Shure KSE-1500 Review Sound Check. Can a $3000 IEM designed 5-years ago impress? 

I am not the right person to answer this question. I've heard very few of the current IEMs. My focus has been on over-ear headphones for the past 6 months or so. I'd love to give you a good answer, I'm just not qualified. I do love the KSE!

@@DirectorsGarage Does this mean you prefer the sound of headphones? Any closed-back headphones that you think can rival or surpass the KSE1500?

@@Viewer13128 Not at all, it’s where the show has led me. I still have many IEMs and use them often. No one has sent me any to review recently and I don’t have the money to buy them since we moved last year. Over ears still have the advantage in sound, but IEMs are advancing at a faster rate. I heard several impressive IEMs at CanJam last year from Unique Melody, Empire Ears and Noble. But I didn’t spend enough time with them to evaluate them in a meaningful way.

I still like the KSE-1500, and I pulled it out on a recent livestream. I don't use them as much-- the problem today vs 3 years ago-- $3000 was the most expensive headphone on the market back then. Today's IEMs sell for as much as $8000. You can get e-stat tweeters in some of these spectacularly detailed IEMs like the Jewel and the Viking Ragnar-- and they have dual dynamic driver woofers that extend the bass well below what the Shure can achieve. Unique Melody has some phenomenal IEMs in the range too. These are just what I've auditioned-- the IEM world is saturated with models because of the Asian obsession with IEMs. So I guess my answer is: Yes, I recommend them, but I'd advise to check out these other IEMs in the price range first. If you're buying used, you can pick them up in the $2k price range- a better deal because you won't take the depreciation hit and can sell them closer to the purchase price. I'd even sell you mine, if you were interested. I have too many IEMs and headphones at the moment! email me at directorsgarage@gmail.com if you're interested. My problem with Shure, in general, is that for the money, there are many better IEMs to be had at their price points. IEMs like the Timeless AE, Kinera series, Thieaudio-- they make better sounding IEMs (in my opinion- use your own ears too!) at the price points of the Shure IEMs.

@@DirectorsGarage awesome response. i'll send you an email. thanks!

Hi Marcel, if you're talking about recording or mixing-- I wouldn't recommend either. I'd look to something more neutral like a Shure headphone or the Neumann NDH 20. You want something with a flat frequency response for mixing and production work. I use the Neumann for my projects or the old Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors which are tuned flat. If you get something with a weak bass response like the KSE 1200, you will mix with the bass overcompensated. When you play it back on a normal set, it will come across as too bass heavy.

@@DirectorsGarage Thanks for your quick answer. For placing the mics the KSE is in my opinion perfect, but I will check the Neumann NDH20. I'm looking for a good headphone to listen to a finished project. Currently I'm using a Final Pandora Hope VI for this with Mr. Speakers ear pads... The Varité must replace the Final... good idea? ciao

​@@marcel8103 finished project/mixing = go with the Neumann NDH-30

Hi Amel-- I'm not complaining about the quality of the DAC, only that it is incapable of decoding anything north of 96k, and it will not decode DSD. The electronics sound fine, but they are limited. If you are only running 44.1 to 96k digital signals, I don't have an issue with the DAC. I've used it, it sounds OK. Not Chord or iFi level, but it's fine. If you run a DSD signal through the Shure DAC, turn the volume down, because you're in for an unpleasant surprise. Thank you for watching!

@@DirectorsGarage Hi - If you're listening with such enjoyment *with* the Shure's internal A/D -> DSP -> D/A engaged, then that DAC is capable of *all* the high quality abilities you describe in the review. You are listening to *both* the digital stage and the electrostatic elements. As much as I own various DACs and a DAP because I *think* I need to be listening to 192kHz+ material, probably the reality is that 96khz can convey everything I will ever want to perceive - as your listening experience with the A/D -> DSP -> D/A goes to confirm (in my mind). The question then is can you hear much improvement when going between the KSE1500 and KSE1200? That would be the test of the 1500's DAC and DSP transparency.

​@@natdenchfield8061 in a blind test🫰

I guess I should've watch the whole thing first ;-) Gotcha, you need the EQ.

Thanks for watching, Svetoslav!

You could use EQ on the source, or something like the Qudelix 5K, which would also be more flexible. The built-in EQ is handy but also limited. I use it as I happened to get a KSE1500 used at a decent price but the KSE1200 with EQ at source would be just as good, arguably even better than using the PEQ on the 1500 which is quite limited (only 2 bands + 2 shelves, with very limited gain and Q options)

On my AK, even the lowest setting of line out (1V) over-modulates the input on the KSE. Maybe I can pad the gain -10db or something and find a setting that will work, but it doesn’t appear to be a one-size-fits-all situation.