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Shure SE210 advice for upgrade

post #1 of 13
2/5/12 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 

Hi there, I am a long time lurker of head-fi, I never registered a user as I did not think I could contribute anything, you guys know too much of this stuff biggrin.gif however I need your help now. My SE210s are falling apart, the cable strain relief is gone (typical Shure, I know) and I am worried I could end up with a broken cable any day from now... After burying my head into the Multi-IEM review thread and making thousands of searches I must say I am more confused than I was before, too many options...

 

First of all I must say I kinda like the noise isolation and sound of the SE210, my only problem with them is that they are a little bit lacking in the bass department. Let me say I do not like the over-emphasized bass of some Sennheisers I have heard though, so I would be looking for something with a little more bass but withouth sacrificing clarity. I have read the SE215 would not be a worthy upgrade although they have more bass than the SE210.

 

To help you give me advice I should also say I spend a minimum of 6 hours a week on an airplane, so good isolation is a must. I also love the foam tips, so if the winning candidate does not come with them it needs to have aftermarket ones available. I will not be amping them for portability and my budget is around 150 EUR (200 USD)

 

With all this, the conclusion I have taken from the Multi-IEM thread is that I should go with one of the following:

 

Fischer Audio DBA-02

Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi10

Westone 2

 

However I could be totally wrong, so I would really appreciate if you could shed some light on my decision.

 

I also thought about getting custom fit sleeves for the SE210, as they would cover the lost strain relief cable part and also provide an upgrade in the isolation end, but the operation would cost almost all the budget above, so I am not so sure if that would be worth it

 

Many thanks in advance for your help! 

 

 

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post #2 of 13
2/5/12 at 12:41pm

I am a newbie here as well - I own IE8's and TF10's - I enjoy both - the bass can be big in the Sennheisers, but for a balanced armature IEM (which I think you are looking for) The TF10's have a solid low end. I have tried different tips on the TF10's - sometimes if I go from the IE8 directly to the 10's - the treble can be overpowering - but if you use the foamies that come with them - it tones the treble down a bit - I like the combination I have and don't think you can go wrong with the TF10's for the street price they are going for. A triple armature for less than $150? That's a real value.

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post #3 of 13
2/5/12 at 1:57pm

I was having them couple years ago. They are very good IEMs. If you are still in love with their sound signature try newer Shure armature models SExx5

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post #4 of 13
2/5/12 at 2:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivabign View Post

I am a newbie here as well - I own IE8's and TF10's - I enjoy both - the bass can be big in the Sennheisers, but for a balanced armature IEM (which I think you are looking for) The TF10's have a solid low end. I have tried different tips on the TF10's - sometimes if I go from the IE8 directly to the 10's - the treble can be overpowering - but if you use the foamies that come with them - it tones the treble down a bit - I like the combination I have and don't think you can go wrong with the TF10's for the street price they are going for. A triple armature for less than $150? That's a real value.



That is what I thought, that having a triple driver could make a big difference, however I was concerned about two things: cable quality, as quite a lot of people seemed to have trouble with them, and also size, they look quite big, are they comfortable Ivabign?

 

 

@Berkovajazz I read (do not remember where) that the SE215 have lost some clarity in favor of more bass, do you know if the SE315 would be an improvement on that?

 

Thanks to both for your advice!

 

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post #5 of 13
2/5/12 at 2:52pm

I don't have experience with the Shure IEM's you mention - As for fit with my TF10's (I am listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium now on them) - I used the flip flop mod so they don't stick out like Frankenstein bolts - with wires over the ear - and they stay in really well and I can wear them a long time with no fatigue.... I think I have large ear canals.

 

Edited to add this...

 

As for the cable, there is a memory effect - but I haven't had the structural problems that others have noted..


Edited by Ivabign - 2/5/12 at 2:54pm
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post #6 of 13
2/5/12 at 3:14pm

 

Quote:
@Berkovajazz I read (do not remember where) that the SE215 have lost some clarity in favor of more bass, do you know if the SE315 would be an improvement on that?

I know what is 535 and 420. But reviews are also good about SE310 and 315. I think you should try it.
215 has a big beautiful sound, but without a lot of details. They are still melodical with Shure character, but not very good for hard music. Also they've got good soundstage. I like them, they are good dynamic earphones, but armature Shures will beat them in lot of aspects.
You can buy used SE530 in good condition for 200$, i promise that you will be happy with them in all music genres even without amping.


Edited by Berkovajazz - 2/5/12 at 3:17pm
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post #7 of 13
2/6/12 at 2:00pm

that much flying id say ER4

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post #8 of 13
2/6/12 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 

I think the ER4, the SE42X and SE52X are slightly out of budget but I will add the SE315 to the mix,

 

thanks again!

 

edit: just read about that flip flop mod, quite curious... If size is not an issue then they are gaining some extra points


Edited by danimar - 2/6/12 at 2:42pm
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post #9 of 13
2/8/12 at 1:22pm

if the ER4 is out then the hf3 is super close to it and still has just amazing isolation

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post #10 of 13
2/9/12 at 3:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark2410 View Post

if the ER4 is out then the hf3 is super close to it and still has just amazing isolation



Thanks, I will have a look into them too then, but do you need to use bi-flanges for that amazing isolation to happen? Maybe I am strange, but I can't stand bi-flanges! at least the ones that came with the Shures

 

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post #11 of 13
2/9/12 at 5:24am

Try Shure Tips with them. I was using rubber Shure Tips with ER4P.

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post #12 of 13
2/10/12 at 4:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by danimar View Post



Thanks, I will have a look into them too then, but do you need to use bi-flanges for that amazing isolation to happen? Maybe I am strange, but I can't stand bi-flanges! at least the ones that came with the Shures

 



no, i persanlly cant abide those tips.  (why i decided ER stood for Ear Rape) using small olives is far mose comfy and everybit as good, so long as you put them in deep, brain implant deep, which is how ety's are supposed to be.

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post #13 of 13
2/12/12 at 10:11am
Thread Starter 

once more, thanks guys, but based on other reviews I have been reading maybe the TF10 has the best bang-for-the-buck ratio of all of them. Maybe it is also the geek in me thinking that the TF10 is technically superior and more complex because of having three drivers.

 

So for the last question then, best place to buy them that delivers to Spain or UK? The best I have seen up until now is Amazon.de, total price (shipping included) would be 155.95 euros. I think that will be hard to beat but just in case...

 

Thanks!

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