Over the weekends, I’ve spent a great amount of time trying out the SHURE SE846 Gen2 earphone and this pair is by far the best I have tried in the market. Living a hustling city life, listening to music is a great hobby of mine to unwind during lull times this sound-isolating earphone has taken my music experience to an entirely new dimension and I’m excited to share more!
My first impression when placing them into my ears was how luxurious it felt. Out of all the earpieces I have used, the SE846 Gen2 offers unparalleled sound quality. The incredible listening experience has taken my music journey to new heights, and I can confidently say that if you appreciate good audio, you will not be disappointed. For true music aficionados, how I would describe the experience would be like bathing in the music. Every instrument is discernible and the clarity of the bass punches over the other earpieces in the market (literally!)
Upon opening the packaging, you will notice a hard carrying case which is extremely useful to store the 1/4” adapter (6.3mm) – used for your amplifier and a good variety of custom fit sleeves – ranging from foam, triple flange to soft flex sleeves.
Most importantly, you will notice the high-quality craftsmanship of the SHURE SE846 Gen2. It is simply a work of art and the attention to detail that SHURE gives is mind-boggling. The transparent casing on the left and right showcases the internal components and not only are they visually stunning, but they also give a peek into the engineering marvel happening inside.
The precision-machined metal housings are connected to the 3.5mm detachable cables with robust MMCX connectors. These cables are not only durable, but they are customizable, and users have the choice to swap between different cables, like the True Wireless Secure Fit Adapter for Bluetooth connection. I preferred using the high-resolution cable because the studio-level sound quality is simply too good to swap out for.
The SHURE SE846 Gen2 not only looks good, but they sound amazingly good too! I started my Sunday playing my favourite song “Feels like we only go backwards” by Tame Impala on Spotify Premium – to maximise the audio quality, listen to the files in the high-resolution option! I was blown away by how deep and impactful the bass sounded while capturing the midrange vocals incredibly.
With four balanced armature drivers and a three-way system configuration, the SE846 Gen2 was nothing short of mesmerizing. I was pleasantly surprised to discover layers and nuances of the song I never knew existed. The mids were rich and warm and the trebles were very detailed and suited songs like this in the Alternative Indie genre. With these earphones, I was curious to listen to other music genres and I decided to give Jazz, Classical, acoustic and Alternative Rock a try!
The next song I listened to, was an alternative rock genre song; “People Everywhere (Still Alive)” by Khruangbin. The opening sounds of 60s Thai funk and groovy bass are an obvious theme and the colourful percussion in the background is captured beautifully by the SHURE SE846 Gen2.
I also played “Lost in Japan – Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC” by Shawn Mendes. This particular song was recorded live in the former Gimlet Studio in Brooklyn and is the acoustic version which sounded very vibrant through the earphones and I was pleasantly surprised that it did not have as much echo as I expected.
A famous classical work of Mozart is the Serenade No.13 in G. This piece was used in several movies like Charlie’s Angels and Ace Ventura, and I am sure many of you will recognise the iconic melody. The strings and the double bass were very distinct, and the SHURE SE846 Gen 2 earphones captured the orchestra in its entirety. Putting the earphones on, I felt like I was in an actual concert hall!
For the song in the Jazz genre, I played “The Girl from Ipanema” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and performed by Frank Sinatra. The relaxed “samba” style beat was captured very well by the earphones and Frank Sinatra’s vocals sounded so clear. If you listened closely, you could hear the cabana and the other percussion instruments. This song always gives me holiday vibes and closing my eyes, I can imagine myself lying on the beach with a frozen margarita in hand.
For audiophile enthusiast reading this, you will truly appreciate this work of art with its low-pass filter technology. I spent the first half of my Sunday trying out the adjustable filters, which allow you to tailor the sound signature to your preferences. The ability to fine-tune your listening experience is like having a personal sound engineer in your pocket. Whether you’re in the mood for thumping bass or a more balanced sound, this earphone does it all!
I spent the latter part of the day experimenting with the SHURE SE846 Gen2 earphone with my Laney’s RB2 Bass Amplifier and my Fender Electric Jazz Bass. I tried learning how to play bass previously (unfortunately it was a short-lived interest), the headphone is convenient for silent practice and does not forget the adjustable filter gain controls for shaping the bass sound. It was an incredible experience; the clarity of the bass provided me with extra motivation, and I was energy-filled by the end of the session! It reignited my passion to restart my bass lessons – hopefully, it will be permanent this time!
After the weekends with SHURE SE846 Gen 2, it has become a music companion I wouldn’t do without. When choosing an earphone comfort is a major factor for me and the SHURE SE846 Gen2 has a complete fit kit of custom sleeves to cater to individual comfort preferences. I wore my pair for 6 hours while working from home and they felt very snug without giving me fatigue. The ear tips fitted well and isolated external noises, it felt like I was in my music bubble which helps me focus on work without being interrupted by external noises. The only downside was my laptop does not come with an equalizer setting which did not allow me to tune the music to just how I prefer it. Thus, I much prefer to use my iPhone instead.
Overall, the SHURE SE846 Gen2 earpieces are a work of art that has redefined the way I enjoy my music. The incredible craftsmanship with the transparent casing and ergonomic design makes it one of the best-looking earpieces in the market. With the customizable sound and fit, the SE846 Gen2 can cater to users with various preferences. The superiority and depth of the bass were the highlights of my experience, and I would recommend these if you would want to elevate your music experience too! The SHURE SE846 Gen2 are retailing at S$1499 and they can be purchased from SHURE’s official site and AV One.
