Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2: A pro-quality in-ear headphone

These outstanding wireless in-ear monitors are versatile and upgradable

- JAMES BARBER

Some on-the-go music listeners want earbuds that just work out of the box, the kind you pair and forget about until the batteries need charging. Others are frustrated by limited options or the idea that the buds become useless the instant the batteries die for good.

The excellent Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2 wireless earphones (fave.co/43DrMpL) have a modular design that splits the speakers that sit in your ear from the unit housing the batteries and wireless circuitry, making it possible to swap earbuds or use them with a cable plugged into the source. The Shure Play app also allows for precise EQ adjustments, allowing listeners to create and save their own preferred settings.

It's the eternal tradeoff with audio products. The more options the manufacturer provides, the more complicated it becomes to master the product's capabilities. Ease of use, meanwhile, usually means a listener is stuck with the decisions made by the design engineers.

The Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2 are just one option in a family of earphones that can be mixed and matched based on your needs and preferences. They're the entry-level option in the series, but they're an outstanding choice for most listeners.

HOW THE SHURE SYSTEM WORKS

The Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2 touts its "Sound Isolating" design, claiming to block up to 37dB of noise without using active noise cancellation. The earphones have a tight fit with the included silicone or foam tips, with the result being excellent noise reduction with no audio processing.

Even the very best ANC alters the sound of the music, so any in-ear headphone that can reduce noise without resorting to ANC can sound a whole lot better. Shure has included an Environment Mode that lets outside noise in when you need to hear what's going on around you.