- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 108 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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106 out of 112 people found this review helpful
3.0 stars
"Respectable, but room for improvement (Detailed Review)"
Pros: Sound, Quality of Construction
Cons: Sound Isolation, Fit/Function
Summary: I formerly owned a pair of Etymotic ER6s, used them for over a year. I positively loved them, then I lost them... So I upgraded (?) to the new Shure E4Cs.
Quick Starter Notes: 1) Equipment used: I listen/use the e4cs on my computer via Soundblaster's superb Audigy2 ZS 24bit PC card and Jet Audio's music player, and via my trusty iRiver H140. 2) e4c Construction: excellent. Cord is thick, joined nicely with earphone. Earphones feel rugged and meant to last.
Sound: Compared to my Etys, the e4cs sound more lush and more full. Music feels more filled-in. That said, I have to note that the ety's still provide more detail (detail, to me, is the ability to isolate and "drill into" various sounds; to zoom in on the specific features of sounds. Detail = clarity). Next, bass: the bass on the e4cs is more present and has more overtones than bass on the etys. However, if you're a bass junky, the e4cs will disappoint: you still don't get that thumpy driving bass that you get with over-ear phones (When I use the e4cs I often turn up the lowest frequency bass setting on my eq by about 30%; I turned it up about 50% on the etys). Still, bass is extremely good for canalphones. YET: the bass on the ER6's, though weaker, is Tighterr than the bass on the Shures. Again, I'm quite surprised by this. Shure's new "tuned port" approach enables more bass, deeper overtones, and more lush sound overall, but it comes with a bit of a cost: slightly less detail than Ety, and slightly muddier bass. (tho don't get me wrong: the bass ISN'T muddy, it's louder and more full, but just not quite as tight as the etys. Similarly, the Shure's produce exquisite detail, more so than you're likely accostomed to; just not quite as much as the etys).
In sum: sound is clear, repectably detailed, lush (for a canalphone), and bass is decent. My quibbles: Bass could be tighter, detail could be greater.
Recommendation: If you listen to a lot of Hip hop, heavy metal, heavy rock, the sound of the e4c's trumps my old Ety's and may be good for you. However, if you listen to Jazz, instrumental/guitar, piano sonatas, the detail of the Ety's is superior. For orchestral: toss up.
Next: fit, function. Here's where I have some specific issues with the Shures. First, sound isolation. The entire point of a pair of canalphones is to block sounds; really, they're earplugs that produce music! Which is great, far superior to carrying bulky active "noise cancelling" headphones (ala Bose or Sony (ok, sony makes both kinds, but I've tried sony's in-ear: they suk)). the e4c's come with several canal types: foam, triple-flanged rubber, and the "defaul" rubber bells. I tried them all. without question, none of them isolate sound as well as my Etymotics did (the ER6 comes with a double-flanged silicon plug that takes some time to get the hang of, but once you do, it's FANTASTIC at blocking ambient sound). In the end, I find that the default rubber bells are best, and they were surprisiginly easy to get a snug fit with. However, I'm seriously disappointed that Shure's sound isolation does't at least match Etymotics. I'm a frequent flyer, at least once a week (no kidding). I use these on airplanes. Sound isolation matters A LOT to me. I think CNET should have called out this disppointment; I don't think they used them in real-world situations like airplanes.
On to another issue (one CNET did correctly call out): No shirt clip for the cord??? This may seem trivial, but it isn't. These things are heavy (much larger/heavier than the Etymotics). You feel the weight of them in your ear. That's fine when you're sitting, not moving. But once you stand, start walking, the nicely thick cords are pulling the earphone around... BAD. You clearly feel the weight of the cords pulling at the earphone, sometimes breaking the fit. It boggles the mind that the Shure didn't include a shirt clip to manage cord weight and pull! Sure, you can jimmy-rig something (I'm using one of those black metal paper binder/clip dealies). If you plan to be mobile while you're wearing these: this WILL matter.
In Sum: nice sound, but clear room for improvment in fit and usability. For me, decent, but a bit of a disappointment.
- 9 replies to this review
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I use the Etymotic triple flanges and get a better fit than the Shure ones, in fact Shure obviously noticed this as they now sell a triple flange replacement.
However, the isolation is still not quite up to Etymotic standards. Day in, day out I use the Shures, when I'm flying I use my Etymotic ER4s.
I also think this is a harse rating given the review.
Of course we should all be waiting for the SH 430s in July, they are suppose to be better! -
I also formerly owned (2 years ago) a pair of Etymotics - ER6i. One of the phones stopped working after a few months, and this wasn't covered in the guarantee (I don't remember the exact details but I wasn't impressed).
They were extremely comfortable, sounded great, if a little tinny, but yes, very crisp and clear. The clip was very useful as you don't want to accidentally yank those things from your ear canals, so I'm also a bit disappointed that the E4c's that arrived today don't have them.
However, overall, I prefer the more expensive E4c's as they have a much richer, fuller sound, are extremely comfortable (I have only tried the rubber bells) and look like they may last a hell of a lot longer than the Etymotics.
They also isolate the sound really well - at least in my ears - I guess this is somewhat individual. I have also managed to retrofit the clip from the Ety's, so I'm ready to give these a 9! -
Use them for at least 20 hours before posting any critiques with regards to sound quality.
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I do not see any problem with weight/pull of the cord. The way Shure design's the headphones to be looped around the ear keep the headphones seated in place, and once you tighten them with the plastic slide adjuster, it insures that it stays put. If you do not tighten the cords with the plastic slider, then you may have a problem. Otherwise, it is just perfect.
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When I read comments submitted by users, which by the way have significant impact on my decision of what I should buy, I look for well thought out and written opinions such as the one submitted by 1gromt1. Thank you for your comments.
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When I read comments submitted by users, which by the way have significant impact on my decision of what I should buy, I look for well thought out and written opinions such as the one submitted by 1gromt1. Thank you for your comments.
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Try "wearing" plug type headphones for a week before you buy.
There are many usability and comfort issues related to using plugs compared to other headset types including in-the-ear phones that you will not realise.
If you are spending this amount of cash and have never used plugs before, please road test them first, (listening in a shop in a stationary position is not road testing!). -
1gromt1:
Thanks for your detailed review. It helped a lot. As for your shirt clip issue, try going to Radio Shack and buying a cheap set of cell phone earpiece, they general come with a shirt clip that's removable. If I end up buying the E4C, I will probably use one of the clips on the many "retired" cell phone ear pieces I have. -
http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/howto.html#situate
I not only walk around in these, but as a speedwalker, I also sway side to side very vigorously, and by running the cable around the ear and securing it with the adjustment tube, these earphose stay on very securely.
Where to buy
Shure E4c:
$224.99 - $299.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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Best Buy
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$299.99 | See Site |
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eBay
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$224.99 | Yes |
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