[moseboy]

Is the cable on the Shure E500 really that sensitive?

I'm aware that this is definitely an issue with the E500, but from the things I'm hearing about it, I get the impression that it's inevitable that the cable will in some way or another fail. Now, I'm not exactly hearing all too many complaints about it. (Shure seems to be very good about repairing products that are still under warranty.) But by the way some people (don't ask me to quote) describe their experiences, they make it sound like by simply using the E500 (not even necessarily inducing wear and tear), near the drivers, the cable will either start to fray, or eventually get stiff, crack, and even split open. I'm not necessarily saying that this is the case. In fact, I'm (desperately) hoping it isn't. But should this be the case, something should have been said to Shure a long time ago.

Now, I take good care of my things. I don't ever abuse them or throw them around. So needless to say, if the E500 ends up breaking on me, I will be very upset. I ordered the E500 to replace the UM2 I am sending back because I didn't like their sound. I came on here for reassurance as I wait for them to arrive, and after seeing several occurrences of this cable issue, I'm not getting it.

Experienced information on this, including ways to prevent these problems from happening (such as the popular "cable getting stiff and cracking" issue) would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Having spent a fair amount of time in person with the Shure rep here on Head-Fi (sugarfried), who also happened to head up the development of the E500, I really doubt that if there is a chronic flaw with the design of the E500 cable that it would not be resolved or re-designed at some point in the future. It seems to me that they would have just as much incentive in avoiding the cost of numerous returns as we consumers would. As such, color me skeptical that it's inevitable that one's E500 cables will fail. At least I SHURE hope not.

 

[jhenriques]

Hi!

...I just happen to be a owner of shure e500 phones...
and also, one of those who got this:

I got more pictures if you want.

I bought this 3 to 4 months ago... I sure do wear them a lot... but that's about it... I take very good care of them. specially because I just love their sound!

...shure, can you fix this? ...and what do I do with my phones when this breaks?

 

[PeterDLai]

Contact Shure and as long as they are under warranty and you purchased them from an authorized Shure dealer, then they should replace/repair them without much hassle.

I do not speak from firsthand experience, but I think I've read a fair amount of stories.

 

[moseboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhenriques /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi! ...I just happen to be a owner of shure e500 phones... and also, one of those who got this: I got more pictures if you want. I bought this 3 to 4 months ago... I sure do wear them a lot... but that's about it... I take very good care of them. specially because I just love their sound! ...shure, can you fix this? ...and what do I do with my phones when this breaks?

See... I am going to be wearing these a lot and I am going to take good care of them too, but is this still going to end up happening to me? If so, how do I prevent it from happening?

 

[epaludo]

That pic suprised me. I own a Shure E2c and it's very resistible. I use and abuse of it and it's pretty much brand new. I kind of like the Shure wire thickness, because it protects a little bit more. I would contact Shure, they might replace it for you ...

 

[moseboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by epaludo /img/forum/go_quote.gif That pic suprised me. I own a Shure E2c and it's very resistible. I use and abuse of it and it's pretty much brand new. I kind of like the Shure wire thickness, because it protects a little bit more. I would contact Shure, they might replace it for you ...

The only earphones from Shure that are having this cable issue are the E500 and the SE series earphones (from what I have heard). Previous models do not seem to suffer from this.

This really makes me mad. As I've said on other threads, Shure had the perfect opportunity to fix the issue with the E500 by replacing the current cable with a more durable one and renaming it the SE530. Instead, they don't even touch it and just add a few more tips to the cosmetics. Quite disappointing.

 

[crwoo]

I bought my e500 as soon as TTVJ started shipping them, I use them a few hours a day during work and I have the cables show no wear.
Though i have seen that issue with e5c

 

[plywood99]

Yeah I have the SE310 and the cable is starting to stiffen up. I wear them constantly while at work and bicycling, so lots of sweat and oils from my skin. My third Shure iem and all of them have had this "stiff" cable problem after a while. None have yet broken mind you since I am very careful and try not to bend them where the cable is most stiff, aka where they loop around my ears.

This is my only complaint with Shure audio. They seriously need to revamp their cables. Use the same kind as the UM2 would be great...


Ply

 

[moseboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plywood99 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah I have the SE310 and the cable is starting to stiffen up. I wear them constantly while at work and bicycling, so lots of sweat and oils from my skin. My third Shure iem and all of them have had this "stiff" cable problem after a while. None have yet broken mind you since I am very careful and try not to bend them where the cable is most stiff, aka where they loop around my ears. This is my only complaint with Shure audio. They seriously need to revamp their cables. Use the same kind as the UM2 would be great... Ply

Which were your first two Shure IEM's? I haven't heard of any of Shure's other earphones having this problem.

Is there a way to just prevent the stiffness altogether? Maybe wipe them down with a cloth after I use them? I'm open for suggestions.

 

[TAFB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by epaludo /img/forum/go_quote.gif That pic suprised me. I own a Shure E2c and it's very resistible. I use and abuse of it and it's pretty much brand new. I kind of like the Shure wire thickness, because it protects a little bit more. I would contact Shure, they might replace it for you ...

The E2C has a different, thicker wire. I like the E2C wire as well. The E500 wire felt cheap, thin, and fragile in comparison.

 

[moseboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAFB /img/forum/go_quote.gif The E2C has a different, thicker wire. I like the E2C wire as well. The E500 wire felt cheap, thin, and fragile in comparison.

*getting progressively more depressed about this...*

 

[jellojoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAFB /img/forum/go_quote.gif The E2C has a different, thicker wire. I like the E2C wire as well. The E500 wire felt cheap, thin, and fragile in comparison.

That's what I used to think about the E2C, but mine broke every 6 months more or less on the dot. At least Shure replaced them without any hassles. I think the two year warranty also get extended from the day of the replacement. I got tired of sending them back in and switched to ER4P instead.

 

[moseboy]

I've considered all of my options as far as other earphones and none of them seem to have the sound that I'm looking for except the E500. It just really sucks that an issue such as the cable of all things is the biggest drawback of the one pair of earphones that I think I am really going to like the sound of.

 

[Spyro]

Moseboy...Jeez, dude, maybe go settle on a different IEM. You don't even have them yet and you have already worked yourself up into a frenzy that you are going to have a miserable experience with them?? You are going to get a 2 year warranty...and IF you had a problem with the cable several months down the line, the initial euphoria of owning them will have already passed and the worst thing that can happen is you are without them for 1 week while they send you a brand new pair and your 2 year warranty starts all over again.

I've owned E2's, E3's, E4's (twice) and now E530's and love the Shure cables and have never experienced any problems whatsoever. I use them for working out and am sweating profusely for 45 min at a time sometimes longer.

So why would a cable stiffen over time? Shouldn't the opposite happen?

I assume salt sweat could possibly dry out the cable over time. Perhaps a thin layer of vasoline on the area that goes over the ear every week or so could help keep it pliable and soft??