Able Planet PS500MM

Design

As in-ears, the SE115s are less durable than the PS500MMs. Neither have an aesthetic worth mentioning.

Able Planet PS500MM	Shure SE115

Frequency Response

Both headphones screw up their high end with erratic responses. The SE115s manage to be slightly less erratic.

Able Planet PS500MM	Shure SE115

Distortion

Neither set of headphones have troublingly high distortion levels. No one will notice any in either.

Able Planet PS500MM	Shure SE115

Tracking

The SE115s didn’t have any mess-ups before the 7kHz mark (their graph goes to 20kHz; we’ve since stopped displaying this information because it wasn’t 100% accurate). Aside from the PS500MMs’ spike, both headphones have equivalent tracking.

Able Planet PS500MM	Shure SE115

Isolation

If isolation is what you’re after, the SE115s are the way to go.

Able Planet PS500MM	Shure SE115

Comfort

Most of the comfort/discomfort will come from the differing form factors. The PS500MMs’ on-ear design boasts small ear pads, which feel a bit awkward initially if you’re not used to them. The SE115s’ in-ear design mandates wrapping the cord around the back of your ear.

Wear
Able Planet PS500MM	Shure SE115

Verdict

Obviously, these headphones are meant for two different functions. The PS500MMs are meant for at-home gaming, while the SE115s are meant for use with a portable media player. The SE115s have better audio quality overall, but probably wouldn’t be a good alternative if you’re looking for a gaming headset.

The SE115s also don’t come with a mic right out of the box: it requires a separate purchase.