Until recently the Shure brand was only known to musicians and audio professionals

Until recently, the Shure brand was only known to musicians and audio professionals. This American company specializing in helmets and microphones had used to equip recording studio or concert halls, not to individuals. Then came the success of the iPod, and some musicians began to connect to their digital player designed Atria, originally specifically for the stage. Since the first mission to Shure sound isolating headphones was to replace back cabinets placed with musicians in concerts, pregnant which serve to hear their instruments despite the noise of the crowd. These Atria should therefore be ultra-light (step question to hinder movement or be too visible), but also very loyal and highly insulating (for that artist distinguishes perfectly his voice or his instrument).

Lightness, sound quality and noise isolation: need not more that the musicians begin to use their Atria outside the scene, and Shure decides to launch its products in the general public, despite their high price. After all, in a world where consumers are more surprised to spend 300 or 400 euros for a portable music player, why cases pay 100 or 200 euros for the helmet intended to accompany him...

Because, even in versions intended for individuals, the listeners to acoustic insulation of Shure Personal Audio cost: 99-499 euros.

At such levels of price, the E series earphones come compete with systems electronic bedeviling helmets offered by Sennheiser ("Les Echos" on May 25, 2005), Bose or Sony. With a size difference: here, no need for batteries and box to stop the environmental noise, which reduced a footprint. If these models cut the listener of the sounds around him, it is because they are based on ear plugs: foam or silicone tip overcomes the listener, and allows the drag within the ear canal, which blocks all outside noise. At the centre of the CAP, a hollow pipe passes the sound, directly manages of the mini-haut-parleur to the eardrum, the ear as a resonator.

On the model we tested (E4c, 299 euros), the result was spectacular, even at low volume, and the sound was impressive accuracy. According to Shure, differences in price between the models explained by the quality of the components. The most expensive integrates two separate speakers by listener (one for the bass, the other for the acute), as the hi-fi speakers. And this is only a beginning, a model to three lanes being programmed for the summer.

In all cases, the device comes with an assortment of tips of different styles (foam, silicone, more or less flexible...). To take full advantage of the product, it is therefore necessary to try several: a poorly adapted tip can cause discomfort, or even mild irritation of the duct, after a few hours of use. The most sensitive users and the wealthy will be delighted to learn that, as these models have been designed for the stage, it is possible to run end caps on measure by chartered prosthetists. The operation will cost approximately 250 additional euros, but said it step that silence is golden