Shure E4c-n Sound Isolating Earphones (Black)

Product Description

The E4C earphones feature a High-Definition driver with Tune Port technology for an ultra-wide frequency soundstage with brilliant highs and extended bass. As the ideal companion to any portable or home audio source, the E4C incorporates the same precision components used by professional musicians to bring incredibly accurate sound with remarkable isolation. The E3G's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes, even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. The soft, flexible sleeves in the Fit Kit gently contour the inside of the ear for a comfortable, secure fit so that the earphones don't fall out while you're exercising. The cable spool inside provides a convenient, tangle-free way to store your earphones. Sensitivity (at 1kHz) - 109 dB SPL/mW Impedance (at 1kHz) - 29 Ohm Cable Length - 1.42m (56 inches) Input Connector - 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) gold-plated stereo plug Unit Weight - 31 gram (1.1 ounces)

Customer Reviews:

Not an ideal earphone. Very overpriced.......2007-10-11

I bought them and regretted that. Even though the sound quality was excellent it is very uncomfortable siting in the ear. I tried to use them when I'm doing my regular jogging in the evenings and it didn't stay in my ear and every other minute they were falling off out of my ears. I tried all pads provided in the package, didn't help.

Maybe I have strange ears.......2007-10-10

After thoroughly researching various headphones online, these seemed to be exactly what I wanted: good sound quality with external sound reduction. The main attractive feature of these was that batteries weren't required for the sound reduction.

Out of about 10 fittings that were sent with these headphones only about 2 fit my ear. One of them hurt my ears because it caused the headphone to fit very snuggly; this ended up yielding mediocre sound reduction when they were jammed in, but while I rode the bus they kept slipping out and I had to refit them in my ears every few minutes.
As for the other fit, it worked okay but the sound reduction wasn't very good at all, at least it didn't hurt my ear; slippage was also a problem (WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLY ANNOYING).

The overall sound quality of these headphones was good, but not nearly what I was expecting for the price. Next time I buy headphones there is no way I'm going in-ear. If you do decide to go with in ear, buy some sub-$30 headphones and don't waste your money on these.

Awesome Sound.......2007-09-21

Great product, awesome performance.
The best thing is that the earphones comes with more than 5 pairs of isolating rubbers and silicones

well worth the dough.......2007-09-20

love 'em. crystal clear audio. flat response is a little less bass-y then i'm used to but a small tweak to my muvo eq fixed that quick. heavy duty durable cord is a plus along with the 2yr warranty(!!). fit perfect in my ear canal with the default sleeves and they don't slip for me as some had reported. of course the isolating effect also amplifies cord rubbing noise but a quick tuck solves that small woe. well worth the trade off for the huge reduction in background noise. a gem for a long commute.

Excellent $50 UPGRADE from Shure E3.......2007-09-12

I have had a pair E3-c earphones for 2 years. I have had these E4-n's for approx 3 weeks.
(see my review for specifics on the E3's)

I won't comment on the basics of these earphones. Others have done an excellent job of that. I will try to give my impressions of these earphones vs E3C's. Often that is the difficult decision: How much more $$ to spend for the next model up the line.

First off, I got the E4-n's at a discount here at Amazon. I probably would never have paid full price for them.

Secondly, I appreciate good sound. I have planned to upgrade the bitrate of my itunes collection for a while. The advent of the new IPOD CLASSIC with its larger capacity, was too tempting to avoid.

For the two weeks I listened to my lower bitrate (128-256) collection with the E-4's. I noticed a slightly enlarged bass response and noticeable clarity. But, no big thing. Then I got the new ipod and re-uploaded some CDs at a higher bitrate (usually 320, though some up as high as 900). I listened again. VERY NICE!
The bass response is still somewhat modest but the clarity is such that one has to smile. (this has come to be an important listener response)
Noticeably improved imaging. You can hear individual bass strings, etc.
I put E3's on again. They sound 'duller' -smile gone.

Now I can actually think of listening to classic jazz and classical music on my ipod. I'm happy. I'll use the E3's with my ipod shuffle while doing yard work and athletic activities.

I can easily believe the the Shure 500's, $530's, and E5's are wonderful but, they are a BIG jump in $$($500, $400, and $350 respectively). $180 for the E4's is money well spent. It is worth more than the $50 jump from the E3's. Of course I realize that pricing is dynamic but, I hope this helps.
I also hope the quality of these phones is better than my previous E3 experiences and I hope Shure's customer service remains excellent.

