Shure SE215 (Black)

To each his own as the saying goes. I'm not fussy but I usually have something I can nit pick about given any product. But these 215's at this price are for me just extraordinary. Like Goldie Lox these some buds are too this or that but these are just right. Sure they take some getting used to, and I found that though the tips they come with will surely suffice for isolation and comfort, I use the Klipsch ovals and these make these the most comfortable and isolating buds I own...and I own a bunch. I just can't fault these. I find myself listening to the music instead of critiquing the product. The bass, treble and mids are coherent, clear and well blended. Shure has hit a home run in my book and for $100 you can't do any better. The kit is nice with a sturdy case, albeit a bit large, and the cable which is replaceable is well thought out and built although it may turn out to be the Achilles heel so far as durability is concerned. I suspect this to be true but I don't know it. Shure has a good warranty. These are good when exercising, they stay put. The isolation is the best, you are essentially deaf to the outside world even at modest volumes. These 215s are certain to please, I recommend them highly.

I've been looking for the nirvana of ~$100 ear buds/canal phones and I'm having trouble finding the right pair. The Shure's have a nice clear sound but lack depth due to fairly weak bass response. Comparing these with 4 other headphones I have owned. Their sound is better than some of Shure's earlier endeavors in this field but fall short of the Klipsch SI4 line and ThinkSounds excellent TS-02. There's just not enough there. The compare well in highs and mids with ThinkSound, but have almost not depth to the bass. Disappointed to say the least.

I have never been a fan of running with headphones for two reasons: They always fall out of my ears, and running on the streets without full use of hearing seems dangerous. I am always on the look out for headphones that will stay in my ears while running for use on the treadmill or on trails.
I came across this article recommending the Shure SE215 for great sound quality and security in ear. I have always used cheap earphones that you can buy at the gym or Target so I was not familiar with the more high end products like Shure, Etymotic and Klipsch. My friend owns an audio supply company and GAVE me some Shure SE215 earphones to try out. The consumer site is www.getavproducts.com
Immediately out of the box you can see and appreciate the quality of these earphones.
The cord attached to the driver with a nice positive click of the proprietary connector.
The cord is very nice, it is almost impossible to tangle up the cord due to its construction.
After a 5 mile run the earphones are solidly in place. I never had to adjust them at all. I have found that the key to success with these ear phones is the fit of the earplug part. They come with 6 different sizes to fit any ear canal, so fitting should not be a problem for most people.The noise isolation is really great with these earphones as well. I have used a pair of Beats Studio headphones and these earphones block an equal amount of ambient noise for 1/3 the price. The SE215 would be great to use on an airplane or anywhere you don't want people to bother you.
With the good sound isolation comes one drawback. They act like earplugs, so you can hear everything in your head. It is impossible to use these earphones while eating, the sound of your own chewing is immense. While running there is also a constant boom boom boom with every footfall, this may be distracting for some, it was easy for me to ignore.
Overall these are some really great earphones and I would recommend them to anyone who wants great sound and good sound isolation.