Our Verdict
The Shure SE425 are a bit better for mixed usage than the SE315 thanks to their slightly better sound quality. They're just as compact and easy to carry around with a stable and durable design that would be decent for sports. Unfortunately their lack of controls, mediocre isolation and the below-average sound they may not be the ideal headphones for more critical listeners.
- Minimal leakage.
- Durable build quality.
- Stable and portable design.
- Mediocre-at-best sound quality.
- No controls.
Mediocre for neutral listening. The SE425 improve slightly on the sound quality of the SE315 with better a Mid and Treble range. However, they still have a big emphasis on low-mid that extends to the high-mid which makes their sound a bit boomy and muddy while pushing instruments and vocals to the forefront of any track. Unfortunately, those instruments and vocals do not sound as clear and detailed as some other in-ear headphones due to their somewhat inconsistent high tones. That and their closed-back, in-ear fit means they have a poor Soundstage that won't be ideal for more neutral listeners.
Mediocre for commuting and traveling. They're comfortable and they're easy to carry on you at all times. However, they isolate a little less than the SE315 and they have no control scheme which is a bit disappointing.
Average for sports. They have a good ear-hook design that's stable enough to run with and they're decently comfortable for an in-ear. Unfortunately, they don't have any controls and the audio cable may get tangled or hooked on something when exercising.
Average for office use. They barely leak even at very high volumes so they're a decent pair of headphones to use at the office. Unfortunately, their sound quality may be a bit fatiguing after using them for a while.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
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Compared To Other Headphones
See our recommendations for the best earbuds, the best closed-back headphones, and the best audiophile headphones.
The Shure SE215 and the Shure SE425 are very similar in design, but they have completely different sound profiles. The SE425 lack bass and over-emphasize frequencies in the mid and treble ranges, making them sound rather boxy and harsh. The SE215 sound significantly better-balanced in the mid-range but they lack detail and brightness, so they have a darker overall sound profile.
The MOONDROP KATO are better IEMs for neutral sound than the Shure SE425. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the MOONDROP let you swap out their steel nozzles for brass if you prefer. They also have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. However, the Shure can block out a bit more background noise around you.
The BGVP DM6 are better headphones than the Shure SE425. The BGVP's sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer. They also create a better seal if you can find a decent fit, isolating more against ambient noise. On the other hand, the small design of the Shure fits more people and is very comfortable. They also come with a nice hard case to protect the headphones when you’re not using them.
Test Results
The Shure SE 425 have the same look and feel as the SE 315 but the earbuds are a bit bigger. They also have an ear-hook design and angled earbuds that better fit the contours of your ears. The cable is thick, heavily rubberized and detachable which makes them feel like premium in-ears. Unlike the SE315 they stand out a bit more with their flashier color schemes.
The Shure 425 like the 315 are decently comfortable headphones that come with multiple tip types and sizes to help you find the right fit. They're also worn like an ear-hook design, so the earbuds are shaped to fit snugly within the contours of your ears. This makes them more comfortable than typical in-ears, although if you're not a fan of the in-ear fit, they may still get a bit fatiguing after wearing them for a while.
The SE425 are portable in-ear headphones. They're a bit larger than the SE315 and most typical in-ears but they still easily fit into your pockets. They come with a good case that's also quite portable. This makes them practical and convenient to have on you at all times.
Comes with the same hard case as the SE315. It's decently portable and protects the headphones from impacts and drops as well as minor water exposure. It does add a bit of bulk to the headphones, but the case is still portable while being big enough to carry all the accessories.
The SE425 feel like premium and durable headphones. The earbuds are dense and tough enough to withstand a couple of drops without getting damaged. They also have a thick and rubberized cable that's detachable in case it gets damaged over time. This means you will most likely have the Shure 425 for a very long time. Unfortunately, the lack of an extra cable out of the box is a bit disappointing at their price range especially when compared to the Westone W40.
These headphones have a stable design that prevents them from falling from your ears. The pseudo ear hooks are flexible which fits a bit better around your ears, but the lack of stiffness means they won't be as stable as other true ear-hook designs. They're still great headphones to run with though, and unless you physically pull them out or the audio cable gets hook on something they won't fall from your ears. This makes them above-average headphones for working out, and for sports.
- Shure SE425 Headphones
- Audio cable
- Earbud tips (x9)
- Wax removal tool
- Carrying case
- Manuals
Excellent frequency response consistency. Given a proper seal and fit using the variety of tips that comes with the SE425, the user should be able to achieve consistent performance with these headphones each time.
Good Bass Range performance. The 425 lacks about 4db of Low-bass which is responsible for low-end thump and rumble. Bass has a tilt towards high-bass, which is overemphasized by up to 5dB. This results in a relatively well-extended Bass that sound quite boomy (The ripple in low-bass is due to coupling issues we experienced during testing).
Poor Mid Range performance. The entire response is virtually flat, but consistently overemphasized by more than 4dB. This makes the sound of these headphones quite Mid-rangy and forward.
Poor Treble Range performance. Low-treble is consistent, but over our target by an average of 3dB. Treble is relatively balanced but inconsistent. High-treble shows more than 15dB of underemphasis, taking air and brilliance out of the sound.
Decent Isolation performance. The SE425 don't have active noise cancelling and isolate noise by plugging the ear canal. They do not achieve any isolation below 300Hz, which is worse than some other in-ears we have measured. However, in the Mid and Treble ranges they achieve 13dB and 47dB of reduction respectively. Both values being good.
Excellent Leakage performance. The SE425 has one of the quietest leakages we have measured so far. For all intents and purposes they do not leak below 2KHz, and above that, the level of their leakage is very low.
