[rrhodes]

I received Shure's e2c today, and, try as I might, I cannot get the #@%@ thing in my ear canal - yes, I've tried the smallest foamies and smallest plastic shields. Could it be that it some people just can't use ear-canal type phones? I'm a complete newbie, so be gentle . . . .

 

[bangraman]

I'm probably asking the obvious, but you have compressed down the foam tips prior to fitting them?


The E2c does have quite a big 'ear tube' and it is conceivable that it doesn't fit very narrow ear canals.

 

[lindrone]

The E2c isn't like the Ety's in some ways... you don't have to insert it all the way into your canal to get a good seal. You can get the tri-flange tip if you need to insert it into your canal.

Generally though, what you're supposed to do is achieve a seal right outside of the canal with the silicon tips. Pick the one slightly larger than the one you can actually insert part-way into your ear canal.

That way, you can get a tight seal outside of your ear. For some people (yours truly included) that's more comfortable than having something actually inside your canal. With this type of seal, you'll probably find a better bass response as well.

Having something in my canal hurts a bit over time...

EDIT:
This goes for the sponge tips as well.. use the one that's slightly larger.

 

[rrhodes]

Thanks, Bangraman and lindrone. Yes, I'm compressing the foam but still a no go. Lindrone, I hadn't thought about using the larger one to form a seal at the entry of the canal - I'll try it as soon as I get home. Appreciate the help.

 

[erikzen]

Further to what lindrone said, I found that you definitely don't need to inser the e2s too far into your ear. When I first got them I was tugging and pulling on my ears and jamming the things in as far as possible. I also thought that I needed to use the smallest plugs as I really had to squeeze them in. I eventually felt like I had gotten them in but they were extremely uncomfortable. I eventually realized however, that although the isolation might have been a bit better, the sound did not improve at all with deeper insertion. After I couple of days I learned that you just need to exert minimal pressure to get the seal. Now I enjoy wearing the Shures all the time with no discomfort and decent isolation. Actually, more isolation than I probably need walking around on the streets of New York City!

 

[lindrone]

LOL... true.. when you've got isolation earphones, you learn to pay extra, extra attention to traffic and everything else around you...

Makes you feel a little bit like a rabbit in hiding...

Also, Sugarfried (he works at Shure) corrected me... there's no tri-flange available for the E2c.. doh...

 

[Bob Pepin]

In-the-canal phones are a learning experience. The intensity, perspective and clarity of the sound is unfamiliar, the occlusion can be disorienting and the seal - what defines the quality of the sound and the fit of this type of can, and what seems so weird at the beginning - all conspire to suggest that you've spent all that money foolishly.

Have faith.

The seal that is so critical and takes some fiddling to get, will come if you have patience. The size and shape of peoples' ear canals are as varied as there are heads in the universe. You only have to find the way to seat the damn things into YOUR ear canals that is comfortable and properly sealed, and - as a search here will tell you - there are any number of ways to accomplish that: foam tips, silcone tips, earmolds and infinite modifications of those.

(The solution for me - also small ear canals - was earmolds; comfortable and a great effortless seal.)

Trust the numerous threads here that attest to the great quality of the listening experience gotten from in-the-ear phones (and focus on visual input when in traffic).