Do You Hear What I Hear?
Shure Brings “Golden Ear” Experience to CES 2008

NILES, IL, February 8, 2008 – Renowned for delivering premium audio products that improve the personal listening experience, Shure knows quality sound better than anyone.  At CES 2008, the company showcased its 82-year legacy and conducted a "Golden Ear Challenge" for the CE media community.  Knowing that many audiophiles claim to have a "Golden Ear" that allows them to hear things less experienced listeners miss, Shure challenged journalists to put their ears to the test.

In order to determine their "Golden Ear" status, media participants at CES used Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones to identify compression levels and hidden sounds in well-known pieces of music.  Vying for bragging rights, participants also encouraged their peers to tackle the challenge.  On a show floor buzzing with new device launches and spectacular displays, media members flocked to the Shure booth to see how their ears stacked up against fellow journalists’. 

Some tried and true music lovers feared that years of rock concerts had left them at a disadvantage, and even the most sophisticated audiophiles found the listening test to be a challenge.  Whether they got thoroughly stumped or sailed by with a perfect score, however, all participants witnessed the highs and lows of a “Golden Ear” experience. 

Key challenge highlights include:

-  Over 30 media participants ranging from true audiophiles to gadget reviewers
-  Two perfect scores, achieved by Michael Fremer of Stereophile and Al Hernandez of FOX News Morning, Northern California
-  One 90% score, achieved by Joe Brown of WIRED Magazine

Stereophile Senior Contributing Editor Michael Fremer set the “Golden Ear” standard by being the first to achieve a perfect score on the “Golden Ear” listening test.  He said, “I don't believe there is such a thing as a ‘Golden Ear’ (or a ‘Golden Tongue,’ ‘Golden Eye,’ etc.). 

However, while almost everyone can hear, critical listening is a skill that requires both practice and experience to perfect. With a bit more of both, I think almost all of the participants could achieve a perfect score.”

Mark Karnes, Shure’s Executive Director of Marketing, had this to say: “Shure has always delivered the ‘gold standard’ in portable personal and professional listening.  Our CES challenge not only provided a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our friends in the media to emulate the most discerning pro musicians and Shure audio engineers, but it also underscored our dedication to giving as many people as possible a ‘Golden Ear’ experience.  Next time you spot Shure on a trade show floor, we hope you’ll be up to the challenge.”  
 
Editor's Note:

For web-ready action photos of the “Golden Ear Challenge” at CES, visit the Golden Ears image page. 

Visit Investor’s Business Daily to see what they had to say about the challenge.

For review units of Shure Sound Isolating Earphones, please contact publicrelations@shure.com.

Additional Press Assistance   

Mike Lohman

Phone: +1(847) 600-2000

E-Mail:  publicrelations@shure.com