Shure SE215

Before purchasing the Shure SE215's, I'd spend $15-30 on a pair of buds that would always break after a few months, at most.  Fed up with spending God knows how much after several years, I decided it was time to invest on some good quality earbuds.  The popular "luxury" headphones to buy are obviously Beats, but after some time researching, I decided I'd go with these. The return policy (free repair / new pair within two years of purchasing if broken) from the Shure website was what motivated me to go through with buying them.  Three years later I'm glad to say these puppies are still as amazing as they were day one.  The sound quality is pristine, and the isolation is almost too good - many a time I've had people tapping me after several failed attempts of shouting my name.  By far my best use of $99.  The only headphones I can wear for over an hour without my ears screaming in pain.  Oh, and I should mention these took a full trip through the washer and made it out good as new.  It makes me wonder how much better the more expensive models can be...I wouldn't be surprised if they blow me away as well! 

I did see some negative reviews about either of the earbuds being staticky or malfunctioning, and so far that hasn't happened to mine.  I know there is the option to detach the whole earbud from the wire, but my suggestion is just to leave it on, there's no need to do that and potentially mess the connection up.  The foam in-ear pieces can be a little flustering or strange at first, but you'll get used to them after a day or so, and they're much better than the rubber ones.  Along with that, the wire going behind your ear felt abnormal to me, probably because I wasn't used to that type of earbuds, but you'll get used to that as well.  

Overall, these headphones basically no cons and a ton of pros so if you're on the fence for headphones, BUY THESE! You'll thank me later. 

Hiya! These shures were my first into the world of IEMs and the beginnings of my journey to being an Audiophile. Back then, I was skeptical of Beats(and I was right on track back then) and thought Bose was where it was at.  I owned the Bose IE2 before getting my shure pairs, and after that, entered the realm of the audiophile.  Recently these guys broke after around a year of constantly listening to these, and I'm sad to let them go.  Now I have a Sennheiser IE8 which has about a week of burning in. Which I will be using for comparison. 
 
 
Sound quality, The Shure's bass doesn't compete with IE8s, but the bass was still there, just never felt as prominent or warm as the IE8s.  The best thing about the SE215 is that IE8 doesn't compete with the vocals on the SE215.  The Mids were great, and The Vocals were crisp and clear, and whenever it gets to a prominent vocal part on my SE215s, I've always had goosebumps.  The highs on the SE215 isn't that bad, but it isn't crisp and clear as in the IE8s, I would say it's a step lower the IE8s sound for highs.
 
The Isolation on these IEMs are great, Shure has done a great job with their olive foam tips, as they are comfortable and give great isolation, I had to mod my olive tips just to put on my IE8s so that I could get somewhat the same isolation as I had before on my shures. Comfort wise, it depends on the cables.  I've used the original stock cables for some time and found the memory wire to cause discomfort at times, other times it worked out.  I then picked up the Fiio aftermarket cables which improve the sound slightly, and gave me a lot more comfort when wearing my shures.
 
All-in-all, these are a great little pair of IEMs and a great step for becoming an audiophile, and i would recommend these to anyone

With a trip to Vancouver coming up, I didn't have any decent traveling earphones. The best thing I had was a pair of closed-back Shure SRH440s, but they don't isolate well enough to really cut down on airplane noise. Meanwhile, the Shure SE215s were on sale, so I decided to try my first IEM.
 
Before I pulled the trigger, I wondered if I should just step up to the flagship SE535s. I have some nice headphones already, and budget headphones can be disappointing. But then I thought, what if I find Shure IEMs uncomfortable? My local Shure dealer does not allow returns on IEMs for "sanitary" reasons, so I'd be stuck with an expensive purchase.
 
Sanitary reasons...that seems a little stupid to me. How am I supposed to try them out and see which ones I like best? And can't they just charge me a restocking fee for a new set of eartips? Or have cheap eartips just for testing? It's not like you're getting bodily gunk over any other part. (Ewww...sorry.)
 
Here's what I expected from these IEMs after reading many reviews: bass emphasis, smooth sound, treble roll-off, possibly a V-shaped sound signature, good isolation, best-of-breed comfort.
 
For the most part, the SE215s lived up to the hype. There is a slight bass emphasis, although not as big as I expected. The treble is definitely rolled off, although the detail's still there for the most part. The sound is very smooth, very listenable. I can't see any recording sounding too bright and sibilant and drilling into my brain. That's something the Shure SRH440s do to me after a while.
 
A while ago I bought the SRH840s, looking for a better budget closed headphone to replace my SRH440s, and they had a wild, boomy mid-bass emphasis and muffled, overly rolled-off treble. So I wondered if the SE215s would do much the same thing. Thankfully, the bass emphasis of the SE215s is not distracting or too mid-bass heavy, and the treble roll-off isn't overdone.
 
My lack of enthusiasm for the SRH440s and SRH840s makes you think, why does this guy keep buying Shure products? I've used their microphones for years and love 'em. And I guess I'm an optimist.
 
