro it sound natural and very very accurate and every tone sound correct not warm or glassy . please review flare r2 pro .

For just pure hip hop/rap music listener which of the 3 will u recommend?

Im a bass player i should get shure 846?

At this price range wouldn't you be arguably better off with custom molded IEM's

I am considering buying one of the high-end earbuds, but really can’t decide between: -IE800 -IE800s (just release) -SE846 Currently using: IE80s (just release)

totally sum cost for those, can buy my car , 3 times.