Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones
by Shure
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Our Price: $199.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $79.80 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones
Customer Review: Excellent sound for those willing to take a risk
Summary: 5 Stars
Echoing most other reviews here, this is an excellent set of earphones that are well worth the money. But buying them is a risk! If you don't wear these earphones correctly, they sound terrible, easily shown up by any pair of throwaway phones. Those unsatisfied with the sound quality (especially those complaining of lack of bass) either haven't put them in correctly or have oddly shaped ears.
Learning how to put them in properly takes time. Be prepared to spend a few hours fiddling with them and trying the different included cushions. Once you teach yourself how to put them in, it will only take a few seconds. Some tips: Before inserting the earbuds, draw the phones up from behind your ear, holding the earbuds in the correct orientation (drivers pointing medially), so the wires fall naturally between your head and pinna and the earbuds are just outside your ear canals. With one hand, pull the superoposterior part of the pinna in a superoposterior direction while inserting the earphone with the other. This straightens the ear canal and makes it easier to insert the earphone. (Your doctor uses the same maneuver when he/she examines you with an otoscope.) You may also wish to twist the earphone during insertion so that it lodges itself better. If the phones are properly inserted, they will have sealed your ear canals and you may want to relieve pressure via your Eustachian tubes (that is, swallow), just as on a climbing plane or skyscraper elevator.
It may seem like it takes a lot of work (and possibly learning a bit about anatomy) to get these earphones to work as intended. It does, and success is not guaranteed. But it's worth it! And to save your hearing, don't forget to turn down the volume, since your music will no longer have to compete with outside noise.
Customer Review: The best in-ear, noise-blocking earphones available!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used the Etymotic ER6 and also the Shure E2c's for a couple years now (since January 2002 I think). I use them extensively - probably averaging 2-3 hours daily. In my opinion they are both the best in-ear and isolating earphones in existence. I started with the Etymotic ER6's and then bought the Shure E2's as soon as I saw them advertised. I use them mostly while working out in the gym and yes--don't tell anyone-- while riding a bicycle. I know it's not the safest, but I'm addicted. As far as comparing the sound quality, I am not an expert and cannot tell much of a difference between the two. The main difference I have noticed is that the Shure E2c's have significantly better amplification than the Etymotics at the same volume settings on my MP3 player. Otherwise they are both so far above any of the dozens of other earphones, earbuds and headphones I have used that there is really no comparison. I could never go back. I use the Shure E2c's more now because they stay in my ears better as a result of their design which allows the cables to wrap around my ears. Also the cables have heavier shielding which decreases noise from wind and from the cables brushing against my clothes. The other advantage is that the Shure offers a 2 year warranty, whereas with the Etymotic's I could find no published warranty and they charged me $60 for a replacement after owning them for a few months. Unfortunately both earphones take quite a beating with all the physical activity. I'm on my second pair of Etymotic ER6 and my 3rd pair of Shure E2c's. The problem seems to be broken wires from motion and pressure associated with weightlifting. This is unfortunate, but I have not found any way to avoid it nor have I found any better in-ear earphones (with similar noise-blocking) to replace them.
Customer Review: amazing earbuds, you will hear new details in your music
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought these earbuds after reading review after review about how amazing they were.
I have been through plenty of different brands of earbuds and headphones. I always had a few problems with the usual target/walmart selection: they lacked bass and had piercing highs, they were uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time, earbuds would fall out easily, i could hear my heartbeat through the cord etc...
I wanted comfortable earbuds that sounded amazing,these were my answer. I have no problem laying down on my side with them in either (i could not find another earbud like this).
as for the audio: I am blown away! I am hearing sounds I have never heard before. Even after listening to a song many many times before, I hear amazing new details with the e2cs. The highs, mids, and lows are right on track with a perfectly calibrated and matched high end speaker system. I can finally use the EQ adjustments on my ipod without getting muddy bass response (unlike with my apple earbuds). I use the loudness EQ preset.
I found that the small foam sleeves work the best in my ears. I can wear the earbuds for a few hours without any discomfort. Inserting and removing the earbuds is easy, you should pull up and out on your ear when inserting to get the best fit and bass response. you could run with these in, they won't fall out of your ears.
the wrap around design is unique and helps keep the wires managed.
2 cons:
the price is a little steep for someone who normally spends a max of $25 on earbuds
it takes a little longer to put them in your ears, compared to just slapping on headphones
the company on amazon selling them never did ship them out, but amazon fixed that after a quick call.
Customer Review: Good Value. Good Sound (all from a company that stands behind their products)
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the E2cs about a year and a half ago and they worked great. I could not get my ears to fit to them well (I have medium sized ears) with the clear rubber or the plastic flex plugs so either my ears were way too uncomfortable or I didn't have any bass. The bass is plentiful when properly sealed, so if people are complaining about no bass it is because of the seal. So I wound up using the medium foam inserts that are included, and they work great. The only downside is that you have to replace them about every month (with heavy listening, otherwise about evert 2-3) otherwise they don't seal or get too gummed up. You can buy (overpriced) replacement foam inserts from Amazon or direct from Shure (about 7-12 bucks per 5 pairs).
Also, I accidentally ran mine through the washing machine 2 weeks ago (and amazingly they still worked-except there actually was no bass this time haha), so I put them in an envelope and sent them to Shure. They wanted proof of purchase, but I didn't save the receipt but anyway I sent them to them and 3 days later I got an email from them saying that they are sending me new ones (actually since the E2cs are no longer in production, they're sending me the near-identical SCL2-CL headphones-expect a review soon).
So in other words, they're great. One often overlooked negative that i have noticed is that because they actually go in your ear, chances are your friends won't want to share headphones with you, but I guess thats just more music for yourself! Just FYI though, I prefer my friends Sennheiser PX-100 headphones. They're about 1/2 the price, but I don't like over/behind the head style phones because they are too big. But if you don't mind that style, go with the PX-100s (or PMX-100 if you want the behind-the-head style)
Customer Review: Great Neutral Sounding Earphones
Summary: 5 Stars
For the bargain price of $60 these are great sounding earphones.
LIKES
1. Neutral, Smooth Sounding - if you are used to hearing exaggerated high and lows on your previous headphones, it will take a while to like the E2c because initially it gives a perception of "flatness". To my ear the high end is more SMOOTH rather than BRIGHT. However, overtime you will appreciate what music actually sound like without exaggerated high and lows. If you insisted on wanting exaggerated high and lows, steer away from the E2c!
2. Very Good Bass - In order to achieve good bass you MUST get good seal in your ear canals - that's why Sure thoughtly provides 3 sets of soft plastic plugs and 3 sets of soft foam plugs (large, medium, small)!! Also, everyone must read the instruction about how to insert these ear plugs - the cord is supposed to wrap upward around the top of the ear and come to the back of head/neck. Without following this instruction I was having a great deal of trouble achieving tight seal even with the large size ear plugs.
3. Excellent sound isolation if you achieve tight seal
4. Good Construction
5. Sure provides 30 day money back guarantee
DISLIKES
1. Sound varies depend on the placement of the earplugs - however this is not unique to the E2c. It took me some time to figure out the optimal placement - first few tries I get either poor seal (poor bass) or poor placement (poor treble). However, after following the instruction I finally found the optimal placement for my ears and the sound quality is worth my effort!
2. Can hear my footsteps when I walk but that's because the seal is tight and therefore a person can hear all the sounds transmitted through his body.