Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones Reviews

• awesome pair of phones, three caveats

  
  By A2F5M6EKJ4D43R on 2004-09-02
  I am totally into these noise-cancelling earphones and they perfectly complement my iRiver mp3 player/recorder in sound and color. Once you've gotten over their higher price point, have followed the enclosed instructions exactly and begun to use them, there is no going back to the normal, flat sounding buds. They isolate exterior noise and that is a boon if you live in a noisy environment, like NYC infamously is.
  
  Experiment with using the foam vs. the flex sleeves to your taste. I've stuck with the smallest of the three sized flex sleeves and after two days testing my ears were used to the slight increase in pressure.
  
  A warning: be careful not to turn the volume up too high in public as one needs to be able to know when her/his attention is required, among other things. Be extra aware of traffic when on the street. Also, high volume just is not necessary as ALL exterior racket (subways, curse-laden conversations and car horns) is rendered mutedly surreal.
  
  Also, be mindful of its carrying case. I've had my pair for almost a year now and the case's cable spool has bent the cord's wire covering to such an extent that it is now exposed. Far be it from me to walk around town like a super-geek w/ electrical tape on mine; I plan to replace them with one from amazon's marketplace sellers for cheaper when Santa comes around this December. But be advised to remove the interior cable spool completely and keep the headphones rolled up manually before placing them inside the case. The case is very durable, zips up securely, is nonbreakable, has a soft protective interior and is lightweight.
  
  One other observation -- use q-tips and rubbing alcohol to regularly clean the flex sleeves if you decide to use those. The foam probably would just wear out completely. Shure's website does sell replacment sleeves (both foam and flex) for $10-$12 each w/ 5 pair included, which is nice.
  
  I honestly would have given the product five stars if it wasn't for the breaking of the wire cover coupled with their already high price. The warnings above should keep yours in good working shape for years though and this is a great investment for all digital audiophiles. :-)
  
  

• great product, and Shure stands by it

  
  By AEGQWVR6KWBV on 2005-01-22
  Like many people, I was tempted by the good reviews but reluctant to pay so much for a pair of tiny earphones. Finally, almost 2 years ago, I bought a pair.
  
  Like all of the other reviews here state, the Shure E2c's sound GREAT. They are very balanced, and let you hear the subtle details of your music, making the music almost come alive in your head. They turn your MP3 player or Discman into an audiophile-quality stereo system.
  
  The E2c blocks outside noise by forming a very tight seal in your ear. In contrast, "noise canceling" earphones, such as the popular ones by Bose, do not block outside noise from reaching your ear, rather they add their own electronically generated noise which is supposed to cancel out the outside noise. I've never had good results with the various noise canceling headphones I've tried; plus, they require batteries to generate the noise-canceling noise. The E2c's block noise without batteries, and without adding any artificial noise or discoloration to your music. It works very well. I especially appreciate it at gym, on the bus or subway, and on a plane. (Warning - PLEASE don't wear the E2c's while driving or bicycling or any other time that safety requires your full attention!)
  
  The build quality of the E2c's is very good - the cord and plug are thicker and sturdier than competing earphones. For 2 years, I heavily used and abused my E2c's, especially at the gym. Literally hundreds and hundreds of times, I've plugged and unplugged them into my various MP3 players, hastily wound and unwound the cord, and tossed them into my gym bag, usually without using the protective case that comes with the E2c's. Despite the very good build quality, my heavy use led finally to a short: when the cord was wiggled in a certain way, the sound on the left side would briefly go out.
  
  I went to Shure's website and saw that they have a 2-year warranty. I sent my E2c's to Shure for repair, hoping it would be covered by warranty, but prepared to pay if Shure felt the problem was due to wear and tear (because, in fact, it was). Two weeks later, I received from Shure a BRAND-NEW PAIR of E2c's - they decided the problem WAS covered by the warranty, and wanted me to have a new pair rather than repairing my old ones!!!
  
  This is more than I expected, and will make me a repeat buyer of Shure products! I especially appreciate this level of service given the lackluster support I've received from so many other companies.
  
  
  

• Shure E2C - So good it's scary

  
  By AMVA50HIJXMWF on 2004-04-14
  I just got these earphones and they are very different than I thought they would be. Don't get me wrong - I love them. I live in Manhattan and was not ready for the change that would happen when I put these guys in my ears. Basically I can't hear anything but the music. I'm missing subway stops, almost getting hit by cars. People talk to me and all I see is lip flap. I'm in my own little music world walking around scared that something is going to happen that I can't hear. Like: "Hey look out, watch your head!" Or "Hey look out for the taxi it's gonna hit you!" But when it's a good song I don't seem to care... Unless the subway decides to go express and I end up on Delancy street. Anyway - the sound is awesome. It does take some time getting used to the them in your ear - but so far, so good.
  
  

• Excellent product, blows any earbud away!

  
  By A1TXOJ3S7G7EI1 on 2003-11-06
  I bought these earphones for a combination of uses - travel, exercise, casual listening, etc. They are great. The noticeable background noise attenuation is perfect for flights, busy airports, mowing the lawn or anywhere you want to tune out the outside world. Bass response is very good, I'd call it neutral (which is the best thing a serious music fan can ask for.)

  These earphones are very low profile and unobtrusive to wear. They do not create the fatigue I get while wearing regular headphones for a long period and the sound blows away the numerous earbuds I have tried. I use the flex fit sleeves which are very comfortable. By cinching up the sleeve on the cord, they stay in place with minimal fuss even while exercising.

  I strongly recommend these earbuds to anyone who wants immersive, comfortable and excellent sound.
  
  

• If you want to know what to expect, read this.

  
  By ADUSJHGS14HX7 on 2006-08-31
  This is a stream of consciousness review written as I adjusted to my new Shure E2's. If you want to know what to expect when you get these, read this and you'll know.
  