So the SE215 sound good overall, especially for $90 Canadian. On the negative side, the dynamics aren't amazing, so instruments don't really pop. They sound less live, less 3D, more like they're coming from a recording. Not a big deal, but noticeable.
 
Fit-wise, they seal as well as any earplugs I've used, and they're comfortable for an hour or so. The cord is a little bit weird. You run it up and over your ears, either to the back of your head or below your chin. There you have to tighten it, otherwise the wires around your ears pop up, things get unruly, the IEMs start to droop out of your ears, etc.
 
I find when I tighten them below my chin, the cord itches my skin for some reason. When I tighten it behind my head instead, it's much more comfortable but awkward to get in place. I guess I'll get used to it.
 
Overall, a great value from the perspective of someone who's used many full-sized headphones, but no other IEMs.

INTRODUCTION & ABOUT ME:
 
I started getting into audio about a year ago; I got my first headphone, the Shure SRH440, shortly after, and have since picked up a FiiO X1, FiiO E1 (used with my iPod Touch 4), an Optimus CD-3450, and, obviously, the Shure SE215. I mainly stick to the cheaper side of things, being a student and not having a job. I listen mainly out of my X1, though I used to mainly listen straight from the iPod Touch. A large majority of my listening on the SE215 was done on the X1; almost none has been none on any other sources, so for this review, all impressions of the SE215 will be from having it paired with the X1. The SE215 has had no modifications (original cable), and is using the small Shure Olive tips. I listen mainly to rock (almost all forms of it), metal, and rap, though I do sometimes listen to a little pop and electronic. Some artists I have on my X1 and may use for my review include Slipknot, Led Zeppelin, Porcupine Tree, blink-182, Jason Mraz, AWOLNATION, and Train. I will list some songs throughout, but I have no particular group of test tracks; all files are CD rips in WMA Lossless, ALAC, AIFF, or WAV. I listen to the SE215 for at least an hour or two a day; I would say there has been at least 20 hours put on them, possibly more. Unfortunately, I cannot provide pictures for this review; I have no camera of my own, so any pictures will not be mine. Also, this is my first review.
 
PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES:
 

 
Packaging was simple; just a small box holding the headphones, which were on display through clear plastic. Nothing special, but everything was well-packaged, nothing just floating around and everything securely in place. For accessories, you get a pack full of tips, a cleaner, and a small carrying pouch. I found the tip assortment appropriate for the price. The SE215 has the medium Olives on it, with small and large Olives, as well as small, medium, and large flex tips in the bag. For $100, this is pretty good; two sets of tips, of all sizes, and a strong, but soft case is included. Again, nothing special but appropriate for the price, like the packaging. There's not much to say here because there's nothing special about the packaging and accessories; it's simply appropriate for its price. Design is where things start to get special.
 
DESIGN:
 
The SE215 is made out of very solid plastic. I'll admit, I actually slept on them and had them shoved in the side of a recliner, with me shifting around on top of them for a whole night. There was absolutely no damage to anything. It's shape fits well, even in my small/mediumish ears; it's actually pretty comfortable. I've heard others say that the memory cable is a bit short, but I think it's fine; I find nothing wrong with it, and I believe it works very well. The cord is my only complaint, and it's a very small one: it's just a bit too long. I don't find it being a large problem, as I'm used to longer cords, having a long coiled cable on my SRH440, but a shorter cable would be nice. One of the great things about this IEM is it's removable cables. I believe it was the first in it's price range to have them, and if one found the cable much too long, another cable could be purchased. Some say the design where the cables connect to the IEMs was bad due to connection issues, but I've never had any. I have twisted them all the way around, while listening, to see if any problems would arise. None did; I believe Shure has made some small changes over the years, this being one, as well as one to the headphone jack. It's no longer very bulky where the gold-plated jack goes into the plastic, it has a thin section, allowing the jack to fit better though some device cases. This helps a lot for my X1, allowing me to leave the case on. I also enjoy my SE215's clear design. It's pretty cool to look inside and see the wires and components that it contains. Some have claimed that the plastic wasn't incredibly clear, possibly somewhat foggy, but mine are very clear, and look good. Overall, the design is very good.
 
ISOLATION:
 
I'm making isolation it's own category, separate from design, because it deserves it's own category. Simply put, with the Shure Olives, insert the IEMs, turn on your music, and you hear nothing. I ride possibly the loudest bus I've ever had the displeasure to be on every day, and the SE215 will totally separates me from it. Without music, you'll obviously hear a little sound; I doubt any headphone would block out absolutely everything with no music playing. But turn on the music (between 20-35 on my FiiO X1) and you're encapsulated in your own world, full of music of your choosing. Put in the IEMs, and suddenly your friend, a couple feet away, becomes Freddie Mercury, putting on a personal concert for you, but for some reason mouthing the words wrong. I doubt you could get any closer to total isolation, and for only $100, isolation is incredible; in fact, I think the isolation would be incredible for any price.
 
