Philips SHE8100BK/27 In-ear Headphones - Black

In this review I will be taking a look at one of Philips newer IEMs, the SHE8100. The Philips SH3580/3590 has been regarded as one of the best budget in-ear monitors, so I will be comparing the 8100 to it. I bought these for around 18$ CAD at Best Buy. I was considering buying the SHE3900 instead, which was around 15$, but the 8100 seemed like a newer and slightly higher-end product. 

Build Quality

The SHE8100 is overall a level up from the 3590 in design. The housings are aluminum and quite aesthetically pleasing. The black one actually reflects a deep bronze-black. The only thing that detracts from the aesthetics is the large L/R indicators which look somewhat kiddy, though thankfully they face towards you so you easily know which side is which (in the 3590s they face away from you). 
 
The cable quality is about the same as the 3590 – thin and springy. Thankfully there is now a cable cinch, albeit an oddly designed one. The left side is notched open, so you can take out the left cable. This allows the cinch to be attached to the other end of the cable for better storage, though I don’t really think it’s helpful for preventing tangles. These have a gold-plated right-angle plug, compared to the flimsy chrome-plated straight plug of the 3590. It is well-built but I have noticed a small lump within the plug shortly after first use. 

Isolation and Comfort

Isolation is excellent, despite the air vents at the back of the housing. You can still hear train/bus noises but conversations become almost inaudible. I get some driver flex on the left ear if I insert the housing too deep, but these IEMs still seal nicely just slightly on the ear. I don’t know if the drive flex is just my unit or if it’s common. Like the 3590 these have oval nozzles, which helps with the comfort. Overall I find these quite comfortable and lightweight despite being aluminum. These also fit very nicely over the ear but then driver flex is more likely to occur.

Sound quality

I gave these about a week of burn-in, but as with the 3590, there isn't much of a change in the sound as out of the box; maybe slightly warmer but not a huge change.
 
These have a lean, V-shaped sound signature.  They require a considerable amount of power to drive at a good volume, despite having an impedance of 16 ohms and sensitivity of 107 dB. The bass is deep but quite balanced. Neither the mid-bass nor the sub-bass seem to bloat out, but like the 3590 more volume is needed to really feel the bass. Unfortunately the midrange is the greatest disappointment - it is recessed, distant and thin, especially with male vocals and drums. The highs extend well and are quick and sharp, but some listeners may find it sibilant. Instrument separation is quite good but is biased towards the highs; elements in the midrange are greatly compromised. Soundstage is fairly wide and rather deep, but has a sense of intimacy (think ATH-M50x). I don't find the soundstage to be very congested.
 
I MIGHT consider removing the metal filters, but I am concerned this will only further emphasize the treble.

Conclusion

These have a lean, detailed sound and good bass for a budget level IEM, but the lack of a solid midrange is a big disappointment. If you already consider the SHE3590 to have recessed mids, you’ll hate these. The 3590 sounds bloated in the mid-bass and warmer in comparison. While the bass and treble sound better-controlled in the 8100, the 3590 is a better all-rounder. It's a real shame because the 8100 is a step up from the 3590 in terms of design and isolation. Also consider looking at the SHE3900, a successor to the 3590 released last year. Perhaps I should have got that instead...