Shure KSE 1200

I've long been an advocate of electrostatic speakers - Quad and Marin Logan have been my companions along the way. More recently I became an owner of Stax earspeakers too. All of these produce music in a less fatiguing way than their counterparts. And the KSE1200 are no exception. Explaining audio and sonic effects in words is always a challenge. These IEMs push sound / music into your ear canals in the truest way. One can almost feel the gossamer texture of the air coming forth from the singer or acoustic guitar in its transient immediacy. They follow the amplifier's signal perfectly and deliver a full-range experience. Even listening to EDM or Massive Attack delivers real power and bass. Switch to piano (the true test of a transducer) and you hear a piano. Outstanding nuance and detail retrieval and conveyance of dynamics. for example, listen to a violin and it shocks one with its dynamic envelope unfolding from a performer like Oistrakh. Beautiful little amplifier too - very well made. These IEMs are addictive and get you closer than any other IEM I've heard. Recommended!

Impressive step forward with electrostatic technology. It provides an astonishing quality of the sound. Music cannot be more real and natural than this, even comparing with more expensive flagship items. I prefer KSE1200 over the KSE1500 because I do not need the built-in DAQ. Not worth in my opinion using a separate good quality DAQ.
I've read other reviews claiming the sound is flat, true,
but flatness is not a common feature of iems, even flagship iems. To be neutral and transparent doesn't mean "boring", not at all in my opinion! Basses are there but you don't hear the "humph"....who said that? I think that if you don't hear basses, the sealing is not perfect. In this respect I have only one suggestion (and a small critics to Shure). Included eartips could be of better quality. I immediately substituted the original ones with silicone SpinFit eartips CP-800. The seal was perfect and the sound quite different. Basses are definitely there, with an unprecedented and unheard quality.
In conclusion, I agree with siruspan: once heard you will never forget the perfection of this sound.

The headphones are quite ordinary in appearance and construction. Surprisingly light, transparent, plastic domes practically the same as in the cheapest Shure models. Considering the price Shure could do a lot better. The Kevlar braided and terminated with a 6-pin LEMO type plug cable is not detachable and it is quite heavy. Interestingly, it has a round profile, and it is not a flat ribbon like in any other electrostatic headphones. An amplifier is required to operate the headphones. It is small, rounded aluminum box with a potentiometer to adjust the volume which also serves as a on/off switch. Sound sources can be connected only via a 3.5mm mini jack line in. Built-in battery allows up to 12 hours playtime. They demand attention, they order to stop other activities and focus on music. They are neither warm nor cold, neither light nor dark. I would define their character as transparent-neutral with a properly boosted bass to match modern music. They offer spectacular and captivating real sound while being extremely transparent and musical at the same time. Such high fidelity combined with isolation makes the listening an almost mystical experience. Highly recommended if you can afford it.

Ignore that the KSE1200s portability is questionable and just take its sound quality as probably the best you’ll ever hear!
Over 50 years I’ve had everything in hifi from valve amps, Krell speakers, top rated over-ears headphones but have finally found my music listening nirvana. These electrostatic in-ears are just wonderful, capturing everything going on in a performance from the beautiful string tone on Jaqueline Du Pre’s Elgar Cello Concerto to Sam Smith’s wonderful vocals. Classical music sound staging and studio vocals are all captured in a way that everything else that I’ve listened to cannot match. My superb Shure 846 in-ears are my everyday portables but when I’m home and really listen then I just connect up my KSE1200s. You can connect via a separate DAC if you like but the sound quality through my iPhone 14 Plus or IPad mini is still wonderful. In fact, surprisingly, I found listening through my Hugo 2 lost some of the performances musicality and involvement and have sold it! No extra DAC addition also improves its portability if that’s what you really require, but I’ve dispensed with one for now. Thank you so very much Shure, these are the best!