TECH SPECS:
 
This from Shure's SE215 page:
 

Sensitivity	107 dB SPL/mW
lmpedance	20 Ω
Frequency Range	22Hz – 17.5kHz
Cable Style	64” Detachable (at ear) with wireform fit
Colors	Available in Clear or Translucent Black
Speaker Type	Dynamic MicroDriver

 
These are very easy to drive. I'm sure just about anything could drive them, including a Sansa Clip (not tested by me though). 
 
SOUND:
 
Obviously the most important part. I'll put a couple songs that show my feelings for each section after I review them. Let's work backwards:
 
Highs:
Yes, the highs are somewhat recessed compared to the bass and midrange. No, it's not the most resolving treble you'll ever hear. But it's not bad. For the price, I'm sure you could find something with better treble, but the treble is and never will be a main feature of this IEM. Some cymbals can sound recessed and missing some detail. When there's a lot going on, like in AC/DC's "High Voltage," cymbals are certainly in the background. For this reason, I normally bump up the treble a little on my FiiO X1, though I have not when writing this review. Overall, highs aren't bad; just okay.
 

1. The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines
2. Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes
3. AC/DC - High Voltage

 
Mids:
If you're interested in the SE215, I'm sure you've heard of the famous Shure mids. The mids on these are wonderful. Guitars sound great. Good texture, and pretty forwards. You MUST listen to Porcupine Tree's "Trains" with the SE215. The acoustic guitar seams to be speaking to you. It's addicting. Great detail, incredibly clear. With something like "High Voltage" by AC/DC, guitars are in your face, and the riff being right there in front of you while the rest of the instruments play is very fun and enjoyable. They'll full and powerful, much like the bass, and are addicting to listen to with a good guitar riff. 
 

1. The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines
2. Porcupine Tree - Trains
3. Led Zeppelin - Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
4. AC/DC - High Voltage

 
Vocals:
Please listen to Slipknot's "Snuff." It's a song everyone should hear at least once. It's one of my favorite songs and I believe it's a masterpiece. Corey Taylor's vocals are incredible. Now, imagine the vocals being right there in front of you. Imagine the emotion of his voice being displayed privately, only for you, strong and speaking to you. That's what the Shure SE215 does. Vocals have good body, a fullness that surrounds you. Vocals on the SE215 are a joy to listen to because of this. They're very clear, and I would call them detailed. Nothing sums up vocals more than the words absolutely excellent.
 

1. Slipknot - Snuff
2. Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
3. RHCP - Snow (Hey Oh)

 
Bass:
This is a fun IEM. It's not meant to be totally neutral. Hence, when you put on "Dani California" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, you're given a strong drum line; that's right, with these headphones, you can actually hear the drums! (Okay, maybe it's just because I'm a drummer, but headphones that are precisely neutral don't bring the drums up enough for me. These do.) The thump of Chad's drums is there with the rest of the music; it's not overpowering in any way. Let me repeat that; bass IS NOT overpowering. I stress this because I was afraid that it would be, and that everything would be smothered by bass, like they were in an older Monster Beats Solo I tried. The SE215's bass isn't like that. It's very much there and it has power, but it isn't shoved to the back. It's certainly not left behind. I find bass to be present enough, while still being tame enough to let everything else be heard clearly and allowing other pieces to still stand out. It's not the most detailed, but it does have pretty good control. It's not muddy or all over the place. Overall, bass is very good on the SE215.
 

1. Paul McCartney - Alligator
2. RHCP - Dani California
3. The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling
4. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

 
Separation:
This being a single dynamic driver IEM, separation isn't going to be the best. Things can get congested on the SE215, but it isn't terrible. I find Porcupine Tree's "Blackest Eyes" to do very well on the SE215 during the heavier parts, but the instruments don't sound like they're in totally different rooms; just in their own space, while only occasionally spilling over into another's.
 

1. The Black Keys - Money Maker
2. Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes

 
OVERALL:
 
Overall, I think the Shure SE215 is a great IEM for the price, if it fits your needs. If you want an exciting sound, something that can use bass to pump some fun into you or use vocals to speak to you, and doesn't cost much, this is it. Could you find something with better sound quality for the price? I'm absolutely sure you could. But could you find something with tank-like build quality, near-total isolation, an overall great design, and a fun sound signature for the price? I think that would be a challenge. The Shure SE215 meets my needs perfectly; I needed isolation, I needed good build quality, and I needed a more fun sound, and this IEM delivered that. If you want something perfectly neutral, with tons of detail, this isn't your IEM. If you want a good, fun, isolating IEM for not much money, I highly recommend the Shure SE215.

The Shure SE215 is the first IEM I owned and was the one that brought me in head-fi. I got mine for around $95 at the time after reading some reviews online here and there. Since then, I've learned to put some faith in reviewers and not assume that everyones a shill for promoting a product.
 
