Shure SE215s- Still Relevant?

[TRapz]

I've become interested in the SE215 as my first good IEM. Knowing that it's a few years old now, has anything surpassed it for the price? I need the isolation and after trying some headphones at a meet, I've realized I might like the amount of bass it has (previously thought it would be too much). I would like to spend no more than $125, and another thing I like is that I can pick up the SE215 at a nearby Guitar Center. I listen to mostly rock/metal, along with some rap and stuff like Jason Mraz. I can't stand congestion or muddy bass, and don't want to have too little treble; it's also important that vocals not be distant. I've heard the VSD3S is similar, but is lacking somewhat in build quality. The ATH-IM70 is also interesting, but if they aren't too different I would rather go with the SE215 due to being able to get it at the store nearby. So, has the SE215 been surpassed yet/can I get something similar for the price?

 

[billybob_jcv]

As someone that has owned the SE215 for several years, I wonder the same thing. One of my concerns with the new kids on the block are that they will be too V-shaped - the IEM equivalent of the Urban Fashion 'Phones. But, I don't know - I guess I'll have to spend some money to find out!

 

[SteveHiFi]

RHA might be up your street, they seem to cover everything you have. MA750 for example.

 

[TRapz]

  RHA might be up your street, they seem to cover everything you have. MA750 for example.

Does the RHA have the kind of isolation the Shures provide? I need a lot to be blocked out while on the bus. Also, the Shure's removable cable is a huge plus. The descriptions of the sound I'm reading in reviews seems great, but that would all be worthless if I couldn't isolate the loud bus I'm on every day.

 

[hunteragain]

i had se215, bro they have good sound quality, really big soundstage, but they are so bulky, hard to use, and they dont have funny sound such as rha 750i, when u are streaming audio because of no bass they are being a 10$ philips headphones, i bought it used and sold it in a 5 days, im listening to rock metal and edm, and i dont like the se215's.
i tried 3 earphones rha 750i , bose ie2 , and se215 in my opinion for sound quality
 
rha750i > bose ie2 > se215
 
overall 
 
bose ie2 > rha750i > se215
 
for price/performance = rha750 is the winner

 

[SteveHiFi]

 Does the RHA have the kind of isolation the Shures provide?

 
I can't advise when it comes to what seal you'll get - it's like guaranteeing that a certain pair of shoes will fit you perfectly.
 
There's always Comply foam tips (size 200 for RHA) which will improve the seal if the stock tips don't work, but there's a quite a few in the box with the 750 including a couple of memory foam eartips.

 

[TRapz]

   
I can't advise when it comes to what seal you'll get - it's like guaranteeing that a certain pair of shoes will fit you perfectly.
 
There's always Comply foam tips (size 200 for RHA) which will improve the seal if the stock tips don't work, but there's a quite a few in the box with the 750 including a couple of memory foam eartips.

Thanks for your help, I'll look more into it. Another thing I realized is the metal design, which obviously shows good build quality, but may be a downside due to me living in the freezing north east US. I will look into them more though, the build quality, sound, and tip choice all seem great.

 

[billybob_jcv]

i had se215, bro they have good sound quality, really big soundstage, but they are so bulky, hard to use, and they dont have funny sound such as rha 750i, when u are streaming audio because of no bass they are being a 10$ philips headphones, i bought it used and sold it in a 5 days, im listening to rock metal and edm, and i dont like the se215's.
i tried 3 earphones rha 750i , bose ie2 , and se215 in my opinion for sound quality

rha750i > bose ie2 > se215

overall 

bose ie2 > rha750i > se215

for price/performance = rha750 is the winner

I disagree with nearly everything in this post. I suspect you probably didn't understand how to properly insert the IEMS or how to use the memory wire cables.

 

[TRapz]

I disagree with nearly everything in this post. I suspect you probably didn't understand how to properly insert the IEMS or how to use the memory wire cables.

Without proper seal, any IEM would cause the "no bass, $10" sound he describes. At the moment I'm considering the SE215, the MA750, and the IM70. From reviews, the Shure seems to provide the most isolation, then the IM70, then the MA750. At the moment, SE215s are at the top of my list due to me possibly getting Guitar Center gift cards for Christmas, as well as their removable cables, isolation, and plastic design (the metal MA750 would be a bit cold here in Northest US). 

 

[jnorris]

+1 on the RHA MA750i. I found the Shure 215 to be muddy, lacking extension in the highs, and congested sounding - as if all the instruments were on top of each other. All the sonic cues as to the space the instrument occupied, it's detail, and character. were mashed together and indiscernable. I came from the TDK IE800, whose detail and soundstage were magnificent, but at the expense of mid-bass - rendering instruments as being much smaller than life. The MA750, after a troubling first impression, very quickly turned into my favorite headphone - outclassing the B&W C5, The Martin Logan Mikros 70, Sony EX600 and a plethora of Monster, Klipsch, JBL and other Sony IEMs. The good news is that the MA750 can be purchased at the Apple Store with a 14 day return policy.

 

[TRapz]

+1 on the RHA MA750i. I found the Shure 215 to be muddy, lacking extension in the highs, and congested sounding - as if all the instruments were on top of each other. All the sonic cues as to the space the instrument occupied, it's detail, and character. were mashed together and indiscernable. I came from the TDK IE800, whose detail and soundstage were magnificent, but at the expense of mid-bass - rendering instruments as being much smaller than life. The MA750, after a troubling first impression, very quickly turned into my favorite headphone - outclassing the B&W C5, The Martin Logan Mikros 70, Sony EX600 and a plethora of Monster, Klipsch, JBL and other Sony IEMs. The good news is that the MA750 can be purchased at the Apple Store with a 14 day return policy.

How good is the isolation? After looking over everything, it's the one of the only things keeping me from it. I need great isolation for the bus.

 

[jnorris]

Isolation depends on the tips you use. The RHA's come with a couple of sets of what appear to be Comply foams tips that can provide some very good isolation. My recommendation would be to try them out if an Apple store is relatively convenient. If they don't suit then return them.

 

[TRapz]

Isolation depends on the tips you use. The RHA's come with a couple of sets of what appear to be Comply foams tips that can provide some very good isolation. My recommendation would be to try them out if an Apple store is relatively convenient. If they don't suit then return them.

Thanks, I'll try to get to one at some point; I didn't even think about trying them in an Apple Store.