The Shure SE420s are a set of isolating in-ears with astounding isolation and are currently available for around $250. The headphones have a typical Shure design, meaning the nozzles protrude from the ear bud at an angle. This makes the headphones rest more flush with your head when you wear them properly. This wear style requires you to put the cord around the back of your ears, however, which might be a bit of a putt-off for some.
The headphones also have a very short cord, which is the perfect length for connecting to an arm-band media player. For those who don't wear arm bands, there's an extension cord included that lets the headphones reach down to your front pocket. The SE420s also come with an impressive array of optional attachments, including eight different sets of sleeves, an optional in-line volume controller, and the standard 1/4-inch and airplane adapters.
Performance (read the full lab performance results at HeadphoneInfo.com)
The SE420's performance was mixed. We found the frequency response, which tells us how accurately it reproduces the various frequencies in music, was middling. We did notice some small problems with distortion, but not enough to be noticeable. These results make the SE420 headphones average at best. What impressed us, however, was the isolation performance. Using the included foam sleeves we got some one of the best isolation scores to date. This means the SE420's are excellent headphones for those who frequently find themselves in noisy situations.
Comparisons (read more in-depth comparisons at HeadphoneInfo.com)
The Shure SE420 headphones are available for around $250, which is a bit expensive for headphones that didn't blow us away with their performance. They certainly do have their strong points, however, including the excellent customization options, excellent array of accessories as well as the impressive sound isolation. If the accessories and sound isolation aren't important to you we recommend you look at lower priced and better performing alternatives, such as the Sennheiser MM 50 iPs. If you want isolation, the SE420s are a great choice.
For a more in-depth review, visit the Shure SE420 Review at our partner HeadphoneInfo.com
