Review on High-Quality Shure AONIC 5 Wired Sound Isolating Earbuds by Doreen Johnson

As I looked at them, I wondered how on earth headphones could cost $500. After using them for about 5 minutes, my question was answered with a resounding "That's it!" -Ear device can come close to a good can set. That was a wrong assumption on my part. It's amazing. For comparison I have the following headphones: B&O H9, Bose QC, Grado SR60 and some old Yamaha YH1. They sound better than everyone else, with the possible exception of the B&Os, which by the way sell for the same price, or at least the B&Os were the same price when I got them a few years ago. The low end these headphones put out seems almost impossible - I chose "balanced" earbuds as I listen to a variety of music and also use them to stream movies and watch streams on Youtube. I can't imagine needing more bass, but if you need it you can switch inserts. Ditto for those who want a brighter sound. Shure was smart to include many different sizes and styles of inserts in the box, giving you plenty of customization options for comfort and convenience. It took about a week, after flipping the earbuds and listening to a lot of rehearsals, before settling on the memory foam. There was definitely some uneasiness until I found the right fit and material. It also took me a while to figure out the right way to wear them. But once I've settled in, fine. God they are great! I should also mention that the isolation is comparable to active noise canceling headphones. When the music is stopped, the white noise (fan noise, dishwasher running, air conditioner running, etc.) almost disappears. The only thing that's a bit negative is that there's very, very little white noise from the mic on the other end of the line when I use it to make a Facetime call, but I specifically asked people on the receiving end to approach it hear that. Overall I'm really impressed with it. The build quality is excellent, the customization options are almost limitless, the cables are interchangeable and there is speculation that they will release an accessory that will allow them to be used via Bluetooth. I highly recommend them to serious listeners. 5 stars only because I can't give 6.