Honestly, I have a ton of respect for Shure and there products. I’ve owned the SE-535, SE-846 and I just dropped (last week) $3K and ordered the new Electrostatic KSE-1500! Like many of us on HeadFi, music and music sound reproduction is very important as almost the air we breathe.
I’ve been wondering a while now what would be the next “big innovation” in the IEM market space. Seems like it’s been the same old B/A technology being played out year after year. The only other companies pushing the innovation envelope or “bleeding edge” of the IEM technology space is companies like Sony, JH Audio and one or two others (arguably). I do love my JH Layla’s. They sound incredible. But honestly 12 drivers a side and a 4
th order crossover? It’s a complex engineering effort but COME ON REALLY GUYS…
Shure is in a very unique position as a large muti-national corporation. They had the “balls” (opps.. sorry I meant) foresight, resources (people capital and so on) to truly make “pioneering contributions” in the field and audio technology/engineering in the IEM marketspace. For all of us lucky enough (to drop 3K of hard-earned money) to enjoy this innovative technology I would like to say
THANK YOU SHURE!!!
However that said, as a portable audiophile and commuter (traveling nearly 4 hours per day) I find two issue difficult for me to tolerate. They are:
- The sheer size of the AMP/DAC and
- A non-detachable cable
My two cents…
I understand the electrostatic technology enough to realize the requirement for the amp but I would want the amp to be as
physically as small and lightweight as possible. This means (to me) purpose built for portability and on the go only! If Shure could have decreased the “footprint” or physical profile of the amp it would be a greater pleasure to transport instead of a burden to carry around. My portable rig includes the AK380 + AK 380 external power amp + now the Shure AMP/DAC really!!!
To save size and complexity maybe considered just a non DAC version? Have any of these audio companies really tried to get this stuff around? Has anyone really thought these issues thru to resolution with respect to portable audio and what it means to commute for real?
I will NEVER successfully get this equipment in a single “breast jacket pocket” or a pair of casual blue jeans period! So I guess
I will need to use both breast jacket pockets one for the AK380 + external amp and in the other breast pocket the Shure Amp/DAC. I will need to purchase a “custom built 2’.6” long cable connecting the entire set up while I’m traveling. I hope you can see how this is sort of ridiculous…
My second point regarding the non-detachable cable, I’ve read many of the post on this forum and I’ve carefully looked at the patent information (very good reading!).
If the cable took Shure several years to design and build why is there not a patent application (pending) and in conjunction with the electrostatic earpieces? Maybe the cable is not so special after all? Maybe they didn’t file the patent to safeguard certain elements of the design or the process of manufacturing? As once you file for a patent you’re required to revile many elements regarding the design of a particular technology and could affect competitive advantage. I don’t know and one can continue to speculate but
from a commuter perspective, the detachable cable is a REAL LIFE SAVER. Why because if you travel in very crowded conditions the cable can get easily hooked around other folks stuff and as people are getting on/off trains is becomes very easy for the cable to get ripped off along with the earpiece “no stress relief” no safeguard and that will inevitably lead to product damage and very upset audiophile.
Sincerely,
Your friend in audio,
-Speed