hi. welp... i just got back from CES, where i demo'd the E5...

and i gotta say, those phones are damn impressive. the bass is really tight... and there's plenty of sound. it's very detailed. the bass is punchy. everything sounded really sweet. i also demo'd the Etymotics, but the reps didn't have much music that had a lot of bass, so i couldn't say which earphone was better. but the E5 is definately a must listen. one of the best earphones i have ever heard.

apprently they are not yet released... but Shure reps said it's actually a repackaging of a professional product they already had on the market for like 5 years.

...man though... those things are definately awesome. and they are easily powered from PCDP's... WITHOUT an amp. in fact, Shure claims they are so sensitive, they are including an in-line attenuator in the final package just in case your headphone outs are TOO hot.

I have been considering some etys for a while but have now decided to wait on whether the e5 sound good and the microphonics of the cable. If you could use the e5 at the gym that would be a real benefit.

wordsworth

well, i think hte design of the Shure is very similar to the etymotics. the reps at etymotic said that they actually had a meeting with Shure before manufacturing both their products and discussed features of each model. ....i think they would be great in the gym, except for the fact that you can't hear nothing else when you put them on. the sound isolation is too good. so if you want to hear some atmostphere at the gym, forget it.

also, did you know that the retail price is $500-600? that's more than double the etymotics.

Not sure there is such a thing as gym atmospthere, well not the in the uk anyway. However the $500 dollar is certainly not welcome, the etys are expensive enough. Maybe I will wait to see if the prices come down later on though fat chance of that happening

wordsworth

Westone make the UM2 which seem the same as the E5 (westone designed and built Shures plugs for 3 years). The best things is that they are $329.00 . Still more expensive than the ety's but better that $500 from shure.

Would love to know if anyone has the UM2 and how they sound compared to the etys

Wordsworth

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any news about the differences?