For listeners who want a budget in-ear monitor without compromising the sound quality, the Shure SE215 is one of the top choices to get your hands on. Made by the renowned Shure and borrowed some of the strengths from their higher-end earphone model, you can definitely expect the SE215 to get your money’s worth. To really bring out the sound quality of the Shure SE215, a matching amp will be needed.
We are fortunate that there are plenty of amps out on the market which doesn’t break the bank. To find the right amplifier for the job, we must first take some time to learn more about the sound characteristics of the entry-level Shure earphone. Once we have enough data, we can then prepare a list of the best amps which can be matched to the Shure SE215. This list of headphone amps will be shared with you later on.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics and Merits of Shure SE215
The Shure SE215 looks modern and has stylish visual aesthetics that you will feel comfortable wearing these earphones outdoors. More importantly, the noise isolation capability is amazing as the sound isolating sleeves are able to block up to 37dB of environmental noises. They also have equally remarkable sound leakage prevention, you probably won’t disturb others around you unless you are playing your music at very high volumes. The Shure SE215 is comfortable to wear as well and with the range of sleeves’ sizes to choose from, it is easy to find the right fit for your ears.
More Details at Amazon – Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating Earphones
This is an amazing IEM to wear outdoors as it is light and very portable, the Shure SE215 even comes with a compact carrying case which is pretty neat. You can also make it wireless by getting a Bluetooth communication cable which is sold separately. The frequency range of the SE215 is 22Hz-17.5kHz and the impedance is 17 Ohms. This is an easy-to-drive earphone and with that, we now have plenty of headphone amplifier options to choose from. The Shure SE215 uses a single dynamic driver and has a durable detachable cable. It is a fantastic earphone for both indoor and outdoor use.
Shure SE215 earphone has a warmish sound quality and provided us with a rich music presentation. The warm sound reproduction is easy on the ears and has ample weight to it, probably due to the higher bass output which is quite unexpected from a Shure IEM. From the perspective of an in-ear monitor, the Shure SE215 low-end performance is full sounding and there seems to be an emphasis on the higher bass registers. It does feel a lack of agility and not as taut as we want the low-frequency delivery to be. All in all, the bass performance does help to give us a full-bodied music presentation.
The level of clarity is still good and music details are been clearly delivered. It is a rather balanced-sounding earphone and a bit more bassy than expected. It would have been better if there is a bit more speed and agility though, as it will make the music delivery sound a tad more energetic. The warm pleasing sound quality of the Shure SE215 would be great for vinyl playbacks. Midrange reproduction is full and accurate, vocal reproductions are excellent. The highs can be a bit too bright sounding at times and it is wise not to pair the Shure SE215 with headphone amps that will excite the high-frequencies.
Its stereo imaging is amazing and has nice separation. The size of the soundstage is as expected from an entry-level closed-back earphone. If you want a bigger soundstage, you probably want to go for an open-back headphone. The Shure SE215 serves its functions really well and has the sound quality to boot. At this price point, there is really nothing much to complain about the SE215 earphone. We have prepared a list of the best amplifiers that you can go for and match them with your Shure SE215. The price points of these amps will be closely matched with the SE215 earphones.
Shure SE215 Specifications
- Fit Style: In-Ear
- Drivers: Single Dynamic Driver
- Frequency Response: 22Hz-17.5kHz
- Cable Length: 64″ (163cm)
- Impedance: 17 Ohms
- Noise Attenuation: 37dB (Passive)
Best Amps to pair with Shure SE215
The FiiO E7 is one of the best amps to pair with your Shure SE215 earphone. It is an affordably priced amplifier and has enough power to drive the SE215 earphones. The data retrieval of the E7 amp is good and this will help to provide you with a more detailed music presentation. Its music timing is exemplary for the price and will add slightly more drive into the overall sound reproduction which makes the music delivery a bit more engaging to listen to. The FiiO E7 is compact in size and portable, it will be an ideal outdoor amplifier to partner with the Shure SE215 earphones.
More Details at Amazon – FiiO E7 Portable Headphone Amplifier
The Schiit Audio Magni 3+ will be one of the best amplifiers to match with the Shure SE215. For an entry-level headphone amp, the Magni 3+ is pretty muscular and can drive the SE215 earphone with ease. It makes for an ideal desktop amp due to its compact size. There are similar sonic characteristics but the Schiit Audio Magni 3+ adds in speed and agility which complements the Shure SE215 really well. This amplifier is neutral sounding with a hint of warmth and has a bit more detailed bass reproduction. The Magni 3+ has an affordable price tag and will be a suitable match to the Shure SE215.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Magni 3+B Headphone Amp
The Electric Avenues PA2V2 will be another excellent amplifier to go with your Shure SE215. It is firstly affordably priced and doesn’t compromise the sound quality. The Electric Avenues PA2V2 is able to project a wide soundstage and the bass output is quite light which makes this amp a really suitable match with the Shure SE215 earphones, depending on your preference that is. It is compact, portable, and has a long battery life, these do make the PA2V2 a fantastic amp for outdoor use. The neutral sonic characteristic enables the amplifier to retrieve music details with accuracy.
For listeners who prefer tube amplifiers, the Hifiman EF2A will be an exceptional choice to go for and pair it with the Shure SE215 earphones. This is one of the more affordable tube amps where you don’t need to break your wallet to get one. The fun part about the EF2A is that you can tube roll and fine-tune the sound quality to your liking. Tube rolling is a fun and rewarding process but it will take time and monetary investments. You can also simply stick with the stock tubes and just enjoy your music right away. The Hifiman EF2A will be great for turntable users too.
More Details at Amazon – HIFIMAN EF2A Headphone Amplifier
The Schiit Audio Heresy is one of the best amps to pair up with the Shure SE215 earphones. It has rather high power outputs for an entry-level headphone amp at this price point and so you can be assured it will drive your SE215 without breaking a sweat. The sonic characteristics of the Heresy amplifier will be a suitable match as it has a fast music delivery and is capable of delivering a clear-sounding music presentation. The clean and lean sound characteristic will help to provide a more detailed music presentation as well. Its midrange reproduction is superb for an amplifier at this price point.
More Information at Amazon – Schiit Magni Heresy Headphone Amp
If you require a headphone amp with a powerful D/A converter then the FiiO K5 Pro will be a fine choice to go for and match it with your Shure SE215. The FiiO K5 Pro is a very modestly priced headphone amplifier capable of driving the SE215s with ease and supports up to 32-bit/768kHz resolution. The K5 Pro also decodes native DSD high-resolution audio files. This is a neutral-sounding amplifier with very little or no coloration which is outstanding. There are plenty of music details been produced and the bass performance is good too. We will suggest hearing them out first as it may be bright sounding for some listeners.
More Information at Amazon – FiiO K5 Pro Deskstop DAC and Amplifier
To Conclude
If you have a higher budget, do feel free to use this list as a reference when searching for more expensive headphone amp models. It would not be advisable to invest too much on an amp though, we would rather you get a higher-end earphone model. The amps listed here are all worthy of your time to check them and you should shortlist a few for an audition. During the auditioning of the shortlisted headphone amps, you will be able to tell which one sounds the best to you.
