I am about to purchase one of these canalphones but I'm so torn. Obviously, I could try both but I would rather not buy both at the same time and send one back. (though I may end up trying them both one at a time...) I am working on a package deal with HeadRoom and I don't want it to be more complicated than it has to be. I have read the reviews on these canalphones and the hundreds of comments made about them on this incredibly interesting site. I have found the information to be very educational. I have read everything written by both Lindrone and Bangraman on the topic and while they have helped to narrow my choices, I am, at present, hopelessly undecided. I am going to be listening almost exclusively on an iPod with and/or without a Total Airhead. I would get the E5c's in a heartbeat but I am worried about the "hiss issue." I would welcome any and all advice about whether I should buy the E5c's, because the hiss is no big deal, or the E3c's to have a canalphone more apporpriate for an iPod with no hiss....HELP!

If you're using it primarily with an iPod, I think a very important question to ask yourself is what kind of files will you be playing. "High" quality mp3s, average mp3s, or WAVs?

I'm having the same issue...I ordered an E3C from todd...if it doesn't impress, I'll send it back and order an E5C...I figure if I like the E3C I save cash, if not I'll have to bite the bullet and order the E5

I haven't heard either. But reports claim the E3 is cheaper, more comfortable, and has no hiss. So why are you torn?

Depends on your ear, the E3c is not anymore comfortable than the E5c. E3c is more comfortable for those people who has small ears and can't seat the E5c into the ear properly, otherwise they are practically the same. The depth of insertion is also a non-issue other than perhaps to create more isolation (which wouldn't matter that much if you have the music on), and only with foam tips or tri-flange... Personally if I inserted any canalphones too deeply, they hurt my ears. The thing I like most about the Shure earphones is that they have fittings that doesn't require you insert deeply to get good sound.

Also, the E3c *hisses* just as much as the E5c. I don't know where you guys got the impression that E3c doesn't hiss. The sensitivity of the Shure earphones picks up noises on bad amps and outputs very easily. I think in my review at first, I suspected that the E3 won't pick up as much noise, which I later corrected in saying that it picks up just as much noise as the E5c. In fact, the E2c picks up a little bit of noise as well.

Lastly, Total Airhead should not be considered into a part of your listening experience, as it does very little/next to nothing to improve the listening experience with E5c. All Total Airhead does it provide loudness, as far as improving the quality of the sound with the E5c, it is not impressive at all. E5c can get loud enough with the iPod alone, without any sort of amp.

If you want a portable amp to go with the E5c, you should be looking at least at the level of the XP-7.

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Lindrone,
Thanks for your helpful reviews. I was wondering if the E3c produced hiss. Where would I find the XP-7?

I havn't used the E3's, but I couldn't be happier with the E5's. I paid the full 500 for mine and I consider them worth every penny.

They are excellent from any portable source, and continue to improve as you upgrade your gear.

You can check out a review I wrote a while back, but I think you would be very happy with them.

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=52958

Yup, EyEPoD has exactly this setup, and I have the XP-7's desktop, bigger brother, the Emmeline HR-2.

You can get the XP-7 from Ray Samuels, but you should just wait and save up for them. They're $450~$500. (I'll let EyEPoD fill in on the exact price, I can't recall from the top of my head)

Call me spoiled, I just don't think any amp below that quality is worth it.

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Does Ray Samuels have a website?

http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/

The XP-7 is not on his site yet. it retails for 495$. for an extra ~200$ you can get the option PS that allows the system to run off AC.

The sound of the XP-7 does not change with the added PS, but its a nice thing to have if you plan on making this your home amp.

Todd sells the XP-7 and is a very friendly person to deal with.
http://www.toddthevinyljunkie.com/

If you decide to order from either Todd or Ray make sure you tell them you will be using it with Shure earphones so that they can include additional op amps better suited for the Shures.

Hmmm... I have to disagree here. The E3c hisses much less than the E5 in general. I've tried it on the iMP-550, MZ-N10, NJB3, iPod and a couple of prototype players and the results are fairly consistent. Neither phone hisses always, i.e. both phones can be fairly silent on certain players but if hiss is apparent, you will hear it more on the E5 given a normal listening volume than the E3c. When the music is playing, you will not hear it, but in quiet or intro passages you will hear it if you are listening out for it.


I find the E5 more tractable for portable listening in small but important ways. For example, the by default over-ear arrangement with the memory cable allows me to partially unhook the phone from my ear canal to hear things yet still have the phone sitting on/in my ear. Without the memory cable this is impossible. It's also far more bass-heavy than the E3c, a characteristic which I enjoy on the move. However I'm not convinced it's worth the price differential over the E3c, and I personally believe that the E3c approaches more of an affordable portable audiophile arrangement than the E5, which is more portable entertainment.


I believe that high-end portable amplification is not necessary with the E5. The E5 makes an excellent portable-only phone for big entertainment on the move. I do not believe it is anywhere near the ultimate in portable audiophilia. Buy an XP-7 by all means, but pick up an Ety too if you are.

Although I did not get to A/B the E3 and the E5 for a really extended amount of time, I truly tried to make it count. IMO, you should go with the E5 hands down especially if you go with a great amp. Also, as far as comfort goes, the E5s actually were quite comfortable even despite the fact that they didn't sit well in *my* ear. Also, driving the E5s directly from the iPod with a less than perfect seal in a very noisey place, I still didn't need to bump up the volume near to it's capacity. I don't think you'll be disappointed in the least with just the iPod and the E5 while you save up for the Emmeline.

WOW...being torn between a canalphone and an upper model that is nearly double the price, and having the option? It seems that the Shure E5c isn't all it's cracked up to be if it's having a challenge with its younger sibling. Is it just me?

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wrong move.. why?

the grass is always greener syndrome..

when you get the e3c and hear it and like it.. you'll always wonder for the rest of the time..

..how much better are the e5's

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EXACTLY!