  First impression, 'these are difficult to put on'.
  
  As soon as I put them on and turned on my iPod I could hear a hissing sound. I gather this was always there but just drowned out by ambient noise before.
  
  The clear sleeves at first seemed to slip right out of my ears as did the black sleeves.
  
  Using the small orange sleeves the sound was VERY tinny, in one case it completely removed the bass guitar from a song I was listening to, and in another the lower notes of a 'rockin' piano were hard to hear. If I pressed in on my ears/the earphones I could hear these instruments much better. If I turned it up I could hear the bass, but the highs were way too loud. The problem then was of balancing across the frequency range, even with these things lodged in my ears. I really wanted to just return these pieces of crap, but decided to stick with it since I read they take some getting used to.
  
  After 1 hour of use:
  Within an hour of casual listening and taking them off/on a few times it got much easier to put them on, and as my proficiency in 'installation' grew, so it seemed did the sound quality. The orange squishy sleeves felt a little odd, but I got used to them pretty soon and after about an hour they gave me no discomfort.
  
  I realized it was easier to drape the cord behind the ear, then twist in the bud so that you could do it with one hand. Instead of bud then cord. I can put one on with each hand using this method.
  
  After I got used to putting the buds on with the orange sleeves, the clear sleeves worked out better and stayed in place. The sound was pretty good, but still was missing quote a bit of the low freq's, although the volume level can be set low and the sound is still quite loud enough to hear.
  
  Then I tried the medium black sleeves, and I twisted a little to get them jammed in my ears. The sound seemed immediately much more balanced than with the other sleeves. I noticed with these I got a good plug effect in my ears, which is prolly why they sounded better right away. It felt odd, but I could hear the music, so I knew - **this was the way the E2's were supposed to fit.** You should feel like your ears are plugged up when there is no noise. It's odd that when you start the music your ears kind of have a slight popping feeling like when you change elevations in a plane. That's the right feeling for good sound. The bass response is not exaggerated, and the highs and lows blend exactly as they should. Combined with the fact they produce very good clarity I can't imagine how these could sound any better.
  
  After about 20 mins with this 'good fit' and waking up a littler more I LOVE THESE EARBUDS. They sound damn good with the right sleeves on them. The black ones are soft and flexible so you can get them in there and they don't look silly like the orange ones.
  
  Even with a decent head shake the properly fit buds stay in place. I'm not sure how they'd hold up under sweaty running conditions though. It likely depends upon which sleeve you use.
  
  So then I went home on day 1 of having these and cut my grass. I used the same black sleeves and once I got them jammed into my sweaty ears I could barely hear the lawnmower even with low volume music! I literally could not tell when the mower was stalling because the sound was so blocked by these earbuds. The right one stayed in for the hour, but I had to re-seat the left one every 10 mins or so, perhaps my ear is bigger on that side :) I was EXTREMELY impressed that these things could block the sound from a lawn mower and allow me to enjoy my music.
  
  Bottom line: I'm glad I bought these, even for $70. They work very well and produce great sound under office conditions and louder activities once you get them fitted. The only drawback I have? I wish they had a white cord to match the iPod, and the clear tube that you can slide up and down on the cords could use a slit in it like the iPod earbuds, but these are minor things.
  
  
• Good, but not great...
  By A12KPZ1Q8GAEEM on 2007-07-22
  As someone with a lot of experience with in-ear headphones hopefully I can shed some light for those looking for the "perfect pair." When I first started looking for in-ears, there were a lot of reviews, but very few who cross referenced the various products available. Hopefully this review will help to address that issue. I work as an audio professional. Unlike some of my colleagues, I recognize that this does not make my opinion any more important than anyone else's. I have found through working in studios that there is a huge variety in what people find to be "great sound." What I personally favor is neutrality. This will bias my review. Some people prefer some coloration to their sound (like grados), and that works for them.
  For those of you who have never worn in ear headphones, it could be a new and unpleasant experience. If you are like me, however, it will be one of the greatest discoveries of your life. Through experiments with my friends and family, I have found that no one model of in-ears fits everyone the same, so it is probably best to try a bunch before making a big investment if possible.
  I have owned the Shure E2c & E4c, the Ultimate Ears 5 Pro, as well as the Etymotic ER-6i & ER-4P. I have also tried the new bose in-ears.
  The first pair I owned was the E2c from Shure. These headphones got me into the in-ear market and impressed me how much better the idea of blocking sound was than trying to cancel it, which always turned out poorly to my ears.
  "Where did the music go?"
  "I don't know. I guess it got canceled."
  I was also impressed by the fact I didn't need to walk around with big studio headphones on to get good sound. I did however find the bass was somewhat overblown and the sound muffled. They are also somewhat bulky.
  This led me to the Shure E4c, a great pair of headphones. I have found, for the shape of my ears, these to be the most comfortable headphones out there, and a noticeable improvement over the E2c. The sound is great as well. My only complaint is that the high end can get harsh at times and I found myself having to EQ some records to prevent the highs from killing my ears. They have a good amount of bass, but it is not as clear as some other headphones.
  After owning the E4c model for a long time, I decided to move on to the Ultimate Ears 5 Pros. I have to admit I didn't really like these headphones, but I can see why some people would. They don't fit as deep into your ears as any other model I've owned, which some people might prefer. Unfortunately this also means that they don't block sound as well either. Second, the sound is less natural. The high end is thin and the bass is over-hyped. I would describe it as a scooped-mid sound which makes the bass forceful and the highs sparkle, but fatigued my ears and left out some of the most pleasing frequencies.
  I decided to return the UE5 Pros after one on the earphones started crackling intermittently (I hear they are very reliable, just not my pair). I replaced them with the ER-6i model from Etymotic. I have a love/hate relationship with these headphones, but I will still give them 5 stars. First of all, the love. They fit very deep in your ears, but I found them to be comfortable and noticed that they blocked outside sound better than any other headphones I had tried. The sound is very natural. Not everyone likes this, but I was in love. Do not buy these headphones if you are looking for a lot of bass. They do, however, have great bass definition, better than the E4c from Shure. My main problem with these headphones is that they are delicate. See other reviews on this topic. Etymotic really should address this issue. Overall I found these to be vastly superior to the Shure E2c and the Bose, which are in the same price range.
  After loving the ER-6i, I decided to step up to the ER-4P. This is currently my all-time favorite pair of headphones. More so even than any expensive studio pair I have owned. These headphones are expensive for walking around town and most people will balk at the price, but I have found them to be worth it. They fit pretty much the same as the ER-6i, but are more durable. The bass is stronger than the ER-6i and the highs are cleaner. All around a very natural even sound that has very little color to it. For anyone who records out there this is a great choice because not only does it block out a lot of sound, but because they are in-ears, there is no leakage into the mic, which can be a hassle.
  I tried the bose in-ears when a colleague brought them to work, but do not own them. We all found they had greatly exaggerated bass and didn't sound very good. But I only heard them once.
  Thanks for reading and I hope this can help you in your search for "great sound."
  