I still have not forget the first time I wore this. I was clueless on how over ear earphones worked and I fumbled around but once I got it in, the world outside just completely shut out.
I was there with my music turned on and it was heavenly. 
 
There is absolutely no reason for anyone not to hear this device once in their life -- audiophile or not, this provides the best valueerformance ratio.

I am a big Shure fan given my sweet  experience  with SRH940 and SRH1840 for indoor use. Being an avid mountain biker conscientious of safety (hence a helmet is obligatory), I need a pair of good IEH to pipe in pleasing music that stay secure while I navigate those bumpy trails in the forest. I am ecstatic to say that Shure fails me not yet again with their affordable and simply put, outstanding SE215. 
 
Rather than using technical audiophile jargon (which I am poor at and probably mislead with malapropism) to describe the pleasing sound of SE215, I will tell you that folk, indie rock, gospel, pop ranging from Pat McGee Band, Howie Day, Griffin House, Matt Hires, Cary Brothers, Trent Darbs,Jack Savoretti, Unkle Bob, Josh Ritter, Cold Play, Ari Hest, Jon Peter Lewis, Stephen kellogg, Greg Laswell, Matt Nathanson, Jonathon Jones and Brandan Heath (just to name a few) that I listen to, SE215 does an excellent job taking me to Nirvana while I gaze at the reflection of the forest on Lake Songsvann (outskirts of Oslo, Norway). 
 
Indeed the design of the earpieces and the hooking cables around the ears are tricky to put on and requires higher than average IQ to do it. But when you get it right, the ear piece stays on. Tugging on the V-shape junction of the cable will actually make it even more secure if you put it on right. 
 
Hence it is just perfect for mountain biking. 
 
I love you Shure. I am saving money for SE 425. Got to have it for Christmas. 

I rate these IEM 5 stars considering their price.
They are probably the best IEM out there for $100 and below.
 
These fits well and are very comfortable.
 
Compared to IEMs of similar price, these are rather balanced with a slightly forward mid and a bit more bass.

The highs are rolled off but I'm ok with that as I don't really like bright ones. It could use some more sparkle though.
 
Mids are good, quite detailed but still have some room for improvement, pretty good for the price.
 
Bass is rather solid and punchy, although it's not deep, it does a good job making up for the "lack of details" and masking outside noise, thus "improving" the already good isolation.
 
I did not have any disconnection issues, the cable snaps into the IEM and is rather secure, but because of the "coaxial" shaped connector, it still rotates after being snapped into place and it's the only thing I dislike about the design.
 
Oh, and replacement cables. I wish you luck in finding a aftermarket replacement cable that is cheaper than the IEM themselves.
 
Conclusions: You will probably be very satisfied if you are replacing your free earbuds that comes with your phone or ipod with these, and you won't be disappointed if you are looking for replacement of similarly priced IEM. 

Well here's what I have to say about the SE215. I am a high school student so I don't have too much experience with hi-fi stuff but I am an semi-pro musician so I know what good sound is and that stuff. But then again, everything here in this review is purely subjective and should be left for you to decide when you buy
 
I picked up my SE215's at Best Buy for $99.99 which was a pretty nice deal. I was debating getting these or Klipsch S4's but I eventually caved into buying my first Shure earphones. I am not disappointed at all with my purchase. I have owned Shure mic's and turntable cartridges so I know that they have great quality and customer support.
 
These earphones are built quite sturdy with some tough looking plastic. At first, I thought the driver was encased in full arcrylic but it is only a plastic shell. The cable is thick yet soft and the stress reliefs seem adequate. The accessories included are enough for everyday use: carry case, 3xFoam tips, 3x silicone tips. I was a bit surprised though that there were no multi-flange tips included though.
 
The fit kinda took some getting used to for me. The primary IEM's I had been using before were the TF10 and SoundMagic Pl30. The TF10 is just weird and the PL30 sit fairly loose in the ear so the Shure fit was different at first since it actually fit inside my ear taking up all the space. It took me about 15 minutes to mold the memory cable into a position that suited me but afterwards it was fine.
 
The SE215's definitely sound amazing for their price. I burned them in for ~50 hours using various noises and music. I find the burn in balanced out the sound a bit compared to straight out of the box. The bass is definitely the strong point of these IEM's. The bass is quite punchy and feels accurate. I find there is a mid-bass hump though which gets kinda annoying in some tracks with vocals. Also, it might of just been me, but I find that the bass distorts a bit when the notes go low and the volume is turned up. The mids are adequate: not great but they don't suck either. I find that they just don't sound as smooth as I would prefer. The highs are nice and I find they are able to reproduce quite a bit of detail. I haven't found the high's to sound harsh yet. These IEM's don't have large soundstage and you definitely feel as if you are listening to a recording. But then again, you feel that way when using alot of IEM's.
 
I don't have too many IEM's to compare to so I'm just going to skip that part.....
 
