Shure SE115

Design

Sure, there’s a minor difference in the grays used, but overall these headphones are identical.

Shure SE115	Shure SE420

Frequency Response

The SE420s take the comparison here, by not sharing the SE115s’ high-end plunge. It is interesting to see the SE420s do dip in that area, however. Other than this difference, both headphones’ graphs look very similar, boosting bass before settling down to a more even-handed mid-range response. For those reading this review linearly: the SE115s are very unlikely to win on the frequency response comparison.

Shure SE115	Shure SE420

Distortion

The SE115s actually have less distortion than the SE420s.

Shure SE115	Shure SE420

Tracking

Both headphones have similar tracking graphs. Really, neither one has much of an issue with their tracking. The SE420 manages a slighTly better response here, but it’s not a gigantic lead.

Shure SE115	Shure SE420

Isolation

Both headphones are excellent isolators.

Shure SE115	Shure SE420

Comfort

Both headphones are about the same in terms of comfort, since they have virtually identical shapes and sleeves.

Verdict

We think this match-up is somewhat indicative of the typical upgrade you can get out of a set of headphones. The SE115s are a better budget option while the SE420s are better for more discerning ears. One interesting take-away is how similar these two headphones are and the price that separates them. These price differences typically scale on an exponential magnitude. Audiophiles are doomed to spending tons of money on their hobby.