  
• The best in-ear, noise-blocking earphones available!
  By A18HDZK1175P45 on 2004-02-02
  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.
  
  
• Not bad.
  By on 2004-07-15
  I got these as a present and was initially unhappy with the quality of the output - until I read the manual and realize the special position of the headphones (wiring curled over the ear and behind the head). The tighter the seal with the sponges/earbuds, the more the isolation factor and the better the quality sound. But this puts the speaker tunnel deeper in your ear canal.

  Pretty good on the train and helps the 2 hour daily commute - blocks out most conversations. But certain voice pitch will permeate (bad) and the conductor annoucements are heard clearly (not a bad thing).

  Excellent in the work place but it is a pain to take the buds out then put them back in.

  Overall good for a city person/commuter warrior who is a minimalist and wants to block out the world.
  
  

• really unpleasant after the break-in. not for me.
  By A2UBMBLY4I0S8A on 2005-04-21
  Didn't mind them at first - had my hopes up, since I believe in breaking in quality components. I have broken these things in thoroughly. Listened via my iPod and my computer. I have come to the conclusion that they are like early high-end audio and studio monitors - lots of detail, utterly unnatural and thin tonalities. Music sounds bleached. Comparing them to the Etymotics ER-6i - which may simply be a better match for the devices I'm using, but I don't think so - the ER6i is a bit more detailed, has much more impactful bass, sweeter tonality and in general sounds more like music. I will miss the heavier construction and behind the ear security of the Shure's, but, to my tastes, they have become increasingly unpleasant to listen to. The Etymotics are a bit more money, but not much, and they are designed, clearly, by people in touch with the FEEL of music, not just the frequency range.
  
  
• Clarity, Clarity, Clarity
  By A49UG6ANGV6M1 on 2004-01-12
  The Shure e2 earphones are, in a word, clear. The frequency response is relatively flat, and the sound is fairly neutral. The treble is a bit recessed, but the overall sound is very clear and uncolored. The actual design is quite good, but people will need to get used to having something inside the ear canal, which block a good portion of outside sound. This passive noise reduction is excellent; the music doesn't have to be turned up as much as on my Sony Fontopias. Hands down, the e2's were the best earphones I had heard before listening to the new e3 that just came out.

  I have a few gripes, with the first being about the price. People will pay anywhere between $70 on ebay to $100+ on Shure's website, and I think this is a bit excessive. The sound is not THAT great; sure it's clear, but it's certainly not as detailed or musical as the e3 or e5. The e2's were made with the performing musician's desire to hear him/herself without the need for bulky monitors, and they certainly do that job very well. The e2's are not, however, a substitute for higher-end headphones such as the Etymotics or Sennheiser HD-280/600s.

  The wiring in my e2's failed on me after barely two months, and on several of my friends' e2's as well. Shure has apparently modified the cable to prevent this from happening as much in the future. You should be aware of this, although Shure's customer service is excellent. The two year warranty is excellent; just keep your receipt and box.
  
  

• Great sound but not perfect...
  By ARH273RUS15LV on 2007-06-13
  Hello All,
  
  I've owned the Shure E2C Sound Isolating Earphones for almost a year now.
  I'm not an audiophile, but I can appreciate good sound reproduction. These earphones are amazing interms of clarity of highs and mid level sounds. The base is more than passible but not deep and ear-bleeding like some Sony or Bose models. I'm not into those models at all, since the music I listen to are often instrumentals with very little base, also supplemented with Podcasts and the occasional audio book.
  
  I was immediately and pleasantly surprised to hear sounds I've never heard before in music I've listened to a thousand times from my car and computer speakers. I was very impressed and happy with my purchase. But, as with most things, it does come at a price. I'll get to that in a bit.
  
  These earphones comes with 3 styles of earbuds. One is the round soft rubber kind (which come in large, med, small to suit your ear canal), the other is the soft squishy yellow foam, which molds to the shape of your ear (also comes in large, med and small), and the hard plastic kind (also in large, med and small).
  
  The hard plastic kind works the best in terms of blocking outside sound but because its hard plastic, my ears start to ache after a few hours of continuous use. The foam feels the best in terms of comfort but doesn't block out sound as well as the hard plastic and the soft rubber ones. I finally settled on the soft rubber ones, a nice compromise between the hard plastic and the foam. It's soft, fits comfortably and blocks out most of the outside noise.
  
  Now, it's important to NOTE that people have been tossing around the term NOISE CANCELING freely without any regard to its meaning. In terms of earphones and headphones, NOISE CANCELING refers to the mechanism within the headphones or earphones that actually emit a noise canceling signal that actually cancels out the frequency of most of the outside sound coming in.
  
