Another E3c review from a non-audiophile

[baies]

This E3c review is from a non audiofile using medium quality MP3's.

I am coming from a background of using modified E888's (rubber band, plastic cover, & paper sheet stripped off / foam ear plug carved out & crazy glued to the edges of bud / foam pad placed back on). These provide isolation & they stayed in firmly but I found myself wanting to see if there might be something better.

I had long looked at the ER4's but I use the treadmill at the gym so the reports of interference from the rubbing cord kept me away. When I heard of the E3's I thought this might be what I was looking for.

I took them out of the box and placed them in my ear using the default grey pads. My first impression was "oh my god I paid this much money for another version of the EX 70's". I then tried all the other sizes and the large ones fit best and that is when a bit of bass kicked in. But they still struck me as a slightly better version of the EX70's.

I then tried the foam pads and stuck them deep inside my ears. This is when the sound quality just took off. It was great bass and great trebble. Better than the EX70's & E888's. And most importantly the buds where extremely stable in my ears. I could run, jump, or do anything and they stayed in.

The one factor that needs to be discussed is price. Are they that much better that the E888's or EX70's? I'm not sure but the E3c's seem to do the job that I bought them for. Is there something better? Maybe the ER4's but I don't know if they can be used in the portable situations that I need them for.

I hope this info is useful for anyone thinking about getting these.

 

[Dan the audioman]

No intention on being rude, but maybe the reason you aren't an audiophile is because you cant hear the difference between the e3c's and the e888's and ex70's...Just a thought

I was able to significantly hear an amazing improvement from my ex70's to my er4p/s.

im gonna go to sleep now,
Dan

 

[SpoonMan]

I think a lot of the problem is people aren't getting really good seals...coming from the ex70's which don't really seal, to a set of real canalphones takes some getting used to...I know because I previously used ex70's before I got my e1c's.

That being said, the ex70's have a very muddy presentation of sound, and overbloated, boomy bass...if the e3c's I have on the way don't totally destroy my old ex70's (and beat my e1c's) they'll be going back...but I really can't see that happening.

 

[baies]

There have already been reviews from those using high quality MP3's on high quality equipment. I consider someone who listen's to this combination to be an audiophile (others may disagree).

I have many Mp3's in my collections which are average quality (128 bit) & I believe many other also do. I thought it might be better to term this as non-audiophile & offer a review from this perspective.

Perhaps my review was not as clear as it could have been or perhaps there are some who don't have the patience to read closely. Regardless, I will offer a quick summary of what I concluded:

The E3c offers improved sound quality over earbuds such as the Sony E888's or EX70's. The amount of improvement depends on how good the seal is. For me, it was the seal from the foam pads which allowed the superiority in sound quality to clearly shine through.

 

[Tim D]

You didn't address if you have actually used E3's with a treadmill yet. I know for a fact that the ER4's would bomb in that situation(well assuming you are running and not some wussy power walking or something), but a little skeptical that any canalphone that offers good isolation in the first place would do well. Absolutely inconsequential of cord noise, but the heavy occlusion effects that come with any earplugs.

 

[baies]

Hi Tim, I ran with them on a paved surface with the cord tightly secured and did not experience interference. This was only for a test and I would not consider normaly doing this because the isolation makes it unsafe.

I have not had a chance to try them on the treadmill yet. The thumping of a treadmill is different so it should be interesting to see what happens. I will let you know how it works out.