 
Overall, I find these SE215's are excellent value considering their price point. They are now my new 'everyday' earphones so I hope that they will be able to withstand some abuse They definitely surpass Monster Beats and many other 'mainstream' headphones that may cost even more than these. They can't compete with multi-driver BA IEM's but are good for what they're worth.
 
 

So after a month of debating weather I should spring for the Shure SE215 I went for it. I only went for it because Shure has a really good warranty and if I need to use it I can.
 
Durability/Looks/Design/Comfort
Regarding durability and looks I find they look good because you don't even notice them under my hair. But durability wise i have heard reports of one side stop working. They look solid to me so far so only time will tell. The design and way they fit in the ear is annoying at first but you get used to it. IT irritates me though because i always have to move my hair all the time just to put them on. But once they are on they are solid and stay in place. I also find they are wonderfully comfortable and i can wear them all day. Just make sure you select the right tips.
 
Sound Quality
Here is the part everyone cares about the most. How do they sound? Well to answer that i will have to separate it into 3 categories.
 
Lows/Bass
This is where the headphones shine the most. They have plenty of bass and to me it is a little much but i think they would be good for bass heads. They tend to reach fairly low and seem rather fast in the bass.
 
Mids
The mids are rather scooped to the extent that vocals and guitars are a little faint. I have some issues with this but overall i am very satisfied with the mids on these. Just don't buy these expecting Shure's well known midrange.
 
Highs
Highs, what highs? Yes there is a somewhat high range here but it seems to be little. Although i am not surprised considering these drop off at 17khz but i feel the highs are very laid back and are very smooth sounding.
 
Conclusion
I find these are very bassy iems and not to be purchased if you want mid or high range performance. These would suit bass heads well imo. They are also very smooth and easy on the ears. Not harsh at all and that makes them very good for sensitive ears.
 
Overall Conclusion and Value
If your looking for sub $100 iems that are very easy on your ears are comfortable and have good bass get these. I feel they compare with my Shure SRH840 decently enough to justify the price. But be warned that these seem to have bad quality control.

gear:
SGS2 with MIUI Rom music player
Go Vibe's Vest
Dacport LX + Objective 2
 
put these iem's into sgs2 and already doing nice
give some portable amplifier/dac, in this case i'm using govibe vest and she's already doing great
put some better amplification and dac, and my ear says that she's a marvelous player

Ah, yes. The SE215, quite possibly the most popular entry-level IEM on the market at the moment, and for good reason. These headphones are perfect for any budding audio enthusiast thanks to its exceptional performance in the mids and its welcoming warm profile. While not as bass heavy as its counterparts, its still plenty serviceable. The treble is a tad rolled off, but this is common with IEMs in this tier. Additionally, the building quality is superb. There's an adequate amount of stress relief on the cables, and the cables themselves are detachable; a feature rarely seen in earphones at this price. As an added bonus, the earpiece sits flush against your ear, allowing you sleep with them on if you'd like. Come on, I can't be only person who listens to music as they sleep . . . Anyway, if you're someone who's looking to enter the world of audiophilia, these are the IEMs for you.

 
Theses are fantastic! Absolutely Stunning. 
 
The bass is clear and detailed. It extends well and has very good speed. There is just the right amount too. I would consider myself to be a basshead, having sought after bass themed iems constantly. i've owned the original turbines and sennheiser cx 150 and cx 475 (directly marketed for supreme bass.)
 
 Compared to the original Turbines and the two sennheisers there isn't as much impact but the clarity and extension is far far far more superior and more than makes up for that. listening to dubstep with theses is a thrill. In my opinion, if you had to give up one attribute of bass i'd say impact is the one to sacrifice.
 
 The SE215's mids are missing a little detail, but overall satisfying. the turbines very recessed mids were much more disappointing. the senns both fall short to the 215's and i would say come close to if not on par with the turbines mids.
 
highs sound a bit small or short. but the detail is there. i think that the highs being that way makes these have virtually no sibilance or hissing. although, listening to heavy metal i think needs better separation for that genre to my ears. acoustic, indie, soundscapes all sound excellent through these. 
 
the comfort is just excellent. not tiring and your not fijiting or frequently adjusting these at all. once they're in, they're in. the shure foam tips are insanely good. i prefer them to the comply foams. one bad thing is the keeper on the cord is very difficult to move up and down. its pretty stupid. it feels like your gonna rip or something. i also think the cord could be made of better material. there are no microphonics at all though. oh yeah the isolation is some of the best i've expirenced. i was 10 ft from my wife in my living room without the tv on or anything and couldn't really hear her talking to me..lol.
 
Bottom line, these amazed me. i want to commend shure on their take on dynamic driver iems. owning the se530's i would say these are certainly behind them in the mids and highs( not nearly enough to justifiy the price jump) and miles ahead in the bass department. these smoke the original turbines, making them seem outclassed and silly. actually i do like the turbines styling and material choice better than the se215, but thats ALL.
 