  I've tried the ones from Bose, Sony, and even Shure, which all have a seperate switch to turn on this function. The feeling is really weird and needs some getting used to. It feels like being stuffed up with a head-cold, or your ears on the verge of popping. But, it does do what it claims, which is actively canceling out a large percentage of outside noise coming in.
  
  THESE earphones are NOT NOISE CANCELING earphones. They are sound isolating earphones. This means that they just block out the sound by forming a tight fit into your ear canal to prevent any other sound from getting in. That's all. Its the same as someone doing constuction across the street from your house and you close all the windows and doors to block out that sound. These earphones DO NOT emit a noise canceling signal to actively cancel out outside sound.
  
  I hope this was helpful and makes sense to you.
  
  Anyhow, back to the review.
  
  You need to practice putting these things on your ear. What the hell does that mean? Well, if you've never used these type of earphones before, you will see that its more than just popping in these earbuds like the standard ones do.
  
  The earphones comes with instructions and pictures to show you how to put them on, so don't worry. But, to give you an idea, first the darker colored earbud is ALWAYS the right side earbud. The clear colored one is the left. You first take the earbud cord, loop it around the back of your ear and then insert the earbud into your ear. Don't worry, if this doesn't make any sense, you'll understand when you own your own pair. These earphone won't fit into your ear in any other way AND will always pop out if you don't do it this way.
  
  Is it comfortable? Yes, but over an extended period of time, my left ear starts to ache, but this is after 3 hours of continuous use.
  
  Again, the sound reproduction is great. And it blocks out a large percentage of outside noise. I commute by bus and train and these guys are perfect to keep out all that excess noise.
  
  Now, here are some drawbacks:
  
  1) These are not good for exercising, or anything that involves active movement and sweating. REASON: as you sweat the earbuds will always slip out. If you are just lifting weights, they're fine. If you are on an exercise bike, most of the time, its ok. For jogging, no good.
  
  2) This reason is also in tandem with the first one. If you are motionless, i.e. lying down or sitting or just standing in line waiting for the train or bus, these earphones will produce great sound. However, because your ear canal is almost completely sealed by the earphones, internal sounds will be amplified. What does this mean?
  
  Here is the easiest and most accurate example:
  
  Please try the following: Plug your ears with your fingers, (not put the palms of your hands over your ears). Please becareful when you do this. Take whatever finger fits, completely plug up your ear canal and eat some potatoe chips. The sound of you crunching on those chips are incredibly loud. Walk around a room that has hard wood or concrete floors. Your footsteps are also annoyingly audible.
  
  This is almost the exact sensation you will experience when you have these buds in your ear.
  
  So please take note of this. I commute to work by bus and train, and the only thing that bothers me is the noise that I hear when i'm eating, walking and the buds slipping out when I'm sweating on a hot day.
  
  3) In addition to 1 and 2, the cord itself, if its free and dangling, you will hear the sound of the cord hitting your chest if its not taught or secure in some way. And that sound is quite loud and distracting.
  
  
  That's it in terms of drawbacks. The earphones come in a nice looking zippered case for easy storage and travel. So, I'm pretty happy with my purchase, because the sound is great and my commute is mostly sitting down or waiting, but hearing my loud footsteps as I rush from my bus stop to the nearest subway train is still very annoying, something I haven't gotten used to yet, probably never will.
  
  I hope this review has been helpful. Buyers beware, as always, try to get as much info on a product before purchasing. Be safe.
  
  
  
  
  
• Not for everyone.
  By A1JHWVXCV5KGAA on 2006-06-13
  Personally, I think these sound terrible (weak bass, distorted high end, midrange bias) and tried every combination of all of the ear sleeves. Only with a lot of cramming could I ever get the bass to work and then it would mess up the highs. Very likely its just the specific shape of my particular ear canal. Who's to say that even 6 different sleeve types are enough?
  
  For travel, I do have some non-earplug type earbuds that came with an inexpensive mp3 player I actually prefer - found them by accident after trying both Sony and the Shure earbuds and not liking either. Did not try the high $$ ones though.
  
  I would suspect many people might have a problem with the ear plug type headphones. If high quality, accurate sound is important and you can put up dragging around a full sized over the ear headphone the Sony MDR 7502 is one I would recommend that sounds great and is inexpensive and works well with low output devices like portable mp3 players.
  
  
  
• Travellers Best Buy
  By A3HQIM7CD7C2UC on 2004-11-21
  If you spend plenty of time in transit, and want to be able to enjoy your music, these are THE earphones to get ! (or if you have even more cash to burn, look for the higher priced Shure E3 & E5 earphones) At about $100, they are a great buy.
  
  It is much easier (and less tiring) to fly when you are wearing ear plugs. With these, you can have the sound eliminating effects of ear plugs, while being able to listen to music (or the in flight movie, DVD player or a Gameboy) in peace.
  
  The sound quality is great, and with the sound isolation, you really get to hear everything that is in the music (try listening to a live recording with these: you will hear all kinds of stuff that you never knew existed on the recording) !
  
  You can even sleep nicely, with some calming music in the background while you fly, ride the train, bus, or travel by car, since much of the background noise is blocked out.
  
  They also work great for workouts (since they sit in the ear, and don't really want to slip out), the beach and anywhere that you want to get away from everything around you and have some peace.
  
  If you're going to spend the money for an electronic toy to entertain you....nothing beats a great set of earphones that give you great sound; and block out the noise and distractions around you. These earphones do just that !
  
  I have been spoiled, and will never go back to a conventional ear bud or headphone again !
  
