Skip to main content

Shure debuts three new headphone models under $50, adds mic to its excellent SE112

Those looking for quality headphones floating around the elusive $50 price point may have reason to celebrate today, as Shure delves deeper into the cheap seats with three new models, and an update to its value-packed SE112, which adds a mic piece to the package for a 10-spot.

SRH144 portable semi-open headphones ($39)

The sleek new SRH144 offer a lightweight frame and collapsible design to make them extremely easy to take along. The semi-open earcup design aims for a “natural sound,” with a claimed frequency response of 30Hz-20kHz. The bare bones model offer no frills apart from an uber-low price point, a five-foot cable, and the Shure name — which is nothing to scoff at.

SRH145 and SRH145m+ portable headphones ($39 and $49 respectively)

Designed with the basshead in mind, the SRH145 closed-backed headphones crank up the low end, and put a little shine on the band for a more Beats-like approach. With a claimed frequency response of 25Hz-18kHz, the ‘phones reach a little deeper than the SRH144, and focus less on the sparkle in the nether regions of the sound. Like the 144, the headphones offer a five-foot cable, and that’s about it. But adding $10 to the price point garners a three-button iOS compatible mic piece.

SE112m+ sound isolating earphones ($59)

Skating just below $60, the SE112m+ in-ear headphones are a steal of a deal. We loved the original SE112 when we gave them a thorough evaluation a few weeks back, finding their value-packed performance impressive enough to stand up against headphones pushing the $100 price point. In fact, our only real issue with the SE112 was their lack of a three-button mic piece. Now, we’re not saying that Shure added the mic piece to the package strictly on our recommendation, but … you’re welcome.

All of Shure’s super-affordable new models are available today, and if the SE112 are any indication of the company’s take on bargain basement headphones, they might just become a dominating force in the $50 tier.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Best Cyber Monday Deals 2022: Laptops, TVs, AirPods, and more
Best Cyber Monday Deals 2022

Cyber Week is here! With some truly epic deals out there, this is the best time of year to buy a new tech gadget. If you slept through the Black Friday sales, then the Cyber Monday sales, you better grab what you need during this week of slowly diminishing deals. From tablets to air fryers, laptops to smartwatches, we've rounded up the best Cyber Monday deals across a range of categories, and you'll find them all below.
Cyber Monday sales: Quick links

Amazon: Huge discounts on laptops, Echo devices, and tablets
Best Buy: Your destination for sales on super-sized TVs
Dell: Unbeatable discounts on gaming laptops, monitors, and more
Gamestop: Cheap video games, console accessories and monitors
HP: Gaming PCs, laptops, monitors, and printers from $129
Kohl's: Home decor, clothing and kitchen appliance steals
Lowe’s: Up to 60% off appliances like refrigerators and decor
Staples: Save big on laptops, home office hardware and supplies
Target: Tons of cheap kitchen appliances and stocking-fillers
Walmart: Great for laptops, and is restocking PS5 and Xbox Series X

Read more
What is hi-res audio, and how can you experience it right now?
Dlyan Wireless Headphones

High-resolution audio, hi-res audio, or even HD audio -- whatever you decide to call it (for the record, the industry prefers "hi-res audio"), it's a catch-all term that describes digital audio that goes above and beyond the level of sound quality you can expect from a garden-variety MP3 file and even CDs. It was once strictly the domain of audiophiles, but now that major streaming music services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and Qobuz have embraced it, almost everyone can take advantage of what hi-res has to offer.

But what exactly is hi-res audio? What equipment do you need to listen to it? Where can you download or stream it? And does it actually sound better? We've got the answers.
What does the term 'hi-res audio' mean?

Read more
How to download music from Spotify for offline listening
How to download music and podcasts from Spotify: The downloads folder.

If you're a Spotify Premium user paying that premium Spotify fee, chances are you've taken at least some time curating playlists, liking songs, and using the platform's easy-to-use (and recently revamped) user interface to discover new and old music.

But sometimes all that music or your favorite podcasts aren't available if you find yourself without an internet connection to stream them from — like on a long plane ride or weekend camping trip in the sticks. That's where Spotify's offline listening feature comes in handy, allowing you to download playlists, albums, and podcasts through its desktop and mobile apps so you can still rock out while you're off the grid.

Read more