Want to learn more about the shure e3c's

[number1sixerfan]

First off I want to say hello to everyone, I'm new here. Well sort...I've been browsing for about a year but I just joined this week.

I want to know as much as possible about the shures. The pros and cons, the ergonomics, how to get the best use out of them, what mods to do, what to watch out for, etc. I just purchased these and I was debating them over the ety er6i's. I eventually chose the shures because they seemed to be right for my needs. I have 30 days to decide if these are for me or not. How should I burn them in(if I even need to)? If I'm not at least partially satisfied in a week and a half I'm going to return them and purchase the etys.

btw, I listen to rap if that affects any of your comments. Thanks in advance.

 

[steel102]

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=90256

 

[lee0539]

Welcome to Head-Fi
sorry about your wallet.

rap definitely gives the edge to shures. rap is mostly low to mid with a little highs. the rolled off highs probably won't affect the listening too much. the problem is both the etys and the shures except for the e5c don't have a lot of bass that most rap listeners like. e2cs have more bass, but if its quality sound your looking for... the bass for me is good enough and its definitely there and noticeable for most of the rap music i have. if u try the e3c and find the bass lacking dont look at the etys go straight to e2c or ex71s... unless u dont mind spending more then 200 dollars

 

[Jasper994]

Welcome to Head-Fi!

I don't happen to have the E3 but I have both the E2 and the E5. Play around with the different tips and vary the way you have it seal in your ear to find the best sound for you. With the E5, which uses the same tips as the E3, I tend to push them in until they seal but not until they create positive pressure in my ear canals. Other people push them all the way in and like them better that way, so like I said, play with it. I'd recommend spending at least a day with all of the tips you can get to fit your ears. It'll give you a better feel for the way the tips change the sound and feel of the canalphones.

 

[bhd812]

not only is shure a sponsor here but I belive the top dogs of shure are on the boards often.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I made the better choice. I will be using these mainly for nightime listening(my roomate is a nocturnal basterd) and walks to and from classes. How hard is it to insert and remove the headphones, as I'll obviously have to do this quite frequently. Also, the reason I think I will enjoy the sound of these headphones no matter what is because I am currently using mx400s and I don't actually consider them to have bad sound quality. I also have a cmoy amp. Does it greatly improve the quality of the shures? If not I could sell it.

 

[frankcent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by number1sixerfan Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I made the better choice. I will be using these mainly for nightime listening(my roomate is a nocturnal basterd) and walks to and from classes. How hard is it to insert and remove the headphones, as I'll obviously have to do this quite frequently. Also, the reason I think I will enjoy the sound of these headphones no matter what is because I am currently using mx400s and I don't actually consider them to have bad sound quality. I also have a cmoy amp. Does it greatly improve the quality of the shures? If not I could sell it.

I now own e3 and used to own e2.( many factors convinced me to upgrade to e3..sound quality, more tip choices, the look, thiner wire and e3 doesnt require to be wore behind the ears) so I can tell a little about them. Its not hard to insert and remove unless you use foamies. some people said that you can insert the earpieces with foamies in 5 sec. if you are trained. However, I have never got used to them. Other tips are very easy to insert. e2 is a little bit harder to insert than e3 since it has larger bore. BTW, one of my friends told me he was pissed when he called me 3 times down the hall way and I didnt respond. you know what I was doing...

 

[number1sixerfan]

Which tips provide the best sound? I know this will be opinianated, but I'd still like to hear what people think.

 

[oldblueviffer]

I used the E3's for about 2 months b4 i had problems with them. On mine the inner rubber seal,that goes around the small driver inside the plastic housing, kept moving and blocking the small hole that the sound comes from. In the end i gave up using them and got some Sensa's instead. They were good while they worked but not worth the money you have to pay for them.

 

[commando]

I bought the E3s, but I didn't like the sound at all - the highs are so rolled off there was very little detail. Bass was ok to my ears. I returned them and got EX71s, which to my ears are much better. MD33s should be better again. Keep in mind Shures/Etys have much better isolation than EX71/MD33. People often try to argue with my opinion, don't bother, this is my opinion and it's not going to change.

 

[Ingo]

With canalphones the fit makes or breaks an opinion in many cases. If they don't fit good they don't sound good. Some people may do ok with the ultra-soft tips of the Sony EX71s, but can't quite make it with the E3c tips. I own both of the headphones mentioned and my opinion is that the EX71s aren't even in the same league sonically as the E3c. I find the bass tight and more than adequate, but I don't listen to any rap/hiphop/electronica/trance stuff either. The mids of the E3c are humped up, but definately not as much as the EX71s. And on the high end, they are both a little rolled off, but the E3c subtstantially less than the 71s IMO.

 

[frankcent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by commando I bought the E3s, but I didn't like the sound at all - the highs are so rolled off there was very little detail. Bass was ok to my ears. I returned them and got EX71s, which to my ears are much better. MD33s should be better again. Keep in mind Shures/Etys have much better isolation than EX71/MD33. People often try to argue with my opinion, don't bother, this is my opinion and it's not going to change.

I have seen numerous times you blamed e3. no offense. For those who bought e3, your comments are like saying "your 170 usd earphones are crappy in highs (well. they probably are) and even worse than the 30 buck ex71 earphones I own." Of course, a lot of e3 owners would not be happy with that and argue with you. Different persons certainly have different preferences. Before I bought my e3, I did a lot of search and had already seen your comments on e3. nonetheless, I bought them and I am happy with them. To me, they do bring more enjoyment and convenience to my ears than EX71. I am just saying that comments from others are not as important as your own preference. Even if e3s do suck compared to other phones, I wont bitch about them and other compared phones.

 

[commando]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankcent I am just saying that comments from others are not as important as your own preference.

Correct - the best thing to do is buy from a place you can return them too if you don't like them.

 

[gorman]

For the kind of music you'll be listening to, I'd say the best tips will be the foamies. Speaking from past personal experience, foamies give you the most bass on E3s. YMMV.