How Push-To-Hear (PTH) Works

You’ve just taken off on a Boeing 747 for your flight overseas. The pilot’s voice comes over the intercom stating you can use your "portable electronic devices", so you immediately turn on your player and put on your Shure Sound Isolating Earphones. You insert them in your ear and the music comes alive. Within seconds, the massive airline jet engine just outside your window and the screaming baby a few rows back disappear.  As you drift into that place somewhere between awareness and music heaven you realize your thirst and open your eyes. 

The flight attendant is asking your neighbor for his drink preference.  You now have to make the same choice on every flight: try to communicate your order using only a combination of exaggerated facial contortions and hand signals, or take out your perfectly-seated earphones so that you can hear your own voice and the flight attendant’s.  Now there's a better way.

Benefits of the PTH 

The Push-To-Hear control allows you to conveniently alternate between complete isolation and your connection to the outside world.  It lets you communicate with other people without having to remove your earphones from your ears. The unit has an on/off switch that activates a miniature microphone embedded in the cable.  When activated, the music or movie soundtrack drops to the distant background and the ambient sound around you is fed directly to the earphones.  The recessed volume wheel located on the side of the PTH control adjusts the volume level of the microphone so you can set it to your personal preference once and forget it. Don’t forget – it also works with any standard earphone in the event your forgot your Shure earphones.   

Using the PTH Control 

Start by setting the volume on your music player to a comfortable listening level -- on an iPod this should generally be less then half-volume.  Make sure the volume level on the PTH is turned all the way down (this is how it ships when new). Then turn the PTH on (you will see the LED turn green) and increase the microphone volume level on the PTH until you are comfortable with the ambient sound level. The PTH is powered by a single AAA battery, which is inserted at the bottom of the device. Make sure the PTH unit is turned off before you connect or disconnect an audio device.  Note: The PTH is not to be used as a hearing aid, recording tool, or amplifier. 

 
The PTH is included with the E500PTH Earphones, and is also available as a separate accessory.

We understand that when you use premium earphones, you want to enjoy them to the fullest extent.  This means making them not only comfortable, but easy to use.  Getting a proper fit is critical and the PTH ensures you won’t be re-fitting your earphones every time your friendly traveling neighbor has a question.  Whether your traveling, at the gym, or relaxing at home, the convenience of the PTH device gives you the isolation that headphones can’t with the push of a button.