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Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones (Black) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Shure
Category: CE
List Price: $399.99
Buy New: $195.00
You Save: $204.99 (51%)
New (20)
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Color: black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 4.7 x 4.5 x 3.1
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: SE420-K
Model: SE420-K
UPC: 042406143080
EAN: 0042406143080
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED- EXCHANGES ONLY IF IT IS DEFECTIVE. IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO BUY IT AND KEEP IT, PLEASE LOOK ELSEWHERE AS TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE BUYING TO TRY AND RETURNING.
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| Features:
| • | Dual speakers for deeper bass and spaciousness | | • | Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers: Dedicated Tweeter and Woofer | | • | Sound Isolation Technology reduces background noise better than noise-cancelling headphones, without batteries or added hiss | | • | Premium Fit Kit including a selection of interchangeable sleeves for personalized, comfortable fit; 3' extension cable; premium carrying case; volume control; adapter; airline adapter | | • | Modular Cable Design lets users choose different cable lengths to suit different music player locations (armband, pocket etc.) |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Heart-pounding performance featuring Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers, the SE420 uses a dedicated tweeter and woofer to provide a detailed sound stage. Lows, mids, and highs are distinct and defined for accurate reproduction of all the details of your music.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 E2, E3, SE420--all good choices August 26, 2007
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
As I indicated in a prior review, I purchased some E3's to upgrade from my E2 when I bought a new ipod. I loved the E2's and as expected the E3 were even better--with more definition at all frequencies and sound levels.
Earbuds (or plugs) definitely have some sweet fit spots to get optimal bass and avoid some tinniness that you can hear when they are not inserted or sitting correctly in your ear. Shure provides a number of ear plug options to help everyone find something they like.
Now, I have compared the E3, the SE420, and my Bose Quiet Comfort headphones sitting in the rear of a jet while traveling (next to the engine). The less expensive E3 beat out the Bose headphones with better high and middle end definition and equivalent outside sound isolation. The Bose headphones have a bit better low end.. but nothing is bone shaking with earphones or headphones anyway. I almost think that the Bose headphones seem muddy in the mid and upper end after listening to the E3 and SE420. The SE420, in my opinion has a richer sounding mid end then the E3, while handily beating the Bose headphones. I think that the bass and most of the high end frequencies are about the same in the E3 and SE420--maybe pushing your budget to purchase the E3 or equivalent... since the E3 cost $179 or so, and the SE420 cost $350.
As for Shure customer service--I had a suspected loose wire in one of the E3 earphones (used for 8 months) leading to dropouts when I would move my head. I got a return form off the Shure website--filled it out and sent it along with a copy of my receipt to Shure. Within 10 days, they had sent out a completely new pair at no charge. THAT is great service. In the meantime I purchased the SE420's while I was waiting for my E3 "repair". I just had to have another pair and my budget could tolerate a higher price point.
I understand why price does come into some consideration on rating, and $350 (at an Apple retail store) is pretty high end for earphones, but considering these SE420's sound better (to me) than the E3--I am only rating sound quality. With price considered, the SE420 would probably only get a 4, simply because the E3 is a great value.
I would recommend the entire line of Shure earphones, buying whichever one best fits your budget.
 Triple.fi and SE530 are MUCH BETTER July 21, 2007
8 out of 13 found this review helpful
If your considering buying these earphones, I highly suggest you take a look at the Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro or the Shure SE530. The Triple.fi's retail for the same price($399.99) and according to EVERYONE, the Triple.fi walks all over these. If you want Shure's, the SE530s are AMAZING! earphones which are $299.99 now on this website but retail for $499.99. Choosing between the Triple.fi 10 Pro(more refined-sounding) and the SE530(more full-sounding) depends on personal taste, but both easily surpass any other earphone on the market besides the custom molded Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro(THE BEST) which retail for $900.00.
Great IEMs...after you break them in and fit them correctly August 12, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
After doing a ton of research on In-Ear Monitors, and comparing the E4c's, the Etymotic E4-P, and several other models, I decided to go with the SE420s. It took me a while to get used to these IEMs, since I had previously been using some Etymotic E6i's. These SE420s have a much wider sound stage, with great bass and midtones. It has taken me some time to get used to the rolled-off treble that is characteristic of the Shure line. However, after experimenting with the different sizes of foam inserts, I finally was able to "lock-in" the sound with these 420s...and, I must say, it is definitely worth the time that it takes to get them right.