Shure EA650 Volume Control for Shure E/SE Series Sound Isolating Earphones

Average customer rating:

attenuate and remove some hiss
This is necessary for all iPod users
Perfect For Shure Sound Isolating Earphones
Shure EA650 Level Attenuator

Shure EA650 Volume Control for Shure E/SE Series Sound Isolating Earphones

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Electronics Available for International Shipping | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics

Product Features:

Provides comfortable listening experience
Lets you control the volume
Portable and compact

ASIN: B000GTBDBA

Product Description

Shure EA650 Level Attenuator reduces the level of incoming signals and allows for precise volume adjustment, minimizing background hiss. Compatible with all Shure E series and SE series of sound isolating earphones.

Customer Reviews:

attenuate and remove some hiss.......2007-08-16

I use this between my Palm PDA and my portable headphones. The output from the palm headsphone socket is pretty hissy especially with low impedance headphones. The Shure volume control doies a pretty good job at reducing the hiss - not perfect but it is enough to make an audible difference - oh and you can use it as a volume contriol as well.

This is necessary for all iPod users.......2007-05-13

Because I cannot get any iPod to have a volume low enough for my ear comfort, I use the Shure Attenuator to control the volume. They do not want it used this way, but it is a true "ear saver."

Perfect For Shure Sound Isolating Earphones.......2007-02-08

I always had problems adjusting the volume of my Shure Earphones because the dials on the players are not fine enough to get just the right level. This is the answer. I set the volume on the player and then do the fine tuning on this.

Shure EA650 Level Attenuator .......2007-01-03

This product works great; it does exacly what I hoped it would do. I travel overseas often and like to use my own headphones to listen to the inflight movies but the volume is so loud it hurts my ears. With this device I can use my own headphones and listen at a comfortable level.

Shure EA622 Zippered Nylon Carrying Case for E2c, E3c, E4c Sound Isolating Earphones

Average customer rating:

Not Just for Shure
just ok
Nice little case, but the interior reel is annoying
Duplicate Case

Shure EA622 Zippered Nylon Carrying Case for E2c, E3c, E4c Sound Isolating Earphones

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Accommodates Shure E2, E3 and E4 series items
Interior spool to wind cord
Black zippered nylon case
Protects your earphones

ASIN: B000F65770

Product Description

Semi-hard case protects your earphonesPocket-sized for convenient storage

Customer Reviews:

Not Just for Shure.......2007-10-17

I use this for a different set of Bass Freq earbuds. Only the largest of earbuds won't fit. The take up spool inside is a nice feature.

just ok.......2007-08-29

this thing was made for shure iems. doesnt fit super.fi 5 pros. i use it for my v-moda vibes. so its just an ok case. not too big, well protected.

Nice little case, but the interior reel is annoying.......2007-08-23

This case came with my earphones - its one of my favorite storage cases - very rugged and compact. However, spooling the cord around the reel is a PITA - to fit the whole set inside, you have to nest the ear buds, plug and whatever that little do-hickey is that sits where the wires divide (can you tell I'm not a stereo expert?) It will accomodate an airplane jack adaptor, which is useful.

It would be great if the case came in different colors (no, I don't care if it matches my outfit!) It can be very hard to find when it is sitting at the bottom of a black bag! I guess I'll have to modify it somehow to make it easier to see!

Duplicate Case.......2007-08-19

I bought this case to hold and protect my Shure E4c earbuds. I did not know the E4c's came with a similarly sized round case, or I would not have purchased this one. The case that was supplied with my E4c's is one undivided space. The EA622, the same size, contains a plastic reel. The intent is for the user to wind the earpiece cord onto the reel. An opening in the center of the reel stores the earpieces. I prefer the original undivided case. I quickly coil-up my E4c around my fingers and place the headset into the original case. It takes me longer to wind my cord around the internal reel. A plastic rivet fastens the reel in the EA622 case. Works fine, if you don't mind the reel divider.

