I started with the e2c, didn't really use them until the black soft sleeves were introduced by shure. Once I got those sleeves, i abused the drivers out of the e2.
A couple of months ago, CompUSA (ann arbor, MI) had e3 in white for $120, but I wanted black. Thats $50 off retail, so I price matched at Best Buy for a black pair. I listened to them a bit on the way back to the hotel and for an hour or two in the hotel but I wasn't happy.
The fit was good but the sound wasn't up to what I thought it should be. I enjoyed the sounds from the e2. In fact, I preferred the e2. Even taking into consideration the shortcomings of the e2, i felt the music from the e3 wasn't "pleasing" to me (how is that for something measurable?). The bass wasn't where I thought it should be, although the high end was good. When I listend to accoustical guitar and solo female singers, the e3 sounded very good. But when I played something heavy and growling, then the e3 lost its luster.
A trip back to Best Buy returned the funds into my headphone stash and I waited for a price break on the e4.
I picked up the e4 just before christmas when Tweeters had a special invitation only customer sale, but I didn't get them from Tweeters. They had the e4, but again, only in white. A trip to another Best Buy, this time I was south of Chicago found the last pair of black e4cs. They pricematched Tweeters and i've been thrilled since.
When listening to music i've listened to a hundred times before, I'm amazed to hear aspects of the music I have never heard before.
I believe that the sound from the e4 is completely different than the e2. I feel the the sound is more accurate and the e4 doesn't "make over the tonal qualities" of the music the way I feel the e2 do.
I'm working my way towards custom sleeves, but everytime I browse these forums the thought slips past me, "what about the e500?"
