[Squibbles]

I'm highly interested in the Shure E2 Earbuds, but before I spend $75 on Earbuds, I have a few questions:

1. What's the difference between Shure E2 and Shure E2c?

2. Why is it called an in-ear monitor?

3. What's the bass like? I don't like much bass.. for example, the PortaPros are way too extreme, but the Senn MX500 sound perfect.

4. How do they compare with the Senn MX500?

5. How's the fit? If the MX500 fit perfectly, how will these fit? I'll probably order from eBay, so I can't return it if it doesn't fit well.

Thanks alot!

 

[lindrone]

First of all, Shure E2 are known as in-ear "monitors" because they're used as personal monitors for professional musicians when they perform on stage. These earphones are "isolation" earphones that will block most of the external sound, allowing musicians to only hear sounds they want to hear.

Before these in-ear monitors, musicians has to use big monitor speakers that blast their own music back at them so they can hear what they're playing. So the bigger the crowd, the more sound you've got to blast at yourself. Not a good thing for your health in long term. So these in-ear monitors isolate external sounds, they're usually hooked up to a wireless device strapped on the musician's belt. A wireless station transmits the sounds that the musician wants to hear. They also sit up microphone to interact with the crowd... but at least they can turn the crowd down to a reasonable level this way.

Now, Shure also packages these headphones as consumer units. There's no design differences between the E2 and E2c... they're extremely good headphones for listening to music. However, there are package differences. The E2 is packaged for musicians, E2c is for consumers... so it comes with more stuffs... Some of them are really nice to have.

If you bought an E2 from eBay, most likely it's not an E2c and doesn't come with all the little nice stuffs that the E2c comes with.

The bass on the E2c is crisp and light... it's not some booming microphone. It's a earphone with a very defined and clear midrange, very good for music that doesn't care about bass much...

The E2c also comes with multiple sized silicon sleeves and sponge fittings.. The goal is to achieve a "seal" with your ears.. so it isolates all external sounds. The quality of the bass in these type of headphones are very dependent on how much of a seal you were able to achieve.

They do take some practice to get used to.. putting in and getting them into the right place. However, once you do, they'll definitely blow your MX500 away.

 

[matheis]

here, here...the e2 are great all-around canalphones/in-ear-monitors. i find them to be better than the senn mx-X00 series earbuds. the e2 bass response is more natural than the senn earbuds, while retaining good mid and treble response. the isolation is good, and you don't need to shove them far down in your ear canal to acheive a good seal as with etys. one addition i'd like to make to lindrone's response is that you do indeed get quite the package with the e2 vs the e2c. the e2 comes with s/m/l silicon and foam tips and a very portable hard carrying case to store and protect the e2 - a very good value kit, imho

go get 'em...just give them some time to burn in and give yourself some time to get aquainted with the fit!!! don't be eager to give up because they don't fit quite right or sound quite right the first time...this is normal. it can take a few days-a week to get the proper fit down and for them to burn in to their full potential.
later and good luck!
nikolaus

 

[Squibbles]

So what other extras do I get with the E2c besides the foamies, cleaning kit, and case?
Thanks alot!

 

[lindrone]

Hmm.. let's see.. 3 sizes of silicon + foam tips. You get a pack of filter replacements (they trap the oil and grease that might get into it.. so you can replace them later.. they're like little stickers).

A very nice spooling case...

Nice instruction manual...

If you order them directly from Shure, I think there's a 30-day money back guarantee if you find them unfit. I ordered mine directly from Shure.

 

[azt33]

Quote:

Originally posted by lindrone Hmm.. let's see.. 3 sizes of silicon + foam tips. You get a pack of filter replacements (they trap the oil and grease that might get into it.. so you can replace them later.. they're like little stickers). A very nice spooling case... Nice instruction manual...

That's exactly what I got with my E2 package! So, there's no difference between the two packages?

 

[matheis]

oh yeah...i forgot to mention the filters and instruction booklet comes with the e2, as well...they're the same thing after all...

nice to see you around azt

enjoying those e2 are you? i just listened to mine yesterday for an extended period of time at work with my dr7 and supermini v6.2...well and some sp mode mds, of course!!! ahhhh...

later
nikolaus