Average customer rating:

Oustanding. Add the Sensaphonics custom sleeves, and make them unbelievable!
Shure E500
Outstanding Earbuds
Very Very Good but for $500 should have been perfect
Great Sound , Bad Wires

Shure E500PTH Sound Isolating Earphones

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Triple Hi-Definition Drivers - 1 tweeter, 2 woofers
Sound isolation prevents outside noise from interfering with the music, and creates a quiet space for exceptional audio clarity
Push to Hear (PTH) control activates a VoicePort ™ Microphone allowing outside conversation without having to remove your earphones
Over-the-ear design keeps cables out of the way
Premium accessory kit included

ASIN: B000FTHDOW

Product Description

Setting a new standard for sound isolating and noise-canceling headphones, the E500 Earphones are precision-engineered for audiophiles and include an innovative "Push-to-Hear" button that lets you alternate between complete isolation and your connection with the outside world. What HDTV has done to the experience of watching television, the E500's Triple Hi-Definition Drivers will do for audio. Using three miniature speakers (one tweeter and two woofers) the E500 lets you experience precise highs and the richest lows that are true to live performance. Additionally, integrated passive crossovers ensure that high and low frequencies remain distinct and defined. The result is an incredibly wide and detailed soundstage, distinguished by precision highs and tight low end. This innovative triple driver configuration is first in class for universal fit sound-isolating earphones.

Delivered in a tiny "in-ear" package with a sleek and comfortable new bronze metallic design, these earphones represent the ultimate audio experience at home or on the go. Modular Cable - Based on extensive user feedback, Shure engineers developed a detachable cable solution to enable unmatched personal customization. Two cables?9-inch and 3-foot?are included, allowing you to tailor your experience depending on activity and application Sensitivity - 119 dB SPL/mW Impedance - 36 Ohm Weight - 30g (1 oz.) Frequency Range - 18 Hz-19,000Hz Input Connector - 3.5 mm (1/8?) gold-plated stereo plug (1/4 adapter also available) Shure 2-Year Limited Warranty

Customer Reviews:

Oustanding. Add the Sensaphonics custom sleeves, and make them unbelievable!.......2007-08-25

I went from the E3Cs to these in November last year. I could not believe the improvement in sound quality: the tonal response is smoother and flatter, and the dynamics jump out at you. Really, REALLY good.

And then a friend recommended the Sensaphonics custom sleeves to go with them. He let me try his -- OK, the fit was not very good, and it was a little uncomfortable, but with the sound being delivered further down the ear canal, I was truly astounded by how much better the listening experience was. I was hearing stuff in the music that I just had not known was there. Of course, I soon made an appointment to get my impressions taken, and the sleeves ordered.

At a total of $570 ($400 for the IEMs, and $170 for the sleeves) this is NOT cheap. However, the sound is superior, noticeably, to the sound I get from my $2500 speakers driven bi-amped from my $4000 CD/pre/power setup (listening from the headphone jack on the pre-amp).

I really can't say enough good things about this combination.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!!

Shure E500.......2007-08-22

For people who are not satisfied with the free earphones that came with your ipod and for those who believe that listening to quality music demands quality equipments then the Shure E500 Noise cancelling Earphones are for you.

I plugged the E500 to my ipod and pressed play, the sound quality was beyond any I had ever heard from a pair of headphones. The best way to describe the listening experience would be , like having music wired straight to your brain. The isolators are very good in cancelling outside noise, it is so good that shure developed a voice port module that would enable you with just a flick of a switch, and the outside world come back in, thanks to a microphone embedded in the line.

Another downside would be that it has a lot of wires to contend with especially when the voice port module is connected. I find this to expensive for an earphones, because of its high quality. So if you are serious with your music and have the extra money, this would be worth every dollar.

Outstanding Earbuds.......2007-07-17

I have owned the Shure E500PTH for 4 months now and would definitely spend $379 to purchase them again.

I use them mostly for going to the gym and working out with free weights, elliptical machine, and Stair Master. They nearly eliminate the clang from weights, noisy AC, and loud background music, and leave me with crystal clear, well balanced, full range music from my iPod. The cord is not microphonic and produces no added noise, even at a fast pace on the elliptical machine.

The E500PTHs are so clear that I can hear the difference between low and high bit rate music. In fact, I have gone back and encoded most of my CDs to Apple Lossless format.

As many other reviewers have commented, I can hear background instruments, vocals, and effects that I never knew were in my music.

I took the advice of other reviewers and gave the E500PTHs a 20 hour "burn in" with my iPod on 3/4 volume. I noticed a huge increase in clarity and tone after the "burn in" period.

I also read the manual for proper insertion of earbuds, and have found that the best technique for getting a good seal is to pull down on the bottom of my ear lobe while pushing the earbuds into my ear canal.

I do not use the PTH module since it is too bulky to wear at the gym. It is very easy to get the earbuds back in and quickly get a good seal. I tried the foam, hard rubber, and soft rubber inserts in different sizes, and have found the soft rubber to get a perfect seal and stay in my ear despite a fast pace and sweaty face.

These earbuds are very durable. They have been dropped, sat on, and sweat on for 4 months and still look brand new.

The accessory kit is awesome. I love the durable aluminum case. The included wax removal tool works perfect. There are many different sizes and types of inserts. And best of all, the included cords and adapters ensure the earbuds will work in almost any environment.

Over 500 miles of cardio and 100 trips to the gym and I am still in love with the E500PTHs!

Very Very Good but for $500 should have been perfect.......2007-07-06

I own three iPODs and listen to music about 3 to 5 hours a day. It helps me concentrate when working (i do some graphic art work) and block out noise and it puts me to sleep a few nights a week when I have trouble. I listen to everything from "fuzz" (white noise) to classical music, jazz,rock, bluegrass etc. so I guess i am a good "reviewer" and I felt obliged to pass along my experience as it has been fairly costly to obtain and could save others a lot of time not to mention money. So here's my take. By the way i am also a product design engineer, not that it helps me be a better consumer but rather i tend to see things more analytically than many consumers. So much for qualifications - this is still just my opinion -

Having lived with ultimate ears super.fi pro 5EB (excellent bass) and before that the ultimate ears pro 5 both for a couple years now,AND having to replace the thin cord set on both three times - the last time - I opted for a pair of Shure E500PTH's their best earphones instead.

My reasoning was based on my previous experience with Shure's most excellent V15 type III series of stereo phono cartridges (what are those) from back in the days of "record players".

Anyone who could make such a tiny transducer that produced superb sound from plastic discs with bumps on them surely could make one of these ear buds. I also thought about there industry standard microphones. so I ponied up the $500 and gave them a try.

Well lets get the audio performance out of the way -I must note that It is hard to do A/B comparisons because you can't just switch between speakers. Changing involves pulling these guys out of your ear canal and stuffing the other set back in which is a bit distracting from your sonic memory

BOTTOM SOUND LINE - Yes they have excellent clear solid sound and decent bass response as I expected for $500 and they seem just slightly "cleaner with more separation both voice and instruments" than the UE 5EB's but with less bass (that's what the EB stands for i think - extended/enhanced bass so no big surprise there) BUT the differences are small and once I start listening with either one the music is so clear and enjoyable I forget any differences. But i prefer the Shure's

HOWEVER just as critically helpful in delivering that awsome sound was I suspecct the volume control. Since the frequency response of your ear varies with volume you can "tune in" the best sounding sweet spot by adjusting the volume - and with your iPod up all the way this control can either whisper or blow your eardrums out. (in fact Shure puts a warning paper in the box advising you to listen at the lowest level - which sounds the best anyway to me)

LET ME QUALIFY THAT - They sound really really good once you get the right sealed foam piece on the earbud so your ear canals are really isolated. I have one ear canal slightly bigger than the other so it took a while, but i guess everyone's ears are different both individually and in pairs which is why they give you so many different sleeve.

Just like ultimate ears (UE), they come with an assortment of different sizes of foam and soft rubbery "sleeves" as they call them, to help you get that fit right. One thing they do have that ultimate ears doesn't is a moldable foam material on some of the sleeves that slowly re-expands when you squeeze it so it creeps shut and since it's solid I imagine it blocks out sound more effectively than the rubber umbrella design.

Another difference is the heavier three piece cord - UE's have a single thin and very light weight cord with a right angle plug that goes into you iPod at one end AND at the other end(s) a stiff bendable wire sleeve at the earbud which bends around your ear and KEEPS the cord over your ears.

The right angle plug keeps close to your iPod and out of the way and it is harder to accidently pull out like if you drop you iPod (heaven forbid - I do it almost once a day with no problems). They are very comfortable to the point that you forget there is a cord and that you have earphones on! AND IF THEY GO BAD since the cord plugs into each earbud assembly right at the ear - YOU CAN UNPLUG THEM and replace them, Lucky for me. The cords are only about $20 instead of the $100-150 for a new set of earphones.

Shure E500PTH uses three pieces -
1. a short headset cord that comes together at chest level under the chin ending in a female mini stereo jack plug
2. a 2 inch long thumb-wheel volume control which has male and female ends and a short cord ending in a bulkier right angle jack
3 a 2 foot or so long standard male/female straight steros mini jack cable that plugs into your iPod and of course sticks up an inch and a half or so bulging above your pocket and adding that extra length to your iPod

Now i guess you can plug number 2 and 3 in reverse order so the handy compact right angle plug on the volume control is at your iPod but that puts the bulky volume control right there also since the cord it has is very short (about 4 inches from angle plug to volume control)

ANYWAY - I thought the idea was to put the handy volume control right under your chin so you can just reach up and turn it down (or up if you like the next tune) which is what i like about the Shure E500PTH's

On the downside Shure E500PTH uses no such bendable sleeve - the wire is molded into the earbuds so i guess if it goes bad after the 2 year warranty your out the $500 but it seems more durable than the UE's. Because the cord just winds over the ear, I found the cord kept falling from around my ear and pulling at the earbud unsealing it until I pushed the cowboy-hat-like rubber cinch that holds the two cords together, up tight under my chin. Yee-Ha with a strangle hold - well it isn't really that uncomfortable but you feel it up under the chin like a cowboy hat cord.

BUT this stiff bendable wire that keeps the UE's cord over my big ears is right where my UE's cord frayed and broke down so maybe this could be a hidden drawback for UE's

Shure E500PTH's heavier bulkier cord, while more durable, is always there making its presence known, with the volume control dangling from it.

I guess that's the trade off and why my UE cords eventually broke - and in fairness I should mention that I frequently fall asleep listening to my ipod in bed so there's a cord stress test.

After listening to the Shure E500PTH's for a while and adjusting the volume with each song, I put my UE's (the 5EB) back in and they seemed to have a stronger bass but very similar sound not noticablly worse or better -both excellent.

so i guess if i could put UE's feather light cord on Shure E500PTH's earbuds and add a magic lightweight volume control AND make the cord DURABLE - NOW THAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE EARBUDS

Great Sound , Bad Wires.......2007-07-04

I purchased these from Amazon, and used them every day since. Great sound, but the wires won't stand long. I got mine taped cause the wires inside began to show after the outer rubber began to crack. And you can't change the wires because they're not replaceable. The only thing you can do is to fix them the hard way or ship them back to shure so be replaced.

Shure EA625 Zippered Nylon Carrying Case for E5c Sound Isolating Earphones

Average customer rating:

Shure Master

Shure EA625 Zippered Nylon Carrying Case for E5c Sound Isolating Earphones

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Accommodates E5c earphones
No spool
Black Zippered Nylon Case

ASIN: B000F66SVY

Product Description

Fits all E4 and E5 series earphones

Customer Reviews:

Shure Master.......2007-11-22

This Case is is not oval as indicated in the picture but small and round, and will not fit the SE series. The model number of the case for the SE530's is PA628

Shure EA655 1/4" Adapter Plug for all Shure Sound Isolating Earphones

Average customer rating:

Shure EA655 1/4" Adapter Plug for all Shure Sound Isolating Earphones

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

1/4" size
Works with all Shure Sound Isolating Earphones

ASIN: B000GTA5JG

Product Description

Compatible with all Shure earphones

Shure EA710S Clear Flex Replacement Sleeves for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3c, and I4c models - Small

Average customer rating:

Shure EA710S Clear Flex Replacement Sleeves for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3c, and I4c models - Small

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Replacement sleeves for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models
5 pair (10 pieces)
Replacing your foams often will maximize your listening experience
Also compatible with Shure Ict Series items

ASIN: B000F66SS2

Product Description

Fits all E3 E4 and E5 series earphones

Shure EA710L Clear Flex Replacement Sleeves for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models - Large

Average customer rating:

Shure EA710L Clear Flex Replacement Sleeves for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models - Large

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Replacement sleeves for Shure E3c, E3g, E4c, E4g, E5c, I3, I4c, E3c-n and E4c-n models
5 pair (10 pieces)
Replacing your foams often will maximize your listening experience
Also compatible with Shure Ict Series items

ASIN: B000F66SU0

Product Description

Fits all E3 E4 and E5 series earphones

Average customer rating:

Good all-around earphones
Reasonable product
Try Before You Buy
Fabulous
Not nearly as good as I'd hoped...

Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones

Manufacturer: Shure Incorporated
ProductGroup: CE
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Product Features:

Upgrade your iPod or other MP3 earphones to professional sound quality
E4c model offers enhanced bass and smoother frequency response overall
Instead of bulky headphones, E4c wearers get form-fitting earpieces that stay securely inside the ear without uncomfortable headbands
Sound isolation prevents outside noise from interfering with the music, and creates a quiet space for exceptional audio clarity
Compatible for use with 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) audio output ports

ASIN: B0007XGOTG

Product Description

Digital edge technologies used for creating, transferring, and listening to digital music has made the iPod and various other Digital Media Players the most popular portable listening devices around the world. Shure recognized that at the start. Highly demanding and critical listeners have appreciated Shure earphones. Shure's E4c extends that enjoyment even further. The cutting-edge industrial design of the E4c is a breakthrough in sound isolating earphone technology. Ideal for the business traveler and on-the-go audiophile, the High-Definition Driver with Tuned Port Technology delivers brilliant highs and extended bass that enhance your listening experience with your portable DVD, MP3 and CD players as well as all other audio sources. The E4c's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes-even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. 60 inch cable length 3.5 mm (1/8) gold-plated stereo plug Although the E4c comes with an assortment of sleeves to ensure a comfortable fit, some users may want something even more personalized. In this case, we recommend contacting a hearing professional, such as an audiologist, to make custom-fit ear molds for your E4c Color - WHITE

Customer Reviews:

Good all-around earphones.......2007-12-04

I first tried the Etymotics ER-4P and found them very honest, but too shrill for my taste. Sent them back and traded them in for a pair of the Sure E4c. I think the Sure isn't quite as accurate, a really good pair of speakers will beat them for picking out distinct sources of sound, but the E4c's have a good even response range that suits me very well. Nice base, you swear you can feel the thump in your chest. I think in-ear-monitors are very personal in fit, everyone's ears are shaped different, and you need a good tight seal to really hear what they can do. Getting that without sacrificing comfort can be difficult to do, but Sure includes a generous variety of earpieces for you to try to help find the right one for you. To reduce microphonics (picking up sound from the cords bumping against things), wrap the cords up over the front and top of your ear and down the back.

Reasonable product.......2007-11-25

I like these but don't love them. I prefer the sound of my Koss KSC75s (especially when I place a slight pressure to them with my hands!). These cost one-quarter of the price, but I wanted some noise reducing phones to use at my gym (to drown out the crap they play there). I love the long cord and the angle of the stems on the body of the phones and the large set of covers that come with them. However, I wish they and other companies would pack more foam pieces as these always work best but are the least durable.

I have bought quite a number of earphones in my search for the ultimate sound - I should have just saved all the money and invested in the type that require a personalised earmould. BTW, I have Ultimate Ears super.fi 3 studios, and the E4c's are much, much better. This is true with respect to sound (they provide a much broader sound-scape, nicer bass and hi-end) and construction.

Try Before You Buy.......2007-11-21

I am confused. Usually I find that reviews of products help me make informed decisions - but this is not the case with the Shure EC4 headphones.

I am a musician, engineer and producer and have tried a variety of headphones in my life. I needed some travel earphones for music composition on the road. Based on the reviews and specs the EC4s seemed great.

NOT

My daughter has a pair of 15 dollar earphones that she randomly picked up at Target - they are far better. Here are the key issues:

1. Frequency response. Maybe my ear canal is abnormal but I find a bass response fall off that is ridiculous. I understand acoustics and how the ear works, but these earphones have no psychoacoustic bass emulation for me - none - zero.

2. External noise attenuation. Again, it might be my retarded ears (they look normal...) but you can forget about using these earphones on an airplane unless you want to test the tensile strength of your cochlear cilia - in other words, blow out your ears. They just suck (again, this is for my ears).

Bottom line -man I wish I had my 200 bucks back - I could have bought some very nice studio earphones, a guitar, or a whole bunch of other stuff that know works. Instead I am stuck with some wire and plastic that is, in my opinion, one of the worst products you can buy in terms of performance and cost.

I recommend that you stand in a normally noisy environment and jam these into your ears and make darn sure you hear what you want to hear before you cut loose those hard earned c-notes. I realize this is the minority opinion, which is why I keep qualifying that it might be my ear structure - but if that is the case, there is a unique disparity with these particular earphones because my ears work fine with other phones and audio output devices.

Good luck! I will sell you mine for 100 bucks - barely used...

Fabulous.......2007-10-30

Very good sound quality, but thats not enough to justify the price really. What does justify it is the reduction in ambient noise. If you can handle in ear buds these dramatically outperform the Bose active system. You get a better ambient noise reduction, from a system that does not require batteries, and a much more neutral sound. If you like the Bose sound thats fine, but I tend to prefer a much less coloured sound, so these suit me. For a Sennheiser fan these will sound good. Also impressive is the build quality, these things are well made and durable, so that helps justify the cost.
SUMMARY: great for travel and noisy environments if you like in ear buds. Great neutral sound and high quality construction.

Not nearly as good as I'd hoped..........2007-10-22

I'm an audiophile/musician/snob, with a good ear, and a job that requires lots of travel. I've been using the Sennheiser PX200 on-ear, small-folding headphones happily for over two years, but was always concerned that during flights I had to crank all laptop volumes to their highest settings to hear the music over the engine drone. This got me to thinking that I should get a set of 'quiet' phones. The bulky Bose were non-starters (Don't get me started on Bose speakers, and please, no flame wars - if you like them, then you listen to them. I prefer my 'maggies'). So I decided that earphones were for me.

PRICE
So I read every review I could find for in-ear phones, and saw a decent price on the E4Cs ($180). Shure had recently released the next series of earphones (210/310/410/510), so the older models were getting replaced. This seemed like an opportunity to get a nice set of earphones on the cheap.

COMFORT
I've taken two trips since purchasing these - one to Guadalajara (5hrs in flight each way), and one to Shanghai (15hrs out, 14hrs back). I wore the earphones the entire time for all flights. So yes, they are comfortable enough to wear practically forever (they do become annoying after 10 hours, but I think that's to be expected given the duration of the flights). I used the yellow foam inserts, as I had an easier time of getting them to seal, and was used to those inserts.

SOUND
Sadly, here is where these devices fail. The bass is severely lacking. The highs are harsh. The midrange is dumpy. Spatially, they are nice - the soundstage is clear and well defined, and they really do seal off cabin noise. Close your eyes, and you can 'see' the instruments spread out in front of you (if only they sounded better). With them in place during take off and landing (unplugged so the flight attendants wouldn't accost me), I could easily hear the pilot announcements, but none of the other cabin noises. Once in the air, I listend to them using a Blackjack telephone, laptop, and lots of cabin movies. Once you start listening to something, all other noises are obliterated. I couldn't hear the pilot, or the flight attendants, or the person seated next to me - or the crying baby on the flight out to Guadlajara. And that's a nice thing in a plane (I slept well).

So overall, I'm happy with them because they're a small package, cut off external noise, and are easy to wear when sleeping on a plane. BUT - I can't get over how poor they sound. They're not nearly as nice as my Sennheiser PXC200s (currently selling on Amazon for ~$50 - and also noted for requiring a break-in period for the bass to come out and play).

If these things get better over time, I'll update this review. And as a coda, I stopped at a headphone place at O'Hare airport, and compared these to the Shure 210/310/410/510 phones (yes, I listed to each - many thanks to a very patient salesman in the "F" causeway). The new Shure 2/3/4 series sounded about the same as the E4Cs. The 510 had decent bass if I pushed the plugs deeply into my head *and held them there*. (and no, I'm not a 'Bass-Heavy' Bottom-Dwelling, Subwoofer Thumping Miscreant).

So if I had this to do all over again, I'd have waited patiently, and tried out the headphones at either an airport, or a mall, or someplace, and made a better informed decision. Don't make my mistake. Take your time, listed to them all, and pick one that sounds good to you (don't fall for the, "It's expensive so it must sound nice" fallacy.

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