Shure e2c- overrated?

[seven62]

i have read numerous reviews (one of which i beleive was posted here) on the e2c. the general concensus was that they provided excellent sound at a somewhat affordable price (that is, $100CAD). well, after some experimentation with the sleeves (i settled on the soft flex), i still dont have the biblical sound thats been talked about. now, dont get me wrong, compared to every other earbud i've ever put in my ear, these are the best by far. so why am i whining? well, i'm no audiophile, but the sound emitted by these is sandy and unspacious. my panasonic rg-hg20's sound better than these, with plenty of spaciousness and without any sandiness (if that is the right word?) and those are $15USD. is spaciousness a feature exclusive to cans, or is this a fit issue?

 

[stewgriff]

When the Shures were first released, they were seen as the cheap, accessible IEM, and got lots of glowing reviews. The field has more than caught up with them, and they're being replaced by the SE110 this month. Yeah, the mids on the E2s are pretty rough (and masked up by the bass), and you can't really expect great soundstage with an earbud or IEM unless you're going up to the $500 level. Let the drivers burn in for 2 or 3 days, and see if the sound gets better.

 

[seven62]

$500 is just a wee bit out of my price range- i guess i'll live with it.
hopefully they do burn in and it gets a little better.
thanks for the advice, cleared up any buyers remorse i had.

 

[unkle11]

Hi from my experience with IEMS i have to say i liked the e2c's the least out of others within the same price range. I felt they were grating to the ears, in that they sounded rough and detached, and didn't fit too well, then again maybe i have funny ear canals, depending on your musical tastes i suggest checking out jays, ultimate ears UE3 or UM1 from westone, the UE3 has a very weighty sound, very nice for bass heavy music, jays have a good overall rep i think though i haven't heard myself, i picked the UM1s cos they were the most comfortable since i was going to be using them while walking around campus for long periods and have an "inoffensive" sound meaning though it doesn't get everything right, it doesn't do wrong either lol

 

[BassheadJazz]

While the Shures aren't the best IEMs out there, it could also be a fit issue-- fit can make or break your experience. If you're still unhappy with them, I would look into some Ultimate Ears, the super.fi 5 pros in particular are good if you can afford them-- I don't know what your preferred price point is.

 

[joe_cool]

There's a ring inside the eartube which is used to mount the earwax screen. Pop that thing out and the difference is unexpected!!

Thanks to Kramer5150 for the cajones to try this first.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by seven62 /img/forum/go_quote.gif i have read numerous reviews (one of which i beleive was posted here) on the e2c. the general concensus was that they provided excellent sound at a somewhat affordable price (that is, $100CAD). well, after some experimentation with the sleeves (i settled on the soft flex), i still dont have the biblical sound thats been talked about. now, dont get me wrong, compared to every other earbud i've ever put in my ear, these are the best by far. so why am i whining? well, i'm no audiophile, but the sound emitted by these is sandy and unspacious. my panasonic rg-hg20's sound better than these, with plenty of spaciousness and without any sandiness (if that is the right word?) and those are $15USD. is spaciousness a feature exclusive to cans, or is this a fit issue?

Mine took quite a while to burn-in, but sounded great in the end. I also had trouble getting them deep enough into my ear cannals to get the right sound. After 100 hours - 200 hours of use, and the right fit, they wont let you down (till you hear better).

 

[steviebee]

I've had mine for almost three years now. Yes, they've been overtaken by newer models; yes, their sound is not the most refined or revealing and yes, correct fit and seal is vital (tho easier to achieve with the E2c IME, probably because of way the 'bulb' sits inside your, er, ear pocket & the multiplicity of tips)....while they are no longer my go-to phones, when I need isolation and an easy fit without too much fiddling they still come in very handy...and I still find them more than good enough for music on the go.

Then I run back to my Grado SR60s, my current love

 

[ajames]

There's a general positive attitude of them on the net, but you never see them recommended for sound quality. Most of the time, they're most applicable for wanting very good isolation.

I have a pair, and i don't like them one bit. They sounded better than anything i had at the time, but they don't fit my head, i find them uncomfortable, and i think they sound like a boombox playing through a tunnel. That said, if i don't want to hear any outside noise -- i'll still wear them.

They have their place -- especially for being able to get them for fairly cheap -- which is why you'll see them recommended.

my two cents

 

[jinx20001]

i think the problem is most dynamic drivers are unfortunately masked by muddy sound,or muddy bass,there are some exceptions ofcourse,but they never appear as clear as armatures,they are still ok tho not rubbish by a long shot

 

[seven62]

thanks for the other info.
my price range was previously at $50(sony ex-71's), until i considered cx300's, and then was pressured by my father, a shure fan, to get the shures "for only $20 more", based on his experience with a shure cartridge needle.
so, $100 CAD.

regarding the earwax screens- if my ears decide to eject a bit into the tube, and by chance that continues to the driver.... bad? i'm of asian heritage and i sport the "dry" type earwax, which likes to fall into small, unreachable places.
such as my ear canal or my earphones.

 

[seven62]

just thought i'd update on this, in case anyone wanted to buy these.

after just a few days, with just a few hours burn in (while on my ears),
they sound fantastic! the slightest touch of cymbols, the driving bass of heavy metal, the passionate screaming, the wailing guitars, even the slightest breath- its all there! they do lack a little spaciousness, but for $100, i could hardly ask for better. the detail is just as good as my rp-hg20 cans, if not better. the bass is tighter. the mids are immersive. honestly, i'm amazed. i'm still no audiophile, but i dont regret buying these for a second!
if the average joe is looking for a decent set of earphones to replace the stock i-pod's phones (the new ones, btw, are much better than the last gen), the difference is remarkable. highly reccomended! and since the se's are coming out, they should drop in price soon.

 

[mrdeadfolx]

Ive always thought they sucked pretty bad as far as a respectable namebrand IEM

 

[FunnyPhunny]

whoever came up with how these things got wired should be shot, they might of not skimped on sound quality but those cable sure to love to break on ya.

 

[Spyro]

No, not over rated at $80.