Are you still using the earphones that came with your smartphone? Are you looking to upgrade to something with some more capability? Sticking with the in-ear design can offer some great results. This is thanks to some incredible advancements in audio technology.
Shure is well regarded across the professional industry for producing high-quality products with the latest technology. While known mostly for their microphones, they make some of the world’s best headphones as well.
The same is true for their latest line of earphones bringing professional industry-level quality to consumers. So, let’s dive into our in-depth Shure SE215 BT2 Review to see what all the hype is about. And what we’ve been missing out on.
(4.2 / 5)Contents
Design
The first thing you might notice is that these don’t look like your regular earbuds. Well, that’s because these are technically earphones, not earbuds. There are two main differences between them, as we will explain.
Earphones provide higher performance than earbuds and usually require more space to house additional hardware. The other main difference is how far each sits in your ear canal. Earphones sit deeper, providing more effective noise isolation and sound performance.
Molding performance…
As we mentioned, earphones often require extra space for hardware. The Shure SE215 features a module wrapped in your choice of color. Choices include translucent black, translucent blue, clear, or solid white.
Built off the earpiece itself, the module sits comfortably in your outer ear. They have done a great job of molding the shape to sit just outside your ear cavity. As a result, you get a snug fit inside the cavity. Aided by six different sized pairs of rubber or foam earpieces.
Striking a cord…
Although these are wireless earphones, each earpiece is attached to a cord. The cord is, however, detachable and can be removed from the top of each module. Each cable is rubberized, feeling both strong and flexible.
Feeding in an upwards direction, the cables are designed to wrap around the top of each ear, providing a secure and professional-looking fit. This cable attaches to a centralized battery pack, with a remote on the right side.
Controlling the power…
There’s a traditional three-button in-line control on the right cable between the module and the battery pack. The center button is a multi-function control offering power, toggle, pairing, and play/pause. The other two buttons adjust volume up and down.
Hearing about a battery pack might have you worried. Don’t be, because it is small, lightweight, and has a clip for hanging off your shirt. Overall, what may look awkward and unconventional quickly becomes cleverly and practically designed.
Getting Started
After inspecting and trying on your newly acquired earphones, the next step is pairing them to a device. Just like the design of this product, this process has been carefully thought out, making it a simple and efficient task.
Put the earphones into pairing mode by simply holding a long press on the center button of the controls. A lovely voice will tell you that the pairing is ready. Once selected on your device, that same voice will confirm you’re connected and how much battery life remains.
Features
Remember we mentioned the battery pack? Well, it houses much more than the battery. It is also home to the Bluetooth 5.0 Qualcomm chipset providing a strong and stable wireless connection, along with improved battery life. And it’s not a stretch to say these are some of the best Bluetooth earphones, either because they are.
It is also home to the earphone’s built-in amplifier. This is a large part of how Shure manages to offer such immersive, high-fidelity audio. When you consider the amount of technology squeezed inside, the pack suddenly becomes a lot less cumbersome.
Feeling isolated…
With either of the three rubber or three foam sleeves for the earpiece, you can find the perfect fit. Particularly with the foam sleeves. Furthermore, it is advised to give them a gentle squeeze before insertion to create a snug fit.
Having the earpiece fit so snugly and comfortably is what allows for superior noise cancellation. Up to 37dB of ambient noise can be blocked, preventing any outside interference to your listening experience. Considering there is no ANC technology, these are some of the best noise isolating headphones on the market.
Big bass, tiny earphones…
Each earpiece contains a dynamic driver to help produce clear sounds and driving bass. Shure’s manufacturing process uses 40-nanometer technology, meaning that larger technology can be shrunk into a smaller, more convenient size. It’s no wonder that Shure continues to make some of the best bass headphones available.
Additionally, the white and blue color ones are actually SPE (special edition) and feature a frequency response for extended bass. The frequency range is 22Hz – 17.5kHz, while the SPE is 21Hz – 17kHz. Likewise, all models have a sensitivity of 107db SPL/mW.
Just in case…
When you’re not using your premium, high-quality earphones, you want to keep them protected, right? Therefore, you get a rugged canvas carrying case just for that purpose. It is light yet strong and will offer plenty of protection for your new investment.
To charge the earphones, connect the included USB cable to the bottom of the battery pack. After completing a full charge, you can enjoy up to 10 hours of audio playback before needing a top-up.
Performance
There’s no doubt about it; at this price point, you are unlikely to find another product with this level of sound quality. Combining effective passive sound isolation with an incredibly expressive sound signature puts Shure ahead of the game. We certainly rank them among the best budget earphones you can buy.
Across a wide genre of music types, being able to clearly identify each instrument is such a pleasure. From cymbals clashing in the highs to bass pounding in the lows, complete with guitars and/or pianos filling in the mids.
High-definition for your ears…
If you’ve never experienced audio with this much clarity previously, it can become strangely addictive. It’s like discovering a new flavor of ice-cream and wanting to finish the entire bucket. Only this time it’s for your ears.
Day-to-day listening is more enjoyable than ever before. These earphones bring vibrancy and energy to your entire music collection. There is never a dull or lifeless moment, and you can’t help but be drawn deep into a musical abyss.
Play almost any format…
The variety of supported codecs that are compatible with these earphones is simply unrivaled. There is support for Qualcomm aptX audio, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, AAC, and SBC, just to name a few.
Having the ability to process more advanced codecs provides the ability to play even more immersive and vibrant audio. No matter what type of file your device is using to playback audio, you are guaranteed an experience like no other.
Shure SE215 BT2 Review – Pros and Cons
Pros
- An affordable premium professional-class product.
- Well-designed to provide a comfortable and practical fit.
- Latest Bluetooth 5.0 Qualcomm chipset for a stable wireless connection.
- Decent amount of battery life off a single charge.
- Simple process for pairing to various devices.
- Effective sound isolation thanks to a range of comfortable earpiece sleeves.
- Unrivaled sound quality for anything in this price range.
Cons
- Cannot insert or remove in a hurry.
- The neckband and battery pack can be awkward.
- The over-ear cable could be a little more flexible.
- Black rubber cables aren’t as attractive as those found on other products.
- No skip function available on the control.
Looking for Something Else?
Whether it’s earbuds, headphones, or something else, we got what you want. Check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $100, the Most Comfortable Earbuds, the Best Headphones Under $1,000, and the Best Earbuds under $50 you can buy in 2023.
Also, have a look at our Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100 Review, our Skullcandy Crusher ANC Review, our Razer Hammerhead USB-C ANC Earbuds Review, our Bose QuietComfort 25 Review, and our Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless Review for more items currently on the market.
Shure SE215 BT2 Review – Final Thoughts
We feel Shure could make a few minor improvements. But these are minor grievances, especially at this price point. While there are more attractive earphones with more gimmicky features available, that’s not what this product is about.
What we have been missing out on are the rich and immersive sounds that have been hiding in our music collection all along. It was just waiting for an affordable product such as this to come along and release it. It is now clear what all the hype is about, and we will always choose performance over aesthetics every single time.
So, until next time, happy listening.
