Shure KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System

Sound-isolating electrostatic earphones that fit in your pocket

Electrostatic technology has done some impressive things with audiophile headphones and speakers. Unfortunately, both the drivers and the energizers (amplifiers) tend to be rather large, and so are usually relegated to home theaters and studios. But Shure has managed to shrink its KSE1200’s electrostatic drivers down to the size of dimes, and its power amp down to the size of a last-gen smartphone. So now audiophiles can take their most demanding hi-fi system anywhere in the world.

Unparalleled frequency and transient response

For each of its KSE1200 drivers, Shure sandwiched a razor-thin, electrically charged diaphragm between two conductive plates. These plates create a magnetic field when they receive an audio signal, which moves the diaphragm and creates sound. The nearly mass-less diaphragm and short excursion reproduce transients faster and frequencies fuller than traditional magnetic drivers. Mids and highs are rich and natural. Lows are beefy without being oppressive. And the stereo field is broad and dynamic.

An immersive listening experience

Shure has engineered the KSE1200s to let music lovers experience their music the way the artists and producers intended, with sounds that pop out of the stereo field and parts that come to life which may have been overlooked. The passive isolation on the KSE1200s feels pretty close to in-ear monitors — while we wouldn’t recommend them for the stage, for casual use, the isolation is rather good.