My Overall Rating:

Shure E5c Earphones Available on Amazon Click for lowest price online

It has long been thought that having bigger headphones is better when compared to smaller ones. The belief has been that a larger headphone isolates and covers the ear, letting it experience sound more fully. The Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones are on the vanguard of a new school of thought. Tiny is actually better. Shure has found a way to cram dual-driver speakers into small earphones that isolate the listener from almost all background noise. If you don’t mind looking like a secret agent and you are ready to spend more on your earphones than you spent on your MP3 player, the Shure E5c earphones will not disappoint you. With the Shure E5c’s you really do get what you pay for.

Design
Even though the Shure E5c’s earphones are bigger than other earphone-style headphones, they are still quite small. The cord that comes with it includes an inline crossover unit that separates high and low frequency signals, is thin and pliant. A bendable stiffening material is added to the section of cable that runs behind the ears, allowing the listener to loop the cables over and behind the ears. The gold plated, 3.5mm input connector has a low profile elbow bend to help minimize accidental unplugging and snags. Shure includes a detachable in-line volume that controls volume without the need to mess around with your player or listening source. The attenuator does seem a little larger than it needed to be and, because it is not built into the E5c cord, it must be plugged in at the end of the cord.

In order to match the earphones to ears of all different shapes and sizes, the E5c earphones come with a number of earplug sleeves packaged in what Shure calls a “fit kit”. The earphones remained comfortable after extended use, especially with the foam sleeves. Listeners with especially small ears may want to give the E5c’s a trial run; they are somewhat larger than the other, more affordable earphones in Shure’s “E” line.

Check out this video review of the Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones

You can buy the Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones right here through Amazon (cheapest price online)

Product Features:

• Sound Isolating in-ear design – Hear only what you want to hear
• Portable and lightweight design – weighing 1.1 ounce
• Personal fit kit to contour to your ear size
• Dual high-energy micro in-ear speakers
• In-Line Crossover to enhance a studio quality listening experience

Technical Details
Brand Name: Shure
Model: E5C
Headphones Form Factor: Ear-bud
Headphones Technology: Binaural

Pros:

• These earphones have punch. You can hear the base.
• Wide selection if ear fittings.
• Comes with Shure’s 2 year warranty
• The sound is excellent.
• These look good, the clear plastic is nearly invisible.
• Simple, compact design.
• Designed for compatibility with most ears.

• You can  buy the Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones right here through this link at Amazon (lowest price online)

Cons:

• The wire is thicker than some, and therefore less pliable.
• Price, of course.
• May be a tad big for small ears.
• Volume attenuator could be better designed and integrated.

Let’s see what other owners have to say about the Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones

Review by Owen Oyer (The most helpful favorable review)

Instead of gushing prosaic over how great these earphones are, I would instead like to point out a few important points.
1) You will have probably noticed that there is a very great discreptancy between reviews. Some reviewers say that these earphones sound very full with rich bass, while others claim that they are very bright and tinny. The reason for this is that these earphones rely on getting a good seal with your ear canal. One of the symptoms of having a bad seal is a very steep drop-off in bass. If they sound tinny, lean, lacking in bass, thin, metallic, etc., then it is virtually guaranteed that you do not have a good seal. In reality, these earphones do tend to favor the bass quite a bit, and have a rather soft treble.

Read full review here

Review by William Christian (The most helpful critical review)

2 star
I miss the bass on these. I know they are not headphones or speakers but when I listen to a Bach Organ Tocatta I expect bass. These did not deliver even I tried to deeply insert them in my ears. They others might artificially elevate the bass. These just don’t seem to make it. Also, the bass in a band is felt in more than the ears so you don’t need to have bass as much in headphones when in a band as when doing something else.

Read full review here

My Overall Rating:

Ultimate Ears 700 Available on Amazon Click here for lowest price online

The world’s best performing artists choose Ultimate Ears custom in-ear monitors for one reason, they are made to deliver the best fit and sound reproduction available. The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones represent the culmination of years of experience designing, testing and refining professional in-ear monitors. Ultimate Ears brings an amazing listening experience to every pair of earphones they make. The unique sound signature of Ultimate Ears earphones has been fine tuned to be sonically accurate and musically impressive. The earphone designs and ear cushions create a soft, snug seal for long wearing comfort and noise isolation. Ultimate Ears’ sleek, refined designs complement your personal style-instead of overwhelming it.

Ultimate Ears 700 brings pro-quality sound in a sleek, micro design. Fitting perfectly to your ear, you hardly know that you are wearing them until you hear the amazing soundstage that is delivered through the custom tuned dual armature speakers.

