Shure E3's vs Bose QC2

[Mr Iriver]

Just out of curiosity. How would the E3s compare to Bose? I heard bad things about their value, but are the little canalphones still superior to those huge headphones.

 

[toaster]

i am sure with all the reviews out about sensas and ues, you must know that smaller size does not mean a lesser quality, or "smaller" sound. (edit: don't mean for that to sound rude, but since we're typing here, you can't tell i am saying it with a smile.)

after hearing some high-end canalphones, and even some not so high-end ones, you'll realize that canalphones can reproduce sound exceptionally well.

of course there are certain things that canalphones do that headphones can not do at all, like provide total isolation and an overtly more intimate soundstage. these qualities give canalphones a "special place" in the audiophile world. and for some people like me who are looking for isolation and intimacy when listening to music, these qualities represent major benefits of using canalphones over headphones.

as far as comparing the e3's to the bose...i am not a big fan of the e3's to say the least, and i have not heard the bose. so while i can't compare them directly i will say that judging by the way bose produces sound in general (and i have heard many of their speakers) bose likes to cater to mids, lop off extreme highs and lows, and leave out all the detail. i would venture to guess that the triports continue this tradition. and yes, like you said bose products are always overpriced. bose has great advertising, and they sit perched atop the general public "consumer's most wanted" list when it comes to audio because of it.

back to canalphones vs. headphones...

thinking that canalphones can't compete with full-size headphones used to be a common belief, but since canalphones like the shure e5 and up (sensas/ues) have come to be adopted, that has changed. (i leave out the er-4 because despite its sound quality, it simply does not have headphone-power sound.)

so, bottom line: i don't like e3's...haven't heard the bose...but canalphones certainly can compete with full-size headphones, and in nearly all cases, aside from long sessions of home listening, i would rather have canalphones for their headphone-power sound, their convenience and comfort.

 

[Mr Iriver]

Anybody else tried both to see how they compare. I love my E3s, but if the Bose are better, they should not be as bad as people say. I remember people saying they sound like the PX series by sennheiser which are pretty cheap compared to the QC2s.

 

[catscratch]

I have heard the Triports, but I haven't heard the QC's. I don't know if they use the same tri-driver technology, but if they do, I would expect pretty similar sound. The Triports are definitely NOT worth the $150 that they cost, and I wouldn't pay more than $50 for them. If you're getting the same sound in the QC's, which are substantially more expensive, then you're really getting ripped off.

If your price ceiling is $300, or whatever the QC's cost, then the E3c isn't your only option in canalphones. You can also consider the ER-4's, E5c's, UM2's, and maybe the cheaper Ultimate Ears, like the UE5. Any of these will give you better isolation and will not leave you wondering if you're getting the best possible sound quality.

 

[Mr Iriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by catscratch If your price ceiling is $300, or whatever the QC's cost, then the E3c isn't your only option in canalphones. You can also consider the ER-4's, E5c's, UM2's, and maybe the cheaper Ultimate Ears, like the UE5. Any of these will give you better isolation and will not leave you wondering if you're getting the best possible sound quality.

No, I already own E3s and I'm very happy with them. I am just curious to see how these excellents little canalphones stack up against the Bose.

 

[zChan]

Soundwise, my dad's QC2 is crappier then my Triport.. Worse soundstage

, worse highs... But my dad just loves them for the excellent noise cancelling on planes (which is the only place he uses em).

 

[fr4c]

if i remember correctly, the Bose salesperson told me the triports and the QC2 uses the same drivers. the only difference is that the QC2 has noise cancelling microphones which cancels out the noise.

either way, they both sound like 30 dollar headphones....

 

[stevesurf]

First, a friend a work told me about the Bose QC2's. After trying his, I decided to get a pair, setting aside my HD280s. Yes, the noise in the plane decreased, but I did not realize how flat the Bose sounded until I took the time to do an A-B against the two cans I already had, the HD280 and HD590 (quiet room).

Then, finally I stopped in at one of our clients, an inMotion store, to try the e3s. The gent at the Minneapolis Airport Store was really quite accomadating, showing me first the e2s, then e3s and finally the e5s. At the store, I heard a difference between e2/e3, but more importantly, the sound from my source (iPod 3G) at the time sounded real and the isolation was excellent with the foamies. I was hearing much more, kind of like with my (then HD590s) in a quiet room. After hearing the e3s, I wanted to get a pair, but decided to wait, putting the QC2s away.

I haven't put the QC2s on since, and have the e3s on my wish list.

 

[Mr Iriver]

Can anyone write a more detailed comparison.
Thanks

 

[Eagle_Driver]

To be honest, the QC2, being an active noise-cancellation system, does not block out the higher-pitched noises. That makes babies crying, annoying though that sound is, clearly audible when the jet airplane noises vanish.

The E3(c) physically blocks out (literally) 80% of the outside noises - and it affects all audible frequencies emulating from the outside of the 'phones more equally.

As for sound quality, the QC2 caters to those who prefer the muddy, bloated sound with "one-noted" bass response and emphasized, slightly screechy treble response. The E3(c) is more accurate, but the highs are rolled off a bit.

 

[Mr Iriver]

Alright thanks. Anybody else can make a comparison. Maybe like differences in detail, clarity, texture and soundstage, and overall sound quality.

 

[Seijang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fr4c if i remember correctly, the Bose salesperson told me the triports and the QC2 uses the same drivers. the only difference is that the QC2 has noise cancelling microphones which cancels out the noise. either way, they both sound like 30 dollar headphones....

I will call BS on your claim that the e3c's sound like 30 dollar headphones.

Whether you may like the e3c's or not is an entirely different matter - on the other hand, you would have to be as deaf as a block of granite if you truly believed that the e3c's sound like 30 dollar headphones (ie MDR 71SL).

I do recognize there is a large part of flippancy in your statement, but don't confuse the people who have never used the e3c before..they are excellent canalphones.

 

[Ingo]

Quote:

I will call BS on your claim that the e3c's sound like 30 dollar headphones.

He was talking about the Triports and the QC2s, not about the E3cs.

 

[Mr Iriver]

Has anybody heard them both? I have my E3's and they sound great. However I am curious to see how they can perform against those huge BOSE.

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Iriver Has anybody heard them both? I have my E3's and they sound great. However I am curious to see how they can perform against those huge BOSE.

I honestly doubt the QC2 could even hold a candle to the E3, in sound and reduction of noise.