Shure SE535-CL
Anker Space A40
What Buyers Say
Shure SE535-CL
The Shure SE425 earphones deliver outstanding sound quality with crystal-clear vocals and a balanced soundstage, making them ideal for pop music and female vocals. However, the included cables are a major letdown—users report flimsy construction, crackling sounds from the wired cable, and a cheap plastic clip that breaks easily. While the audio performance is praised, the build quality of accessories and the stiff behind-ear cable detract from the overall experience.
Pros
- Crystal-clear vocals
- Balanced soundstage
- Excellent for pop music
- Great treble and mids
- Tight solid bass
Cons
- Flimsy included cables
- Crackling sound from wired cable
- Cheap plastic clip breaks easily
- Stiff behind-ear cable
- Overpriced compared to SE425
Anker Space A40
The Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are widely praised for their excellent sound quality, customizable EQ via the app, and strong noise cancellation. Users appreciate the long battery life, fast charging, and comfortable fit with multiple ear tip sizes. Some note that the ANC is not as powerful as premium competitors and that Bluetooth connection can occasionally drop in bumpy vehicles or certain environments. Overall, they are considered great value for the price.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Customizable EQ via app
- Good noise cancellation
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
Cons
- ANC not as strong as premium competitors
- Occasional Bluetooth connection drops
- Touch controls limited to certain options at once
- Battery life slightly less than advertised
- Left ear discomfort for some users
Scores
Specifications
| Shure SE535-CL | Anker Space A40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | over-the-ear | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | S, M, L | 5 sizes of silicone ear tips |
| Weight | 0.44 kg | 0.06 kg★ |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | balanced armature | dynamic |
| Driver Size | — | 11 mm★ |
| Drivers | 3★ | 2 |
| Freq Min | 18 Hz★ | 20 Hz |
| Freq Max | 19 kHz | 20 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 36 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 119 dB★ | — |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✓★ |
| Codecs | Shure SE535 Isolating In-Ear Stereo Headphones with Detachable Cable, Frequency Range 18 Hz - 19 kHz, Clear | LDAC |
| Surround | — | Soundcore by Anker Space A40 Auto-Adjustable Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, Reduce Noise by Up to 98%, 50H Playtime, Hi-Res Sound, App Customization, Wireless Charge (Renewed) Blue (Refresh |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | — | ✓★ |
| ANC Type | — | adaptive |
| Transparency | — | ✓★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | — | ✓★ |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.2★ |
| Multipoint | — | ✓★ |
| Wired Connector | — | Bluetooth |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | — | 10 hrs★ |
| Charge Time | — | 2 hrs★ |
| Fast Charging | — | 10 min for 4 hours playback |
| Charging | — | USB-C★ |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | — | 50 hrs★ |
| Case Charging | — | USB-C★ |
| Wireless Charging | — | ✓★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | — | 6★ |
| NC Mic | — | ✓★ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | — | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | — | ✓★ |
| App | — | soundcore |
| Bone Conduction | — | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | — | IPX4 |
Pros & Cons
Shure SE535-CL
- Strong sound (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average comfort (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average connectivity (12th percentile)12th %ile
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Anker Space A40
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong connectivity (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong sound (94th percentile)94th %ile
Pricing
Anker Space A40 offers 32.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 85 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 18 of 36 specs.
