How to replace my Shure e4c?

I've been listening to these guys for I guess like 4 years now.  I sent one pair back within the 2yr warranty, and my second pair got me another year and a half... but now they are dying.

As a quick replacement to get something listenable, I ordered the SoundMagic PL-21... super cheap and nice to have around, but certainly will not serve as a replacement for grinding out hours at the office. 

Where can I turn to replace my e4c?  The warm, friendly sound that was just so smooth and happiness-inducing with its buttery mids and light but clean bass... I miss it.  I'm no audiophile and don't have the best trained ear... and honestly the e4c was my first adventure into high-quality headphones, so I don't know a whole lot else.  Where can I go to find that sound again?  It's my understanding that Shure's current line isn't worth the price, though I haven't heard them.  I'm legitimately sad right now.

It's hard to tell.  On the right bud, I think it's just cabling.  It crackles and fades in and out a lot, but I can get good sound if I hold it just right.

For the left though, the sound is really faded and quiet.  It doesn't crackle as much as the right bud, but one day while I was listening to it, it just kind of got quiet and I haven't been able to get it back.

I was under the impression Shures were difficult to do maintenance on.  So please, elaborate.  If I could restore these guys, that would be great.  Keep in mind I have no experience with anything remotely related to headphone repair.

I definitely want the same sound.  I am not a bass junky and am quick to dismiss a lot of speaker/headphones as muddy.

I do not like these PL-21, does the PL-50 sound considerably different?

I'm also open to the idea of repairing my Shures.  I listened to them today for the first time in a while to see if I could nail down the issue.  They are actually still capable of original sound when I get the wiring held just right, but I'm pretty sure I have a wiring issue near the jack.  If I pin the cord down in the middle, and I shake my head around no problem, but if I move the audio source or the wire near the jack, I start to lose sound.  Most guides I see are about resoldering the wire to the drivers... but I don't think that's the problem. 

It's gotta be at the plug.  I'd appreciate some help.  I'm willing to try and fix it myself, though I don't have any electronic experience. So if it's particularly difficult, I might seek out some local help.