Scored using Headphones Methodology v1.0
Headphones Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are evaluated mathematically under Frontumo Headphones Methodology v1.0 using verified laboratory benchmarks, technical specifications, and authentic consumer ratings with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Headphones Methodology v1.0

Shure SE535 Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£400Form factor:in-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Shure SE535 Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

6.8

Overall score

Score
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

80%

6.4

Technical score

20%

8.2

User score

▲Better than 70% of headphones
6.4

Technical score

Technical score
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

52%

6.3

Sound

20%

5.7

Features

10%

7.9

Design

8%

6.3

Connectivity

6%

6.9

Battery

4%

7.5

Calls & Controls

▲Better than 68% of headphones
8.2

User score

User score
8.2/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

8.6

User ratings

30%

7.3

Number of reviews

Based on 900 buyer reviews from online shops.
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
▲Better than 75% of headphones
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Best prices

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Best rankings

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Shure SE535

Technical score
Technical score
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

52%

6.3

Sound

20%

5.7

Features

10%

7.9

Design

8%

6.3

Connectivity

6%

6.9

Battery

4%

7.5

Calls & Controls

6.4
User score
User score
8.2/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

8.6

User ratings

30%

7.3

Number of reviews

Based on 900 buyer reviews from online shops.
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
8.2
Popularity
Popularity
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Popularity:
Shure SE535 has a popularity score of 7.3 points, which is higher than that of 67.9% of products in this category.
7.3
Value for money
Value for money
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

60%

6.8

Overall score

40%

8.4

Price

7.3
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
balanced armature
Driver size
?
Number of drivers
3
Number of drivers
3
This pair of headphones uses 3 drivers, more drivers than 98.6% of headphones and equal to 0.5% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
18 Hz
Lowest frequency
18 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 18 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 49.6% of headphones and equal to 3.6% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
yes
Noise-canceling microphone
yes
This pair of headphones supports a noise-canceling microphone. 61.1% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
Can be used as a headset
yes
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
1
Number of microphones
1
This pair of headphones has 1 microphones, more microphones than 26.9% of headphones and equal to 50.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
?
Show more
Connectivity
wired
Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
yes
Multipoint support
yes
This pair of headphones supports multipoint. 69.4% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
no
Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
?
Companion app
?
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
yes
Voice assistant support
yes
This pair of headphones supports voice assistants. 39.2% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
yes
Quick charge
yes
This pair of headphones supports quick charge. 67% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Shure
Form factor
in-ear
Weight
30 g
Weight
30 g
This pair of headphones weighs 30 g, lighter than 82.6% of headphones and equal to 0.2% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
N/A
Show more

Shure SE535 vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • 86.2% lower weight
    Weight
    30 g
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (30 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    30 g vs 218 g
  • 17 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Sensitivity
    119 dB/mW
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (119 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    119 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • Multipoint support
    Multipoint support
    yes
    This pair of headphones supports multipoint, the average pair of headphones does not. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
  • 0.28 % lower distortion
    THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
    0.02 %
    This pair of headphones has a lower total harmonic distortion than the average pair of headphones (0 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    0.02 % vs 0.3 %
  • 2 more drivers
    Number of drivers
    3
    This pair of headphones uses more drivers than the average pair of headphones (3 vs 1). The average headphones use 1 drivers.
    3 vs 1
  • Clear call microphone
    Noise-canceling microphone
    yes
    This pair of headphones offers a clear call microphone, while the average pair of headphones does not. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    Has a 3.5mm male connector
    yes
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • Quick charge support
    Quick charge
    yes
    This pair of headphones supports quick charge, the average pair of headphones does not. 33% of headphones support quick charge.
  • 86.2% lower weight
    Weight
    30 g
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (30 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    30 g vs 218 g
  • 0.42 m longer cable length
    Cable length
    1.62 m
    This pair of headphones offers a more useful cable length than the average pair of headphones (1.6 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
    1.62 m vs 1.2 m
  • 17 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Sensitivity
    119 dB/mW
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (119 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    119 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 0.28 % lower distortion
    THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
    0.02 %
    This pair of headphones has a lower total harmonic distortion than the average pair of headphones (0 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    0.02 % vs 0.3 %
  • 2 more drivers
    Number of drivers
    3
    This pair of headphones uses more drivers than the average pair of headphones (3 vs 1). The average headphones use 1 drivers.
    3 vs 1
  • 16 dB SPL higher sound pressure level
    Sound pressure level
    119 dB SPL
    This pair of headphones has a higher sound pressure level than the average pair of headphones (119 dB SPL vs 103 dB SPL). The average headphones reach a sound pressure level of 103 dB SPL.
    119 dB SPL vs 103 dB SPL
  • Quick charge support
    Quick charge
    yes
    This pair of headphones supports quick charge, the average pair of headphones does not. 33% of headphones support quick charge.
  • Multipoint support
    Multipoint support
    yes
    This pair of headphones supports multipoint, the average pair of headphones does not. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    Has a 3.5mm male connector
    yes
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • AptX Low Latency
    aptX Low Latency
    yes
    This pair of headphones supports aptX Low Latency, the average pair of headphones does not. 8% of headphones support aptX Low Latency.
  • AAC codec support
    AAC
    yes
    This pair of headphones supports AAC, the average pair of headphones does not. 32.2% of headphones support AAC.
  • Clear call microphone
    Noise-canceling microphone
    yes
    This pair of headphones offers a clear call microphone, while the average pair of headphones does not. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
  • In-line controls
    In-line controls
    yes
    This pair of headphones includes in-line controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 36.6% of headphones support in-line controls.
  • Non-replaceable earpads
    Replaceable earpads
    no
    This pair of headphones has non-replaceable earpads, while the average pair of headphones has replaceable ones. 75.6% of headphones have replaceable earpads.
  • No battery indicator
    Battery level indicator
    no
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 4.44x more expensive
    Shure SE535 is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£400 vs £90).
    £400 vs £90
  • No neodymium magnet
    Neodymium magnet
    no
    This pair of headphones does not use neodymium magnets, the average pair of headphones does. 81.9% of headphones use neodymium magnets.
  • 6 older release date
    Release date
    2010
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2010 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    July 2010
    2010 vs 2016
  • 4.44x more expensive
    Shure SE535 is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£400 vs £90).
    £400 vs £90
  • Non-replaceable earpads
    Replaceable earpads
    no
    This pair of headphones has non-replaceable earpads, while the average pair of headphones has replaceable ones. 75.6% of headphones have replaceable earpads.
  • No neodymium magnet
    Neodymium magnet
    no
    This pair of headphones does not use neodymium magnets, the average pair of headphones does. 81.9% of headphones use neodymium magnets.
  • No battery indicator
    Battery level indicator
    no
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 6 older release date
    Release date
    2010
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2010 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    July 2010
    2010 vs 2016