1. Really nice bass.  Not overbearing
2. mids are great.  Never heard vocals so clear before on IEMs
3. highs are okay, roll-off not too steep.
4. very comfortable
5. nice selection of sleeves
6. nice carrying case
7. comes with a cleaning tool!
8. excellent price/performance ratio

 
Overall a great buy, and I would highly recommend these IEM's for everyday use.

Bought those as a portable go-to set (subway use, airplanes, travelling, etc.) and am so far very pleased. I previously used Etymotic IEM's (ER-4P and HF3) which are known for their clarity and brightness but also lacking in warmth and bass impact. However, after loving the sound of my new over-ear full-size Sennheiser Momentum's wanted something a little more fun and dynamic sounding. The SE215's fit the bill. They have a nice warm sound with emphasized (but typically not overpowering) bass, very good and forward mids and slightly rolled-off highs.
 
The dynamic drivers sound fun and are engaging. The isolation on these is superb, easily blocking out subway noise without having to turn it up high (I use the black foam tips, also know as the 'olives'). 
 
On the negatives the sound could benefit form a little more sparkle and treble extension but otherwise the music coming out of these is very pleasing to me. On occasion (depending on genre) the bass can also sound a little over-emphasized if you're paying close attention. But more often than not it basically makes me rock my head! Basically if you like the full-size over-ear V-Moda M100's these will provide a similar sound and impact in IEM form but with better and more forward mids but less emphasized treble (less V shaped sound profile). Surely, there are better IEM's in the market (including higher-end models by Shure) but as the title says these provide great bang for the buck.
 
Other complaints are that I don't find them the most comfortable for long durations but I think that may be par for the course for IEM's as many people don't love Etymotics either (though I always thought they were quite comfortable with foam tips).
 
All of this has to be put in context however and for $99 these are just great sounding headphones with very good isolation capability and build quality. In fact, I think the same comments would apply even if they cost twice as much which to me makes these achieve a great price to performance ratio.

TERRIFIC HEADPHONES!! Love them! you have to give them a few hours to let them record themselves to get use of the best quality...overall they are fantastic! The sound quality is amazing!

 
- They isolate very well with foam sleeves. Be careful when wearing them in town, look around you, they prevent you from hearing the cars.
- Over-the-ear wearing makes them keeping in place very well.
- Comfort with silicon tips is perfect. Really.
- Memory cable is practical.
- They look very, very nice. Even the cable is nice-looking.
- Detachable cable can be handy (even if it's not useful to me).
- They are very surdy.
 
- Foam tips isolate more than olives, but are less comfortable.
 
- Demands time to get used to and to find the right tips.
- The cable is a little stiff.
 
SOUND
- The sound isn't boxy as it is with closed-back headphones. It's nearly as airy as on my Grado's, excepted than the seal gives a little impression of closedness.
- Highs don't sound bad at all, as I could read on many reviews.
- Bass are gorgeous.
- They seem to profit very much from the use of my AD823-based CMoy, but maybe it's only a placebo effect. Anyway, even if it all came from the placebo effect, building said CMoy was the right thing to do. Drums sound better, and soundstage sounds a little wider.
 
Pics (enlargeable) :
 

Recently, I went shopping for a $100 pair of earphones to replace my aging set of UE MetroFi 220 earphones.
 
After much deliberation, I settled on the Sure SE215 series in the clear variant.  They were purchased from Amazon.com directly from Shure.  I am a Prime member, as such I paid the $3.99 and had them sent next-day air.
 
They arrived without incident and well packed in all manner of UPS-proof air based packaging.
 
The actual carton which contained the earphones was relatively standard fare and more or less unmentionable.  Inside the carton was the usual wadge of manuals and warnings printed in every language I've heard of and a few that I haven't.  Also, there was a small bag containing six silicone tips as well as four foam tips (the other two were already on the device) and a cleaning tool.  Finally, there was a zippered pouch with an internal pocket that is just perfect for the bag containing the tips and the tool or in lieu of that a small player such as an iPod nano or shuffle.
 
The first impression on removing the earphones from the package was that they are a quality device.  The cables, which in my case are clear, show off the braided metal sheathing over the signal cables which is interspersed with a copper conductor woven into it.  The plug itself as well as stress reliefs on the cable appear to be much more stout than other offerings, the cable has a very durable look and feel.
 
The cable disconnects appear to be a relatively high grade coaxial-type affair with a signal pin on the cable end sliding into a tube on the headphone end.  Some folks have had some problems with these, but we'll get to that in just a few minutes.  The entire connector assembly was covered in what appears to be a very thin oil, which was removed with a q-tip so as not to present any potential problems.
 
Moving along to the earpieces themselves, the quality craftsmanship shines in their appearance.  The shells are very solid, and inspection of the internal construction reveals meticulously soldered connections as well as a very substantial support for the single dynamic driver.
 