  
• Surprising clarity, excellent fit
  By A27WLAGNZ7V8XT on 2006-07-07
  After many years of faithful use from my set of Sony earbuds, I had gotten to the point where I was ready to try a slightly more sophisticated set of in-ear headphones (read: the rubber on the right cord was worn to the point where there was over an inch of copper wiring exposed).
  
  I restricted myself to a firm top price of $100, and then began an exhaustive search which ended tentatively with the Shure E2c Consumer Headphones. I had heard much about the Shure company, and a friend of mine who works in a recording studio assured me that anything they make must be quality.
  
  COMFORT
  The first thing that was markedly different with the Shure E2c from my Sony earbuds was the fit. Most earbuds slip into the ear canal and then hang straight down, while others (like my Sony pair) have one ear cord that is longer so that you can loop that part around the back of your head, thus keeping the cord out of your way.
  
  The Shure E2c go one better. Each earphone has a separate, angled channel from the base of the unit that sits comfortably inside the ear canal, while the unit itself rests flat along the outside, at the top of your ear. It is tricky the first few times to get the settled, but you get use to it fairly quickly. Once positioned, the cords actually wrap over the top of your ear, meeting in the back with a plastic sleeve that can be tightened or loosened behind you back. This has proven to be great when running, as the cords can be secured tightly to the back of your head, and with the cord running behind my neck, my arms don't get tangled in it.
  
  Also, there are nearly a dozen different types and sizes of earphone sleeves, ranging from very thin, soft rubber to collapsible foam made from the same material that earplugs are, so once inserted properly they expand for a nice, snug fit.
  
  CONSTRUCTION
  The design of the headphones, as mentioned above, is a definite improvement and can be worn for many hours without discomfort. Also, the cording is noticeably thicker then my old Sony earbuds and feels like it could stand up to a good deal of abuse.
  
  CLARITY AND SOUND
  Initially I was a bit put off by the sound range when I first began using the Shure E2c. The clarity was astounding from the very first chord, but the sound was slightly tinny and the baseline seemed rather flat. The same friend who initially pointed me in Shure's direction assured me that this was normal and that I should give them a few weeks to break in.
  
  He was right, of course, and I am now enjoying a rich array of sounds and instruments that went unheard with my Sony earbuds. I am simply amazed that such tiny speakers can produce such a rich field of sound.
  
  NOISE-CANCELING
  The Shure E2c are not true noise-canceling like the Bose QuietComfort ones are, but when fitted correctly, then do create a sort of "noise vacuum," similar to the effect you get when plugging your ears with your fingertips. This means that while much of the outside noises are greatly reduced, any internal noises from your body are amplified. This is most noticeable while eating, or from the jarring of your footsteps if you are running on a hard surface.
  
  
• Good, but not without issues
  By A2NYELLL45OIAS on 2007-08-25
  I was looking for headphones to serve me in the following conditions:
  
  - Working out (jogging and weights);
  - Airplane travel;
  - Work
  
  I have gone through several $10-20 headphones (usually the "sport" types that have a plastic hook that go over your ears) as well as the ear buds that came with my IPod Nano. The cord on the $10-20 versions typically wear out on me after 6-9 months of use. The ear buds from Apple were inadequate b/c they slip out when working out, and also they fail to cancel out any background noise when traveling. I am not an audiophile by any means, I just want a reliable set of headphones that work well for different situations. After reading reviews I decided to "go up a notch" and try a more expensive set, and purchased the Shure E2c's online for $59. Below are my impressions so far:
  
  Positives:
  1. They stay securely in my ear and do not slip out;
  2. Do a good job of "isolating" the sound when listening on an airplane, where the engine caused me to have to increase the volume quite high when using the standard Apple earbuds just to hear (obviously not good for my ears). With the Shure's I am able to set at a normal volume level and hear OK).
  3. Solid, thick cord that does not appear they will wear out if taken care of properly (i.e. storing them in the small, compact case that came with it).
  
  Negatives:
  1. Inadequate for office use do the the challenge of putting on and securing. It is difficult to describe with words, but from each earbud a cord comes out and wraps around the front and then over your ear, with both cords coming to the back of your head. This is then tightened behind your head with a sliding tube to prevent them from coming off, and the main cord leading to the MP3 device is now behind you.
  
  I have become more adept at putting these on, but it does take some adjusting, wrapping cords around your ears, and fitting things just right each and every time. You can't just easily slip them on and off like other sets.
  
  For working out or for extended wear on a plane this is great, they just aren't going to slip out. For the office though they are pretty much unusable for me. If someone comes into my office with a quick question I have to take them out, then spend another couple of minutes putting them back in. If I need to get up to go down the hall to the printer or the restroom, same thing. So I find myself just using the Apple earbuds in the office as it is much, much simpler to get on and off quickly.
  
  2. Design. This is the only set of earphones I've ever seen in my life that doesn't have an "L" and an "R" to designate which is the left and right earbud. Instead the designer decided to get cute and make one side a solid color and the other side a split color. Don't ask me which is which because I forget each time. To me this is just brainless on the part of the designers.
  
  3. Sound quality. It's OK, but I guess I just expected a little more when buying something from a company that purports to be "the best" and "the choice of professional musicians". Again I'm not an audiophile by any means, but the tones just don't sound that deep or rich. I understand that these represent their "low end" version, but for a company asking for $99 (I paid $59 online) again I just expected more, because frankly the sound isn't that much better than the cheap pairs I've owned.
  
  Summary
  These are a great set to use when working out. For the office they are simply impractical. For air travel (where there is a need to block out the noise from the jet engines) they are certainly adequate, however if this is all you were looking for then I'd consider one of the Bose models (not the earbuds but the full headset that goes over the ears; I have tried my brother-in-laws and they are actually noise "canceling" and not just "isolating", and are infinitely more comfortable than any earbud model).
  
  For now though, my system of using the Shure's for the gym and the airplane and the Apple earbuds for the office will be adequate for my needs.
  