I listen to an extremely wide variety of music, from classical to electronica, to pop, to rock...you name it, I've tried it with these 'phones. I'm really happy with the satisfying bass that these produce. Mind you, it is definitely not overpowering like some might like, but it feels overall tonally balanced, and for headphones as small as these, it is quite remarkable. What really wowed me as I've broken these in has been the clearness and sophistication of the midtones that these IEMs produce. It feels like there is such a concentration on bass and treble (essentially, the extremes) these days, that really good-sounding midtones are harder and harder to come by. That is certainly not the case here. And speaking of treble, I definitely would not call these overly bright, but after I worked to get the SE420s fitted right, I am happy with the higher-frequency characteristics of these IEMs. The treble is not "in-your-face" but is definitely well-balanced and just "sounds right." And I found that turning up the volume slightly on my sources helped to bring out the high-end better, while never distorting the low end. This is probably just part of the sound characteristics of these IEMs.
Overall, I feel like the SE420's are worth the 5 stars. I admit that patience is necessary to get them fitted right and broken in, but if you are willing to work with them, at this price segment, they really are great.
SE420 - A Step In A Different Direction January 11, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Shure SE420 may be a dual driver design but it does not sound as so. I purchased these earphones to upgrade from my older pair of Shure E3c's and I was expecting to hear a quality difference between a wideband driver vs a dual driver design. I was shocked after spending time with these that suffice it to say they don't sound any different from my older pair. I had the chance to try out a pair of SE210's as well and I think the SE210's sounded the same as well. Sound is hard to really put into words though so everyone is subjective to there own opinion and experience. However I would like to add that I did my listening experience with these earphones during the day for a few hours and during the night for 6 hours. Day vs Nightime listening is the tests I put these through and for me I am able to hear clearer when I am relaxed so nightime was when I was hopeful to hear a difference but overall I did not hear anything new I could during the day. The bass and midrange don't seem to have any noticeable difference with the added driver vs a single driver design. I tried listening through several sources and it did not make a difference but overall I used a CD player as that was the highest quality source I had.
Comfort wise though the SE series from Shure is much more comfortable to place in your ear and comes with a greater variety of eartips. You don't have to squish the foam tips to place them in your ears. Rather you can just insert them with a bit of a twist. The cables are nice and sturdy and would take some effort to really break so they can stand up to abuse.
Perhaps you might buy these earphones even so and I still recommend you give them a try if you want. You never know how they will sound until you hear them but as for my experience these dual driver earphones don't sound as though they are dual drivers to my ears!
3?!?!? Come on...the 420 rocks!!! May 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I purchased a $5 pair of generic headphones for my trip to Seattle as I had left my Bang and Olufson earbuds in the wash the night before (not the first time, but I one of the drivers was tragically ruined this time around.) Of course I was saddened to be brought back into the world of the common person's music experience. I had raved about the B&O's for so long, and now, they were gone!!! :(
Needless to say, the $5 head phones I bought lasted me an hour; before getting caught on the seat, ripping the wires. While in the DFW airport I went looking for some headphones to rival my B&O's. Low and behold I came across a store with every headphone you could think of. I was like a kid in a candy store. I had no cash in my bank account (student loans ughhh) so I was looking to spend $99. I tried them all and found they couldn't beat my B&O's. So I looked into the more expensive ones, thinking to myself, I can wait and save for a set later and go without for the trip.
I came across the Bose line (all of which I could never recommend to a friend.) So I hit up the Sennheiser and the UE lines and didn't like anything below $1000!!! So I came across the Shure line. I tried them all on. After having about 15 different IEM's in my ears (not just Shures), I came across the 420's and the 530's. While I had no words for the 530's quality I did have a heavy gasp when I heard the price. I wanted them so badly, but the $420's were only $350, and I must say, there was a noticeable difference between the two, but as far as the price to sound quality goes, these IEM's took the cake. The 420's beat out everything I had heard up until the 530's. Having fallen in love with them, I bought them on the spot with my credit card.
Looking back on it, I wish I had bought the 530's instead. I love my 420's, don't get me wrong! But my next pair will be the future equivilant to the 530's. I should look into trading up if they'll let me do that.
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