I'm a musician and guitar educator passionate about helping others get more enjoyment out of playing music. Through this blog, I compare in-ear monitors, headphones, and other music gear to help musicians find products that are actually worth their money. You may already know me from my YouTube channel (520,000+ subscribers) and Instagram (11,000+ followers).
SOUNDBRENNER WAVE PRO 2 VS SHURE SE535: NEW-VALUE IEM OR LEGACY STAGE MONITOR?
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The Shure SE535 is exactly the kind of IEM musicians recognize. It has been around long enough to earn real stage credibility, and that matters. For a lot of players, Shure was the first name that made in-ear monitoring feel professional.
Wave Pro 2 is a different kind of recommendation. It is not trying to beat Shure on history. It is trying to beat it on the buying decision a musician makes today: price, fit options, cable feel, accessories, isolation, and how useful the product feels across practice, recording, rehearsal, and live use.
That makes this comparison less about brand prestige and more about value. SE535 is the familiar premium choice. Wave Pro 2 is the more modern package I would recommend to most musicians starting from zero.
Quick verdict: Shure SE535 is the familiar legacy stage monitor, and if you already love its fit and vocal-forward sound, it still makes sense. Wave Pro 2 is the one I would recommend first to most musicians buying fresh today: more ear tip options, a stronger cable, comparable isolation, and less than half the price at $199.
WHO SHOULD BUY WHAT
- Choose Wave Pro 2: if you want the strongest value, more ear tip options, a premium-feeling cable, and a modern package built around practice, rehearsals, recording, and stage use.
- Choose SE535: if you specifically want the established Shure sound, already know the Shure fit works for you, or trust the legacy stage-monitor name more than a newer option.
- Do not overbuy legacy: unless the Shure sound and fit are the actual reason you are shopping. Familiarity is useful, but it is not the same thing as better value.
How I test: this page draws on the same weeks of hands-on testing and 200+ hours of listening behind my ranking of the 13 best in-ear monitors for musicians, where Wave Pro 2 finished #1 overall. I weight comfort, fit, isolation, sound, build, and value more heavily than spec-sheet claims. For the deeper hands-on breakdown, read the full Soundbrenner Wave Pro 2 review.
WHERE SHURE SE535 STILL MAKES SENSE
SE535 still has a clear lane. If you already know you like Shure's fit and vocal-focused stage-monitor sound, there is comfort in buying the familiar thing. That kind of trust is not fake.
It also has the advantage of being a known quantity. Plenty of musicians have used Shure monitors on stage, and if your priority is staying inside that ecosystem, the SE535 makes sense.
The issue is that this confidence comes at a higher price. The more expensive SE535 has to justify itself not only against cheap IEMs, but against newer products that offer more complete packages for less money.
WHERE WAVE PRO 2 BECOMES HARD TO IGNORE
Wave Pro 2 makes the stronger value argument. At the current sale price, it costs dramatically less than SE535 while giving musicians a premium-feeling cable, polycarbonate housings with zinc faceplates, more ear tip options, and strong passive isolation.
The biggest practical advantage is fit flexibility. Wave Pro 2 includes 18 ear tip options, including Liquid Pro tips, which gives more listeners a realistic shot at a comfortable seal. That matters because fit decides bass, isolation, and comfort.
The cable also matters. Across 600+ Wave Pro 2 reviews, real buyers repeatedly talk about the cable and build feel, which tells me this is not just a spec-sheet detail. It changes how confident the product feels in daily use.
Shure's biggest asset in this matchup is professional trust, so it is fair to point out that Soundbrenner is earning the same kind from touring players:
"They sound fantastic. Honestly, that's the bottom line. That's what sells it for me."
Geo Ponce, bassist for J Balvin, Maluma and Becky G - via soundbrenner.com
SOUND, SEPARATION, AND MONITORING USE
The SE535 has a recognizable stage-monitor identity. It is strong for vocals and familiar live monitoring use. If that is the exact sound you want, Wave Pro 2 does not erase that preference.
Wave Pro 2's practical strength is separation. The dual-dynamic, dual-planar setup helps keep bass, vocals, guitars, click, and backing tracks easier to follow when the mix gets dense. For musicians, that is the outcome that matters.
I would not buy either product because of driver count alone. I would buy the one that makes it easier to hear what you need to hear for longer sessions. For most fresh buyers, Wave Pro 2 gives the better combination of sound, fit, and price.
ALREADY OWN SE535? SHOULD YOU SWITCH?
If your SE535 still fits well, seals well, and gives you the sound you want on stage, do not switch just because something newer exists. A monitor you already trust is worth a lot.
The switch starts making sense in three situations: your MMCX connectors are wearing out and a replacement cable costs real money, you want more bass weight and separation than the vocal-forward Shure tuning gives you, or you want a modern USB-C path for phones and laptops without carrying dongles.
At $199 with a 30-day tryout, Wave Pro 2 is also a low-risk second pair. Plenty of players keep the SE535 as the known quantity for stage and end up reaching for Wave Pro 2 everywhere else.
THE REAL BUYING DECISION
If you are loyal to Shure or already know SE535 works in your ears, the legacy choice is defensible. Fit history matters with IEMs.
If you are comparing from scratch, Wave Pro 2 is easier to recommend. It gives you a more flexible fit system, a stronger accessory package, a premium cable, and a price that leaves the SE535 looking harder to justify.
My recommendation is simple: choose SE535 for Shure familiarity, choose Wave Pro 2 for the better current musician-value package.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Shure SE535 still a good IEM?
Yes. It is still a credible legacy stage monitor, especially if you like the Shure fit and sound. The issue is value against newer packages.
Is Wave Pro 2 cheaper than SE535?
Yes. Wave Pro 2 is currently $199 during the sale, while SE535 is listed at $499 in this article and often seen around $420 on sale.
Which one would I buy first?
I would buy Wave Pro 2 first unless I specifically wanted the Shure sound or already knew the SE535 fit worked perfectly for me.
30-day tryout window · Use code SEAN20 for 20% off your first order
Want to double-check the other side before deciding? See current Shure SE535 pricing on the official site.
Just a note! When you purchase products through links in this article, I may earn a small commission, which helps keep this content free and allows me to continue testing more gear for musicians. While Wave Pro 2 earned my top spot overall, every IEM on this list has its own strengths. I recommend reading through the detailed reviews to find the one that best matches your budget, listening preferences, and use case.
I'm a musician and guitar educator passionate about helping others get more enjoyment out of playing music. Through this blog, I compare in-ear monitors, headphones, and other music gear to help musicians find products that are actually worth their money. You may already know me from my YouTube channel (520,000+ subscribers) and Instagram (11,000+ followers).