Shure KSE1500 Out of nowhere?!

So this morning it seems (hadn't checked my email) I received a message from Earphone Solutions (I think I bought most of my Shure headphones there...):

http://www.earphonesolutions.com/shure-kse1500.html

Single driver electrostatic headphone system... I love Shure, I love their sound signature and although it is quite up there in price, it is kind of appealing. It's nice to see Shure is not resting in its laurels... If they are working on things like these, now I wonder what type of over-ears are they secretly working on!!

Anyway, what do you guys think!?

 

Whoa, going to need to hear that. Could be great if they can manage to have good bass extension and no wacky dips or peaks.

 

Woah, this is super cool! To be honest I don't really expect it to be crazy great or worth $3000 (maybe I'm wrong), but it makes me really excited to see what Shure can do with electrostatic technology. Maybe we'll see some full size over ear e-stats from them.

 

yes I got that email as well - I mean WOW!

Shure KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System

Features:

• The first application of electrostatic technology for Sound Isolating Earphones (patent pending) featuring a single MicroDriver design
• Extremely high correlation to the source audio provides unmatched audio clarity and detail
• 4-band parametric EQ features five preset settings and four customizable settings to manage audio playback preferences
• Integrated USB-rechargeable battery can conveniently charge from provided wall charger or computer, even when streaming USB audio from computer
• Lightweight, ergonomic earphone shape minimizes ear fatigue while comfortable Sound Isolating sleeves block up to 37 dB of ambient noise
• Custom-designed earphone cable specifically isolates each conductor
• Streamlined controls for quick and simple, user-friendly navigation throughout the KSE 1500 settings
• Compatible with Mac, PC, iOS and Android devices via included accessory assortment, featuring Micro-B to Lightning and Micro-B OTG cables
• Premium Shure fit and finish and construction featuring an elegantly machined black aluminum housing, manufactured to exacting Shure quality standards

Specifications:

• Driver Type: Electrostatic
• Sensitivity: 113 dB SPL/V
• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 50kHz
• Isolation: ≤37 dB
• Connector Type: LEMO connector
• Cable Length: 36 in.
• Cable Style: Straight 'Y' Type
• Weight: 44 g (1.55 oz.)
• Manufacturer Warranty: 2 year
  
  

 

damn that is cool, 3 grand though eek

 

yeah for sure

 

jude hype train already started

 

also I think I can here n3rdling fapping...

 

Making a closed dipole sound good is really hard. These could have some serious backwave cancellation issues. If that rendering of the driver from the video is actually accurate, that's the worst stator I've ever seen. Maybe the gfx artist was too lazy to draw up the real thing though. I don't really use IEMs but I'm still very interested in hearing these.

 

@n3rdling
What would happen given the backwave given such a small enclosure?

I'd love to hear it, even though I don't normally like Shure's IEM flavor. Really interested in a listen in spite of myself.

 

I liked Shure's SE530's and SE535's - I would really like to hear these new KSE1500's

 

I agree. The SE530 and SE535 are Shure's finest IEMs. The SE846 sounded more like a very refined SE215

I have owned both my SE535 and SE215 since 2010, and while both have had the plastic have fracture cracks on them, I still love them

 

I've only heard those two, the SE215 which I have and the 535s which a co-worker has. I've always been fascinated by electrostatics but I think that full size e's will just be a hassle for me to maintain. But in IEM form... Still, that price... We definitely need more impressions from the community!

 

Jude talked about treble, but he seems to have avoided talking about bass in his review. I asked him about the bass on hf, I hope he answers.

If there was bass extension, then hooray!


They won't leak sound, though.

They are using a vent to a sealed chamber in the shell, which is something I've seen and talked about with makers of dynamic driver ciems/iems.

 

Okay, I pm'd anakchan about the kse1500's bass.

He heard jude's set.

 

Since stats are dipoles, they radiate sound in both directions evenly. Closed stats/PMs are so hard to make because the strong back wave reflects off the enclosure and back to the front waves, where they can cause all kinds of cancellation problems. IMO this is a large reason why most closed HPs suck, but back wave cancellation is a much bigger issue with dipoles than dynamics. This is a major reason you never see stat speakers in a box, and why people who use these speakers have to keep them a certain distance away from the back wall. It's hard to predict exactly what frequencies this will effect without a detailed model of the IEM, but the lower the frequency (larger wavelength) the more likely it is to suffer from cancellation.

 

Aren't planar magnetic drivers also dipoles? Do they have the same issues as electrostats when used in closed cans? But you see closed planars and no closed electrostats.

FYI, here's some electrostatic speakers with the drivers in a box:
http://www.janszenloudspeaker.com/index.htm
I've heard them and they sound pretty good. They are also not as dependent on room placement due to the enclosure.

I'm not disagreeing with you regarding dipole problems though. That was the first thing I thought when I saw the closed Shure electrostats.

 

Yup, that's what I meant by 'PM' They have the same issue as far as having an equal back wave and the cancellation that brings, but they're probably helped a bit by typically having more bass to start with. I haven't heard the LCD-XC, but the Ether C sounded surprisingly good. The Stax 4070 is one of the best closed HPs ever and the bass extension on it is good, but you can see evidence of how much effort it takes to achieve this when you see those huge cups. An IEM only has so much real estate to stuff with absorptive materials.