Shure E500PTH Sound Isolating Earphones

CNET editors' review

CNET Editors' ChoiceAug 06

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Design : 9.0
  Features : 8.0
  Performance : 9.0
  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  James Kim
• Reviewed on: 08/01/2006

It's always a pleasure to use fancy in-ear style headphones, so we were thrilled when Shure's E500PTH Sound-Isolating Earphones arrived in the office. The $550 pair may be for serious audio heads only, but they produce such dynamic sound that we can't say they are overpriced. In addition to its triple-driver design, the E500PTHs include a push-to-hear adapter that allows you to have a conversation with someone without pulling out your earphones. While in-ear 'phones at half the price offer nearly the same sound, the E500PTH set takes portable sound to a new level.

Shure is no stranger in the fledgling in-ear style headphones market. The E series, which include the "low-end" $109 E2c's and the midrange $319 E4c's has made its mark in a world of brands such as Ultimate Ears, Etymotic, and more recently, Creative and Sennheiser.

The E500PTH 'phones (announced at CES) take the E series to a new level with its triple-driver design--basically three tiny high-definition speakers, a tweeter, and two woofers in each earphone (sensitivity at 1kHz, 119dB). Integrated passive crossovers keep the highs distinctive from the lows. Ultimate Ears' custom-fitted UE-10 Pros and UE-7 Pros both offer a triple-driver design, but they cost $900 and $850 respectively, and they don't offer the universal fit of the E500PTH headphones. That is, the UEs' ear fittings are custom molded, so they can be used by only one person.

We fell in love with the E500s' sound immediately, listening to everything from Roots Manuva to John Coltraine on an iPod. Tight, rich bass and razor-sharp highs were expected, but the midrange surprised us with distinctive power and clarity. Instruments typically buried in sound pop out; acoustic guitar riffs hover then dissipate; spoken voice is almost spooky. Quick listening tests versus the sub-$100 Creative Zen Aurvanas and the $250 Ultimate Ears Super fi 5 Pros proved that you get what you pay for, though the Super fi Pros certainly give you lot of bang for your buck. Further sessions listening to Bob Dylan and Ulrich Schnauss in lossless and several CDs confirmed that these are the best in-ear style headphones on the market for less than $600 (I haven't personally listened to the UE-10s).

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Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 32 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 32 user reviews

• 5.0 stars

  "WOW! What great sound!!"

  by mahana1012 on May 2, 2009

• 4.5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this helpful

  "Well worth the cost. Imparts a pleasurable 3D sound."

  by Mr_PictureMan on December 28, 2007

• 5.0 stars

  "The best in ear phones.. Period"

  by styleline52 on October 18, 2007

• See all 32 user reviews Write review

Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 83

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 163 reviews of Shure E500PTH from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 82/100 and users 92/100. Comparing these reviews to 155522 other Headphones reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 83/100 = Very Good.

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• ilounge.com

  Summary: I just got my E500s (for Christmas which comes early here). While all the bits are nice they're mostly superfluous for me, especially considering my wife has the E4Cs. Anyway something that hasn't been pointed out is that the pre-mounted black ear ...

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• techradar.com

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: Various ear-fitting adaptors are supplied, the ideal pair for your ears not only improving sound quality but cutting out ambient sounds as well. Press a little button on the inline adaptor, though, and you are reconnected to the world via a microphone ...

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• macworld.co.uk

  Editors' rating: 100

  Summary: Even without the PTH box, there's no denying the incredible sound quality provided by these earphones. If you love music and have the cash, buy them. Otherwise, if you ever get the chance to try them out - take it. These earphones transform the way ...

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• smarthouse.com.au

  Editors' rating: 80

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• applesource.com.au

  Summary: In addition to the aforementioned cables, you also get a 23-centimetre extension cable, a 2.5mm to 3.5mm stereo adapter plug, a cleaning tool, a level attenuator (a small adaptor that controls master volume), and a sturdy oval carrying pouch. If you ...

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