The first listen out of the box revealed good sound quality with a "punchy" quality to the bass, strong definition in the mid frequencies, almost to the point of roughness, and some attenuation in the high registers.  They went for my standard 72 hour burn-in combining equal parts of white, pink and brown noise played at a high listening level.  The burn in period didn't make a huge difference, but there were some minor changes to the sound quality in the form of lesser recession of the high frequencies and a smoothing of definition in the mids without a notable loss in imaging.  Down low, the reproduction gained a bit of force but is still favors mid-bass over sub-bass.
 
In casual listening, they have a very "fun" sound to them.  They are dynamic in their representation and don't tend to get overly sibilent at high listening levels unless the sibilent tendencies are present in the recording.  The tradeoff here is that highs don't have much of any sparkle to them.  That said, I feel they have more than adequate sonic capabilities and qualities.  Listening to them for several hours casually has not been fatiguing or irritating in the least.
 
Moving over to critical listening, their sound tends to accentuate the full mid range with an excellent degree of accuracy across the board.  The high end is rolled off enough to both avoid sibilient harmonics within the listening device itself unless otherwise noted above.  The entire sound envelope of the Shures has a great deal of accuracy with regard to imaging.  The sound stage is both wide and well defined and has more positional accuracy than I would have originally anticipated given the price point.  Isolation while using the foam tips was second to none and provided a very clean sound floor in environs ranging from the office to my quiet living room.  As far as bass reproduction is concerned, the lower frequencies were definitely there in complimentary fashion.  Some feel that these earphones lend themselves to bass heads, however I do not agree with this viewpoint.  While the mid-bass is certainly amazing with a moderate of impact and fantastic texture, I can't describe the sub-bass as anything aside from accurate and complimentary.  To clarify, the entire bass spectrum is represented accurately but without an overpowering amount of presence with regards to the middle qualities.
 
The only issue that I've run into with the device is the oft-posted problem of having one of the earpieces drop connection periodically.  The left ear on my set would cut to silence when turning my head a certain direction or holding the cable at that angle.  I blame the connectors specifically.  To remedy this, I used the tip of a knife* to exert very slight pressure on the pin in the cable-side of the connectors in order to bend it a less-than-readily-visible amount in order to facilitate better connection.  After several tweaks of this type, I am having no more connectivity issues in either ear, and it is smooth sailing.
 
To summarize, I am completely impressed with the devices aural qualities and would definitely buy them again if I needed to.  While they will not please the crowd which demands cymbal sparkle with their rock and roll, and they will not please a true bass-head, I believe that they will please folks who want accuracy, control and an overall fantastic musical reproduction with great isolation.
 
*If you do this modification to your pair, please disconnect them if using a conductive item to tweak the pin to avoid shorting the amp, and be gentle.  To much of a bend and the headphones will not connect properly.  It is better to have to tweak twenty times and do this right than tweak once and have a broken device.
 
List of music auditioned with this device:
Jon Schmidt - All of me (Piano)
Jon Schmidt - Micheal means Mozart (Piano and Cello)
Handel - Assortment of pieces from "Messiah" (Orchestra and Choir)
Mord Fustang - Lick the rainbow (Electro House)
Mord Fustang - Milky Way (Melodic Electro House)
Skrillex - My Name Is Skrillex (Dubstep)
Skrillex - Cat Rats (Dubstep Disco)
Pendulum - The other side (DnB)
Pendulum - Encoder (Vocal Percussive DnB)
 
All tracks were reviewed in all contexts using loss-less files obtained from reputable download sources or created from stamped CD.
 

I use these mainly for when I'm on stage or when I'm mixing live, running around adjusting a muzo's in-ears/wedges.
 
These are perfect. For 100bucks anyway.
 
But the unique thing about these I've never experience before is that it makes me want to see how far I can turn down any track and see how far I can go before I lose those details I've never noticed before.
 
They simply sound capable of reproducing whatever you throw at them. Sounds are no longer squished together. I can now discern clearly what level instruments are relative to others as opposed to something sent through a compressor with a hard knee and ultra high ratio. i.e. it sounds very clear, linear and distortion-less.
 
They come with a perfect little flat oval case with the Shure logo stitched on. Very nice and pro-looking.
 
Complaints. Hmmm.
 
They do lack a certain brightness, making cymbals, etc. sound slightly distant. But they demolish listening fatigue. Hours of listening, and normal hearing 
They don't lack space, they just don't shimmer as much. Which really reduces listening fatigue during long gigs and rehearsals.
When listening to music, it's very raw and clean. It doesn't try too add something that isn't there, but everything that's meant to be there is.
 
The cable is a little stiff (plus heavy and thick), and being an engineering student, I know that it is a little too stiff for massive amounts of bending, which a bit of a downer, because I needed a running pair, too. But it's all good, 'cos the cable is replaceable! Albeit a little pricey, it's ultra simple and easy with the snap connector. Some people have complained about the swivelness of the connector, but I find it makes it a whole lot easier to get them on, and it feels sturdy enough.
 
So that's about it.
 
