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| Brand: Shure
Category: CE
List Price: $99.99
Buy Used: $49.00
You Save: $50.99 (51%)
New (5) from $59.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  729 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Fragile: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 6.4 x 2.5
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: E2C
Model: E2C
UPC: 042406108980
EAN: 0042406130691
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good, but not great... July 22, 2007
33 out of 38 found this review helpful
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! February 2, 2004
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
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. July 15, 2004
28 out of 28 found this review helpful
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. April 21, 2005
27 out of 36 found this review helpful
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 January 12, 2004
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
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.
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