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

H
headphonecheck.com
20/08/2021
Summary of the review
S
samma3a.com
30/04/2014
Summary of the review
H
head-fi.org
11/10/2012
Summary of the review
C
cnet.com
20/07/2010
Summary of the review
E
earmass.wordpress.com
14/06/2013
Summary of the review
S
soundstagexperience.com
(Undated)
Summary of the review
T
techhive.com
03/01/2019
Summary of the review
H
hifichoice.com
24/04/2011
Summary of the review
M
majorhifi.com
05/07/2016
Summary of the review
T
trustedreviews.com
28/07/2010
Summary of the review
T
theheadphonelist.com
05/06/2013
Summary of the review
T
theverge.com
03/07/2017
Summary of the review
W
whathifi.com
30/03/2011
Summary of the review
H
hifitest.de
20/01/2017
Summary of the review
B
bonedo.de
01/03/2019
Summary of the review
D
delamar.de
01/04/2016
Summary of the review
K
kopfhoerer.de
13/12/2016
Summary of the review
N
nextpit.de
13/01/2020
Summary of the review
0
01net.com
04/08/2010
Summary of the review
O
on-mag.fr
18/01/2021
Summary of the review
M
meilleure-innovation.com
30/09/2021
Summary of the review
L
lesnumeriques.com
11/02/2019
Summary of the review
X
xataka.com
02/04/2013
Summary of the review

Third-party reviews

Based on 900 buyer reviews from online shops.
Reviews last updated: June 2026 · How we calculate this

What we like about Shure SE535

  • Superb sound quality with exceptional mid-range clarity and vocal realism
  • Highly effective passive sound isolation (up to 37 dB) that rivals active noise cancellation
  • Durable build featuring Kevlar-reinforced, detachable cables for easy replacement
  • Comfortable ergonomic design suitable for long listening sessions once a proper seal is found
  • Generous accessory kit including various ear sleeve sizes, adapters, and a carrying case
  • Accurate, 'flat' frequency response that appeals to audiophiles and professionals

What we don't like about Shure SE535

  • High price point that many users find difficult to justify despite the performance
  • Rolled-off high-end frequencies that may lack sparkle or extension for some listeners
  • Over-the-ear cable design can be 'fiddly' to put on and may not suit all tastes
  • The thick stock cable can be bulky for casual portable use
  • Soundstage is often described as narrow or 'in-head' compared to open-back headphones
  • Bass response is accurate and tight but may lack the heavy impact desired by 'bassheads'

Verdict

The Shure SE535 is a professional-grade in-ear monitor featuring a triple high-definition driver system—comprising two dedicated woofers and a single tweeter per earpiece—to deliver a spacious soundstage and rich, detailed audio across an 18 Hz to 19 kHz frequency range. Key characteristics include a sensitive 119 dB SPL/mW rating and 36-ohm impedance, making them easy to drive, alongside a detachable, Kevlar-reinforced 64-inch cable utilizing 360-degree rotating gold-plated MMCX connectors. Main pros include exceptional passive sound isolation capable of blocking up to 37 dB of ambient noise, a robust and field-serviceable build, and a smooth, mid-forward sound signature that excels at vocal clarity. However, some cons include a steep price point, a treble response that rolls off significantly above 10 kHz, and a learning curve for achieving a proper over-ear fit and seal.

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