 

I bought these to use on the go (Bus, Plane, Car). The first time I put them in my ears they were not comfortable. But after a week or so they were like tiny marshmallows in my ears. The sound is great and they are really good for electronic music. Over time they have replaced my my full-sized headphones in both sound quality and comfort. And for 100$ why not just give them a try?

My last IEM purchase was a disaster; I bought the Turbines and ultimately returned them as they were literally destroying my ears. I figured I was done with the IEM game for good, and moved to great big full sized Ultrasones. But I just couldn't ride the bus with those, they were too cumbersome and didn't quite isolate enough. So, my wallet aching, I went with these.
 
I've gotta say, after a little over a month I have almost no buyer's remorse whatsoever.
 
I'm going to start with the bad, because that's easier to quickly explain.
 
-The high's aren't the best, music in which the lead singer has a higher voice sometimes needs to be EQ'd to sound full. Keep in mind I haven't formally burned these in yet, I've listened for maybe 20 hours total but that's all the use they've gotten. This issue may go away, and if not it's not always noticeable and it is not a huge deal as the overall sound profile is great.
-The case is not terrific; it works, but it's not quite large enough for the cord (more on that cord later) and it doesn't seem to do a ton to protect the headphones.
-When I keep my player in my pocket and the plug is partially in my pocket, and the connection between the cord and the plug bends, it occasionally causes a mild skip in the audio. This is very rare, but it has happened a few times in the last month and it's worth noting. Easily avoided by carrying my player differently.
-Finally, here's my only really big gripe: I cannot remove the stock foam tips. I have pulled, tugged, squeezed, twisted, frozen, scratched, manipulated... nope. Now, the stock foams happen to fit my ears rather well (most of the time) so it's not a tremendous problem right now, but 1. It would be if the tips didn't fit and 2. The foams will eventually get really gross, and I will have to probably cut them off gently to replace them. It's like the tips are glued on, I don't get it. Most of the time these stock tips fit me, but I would like to be able to try the additional tips included for a potentially better fit. The left bud sometimes feels awkward, so a different tip might be really helpful. And as I said, foam tips are gross. They're wonderful in many ways, but they get really gross. And I will have to remove them to clean them eventually, and if I can't I'll have to take scissors or a pocket knife and slice these tips off and buy new foams from Shure (maybe a warranty would cover that, though).
 
Ok now that the small number of complaints have turned into a huge wall of text, let's get on to the pros (which will surely turn into an even huger wall of text).
 
-I'm going to start with maybe the most exciting thing: the cord. The beautiful, magical, amazing, life-changing cord that is made out of pixie dust and  concentrated joy and was gifted to mankind from heaven above. Yes, I'm speaking in hyperbole, but the cord really is awesome. It's long enough to really comfortably reach from my pocket to my ears, and then some. And it's thick to the point where it could take some SERIOUS punishment and absolutely never twist. Finally, I really appreciate it being removable in the event that it did break (I think it might, if I threw it into the fires of Mordor in Mount Doom). 
-The bass is incredible. These little IEMs pack as much of a punch as any full sized I've ever heard, but in quality not quantity. It goes very deep and is very strong, but does not get muddy or overtake the mids (sometimes it does drown out the highs, though). 
-A really nice warm, full sound signature. These really sound rich and full; R&B and wall-of-sound rock sound great, but thinner/strangely recorded oldies/classic rock also manage to sound really nice and not light or overly thin. 
-Despite the tip issues, the fit is excellent. These do not fall out, ever, and the over-the-ear cord is a really nice touch that ensures they stay in place. The first time I put them on it took me about five minutes to perfect getting them in, but then I had no trouble. The fit is particularly great in that it blocks out probably 95% of ambient noise: my bus driver blasts Steve Harvey every morning on the way to school and I can't stand it, but the minute I turn my music on it blocks it all out. The headphones don't block as much when the music isn't playing (it's passive noise cancellation, so the headphones themselves don't do a ton to block stuff out. Better than nothing, but not great). Nonetheless, with music on a reasonable volume I hear nothing outside.
-Terrific value. I had a 30 dollar gift card that I do not remember receiving for Best Buy, where I bought these, which felt like found money so in the end with tax and fast shipping they ran me about $80. I think they're worth a lot more than that.
 
I mainly listen to rock (punk, alternative, prog, classic, light, pop), along with some R&B, rap, and jazz. Sometimes some EQing is needed to make the highs and lows balance, but in general these really sound great with everything I listen to. I won't do the description for a few different specific songs that I've done in the past because I feel like that's a little too specific, and these are very consistent.
 
So yeah, I pretty much love these. They're comfy, they block sound well, they sound great, and the cord is majestic. I would strongly recommend these to anyone, my only real issue is the ultra-stuck-on tips. An excellent intro to higher end ear buds for me, very satisfying. I'll probably upgrade within a year or so, just because, but I could see sometimes using these even after I upgrade and if I can't afford an upgrade these would probably keep me happy for a very long time.