  
• E2c's VS Etymotic ER61's
  By A7C6A81AXN2H on 2005-11-10
  I was torn between these two and so I did the sensible thing - I purchased both! My thought was that I would unload the pair that I did not like on eBay.
  
  The problem is, I like them both but for different reasons. They both offer crisp, accurate sound like you can't imagine. I have heard others say this and it is true, your favorite music will sound brand new. You will hear nuances that you have never heard - listening to Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" I swear I could hear the room!
  
  The differences came in comfort vs. sound and build quality. I found that the Shure 'phones were much beefier build. They look like what they are, an entry level professional monitor set. The wires are heavy and don't look like they will ever fray. At first, I was not wild about the sound. I thought they were a little weak in the bass. If you buy these be prepared to invest some time. It will take a bit for you to find the sweet spot in your ears, the tips that you like and they do apparently have a burn-in period. After three weeks I am in love with the sound. The bass is just deep enough without muddying up those spectacular highs. The problem is, they aren't all that comfortable. They are heavier and larger than the Etymotics and more of the phone sets in the outside of your ear, more like an earbud.
  
  The Etymotics on the other hand are elegant. The speaker portion is tiny compared to the Shures. You really can fit the whole piece inside of your ear canal, and in fact, you have to do this to get the best sound. No matter how I have tried, though, I can't get a sound that I like as well as the Shures. The highs and mids are beautiful but the bass just isn't as well defined. I talked with Etymotic and they are wonderful - they sent me several alternate ear pieces and gave advice - even sent me a free spool for the wires. Nothing I tried got the sound there.
  
  However, they are much more comfortable than the Shures. They are light and the wires are almost wispy in comparison. I put these in before I go to bed (I work nights and need the isolation to drown out my three year old son!) and they never bother me the way the larger Shures do.
  
  So here is my conclusion - the Shures are my favorites for out in public. I don't have to worry about breaking them or stripping them when they are in my bag. The Etymotics never leave my bedside. They are nice and safe there. Whatever you decide, give them time. In-ear phones are a different beast and it takes time to figure out how they interface with your anatomy.
  
  Now if only I could convince my wife that I need an iPod for the road and one for home.....
  
  
• At first disappointed, then very happy *UPDATE - 4 MONTHS LATER*
  By A23IGMYNOHRXXG on 2005-12-31
  First off, I live in NYC and ride the subway and buses. Needless to say it's noisy, so noise-cancelling earphones are important to me. I've owned three pairs of Sony EX51/71s (see my Amazon review), very happy with the sound, but sick of the build quality, decided to spend the extra money and try the Shure E2Cs.
  
  The Shures are bigger than the Sonys and definitely are not as comfortable. I tried all three styles of sleeves that the Shures come with, and the same black soft type that the Sonys come with were most comfortable for me. The clear, harder type fell out of my ears no matter what size I used or how I positioned the earphones.
  
  I thought that I had found the right fit with the mid-size black sleeves and wore them for the first day. The bass was at about 50-60% of the Sonys, which was increasingly disappointing. The Shures were not as comfortable, cost twice as much, and didn't sound as good to me. They sounded more mid-rangey, half the bass, and weren't as warm sounding as the Sonys.
  
  But - I found that if I pushed them in my ears a little more, the bass became much more present. I then tried the larger black sleeves again for good measure. Aha! That did the trick, and I would estimate that the bass level is at about 80% of the Sonys.
  
  I did a side to side comparison with the Sonys. Yes, the Sonys still have more bass, but found that after listening to the Shures, the Sonys sounded muddy. Yes, I wish the bass was a little more present as with the Sonys, but the Shures were much more clear and "differentiated" as they say. Each instrument stood out more clearly, and after playing a number of songs, I did notice subtle things I hadn't noticed before with the Sonys.
  
  So my verdict is that I am *very* happy with the Shures. And now that I've taken them in and out of my ears a number of times, I'm able to find the right fit quickly.
  
  I recommend these to discouraged Sony EX51/71 owners. Give the Shures a chance. And really give yourself time to try out the different sleeve sizes. I wore the mid-size sleeves on the Sonys, but needed the largest size for the Shures to get the isolation required for the richest bass. Good luck, I know from experience how frustrating it can be to find the sound you love.
  
  *UPDATE - 4 MONTHS LATER*
  Gotta say that I love these earbuds more now than when I got them. Build quality is excellent, they sound fantastic, and after you get used to the fit, they are really comfortable. The bass is excellent. I have no complaints whatsoever.
  
  
• Shure E2c vs. Etymotic Research ER6
  By A2AS0U11N06LQP on 2005-03-06
  Let me preface this review by stating a couple of things:
  1) I really wanted the Bose QC2's, but who wants to spend $300 on headphones?
  2) I have VERY small ear canals, so I didn't think these would work.
  3) I like great sound but don't need perfection.
  
  So I purchased the Shure E2c's and the Etymotic ER6's at the same time and got the chance to test them head-to-head during a recent trip to Atlanta from San Jose, CA. A straight 4 hour flight with my iPod and two different sets of noise isolating ear phones - perfect opportunity to make a call.
  
  I'll give you the bottom line first: I am buying the Bose QC2's in a week or so. Neither of these ear phones fit me well enough to call them perfect, but that is the ONLY reason I'm not keeping one of them.
  
  And if I had to choose one or the other, I'd pick the Shure E2c's - based strictly on ability to reproduce my music faithfully. The Etymotic phones actually sound great as well - in fact, there is no real difference in sound quality. Both sets offered clear, sharp sound. The Etymotics had better bass response, but only barely, and the Shures needed much less power to enjoy (what I mean is that the Etymotics needed 3/4 volume to be as loud as the Shures at 1/2 volume setting).
  
  The noise isolation abilities seemed to lean towards the Shures as well, but that is probably more a factor of my ear canals than anything else. Suffice to say both worked well in reducing airplane noise to a tolerable level.
  
  Both phones fit okay with the smallest fittings, but neither was fabulous for me. The Shure wiring was really cool - I liked having the cables (which are MUCH more sturdy than the Etymotic's) wrap back over the ears. But the Shures are much larger than the Etymotics and thus a bit more annoying to wear for long periods.
  
  For my money, as I said earlier, the Shure E2c's are just a bit better than the Etymotic ER6's, based solely on sound generation - they make more of it than the ER6's. The ER6 is a bit better base solely on ease of use (the Shures are a little harder to insert). It is a toss up on sound quality - you won't be dissapointed in either.
  
  
• Torture
  By AQEEFUZUPY4S7 on 2006-05-10
  Bought these based on reviews by other users. What a major disappointment. It's absolute torture fitting them to your ears and when you finally accomplish that, the sound is tinny and thin with absolutely no bass. Fortunately I was able to return them for a full refund, but I could never recommend them to anyone else.
  
  
• AWESOME
  By on 2004-05-10
  These headphones are worth every penny (if you have it). I have an ipod and i have read many reviews that say that the e2cs are an ipod essential. When i first read it i considered them, but than i got to the bottom and saw that they were $100! I closed the magazine and wondered who in the world would pay that much for headphones. Than at school one of my classmates was wearing them. I asked how he liked them and he said they were absolutely the best headphones he has ever listened to. I decided to buy them and i haven't regretted it since. I also have to take care of some of the peoples negetive comments. Some people say that these headphones are very uncomfortable and take time to get used to. That was not at all the case with me. I listen to them for more than 2 hours almost every day and never get uncomfortable. I actually find that these are much more comfortable than over the ear headphones over a long time period. The sound quality is unbelievable. As soon as i plugged them in my eyes went wide and my jaw dropped. Now there is one negetive at first. The bass is not at all deep or powerful, which i was used to and loved. After the first week or so i became so used to these perfect and clear pitches that i prefer them over any headphones with a deep bass. Every aspect of these headphones is amazing. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!!!
  P.S. I was wearing the headphones as i was typing the review.
  
  
• Amazing, if you know what good sound, sounds like
  By A25ZS7HV5NSLOG on 2005-02-02
  Though some reviews have said that these headphones are,"Overpriced, Weak Bass, Uncomfortable", they are the total opposite. The ear sleeves may take some getting used to, however, when the burn-in period is over, and when one gets used to the fit, these headphones will blow you away. I've tried numerous audiophile-quality headphones before stumbling over the Shure E2C's---Sony MDR-V700DJ, Sony MDR-V600, MDR-V500DJ Sennhesier HD580, Sennheiser HD280, Sennheiser HD550, Sony Nude's, and many, many more. Though my MDR-V700's were, undoubtedly amazing, they were quite bulky, and the impedence was too high to be powered by a portable device. The Shure's on the other hand reproduce sound extremely well. The the mids and bass is strong and clear, and the highs are not piercing. In addition they are built extremely well, and I am confident that they will last me for a very long time. They are well worth $100.
  
  Now, let me address some complaints. the comment that the bass is "weak" is an uneducated comment. Currently, when bass is mentioned we seem to think that it has to be felt. But headphones are about HEARING, not FEELING. True, they are not like strapping a pair of 12in subs to your ear, but the bass in headphones is not defined by whether the headphones can move your head back and forth while listening to music. Rather, bass refers to an actual bass. Yes, as in the guitar. Though these headphones do a mediocre job at reproducing SYNTHETIC bass, it does a phenominal job at reproducing actual bass. Pick up any classic rock, or jazz. You'll see what I mean. Moving on...the flex sleeves do take some getting used to. I recommend using the foam sleeves first then moving unto the silicone flex sleeves. In addition, the sound quality is also dependent on the quality of the mp3 or source where you have plugged in your headphones.
  
  One more tip: do not be led on by uneducated reviews. These headphones do not disappoint.
  
  
  
• Great product, better warranty, worth the money
  By A1JJORF5520YQG on 2005-10-20
  I'd never been inclined to write an online review until I had a problem with my Shure E2Cs. I bought them originally for a bunch of reasons:
  -solid reviews
  -low profile and noise reduction
  -I like to cycle and (don't try this at home) want to listen to my iPod while doing so
  -you can't walk 5ft on the isle of Manhattan without someone flashing white Apple earbuds
  
  So after a year of abuse my beloved E2Cs suddenly developed a wire short. I started shopping for a replacement. There are plenty of "better" Shure products and plenty of other products that are white and would be mistaken for an earbud. But before plunking down more money I found Shure's 2 year warranty on their website. Printed out my receipt from Amazon. Sent them back. And literally 8 business days after I sent them out for repair I had a brand new free pair at my doorstep.
  
  The month without my E2Cs was a harsh reminder how much I liked them. And the 8 days it took Shure to get me a new pair made me a customer for life. Definitely buy a Shure product...you won't regret it.
  
  
  
• I liked them a lot, but they did not last
  By A3CG6NSNHHOD2P on 2005-11-21
  I bought these in the London airport because there are times when I don't want to wear my Bose QC2 headphones. I really liked these when used with the foam earpieces. Sound quality very good, comfortable to wear, and the handy storgae case seemed great.
  
  But using the case stress the wires, and now one channel no longer works. I hear that Shure may warranty these, but of course I no longer have receipts, etc.
  
  So buy these, but figure out a better way to store them.
  
  
• People, learn how to install them
  By A3V1DYN19UXF4F on 2007-09-08
  Some of these reviews say, "They're okay but have no bass."
  
  If this is the case with you, you don't have them installed properly. They are not designed to be sitting just outside your ear, like earbuds; they are meant to be INSIDE THE EAR.
  
  I've tried both the plastic sleeve and the foam sleeve, and the foam is awesome. You roll it down tiny and then quickly push it inside the ear, like using foam earplugs. At first it won't go in, but then suddenly you get the angles right and the whole unit pops in. After a few seconds the foam expands to fit the shape of your ear canal and you are in silent heaven. Tons of clean bass--but you need to learn how to install them first.
  
  
• Great sound with a finicky fit
  By on 2004-02-26
  I bought the pro version of the E2Cs -- the e2, from Guitar Center for $70. They do warm up after a few days of use. I found the foam pads the most comfortable, as well as having the best isolation. You must play with them to get the best sound, because the angle into your ear is critical to the way the sound comes out.

  My only real complaints were that I could never remember which was the left earpiece and which was the right, which made a big difference in the bass output, and that if your ears are dry inside they move about too easily. I have really dry ears and the foam is kind of "scrapey" unless I dampen the foam with a drop of water.

  Also, the best way to insert the earpeces is to twirl each one between your finger and thumb to compress the foam, then pop each in and let the foam expand to fit your ear canal.

  Compared to the Sonys, the e2Cs have smoother treble and are less "bright," with a fuller midrange and tight but not bottomless bass. I think they're more natural and less "pumped up."

  I totally recommend them for travel, especially airplanes and mass transit like busses and subways. For home use I prefer over-ear phones such as Sennheiser 590s or Grados, because they are more comfortable in general.
  
  

• Tinney, thin,no bass sound!
  By A1PUIVLIJGVR40 on 2006-07-15
  I was duped again by some decent reviews of this product.Who are these people,do they work for Shure? These were terrible! Once I managed to get them in my ear,(figuring out which was right and left,not marked,)the over the ear wire system is a complete bummer and the sound was mind bogglingly bad, like a cheap transistor radio!
  
  
• Awful -- get Sennheiser instead
  By A28AA03XQ5Z2QU on 2006-12-01
  I fly a lot, so I wanted some earphones that would reduce the airplane noise. First I got the Shure E2c since they were the most widely advertised. What a disaster -- I hard a very hard time getting them to fit in my ears, and when I finally did they were uncomfortable and the sound was pretty awful (very tinny).
  
  Then I got the V-Moda Vibe earphones and the Sennheiser CX-300. Both were much better in every way than the Shures -- better fit and better sound. Overall, the sound on the Sennheiser was slightly better (more bass) than the V-Moda. I also felt the Sennheiser did the best job of the 3 of blocking out the ambient noise. Add that to the fact they cost about half of the other 2, and the clear winner is the Sennheiser CX-300.
  
  
  
• READ ME!!!! unbiased review
  By AVRIIUGRN7C7 on 2004-07-18
  Shure's E2c's are 'entry-level' consumer earphones (hence, the 'c') in their line of premium in-the-ear headphones. I recently purchased these at an airport after reading a CNET.com review. As stated in that review, the e2's are designed to be accurate, so dont be expected to be blown away by rattling bass, or sizzling high frequencies - they are just meant to present to you the music that is put into them.

  After a bit of testing with the different sleeves, i found that the medium foam sleeves are the best in terms of comfort AND isolation - oh yeah, these go pretty deep into your ear, or else you won't get any bass at all. Before you turn on the music, everything's muffled - you can still hear anything outside, its just more subdued (some report i read said that they provide about 20 decibels of isolation). When you turn on the music, however, you won't notice any outside noise at all, unless its EXTREMELY loud.

  Remember - if you want some of the best premium headphones on the market, don't need mega bass, and can take care of your stuff, then get these e2's. You won't be dissapointed. I use these with my iPod daily.

  P.S. if you still can't hear quality out of these headphones, either they're defective or you need to encode your music at a higher bitrate - at least 160 for mp3, 128 for aac, and 96 for wma.
  
  

• Overpriced, Weak Bass, Uncomfortable.
  By A2D5UJGBPFSPCQ on 2004-12-07
  Do any of these reviewers know what they are talking about? The sound of these earphones is below average at best. Sure they beat those five bucks earphones you find in Wal-mart, but they do not justify the sixty dollar pricetag. They don't sound good with bass heavy music and can hurt your ears. Even the smallest fit pieces are too big for me. You are better off with the Sony Fontopia for 1/2 of the price. The Sony earphones are far more comfortable and sound better in the low end. But I have to warn you the wires on the Sony is very thin and won't last very long. The Shure E2c on the other hand, have very nice thick cord and will last you a long time.
  
  
• Very Nice
  By A3644HKIC8EEWW on 2005-02-23
  The in ear form of headphones bring the music into your head while keeping everything - I mean everything - else out. Jet engines - nixed; Car horns - whowhere?; cubemate smacking her over glossed lips on disgustingly stinky oatmeal - not a problem; urgent phone call from boss re: a meeting you blew off becasue KEXP was playing new Amos Lee - nary a ring.
  
  The highs are sharp, not tinny. The mids are firm. The lows are clear and solid but a bit understated. Not that big of a deal for 90-95% of the non-rap. I bet the people that had problems with the sound did not get a good fit from the earphones. (I also bet they did not read the directions on how to get a good fit.)
  
  The fit of these phones needs explanation. You jam them into your ear canal. Forcing, pushing, prodding, coaxing them somewhat deep into your ear canal. Different foam sleeves and flanges increse the comfort of these earplugs, but they are still earplugs.
  
  These are excellent phones for Indie, blues, most jazz, pop, pop rock, acoustic, folk.
  
  Theye are very good phones for rock, funk, and most classical.
  
  They are good for most electronica, and funk.
  
  These are less desirable for rap, r&b, and drum and bass. Or anything that is recorded less than 256 kbps. You can really tell with these.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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