Apple Airpods Pro 2 VS Shure SE535

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Apple Airpods Pro 2 and Shure SE535 use 1DD and 3BA driver setups respectively. Apple Airpods Pro 2 costs $250 while Shure SE535 costs $500. Shure SE535 is $250 more expensive. Apple Airpods Pro 2 holds a decisive 1.7-point edge in reviewer scores (5.7 vs 4).

Insights

Metric Apple Airpods Pro 2 Shure SE535
Bass 5 4
Mids 5 4
Treble 5 4
Details 5 4
Imaging 5 4
Dynamics 5 4
Tonality 6.7 4.5
Technicalities 5.8 4

Apple Airpods Pro 2 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jays Audio Precogvision
Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

5.7

Mixed


Shure SE535 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

4

Unfavorable


Apple Airpods Pro 2 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

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Shure SE535 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

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Apple Airpods Pro 2 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.1

Gaming Grade

B

Shure SE535 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

3.9

Gaming Grade

D+

Apple Airpods Pro 2 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B-
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass C+
Average bass performance - present but unremarkable. Has reasonable texture but lacks depth and physicality.
Mids C+
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble C+
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Details C+
Decent detail retrieval. Handles most textures adequately though micro-details and ambient cues could be more pronounced.
Imaging C+
Decent positional accuracy. Good left/right placement with acceptable center image, though depth positioning is approximate.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Shure SE535 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C
  • Significantly flawed tuning. Noticeable frequency imbalances and unnatural timbre distract from music. Lacks versatility across recordings.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Gaming D+
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Apple Airpods Pro 2 Reviews

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 6.5 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
B Tech
A more exciting sound signature in comparison to its predecessor, with little in terms of drawbacks.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Jays Audio 5.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
Great sense of depth with improvement in soundstage over OG. More precise imaging, and improvement in seperation and overall clarity. Treble is better exteded. Sub-bass is around the same with more mid-bass. Vocals are more pushed back vs OG. Overall welcomed improvements.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 5 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
C+ Tech
A more exciting version of the OG Airpods Pro with boosted sub-bass and mid-treble.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: C+ Mids: C+ Treble: C+ Dynamics: C+ Details: C+ Imaging: C+

Shure SE535 Reviews

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 4 Reviewer Score
C Tuning
C- Tech
Tonally dead. One-note bass. No treble worth mentioning.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Apple Airpods Pro 2 User Reviews

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Shure SE535 User Reviews

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