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Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones | 
 enlarge | Brand: Shure
Category: CE
List Price: $319.99
Buy New: $159.00
You Save: $160.99 (50%)
New (4) from $159.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  94 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Fragile: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.1
Dimensions (in): 4.2 x 3.9 x 3.4
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: E4C
Model: E4C
UPC: 042406130851
EAN: 0042406129091
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Upgrade your iPod or other MP3 earphones to professional sound quality | | • | E4c model offers enhanced bass and smoother frequency response overall | | • | Instead of bulky headphones, E4c wearers get form-fitting earpieces that stay securely inside the ear without uncomfortable headbands | | • | Sound isolation prevents outside noise from interfering with the music, and creates a quiet space for exceptional audio clarity | | • | Compatible for use with 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) audio output ports |
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| Accessories:
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| Similar Items:
| • | Shure EA120 Replacement Foams (Yellow) for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models - 10 Pair | | • | Shure EA306 Triple Flange Sleeves for E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models | | • | Shure EA622 Zippered Nylon Carrying Case for E2c, E3c, E4c Sound Isolating Earphones | | • | Shure E4c-n Sound Isolating Earphones (Black) | | • | Shure EA110 Replacement Foams (Yellow) for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models - 5 Pair |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Digital edge technologies used for creating, transferring, and listening to digital music has made the iPod and various other Digital Media Players the most popular portable listening devices around the world. Shure recognized that at the start. Highly demanding and critical listeners have appreciated Shure earphones. Shure's E4c extends that enjoyment even further. The cutting-edge industrial design of the E4c is a breakthrough in sound isolating earphone technology. Ideal for the business traveler and on-the-go audiophile, the High-Definition Driver with Tuned Port Technology delivers brilliant highs and extended bass that enhance your listening experience with your portable DVD, MP3 and CD players as well as all other audio sources. The E4c's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes-even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. 60 inch cable length 3.5 mm (1/8) gold-plated stereo plug Although the E4c comes with an assortment of sleeves to ensure a comfortable fit, some users may want something even more personalized. In this case, we recommend contacting a hearing professional, such as an audiologist, to make custom-fit ear molds for your E4c Color - WHITE
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| Customer Reviews: Read 89 more reviews...
 Comparison of Shure E4C and Etymotic ER-4P July 18, 2005
318 out of 326 found this review helpful
So that you know a little about me and this review, I will start by saying that I am a professional classical musician, and I have recently had a hearing test on which I did very well. I am also something of a headphone enthusiast, as I have some very expensive headphones, a high-end source and an expensive dedicated tube headphone amplifier. I am aware of a computer magazine review that recently rated the Etymotics higher in sound quality.
This is a comparison of the E4C and the Etymotic ER-4P, using the Gmini XS200 as a source, with mp3's encoded at either 192 or 256 kb/s. (By the way, the Gmini is a great little DAP!) Both of these earphones are quite good and will provide vastly better sound quality than the typical headphones and earbuds that fill the mass market. I like the included foam tips included by each manufacturer, so that is what I used to compare them. The Etymotic foam tips seal better and provide superior isolation from outside noise. I must note that the Shure's were bought new by me, and the Etymotics are a loaner from a friend. Please be aware that the Shure's require some "burn in", and will not sound their best new out of the package. Have patience at the beginning, and notice the improvement in performance over the first 20-40 hours. I do not know the break-in characteristics of the Etymotics.
I'll cut to the chase. The Shure's are sonically much more impressive than the the Etymotic's. Both are highly resolving and have no major faults. The Shure's however, sound as though they have even greater resolution of detail, and have a flatter frequency response. They represent the subtleties of instrumental timbre much more accurately, and include even more detail in their presentation. One can hear all the qualities of the recording environment, the position of instruments of the orchestra (soundstage), and seem to create a sound that is less bottled up within the ear (headstage). They do not have the least trace of sibilance. Somehow, in spite of all this resolution, they still sound smooth and convey all the beauty and warmth of tone one could want. They have slightly "rolled highs", as this is the practice of Shure in all their products, but this is a very small criticism since the treble region is nevertheless very clear, balanced and controlled. In comparison, the Etymotics have a sound that is a little "tipped up", and can become fatiguing. There is a comparative lack of depth to their sound, and there is much information in the midrange in particular that is lost. Bass is not as present, controlled, or quick. Beauty of tone is lacking. I do not have the same emotional response to the music with them. However, these are still not sibilant, and are still very fine.
The Shure's are also better built. I feel they are sturdier and less likely to be damaged from hard use. They are more microphonic than the Etymotics, though, which will be very annoying if you intend to use them while moving around. One should realize they are both very microphonic because of the nature of their isolating design, and therefore will transmit a lot of unwanted bumping and rustling to your ears if you move around with them. I recommend sitting still.
