The Shure KSE1500 ranks #77 out of 115 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Shure
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
#77 Shure KSE1500: $2,999.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: It is one of very few electrostatic in-ears, with a claimed 10 Hz to 50 kHz range. Its warm, V-shaped balance suits listeners who like low end weight paired with an emphasized top.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement the presence band from 3 to 6 kHz sits about 8.6 dB below target with a 9.5 dB dip near 4.1 kHz, which recesses vocals and instrument attack, while a 9.9 dB peak near 9.4 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance hiss. A preference score of 59 at such a steep price makes it hard to justify on sound alone.
| Released | Oct 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.55 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,452 Hz | +15.7 dB | 0.27 |
| Peak | 8,710 Hz | -13.6 dB | 1.31 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.68 |
| Peak | 1,869 Hz | -16.5 dB | 0.71 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,052 Hz | +2.9 dB | 4.96 |
| Peak | 6,070 Hz | +1.4 dB | 4.06 |
| Peak | 4,262 Hz | -0.8 dB | 4.01 |
| Peak | 3,254 Hz | +0.7 dB | 4.39 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples