[Shure] A 10-Year User of the SE215s and Why I Still Use the SE215

A well-known classic earphone

What do you use to listen to music? And for those who play instruments or compose music, in what kind of environment do you check your sound? Especially in the latter case, I feel many people would answer “speakers” or “headphones”, but due to my personal preferences, I use earphones.

These are the ones: the Shure SE215 (the standard version, not the Special Edition). Although marketed as monitor earphones, their sound balance tends to divide opinions. However, I believe there are convincing reasons why they have remained a popular product from their initial release to this day. So this time, I would like to share a review based on 10 years of using the SE215.

SHURE / SE215-CL-A

SHURE / SE215 Special Edition Translucent Blue SE215SPE-A

↑ By the way, the Special Edition model has a stronger low end. It might be good for listening purposes. Recently, new color variations have been released, which will definitely lift your mood.

SHURE / SE215 Special Edition Green SE215SPE-GN-A

↑ The green one is nice too. Other colors such as purple and red are also available.

Why I use the SE215

You can keep using them by replacing the cable or ear tips

When earphones break, most people assume they need to buy new ones. But with earphones like the SE215, as long as the main body isn’t damaged, replacing the cable or ear tips solves this problem. Personally, I like AZLA ear tips. They look great and feel incredibly comfortable.

AZLA / SednaEarfit ORIGIN Standard [S/MS/M sizes, 1 pair each]

AZLA / SednaEarfit ORIGIN Standard [M/ML/L sizes, 1 pair each]

AZLA / SednaEarfit ORIGIN Standard [SS/S/MS sizes, 1 pair each]

By replacing the cable (swapping out only the cable portion), you can deal with corrosion issues and even use balanced connections. In my case, the stock cable corroded after a few years, so I’ve continued using the earphones by switching to other cables (I’m currently on my third one). By the way, there are different connection standards, so be careful not to choose the wrong type. For the SE215, the connector is called an MMCX terminal. Depending on what you connect, you can even turn them into wireless earphones.

SHURE / AONIC215 SE21DYBL+TW2-A True Wireless Earphones 2nd Generation

↑ This is the TW2-A cable (?) that allows you to convert your earphones into wireless.

OYAIDE / HPC-MXs Silver 1.2m Replacement Cable

↑ Oyaide, known for their cables, also sells compatible ones.

If you play an instrument, choosing a longer cable makes it easier to move around. Honestly, 1.2m is too short to reach an audio interface, which can be a problem. With this cable, you can secure 1.5m.

SHURE / EAC64CL Clear Replacement Cable for SE Series

↑ It seems the stock cable is 1.6m.

When you use them for such a long time, part of it is probably just familiarity, but along with the effects of aging, they start to fit your ears perfectly. These days wireless earphones are the mainstream, but since I have the SE215, I only buy wireless earphones with the bare minimum features and basically use the wired SE215. Not having to charge them might also be a big selling point. And of course, their durability continues to impress me.

SHURE / RMCE-UNI Cable with Remote & Microphone

↑ There’s even a version with a microphone, so being able to use them for calls is a nice bonus.

High sound isolation

When playing guitar or bass, sometimes the acoustic sound can be distracting. In those moments, the SE215’s sound isolation really shines. Even if you spend time crafting your tone, it’s discouraging if the acoustic sound makes it hard to hear, and real-time monitoring (hearing your crafted tone while you play) also becomes difficult. Naturally, you need to choose ear tips that fit well.

I use silicone ear tips, but by choosing the stock-style foam type (the kind that expands inside your ear), you can further increase sound isolation. Try out different kinds and find the one you like the best.

The enjoyment of listening

The SE215 does not produce a completely flat sound; the low end is slightly emphasized. Because of that, you can enjoy using them not only for everyday listening but also for monitoring during mixing, composing, and tone-shaping. A flat sound might be more ideal, but in my case, listening to a completely flat sound all the time becomes boring or tiring, so I do almost all of my work with the SE215. For the final check, I use Apple Earbuds (wired). They have terrible sound leakage, but since they lean toward a flatter sound, they’re useful for when mixing or shaping tones.

Comparing with other models

There aren’t many options to compare in the same price range, but CLASSIC PRO recently released incredibly good quality earphones for the price. One can be purchased for around 2,000 yen, and the other for around 4,000 yen. It’s no exaggeration to say that their sound comes close to models in the 10,000-yen range.

CLASSIC PRO / CPE2000 High-Quality Canal Earphones

CLASSIC PRO / CPE4000 High-Quality Canal Earphones

↑ Ultra cost-effective earphones. Definitely worth owning at least one.

SENNHEISER / IE100PRO Clear Canal Earphones

↑ In the same price range, Sennheiser’s IE100PRO would also be a candidate. However, when worn in the “Shure style” over the ear, the SE215 simply feels better.

And of course, the SE215’s higher-end sibling, the SE425, is also worth consideration. The level of detail (resolution) is distinctly better, and the sound output is more neutral. But considering the extremely low price, I think the SE215 comes out on top. Naturally, it depends on your intended use…

SHURE / SE425-CL-A

↑ To be honest, this is the one I want.

To Summarize

How was it? Earphones can sometimes be tried on and test-listened to at electronics stores, so I think trying them before purchasing is the best approach. Preferences for sound and fit vary from person to person. If you find something you like, you’ll likely be able to use it for several years.

The “sound & person” column is made up of contributions from you.
For details about contributing, click here.