NineToTheSky
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2006
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After reading here for a while, I decided to get the Shure e4s, and I thought I'd let you know my views on them, because I'm so impressed that I just can't keep it to myself!
I'm no audiophile, but I love listening to music. I have a Zen Xtra 60gb, and started off with the supplied earphones, then went to Sony Fontopia, then Shure e2.
I'm just completely blown away with the e4s! It's as if every track I own has been reborn: the clarity, the separation (each instrument has its own space in the spectrum), the fullness, and yes, even the bass is superb. I like everything from accoustic folk, through rock, progressive, metal, indie etc (so nothing bass-dependent), but the bass has real punch and depth: you can hear the bass guitar and bass drum with real weight - exactly as it should be.
I can really tell the difference between well and badly recorded tracks, too; judging the quality of how the e4s output the sound is obviously dependent on the quality of the source.
As has been said many times here the single most important factor in getting the most (or indeed anything worthwhile) out of IEMs is the fit. I never felt I got the e2s snug enough, but after a week or so of endless swapping of sleeves and in-ear manipulation, I'm back with the default grey soft sleeves on the e4. The fit is absolutely superb: a complete seal, and very comfortable - I hardly know I'm wearing them.
Lastly, although this isn't a very important consideration, I think they look pretty neat too.
So, no, they're not cheap, but they're worth every penny.
Just one question: I'm certainly not thinking of replacing them, but just out of interest because the difference between the e2s and the e4s is so huge. What's the next significant step up from the e4s - or is there anything above them - the reviews of the e5s don't seem that impressive?
I'm no audiophile, but I love listening to music. I have a Zen Xtra 60gb, and started off with the supplied earphones, then went to Sony Fontopia, then Shure e2.
I'm just completely blown away with the e4s! It's as if every track I own has been reborn: the clarity, the separation (each instrument has its own space in the spectrum), the fullness, and yes, even the bass is superb. I like everything from accoustic folk, through rock, progressive, metal, indie etc (so nothing bass-dependent), but the bass has real punch and depth: you can hear the bass guitar and bass drum with real weight - exactly as it should be.
I can really tell the difference between well and badly recorded tracks, too; judging the quality of how the e4s output the sound is obviously dependent on the quality of the source.
As has been said many times here the single most important factor in getting the most (or indeed anything worthwhile) out of IEMs is the fit. I never felt I got the e2s snug enough, but after a week or so of endless swapping of sleeves and in-ear manipulation, I'm back with the default grey soft sleeves on the e4. The fit is absolutely superb: a complete seal, and very comfortable - I hardly know I'm wearing them.
Lastly, although this isn't a very important consideration, I think they look pretty neat too.
So, no, they're not cheap, but they're worth every penny.
Just one question: I'm certainly not thinking of replacing them, but just out of interest because the difference between the e2s and the e4s is so huge. What's the next significant step up from the e4s - or is there anything above them - the reviews of the e5s don't seem that impressive?
