The cheap comes out expensive.... by that I mean that I always wanted these but was not willing to spend the money. Instead I bought Klipsh S4 100$, not happy! Sennheiser MM550x 550$, not happy!, Audio-Technica M50x 300$, not happy!, Phiaton MS 530 250$, not happy!

Sound; design; comfort; portability

Well of course they are expensive but you get what you pay for

Warm and rich-sounding earphones for high-end headphone fans after a less analytical sound.

Excellent bass; Great mid-range texture and detail; Removable cable

Conservative treble

Last week, Shure invited me to audition 2 of their premium earphones, the SE846 and the KSE1200, at the Stereo The Headphone Concept Store Westgate outlet. While this was a special invite, anyone can walk into the Stereo Store, sit down and test any audio…

The SE846 combines state-of-the-art engineering with great musicality.

Four balanced armature drivers; Customizable frequency response; User-replaceable cables

Not as good at isolating outside noise as custom in-ears

You guys know Shure; it's best known as a microphone manufacturer, but millions of vinyl lovers have had long-term affairs with Shure's phono cartridges. The company jumped into the earphone market in 1997 and focused on pro users-musicians and sound engineers-but audiophiles quickly got the word.

Four balanced armature drivers; Customizable frequency response; User-replaceable cables

Not as good at isolating outside noise as custom in-ears

The $1,000 price range for earphones is not a realm most consumers visit-if you're reading, however, you're either one of the few who might, or you're at least curious. Do the high prices truly bring a euphoric audio experience?

Stellar sound quality; Includes two detachable cables; Tons of accessories, including hard shell case, multitude of eartip options, inline volume adapter; Includes ear nozzle pieces to adjust sound signature to personal tastes

Extremely expensive for a non-custom molded pair; No inline remote or phone controls for mobile devices

Shure's range of earphones has expanded greatly over the last eight years, with the SE line covering price points from ￡50 to well over ￡300. Until now the flagship was the ￡389 SE535, which replaced the SE530s that launched in 2007.

Tremendous sound quality; exceptional detail and balance; sturdy design; customisable sound signature using nozzle filters

Expensive choice; unlikely to suit very small ears

With the Shure SE846, the premier model from the US manufacturer enters the ring to showcase its Bluetooth credentials. It brings back all the favourite flavours of the wired original, including the user-friendly controls and interface.

The $1,000 price range for earphones is not a realm most consumers visit—if you're reading, however, you're either one of the few who might, or you're at least curious. Do the high prices truly bring a euphoric audio experience? In the case of the Shure SE846 ($999 list), the answer is a resounding yes. Considering that most earphones in this high price range are customized, ear-molded pairs, this is no small feat, but the SE846 can hang with the giants from JH Audio and Ultimate Ears. Its four balanced armature drivers per ear bring some of the clearest audio, and some of the most lifelike, rich bass, you're likely to hear in an in-canal pair. The SE846 wins our Editors' Choice, meaning that if you have the money, you now have some tough decisions to make between this model, the fantastic Sennheiser IE 800($799.00 at Amazon) (read on for a head-to-head comparison), or a custom-molded option. Nice problem to have, my friend. DesignShure will never be accused of phoning it in on t...

There are few in-canal earphones available that offer the stellar sonic experience of the high-end Shure SE846.

Stellar sound quality; Includes two detachable cables; Tons of accessories, including hard shell case, multitude of eartip options, inline volume adapter; Includes ear nozzle pieces to adjust sound signature to personal tastes

Extremely expensive for a non-custom molded pair; No inline remote or phone controls for mobile devices

For the customers that bought these earbuds I truly recommend them to buy -and I know is an extra expense- the Full Shell Sleeves from Sensaphonics. (Google It) On top of the expense of the Full Shell Sleeves (150 USD) you will have to spend also a visit to an audiologist for the impressions of your...