Check out this video review of the Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones

You can purchase the Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones right here on Amazon (cheapest price online)

Sleek Design:
The Micro design earphones almost disappear when placed inside your ears. All you see is a sleek small silver housing.

Finish:
Liquid silver earphone color with a black cord.

Pro-Audio Sound Quality
Dual Armature Speaker Design with Passive Crossover:
Two custom tuned armature speakers placed in each ear deliver clean, precise audio reproduction. One speaker produces rich and punchy bass, while the second speaker produces clean, clear mid and high notes.

Immersion Sound Signature:
Exclusive Immersion sound signature is tuned to provide you with a 3-D sound stage that makes you feel as though you are experiencing the quality, energy and emotion that comes with a live performance.

Noise Isolation:
Micro design fits flush with your ears for a tighter sound seal and greater noise isolation. The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones naturally and comfortably block outside noise by up to 26 dB.

Frequency Range:
Super broad frequency range of 10Hz – 20kHz delivers cleaner, clearer mid and high tones.

Long Wearing Comfort
Micro Design:
A smaller size means you can wear your earphones in comfort for longer periods, even for small ears. These earphones are extremely lightweight (only 11.6 grams per earphone) which means you can wear them for greater periods of time without experiencing any fatigue.

Comply Foam Ear Cushions:
Comply foam ear cushions provide you with maximum comfort and noise isolation. Available only on Ultimate Ears premium earphone models.

Tapered Silicone Ear Cushions:
Unique tapered ear cushions fit more naturally inside your ear canal for a better, more comfortable seal than traditional “square” ear cushions. The Ultimate Ears 700 includes small, medium and large silicone ear cushions to comfortably fit all ear sizes.

Convenient Features
Flexible Listening:
You can wear these earphones comfortably for casual listening such as sitting or walking. These can be worn over the ear to keep the earphones tightly in place during jogging or exercising.

Tangle-resistant Cord:
Comes with a durable cord that is strong and does not get tangled up as easily as thinner ear bud cords. Length of cord is 46″ which is specifically designed to prevent earphone fallout.

Pocket-ready Hard Case:
Come with a black flip-top pocket ready hard case safely holds your earphones and slips into a pocket or bag.

Compatibility:
Audio Players
iPod and other MP3 players
iPhone and Blackberry (audio only)
Home audio
Gaming consoles
Video/portable DVD players
Computers/laptops
*with 3.5mm jacks

What’s inside the Box:
Ultimate Ears 700 earphones
Pocket-ready hard case
Soft, silicone ear cushions (S, M, L)
Two sets of Comply foam ear cushions
Airline attenuator for hearing protection
Instruction manual
1-year limited hardware warranty

Product Features:

• Custom-tuned dual armature layout
• Microdesign for long wearing
• Noise isolating (-26 dBs)
• Flexible listening
• iPod and MP3 compatibility

Who are these earphones for?
These could be the right earphones for you if you:
1. Demand quality sound and really want better low-end sound reproduction than most compact IEMs.
2. Need great sound isolation and have small to normal ear canals.
3. Need a compact set of earphones that can be inserted deeply in the ear for wearing under a helmet (such as during bicycle or motorcycle riding)
4. Need a high quality cable without any memory and with minimal wire feedback (this pair’s best feature)
5. Need a comfortable fit with good quality tips.

The Pros:

• Amazing sound and very impressive bass/low end.
• Very comfortable fit, stays in while jogging, comfortable while sleeping.
• Ultimate Ears provides outstanding customer service. Any issues with the product will be fixed quickly & free of charge.
• Incredibly small and stylish. You can’t beat the look and size.
• These earphones are so comfortable you can wear them for hours
• Your ears remain comfortable (physically) and the sound is so clear that you don’t feel “overloaded” with music as with most headphones

• You can buy the Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones right here on Amazon (cheapest price online)

The Cons:

• Thin chord means LOTS of cable noise. This is a real consideration if you do a lot of physical activity or listen to music very quietly
• Thin chord also means the durability and life of the headphones is not too long.
• Terrible carry case. The plastic hinge will break within a month, if you plan on using it.

Conclusion:
The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones are great, and may be one of the better quality compact earphones on the market today. Some of the features are very good, and the quality is noticeable. Depending on your budget and your needs, you should review your alternatives.

Let’s take a look at what current owners have to say about the Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones

Review by Bob    (The most helpful favorable review)

I have been using my new Logitech “Ultimate Ears” 700 Noise-Isolating Earphones for most of the past weekend non-stop on my IPod. Most important, I am one of those people who like deep throbbing base! As I write this review, I am listening to Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me Baby,” having recently listened to my collection of Petty, Steely Dan, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Given the physical limitation of ear pieces, I understand that there are practical constraints. Yet the base is strong, clear, and comes across distinctly from the other components of each track. (You like soft rock? Listen to your Carpenters music on these earphones. You can hear what a perfectionist Richard Carpenter really was. They make Brian Wilson’s vocal arrangements sound even better.)