The Shure represents true high fidelity in a portable form. In many ways, they outperform my expensive home headphone rig. What is more, they sound this good without the need of a separate headphone amplifier. In fact, I recommend you skip the amp, as I felt that mine added too much energy to the treble. I am very impressed with them, and I strongly recommend them.
Amazing! But for audiophiles only. June 27, 2005
150 out of 155 found this review helpful
Wow, these just arrived and sound so good I was moved to write a review immediately. They really do reveal new clarity, new details in music you thought you already knew well. If you really care about sound quality, they are worth the money.
But, be prepared to pay for this amazing sound quality:
- they take time and care to insert correctly.
- you will need to swab your ears before using them.
- They are impossible to remove quickly, like if the phone rings or someone interrupts you. It's like pulling a plunger out of your head. So you need to have time to devote to the listening experience without interruptions
- speaking of interruptions, it's hard to hear external sounds, so don't drive or bicycle with them, seriously.
- If you're claustrophobic, avoid. When inserted, it feels like you are under water, with strange body sounds and a slight feeling of pressure in your head. And the cords make deep reverberation sounds in your head if they scrape across your clothing.
- be prepared to be disappointed by the sound production values on some of your music. And you'll be able to hear hissing and compression artifacts in your MP3s.
But it's worth it for the sound!
Fantastic sound and quality July 25, 2005
32 out of 34 found this review helpful
"Find alternative to Apple-provided earbuds" sat on my to-do list for about three months. It was right up there with "clean the garage" and "organize vacation photos from last six years," so it clearly was never going to happen. After my Apple earbuds died an early death (again) and an experience with a pair of dreadful Sony EX81LPs (shudder), finding a good pair of headphones became mandatory. I messed around with a pair of Sennheiser HD 595s, which were excellent, but definitely not practical or portable enough for everyday, small carry-on bag use. I ordered these E4Cs, even though I was extremely skeptical about them before I received them. I was perfectly happy with Apple's but for their propensity to last two months before the wires started to expose themselves.
I LOVE these. The sounds is crisp, sharp, excellent. I hear music so much better than I ever have. They fit in my ears comfortably and all of the ear tips are satisfying (especially the ugly, yellow foam ones). I worried about an adjustment period, but I put `em in and was instantly enamored. No learning curve at all. The cord is designed to be worn over the tops of the ears, which is surprisingly comfortable and unobtrusive. I thought that a cord of five feet would be too long (Apple's is about 3'), but it's not at all. The E4Cs are aesthetically pleasing and sturdy-feeling (not at all like Apple's...but it's unfair to keep comparing the free model to the $300 pair). Bass is a little lacking, but I don't want to whine. They soar during guitar-heavy rock music. I can't have a conversation with these in. That means I miss a lot of subway drama, for better or worse. After removing them, there's about a ten-minute period where the rest of the world sounds a little...off. A little murky. These aren't complaints, just observations.
The real tests for me are wearing headphones on an airplane and sleeping with them in (I went to college in NYC's West Village where sleeping with something in my ears was a necessity and I have yet to give up the habit). The E4Cs pass both with flying colors; I can lie on my side with the E4Cs in and be totally comfortable. Since I spend way too much time in airplanes and airports, I've been able to test these on multiple occasions. Without turning the volume all the way up, these drown out airplane noise impressively.
I absolutely think these are worth the purchase price. My Apple-provided earbuds will never again see the light of day.
Fits perfectly in the Shure E4 series line April 18, 2005
31 out of 34 found this review helpful
These aren't available yet, but I tried them at the CES show in January. For those who found the E2 series lacking in high-frequency response, and the E3 series lacking in low-frequency reponse, but don't want to spend what the E5's go for, then the E4's are for you! Very nice sound, great fit in the ear, and extremely good at sound isolation - Even though there were hundreds of people milling around in a large, extremely noisy exhibition hall all I could hear was the music, even when played at a low volume.
Great Sound; Good Fit and Comfort; Unobtrusive and Nice Looking June 25, 2005
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
This is my first pair of canal phones. I wondered if I would be able to wear these earphones comfortably as I was not keen on sticking something in my ear canal. But Shure ships earphones with four different kinds of ear plugs and two of the four come in three different sizes. So I decided to take a chance. I tried them all and ended up using the smallest soft tip plug and I find them comfortable. The isolation is nice when I am at the gym or on the subway. The isolation is not total but I do need to take them out to carry on a conversation. I can wear them for several hours with good comfort. I am not sure I would want to wear them more than that.
The sound is very accurate and glorious. I hear a lot of detail. The bass is not as great as I thought but still good and if I want more I use "Bass Boost" on my iPod.
The earphones are small and unobtrusive. They don't stick out very far from the ears. They match my iPod and the cord does not tangle as easily as other earphones. I put the cord behind my ears as Shure recommends. The Shure web site has a little demo showing how to insert the headphones properly. And that helped me.
These are my favorite portable headphones. I recommend them highly.
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