So i'm kinda of looking for new IEM and i know someone who can get the SE 215 for $89 CAD. Are they worth it? My previous iems were iBeats and Vsonic VSD1S. The reason why i'm looking for new ones is because i want better sound isolation than the VSD1S, better base response, but the same/better sound stage and highs. Also, i find the cable quality of the VSD1S poor and is very susceptible to static electricity. I would be mainly using them with my phone and on-the-go, but i do have a fiio E17 amp/dac for home. 
 
BTW how's the comfort and fit on the SE215? 

I've been using them since 2011,
As for my opinion, they surely do worth 90$'s.
 
I guess you meant comfort (& fit), it's quite good, same goes for the isolation.
The cable on these IEM's can be changed, as you can simply disconnect them from the cable.
Honestly, one of the best choices there are for that range of prices. 

 

I have had my shures for about 2 weeks now and i love them, they are so comfortable and block out so much noise also they sound amazing i am hearing new parts of songs i havnt heard before when I had my sennheiser mm30i's,I also got mine for 89 bucks and they are so worth it.

There is a special at earphone solutions, they come with a free Fiio silver cable for the shure se215, check it out

for MY ears, the SE 215 was comfortable, and fit very well.
 
And yes, its worth the price - IF you are looking for a basshead iem.
It has raised bass + mids, and some lower treble -> warm sounding.
 
Also, theres a small Peak at 5 Khz~

For around $100, I can't think of a better IEM to recommend. The RHA750s are fantastic as well (just something else to consider).

+1 for all the comments about the 215. Can't go wrong.

Imo the Shure SE215's are great! A very nice bassy, mid friendly sound. Definitely worth the purchase  

thanks for the input! How much does the Se 215 benefit from a headphone amp? 

I use a Fiio E6 with my set, but that is because I run them from an android phone, so it makes them a bit louder

Amp not required! Low impedance means it can be driven by any DAP, provided the mix isn't bad. An amp to flesh out the treble would be great imo, it would make the IEM sound WAY better. 

I own two pairs of the Shure SE215 models. I have the SE215-CL and the SE215-LTD.  Do they "need" an amp? No, not really, they do not "need" an amp. But I don't "need" bacon with my eggs either, but they taste better to me with bacon. Just like everything is better with bacon, almost every headphone can be better performing with an amp. I've run multiple amps to my Shure SE headphones, and must state for my own listening pleasures I require an amp. Do you like to listen to music at really low volumes? Do you listen to music with lots of detail and layers? If you answered yes to either question than yes an amp is going to give you the best performance out of your IEMs. The SE215's, both models I own, are startlingly enhanced by a quality amp. I bought a JDS C5 to complement my Shure IEM collection and I doubt I ever plug my 215's into another jack in their lifespan. I listen to musics of all types, and the 215 just has a much more refined and clear sound to them amped. Details are richer, everything is crisper and by the way they don't sound like "$89" dollar headphones amped or unamped. Amp's are kinda like the gift that keeps on giving, but unlike a fruitcake they are useful. 

Just my two cents not adjusted for inflation, 
Princess Zero

Edited to add: If you're looking for that ibeat sound profile, you will not get what you are looking for in the SE215-Bk or CL. The SE215-LTD (blue) has a better bass response, but even still you won't get that "at the club" bass line sound from the SE215's that you can pull from a ibeats EQed. I had a pair of ibeats I enjoyed using for select types of music but they share very little signature with the 215s.  

princesszero said:

  I own two pairs of the Shure SE215 models. I have the SE215-CL and the SE215-LTD.  Do they "need" an amp? No, not really, they do not "need" an amp. But I don't "need" bacon with my eggs either, but they taste better to me with bacon. Just like everything is better with bacon, almost every headphone can be better performing with an amp. I've run multiple amps to my Shure SE headphones, and must state for my own listening pleasures I require an amp. Do you like to listen to music at really low volumes? Do you listen to music with lots of detail and layers? If you answered yes to either question than yes an amp is going to give you the best performance out of your IEMs. The SE215's, both models I own, are startlingly enhanced by a quality amp. I bought a JDS C5 to complement my Shure IEM collection and I doubt I ever plug my 215's into another jack in their lifespan. I listen to musics of all types, and the 215 just has a much more refined and clear sound to them amped. Details are richer, everything is crisper and by the way they don't sound like "$89" dollar headphones amped or unamped. Amp's are kinda like the gift that keeps on giving, but unlike a fruitcake they are useful. 

Just my two cents not adjusted for inflation, 
Princess Zero

Edited to add: If you're looking for that ibeat sound profile, you will not get what you are looking for in the SE215-Bk or CL. The SE215-LTD (blue) has a better bass response, but even still you won't get that "at the club" bass line sound from the SE215's that you can pull from a ibeats EQed. I had a pair of ibeats I enjoyed using for select types of music but they share very little signature with the 215s.  

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thanks. No, i'm not looking for the iBeats sound signature per se. More like its sound isolation. IMO i find that Ibeat's bass too much as sometimes and the Vsonic VSD1S, not enough. But if i have to say what sound signature i prefer, i would say the VSD1S, but more impactful baas. as for amping them, I want to use my Fiio E17 with my smartphone, but my Nexus 4 lacks the capability. Right now, i'm pretty much set on getting SE 215, in fact i've been eyeing it for a long time. I like the way how transparent version looks and the cable seems very durable. I told my friend to help me buy them, so it's just a matter of time of receiving it. 

I'm glad to hear you have chosen a pair of SE215's. As i stated earlier I own the 215 CL (clear) and the LTD (blue). To be very honest, I listen to the clear pair 98% of the times I grab a 215. The isolation is excellent! I work long hours that require extreme concentration so distractions are unacceptable, the Shure SE series with "olive" tips offer extreme isolation compared to your previous ibeats. And if you prefered the triple flanges on the ibeats also be aware you can order the same style tips for your Shure's.
I've double amped the 215's from my various cell phones and I have little complaint. You will get that bass when you want it from amping them. I run a paid app called Poweramp on android, and have done so since it was released many moons ago and I have no complaints. Some people will argue double amping is a faux pas, but personally I've practiced it as a habit with android devices for many years. I'm sure someone will come along with a laundry list of reasons not to double amp, but personally I'm about results not theory. Yes there will be a decline in "audiophile" sound quality, but the perceptive sound from amping your headphones as opposed to listening to them from internal device amp may convince you double amping is worth it. My current everyday amp as I've mentioned is the JDS C5 and the engineer who built amp even gives instructions on how to double amp if needed. I dislike upgrading equipment due to incompatibility so for me and my mobile needs I don't mind double amping on occasion. I use a ipod 5th gen from line out the majority of the listening I do when traveling, but when running around town I double amp from one of my cell phones. I can't speak for Fiio's recommendations on double amping, but anecdotally, I've double amped quite a few of their models including the E12, and never broke one.

Princess Zero     

ps. let us know what you think of those 215's when your buddy gets them for you. 
pss. the tips are hard to remove the first time, stock they come with medium "olives", make sure to be gentle and hook your finger nails over the internal white plastic tube from the back as you tug. If they won't budge, place the headphones in a zipper lock baggie with all the air out and put them in the freezer for under five minutes then they should slide right off with a small effort.The housing is delicate so it is possible to break the nozzle if you apply too much torsion to it. 
Good luck <3

i can't double amp even if i wanted to because for some reason, i can hear interference from time to time if my Nexus 4 is near the Fiio E17. I haven't tested with out phones so idk if it's the E17's fault or my Nexus 4. But if the pros out-weight the cons, then i would double-amp.