Read full review here on Amazon

Review by Douglas   (The most helpful critical review)

I tried listening to these, and I really wanted to like them, but I ended up giving them to my roommate. They sound small. I barely heard any bass. My $80 V-Moda Vibe Duos sounded better than these, and they look much cooler.

Read full review on Amazon right here

 

My Overall Rating:

Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones Available on Amazon Click here for lowest price online

Are you as passionate about audio as Shure is? If you are then you will love the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones. You deserve the best performance that only Shure earphones can bring you. Shure has been a leader in the professional audio industry for over 80 years. The Shure SE530s give you pure audio precison, they use Triple TruAcoustic Microspeakers to create an expansive sound stage. It comes with a dedicated tweeter that ensures hughs and mids are amazingly accurate and detailed, while dedicated dual woofers provide you with balanced, full-bodied bass.

Packaging:
This is Shure’s top of the line model and they want to make you feel special for purchasing the best that they have to offer. When you open the package up there is a plastic box and when you remove that you can see on the bottom wrapped in a silver folder and instruction manual and other safety information. Once you take off the top of the box you will notice a metal case with a thin layer of bubble paper to protect the frame from getting scratched and Shure’s logo on the lid of the box. Inside there is another box that is made of cardboard that is made of cardboard and inside this box are the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones which are packed in a foam mold. Right below this is the travel case. Overall the quality is amazing and that is just for the packing job.

Build Quality:
When you unpack them and get your hands on them they feel very light weight and the cord has a nice texture which is rugged and thick. You can see Shure’s logo on the outside of each earphone and on the inside is the L and R logo’s. All the other accessories are sturdy and very well made.

Sound Quality:
The bass is thumping and does not overpower the other sound elements but is present and rich. The midrange is done very nicely and doesn’t get overpowered by the bass or highs and is crystal clear. The highs are also nice and strong.

Check out this video review of the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones

You can purchase the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones right here through Amazon (lowest price online)

Value:
The packaging, quality of sound, construction and the accessories makes this a great deal for your money. You get exactly what you pay for with sound quality and Shure delivers.

Bass:
The bass is tight, deep, and very natural. The bass is not the big boomy bass that you often hear from cheap subwoofers or in a club. This bass blends in perfectly with the music.

Midrange:
The vocals come to life as if you are actually in the same room with the singer. The guitars sound so life like.

Treble:
The treble has a more natural approach to give you life like treble experience. The details is also in there as well as the extension. The treble does a nice job of complimenting the midrange and makes for a smooth and luscious sound that most earphones can’t reproduce without sounding harsh and unnatural.

Soundstage:
These earphones are amazingly wide open when plugged into a super high end source. The instruments and the vocals will surround you with a wall of music.

Product Features:

• Triple speakers for sound that compares to a live performance
• Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers: Dedicated Tweeter and Dual Woofers
• Sound Isolation Technology reduces background noise better than noise-cancelling headphones, without batteries or added hiss
• Premium Fit Kit including a selection of interchangeable sleeves for personalized, comfortable fit; 3′ extension cable; 9″ cable; premium carrying case; volume control; ¼” adapter; airline adapter
• Modular Cable Design lets users choose different cable lengths to suit different music player locations (armband, pocket etc.)

The Good:

• Amazing sound quality
• A very nice stylish look
• Very durable and quality construction
• Has a lot of accessories
• Comes with Shure’s 2 year warranty
• You won’t have to worry about having listening fatigue
• Has great noise isolation

The Bad:

• The treble has a slight roll off
• Portable devices won’t really show you the true capabilities of these earphones
• Not completely neutral and true to the source

Let’s see what other customers have to say about the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones

Review by Robert C.   (The most helpful favorable review)

My first exposure to these headphones was through a friend at the office who purchased a set of Shure E500s about a year ago (the E500s are pretty much identical to the SE530s). When he told me (and the rest of us) how much he paid for them ($500+ for the E500PTHs) we collectively thought he was nuts and proceeded to ridicule the decision.

Review shortened for size – read full review here

Review by C. Ramirez  (The most helpful critical review)

Just got the SE530. I have used these type of head phones for a few years, namely the Etymotic ER-4P, so I will mainly compare the two. First price, the SE530 are about 3 times as expensive. To my ear while they have a little better bass response, offer a little more detail, they are not 3x better then the ER-4Ps. To be fair, I am still evaluating the SE530, but I am not floored by them like some other reviewers. I have had ER-4Ps since 2002. My first set lasted me till mid 2007, where they finally broke on me. I bought another set of ER-4Ps Jul 2007, but I was torn between buying them or “upgrading” to the SE530. I got my second set of ER-4Ps and noticed this second set, the build quality was not as good. Looks like they were using cheaper parts, but still sounded good.
The holidays roll around and on a whim I decided to buy the SE530s to go with my iPhone, and here I am writing this review. The build quality is alot better then the ER’s, but I am not crazy about the actual design. Maybe it has more to do with more practice with one then the other, but I think its harder to put the SE530’s then the ERs. THe SE530s look ALOT nicer then the ERs. They sound good, just not as good as I thought they would. Not much better then the ERs, and for so much more dough?

Review shortened for size – read full review here

My Overall Rating:

Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones Available on Amazon Click here for lowest price online

Shure has been a leader in the professional audio industry for over 80 years. The Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones are unlike headphones that have noise canceling technology. For music lovers that are seeking maximum audio fidelity, the differences are key. Noise cancelation technology uses active circuitry which counteracts background noise, which could introduce artifacts into your audio. Sound isolating earphones comfortably fill the ear canal and naturally block most background noise for a clear, detailed listening experience without the need to listen at high volumes which could cause damage to your hearing.

Let’s Look at the Product Features:

• Comes with Dual speakers for deeper bass and spaciousness
• Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers: Dedicated Tweeter and Woofer
• Sound Isolation Technology reduces background noise better than noise-cancelling headphones, without batteries or added hiss
• Premium Fit Kit including a selection of interchangeable sleeves for personalized, comfortable fit; 3′ extension cable; premium carrying case
• Modular Cable Design lets users choose different cable lengths to suit different music player locations (armband, pocket etc.)

Check out this video review of the Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones

You can buy the Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones right here through Amazon (cheapest price online)

Comfort: The Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones are much more comfortable to place in your ear than a lot of earphones out there and come with a variety of eartips. You also don’t have to squish the foam tips to place them in your ears. All you need to do is twist them a little bit and insert them in your ears. The cables are nice and sturdy and it would take some real effort for you to break them.

Style: The Shure SE420s have a more natural shape and fit inside your ear nicely even though they are large and still quite visible.

Sound: The sound that the SE420S deliver is amazing. You get great separation, high end, low end, it’s in there. You also don’t have to turn up the volume all the way to get great sound, that is how efficient these earphones are. These earbuds come with a variety of tips, the factory provided set also works great. The sound isolation is quite amazing too. You can turn the sound all the way up and the person standing next to you will not hear anything. A definite plus if you are looking for sound isolation while listening to your music.

The Pros:

• The sound is great.
• These are very comfortable earphones you can wear for long periods of time.
• The cables are nice and sturdy.
• Purchase the Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones right here at Amazon

The Cons:

• Takes some time to learn to fit them just right to your ear.
• If you move your head too quickly one of the earphones might come out.
• The price is rather high.

Let’s see what other customers have to say about the Shure SE420-K Sound Isolating Earphones

Review by Timothy Schmidt (The Most Helpful Favorable Review)

Preface: I am a medical scientist and performed a scientific comparison (as best I could) of the SE310, SE420, and SE530 Shure earphones. I used an iPod Touch 3G, playing mp3s encoded at 256 mbps. I listened to various types of music, including classical (Mendelssohn), pop (Lady Gaga), rock (Rodrigoy Gabriela), and “alternative” (Regina Spektor).

Review shortened for size – read full review here

 

Review by Jon  (The most helpful critical review)

 The Shure SE420 may be a dual driver design but it does not sound as so. I purchased these earphones to upgrade from my older pair of Shure E3c’s and I was expecting to hear a quality difference between a wideband driver vs a dual driver design. I was shocked after spending time with these that suffice it to say they don’t sound any different from my older pair. I had the chance to try out a pair of SE210’s as well and I think the SE210’s sounded the same as well. Sound is hard to really put into words though so everyone is subjective to there own opinion and experience. However I would like to add that I did my listening experience with these earphones during the day for a few hours and during the night for 6 hours. Day vs Nightime listening is the tests I put these through and for me I am able to hear clearer when I am relaxed so nightime was when I was hopeful to hear a difference but overall I did not hear anything new I could during the day. The bass and midrange don’t seem to have any noticeable difference with the added driver vs a single driver design. I tried listening through several sources and it did not make a difference but overall I used a CD player as that was the highest quality source I had.

Review shortened for size — read full review here