Reviews for Shure E3g Sound Isolating Earphone

MPN: E3G

  • 3
  By member: CVuPlay - Mar 7, 2006

Good but not may not be worth $180

Strengths: Very strong mids and highs, durable cord, excellent pouch

Weakness: Weak flat bass, expensive

I own the Sony EX-71 earbuds and thought they were great compared to any other earbuds in the $40 range. In comparison, the E3g definitely has much greater clarity on the mids and highs. As low of a volume as I had using the EX-71, I could still turn the volume lower when using the E3g. Unfortunately, I found the bass to be richer using the EX-71. You can feel more of a bass reverb with the EX-71 versus the E3g. The E3g bass sounds tight and a little flat. I don't like the foam pads that everybody uses. The middle-sized gray buds work great for me and look better. They are a tighter fit (literally pops out) than the middle-sized ones from the EX-71. As far as noise isolation, the E3g blocks out just a little more noise than the Sony EX-71 because of the slightly larger buds. Once you turn on the music (because of the mids and highs) it is much more effective at blocking out noise since your ears focus on the music. If you have $180 to burn, the E3g are the ones to buy but otherwise the Sony EX-71 or EX-51 is still a great buy. I still use both - E3g on the plane and EX-71 for workout (since I'm not sweating on my $180 headphones!!).

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  • 5
  By member: jhingalala - Sep 25, 2006

Awesome earphones for Shure! (pun intended)

Strengths: -great sound -awesome sound isolation -minimal sound tranfer from cable -strong cable construction -sturdy gold plated connector pin -strong, metal construction of the phones themselves -black!

Weakness: Cannot think of any weakness in terms of the product itself. The earphones are pricey, but if you enjoy listening to quality music in a quiet environment then they are worth the price.

History / Background:
I was using the stock earbuds for my Creative Zen MicroPhoto. They sound quite good in regular environments. But they felt inadequate during my frequent airplane trips and when I mowed the lawn. I also own JVC HA-P75 and a similar Sony, both of which covered entire ears. Although each one sounded fine in an office / home environment, they were ineffective for the activities I intended to use them for.

I even tried the Maxell noise-cancelling headphones. However, the constant noise-cancellation buzz added an intolerable anomaly to the purity of the sound. I am sure there are die-hard fans of the Bose noise-cancellation headphones. There were two reasons I did not go for it:
(1) It is Bose, not really known to be able to produce all frequencies.
(2) The noise-cancellation concept itself adds additional anomaly.

That's when I started researching the "noise-isolating" type of earphones. I narrowed down to Etymotic e6/i and Shure e3 based on my budget. Although I have not tried the Etymotic, I believe the sound quality of both of them should be very similar. I chose the Shure based on a 2 year warranty vs. Etymotic's 1 year, and the build quality. The e3 comes in white (e3c iPod style), gray, and black (e3g gaming edition). I purchased the black.

Sound Quality:
The sound quality of the Shure is pure pleasure. I can hear the hiss of the breath-intake, to the slide of the finger on the guitar strings, to the raspiness of a singer. Other reviewers are not joking when they say that they hear things in a song that they've never heard before.

However, keep in mind "what goes in comes out" i.e. if the audio being fed to the earphones is of low quality, you will feel uncomfortable hearing those hisses and crackles.

Build Quality:
The cable is quite thick and sturdy. I do not forsee fraying of the cable. Moreover, it comes with a smart-looking, hard cover with the name SHURE boldly imprinted in the center.

The earphones themselves are metal barrels with the name SHURE, and side (L/R) written on both sides. This is a nice touch.

Noise-Cancellation Quality:
Heed Shure's warning when they ask you to be very careful when you have these earphones in your ear. The key to getting a very good fit (and hence very good sound) is to follow Shure's directions to insert the earphones. They ask to insert the earphones after lifting the top of the ear up-and-back, making Vulcan-ears like Dr. Spock for the Trekkie fans!

I do not have the equipment to measure noise-cancellation ability of the Shure e3, but to put it in real-life perspective, on a scale of 0 - 25 volume on my Creative Zen MicroPhoto,
- I would have the volume at 15-16 when using the original earbuds, JVC and Sony headphones under normal circumstances.
- I would have the volume at 22-23 in an airplane or mowing the lawn. Still, I would not be able to hear the sound clearly, and my ears would be fatigued in 15-20 minutes.
- When I first tried out the Shure e3 earphones, I was able to hear clearly at 5-6.
- After reading Shure's instructions and adjusting the way I wore the earphones, I was able to hear very clearly with volume at level 1, yes ONE!

Overall:
I am very impressed and pleased with the Shure e3g. They are a little pricey, OK a lot with the MSRP at ~$200. However, I purchased them from EarPhoneSolutions with a discount coupon. And, they are an authorized reseller. I would definitely recommend the Shure e3g, two thumbs up!

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  • 4
  By member: VMAN911 - Jan 4, 2006

SHURE E3G HEADPHONES (BLACK)

Strengths: STRONG BASS, AND MID TONES, LIGHTWEIGHT, VERY ADAPTABLE TO ONE EARS

Weakness: COST

Very comfortable, lightweight, and has really nice tones compared to the junk Apple ships with the ipod (5g-30GB). This is by far the best purchase I've made since owning my IPOD!! THE E3G is said to be for gaming enthusists but its the same as the E3C, just a shorter cord (57" long).

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  • 4
  By member: jgranato - Jul 24, 2006

Shure E3g Sound Isolating Earphones: Gaming Edition

Strengths: Sturdy, Low Impedence, Frequency Response

Weakness: High Price

After my Sony earbuds fell apart for the second time, I decided I needed a pair of earbuds that could hold up to my kind of usage. After some research I decided upon this model. Shure markets their products many ways (E3c, E3g, E3n, E3). They are all the same ear phone -- just packaged slightly different and different colors. Just find the model level you can afford (E2, E3, E4, E5 or E500PTH) and look for the least expensive version. Overall very happy with the build quality, no visable damage in the past 3 months. These buds produced a higher output when compared to my Sony MDR-EX71. The Shure comes with three different buds add-ons. Each has pros and cons. Other styles are available at their website or resellers.

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  • 3
  By member: rwischer - Apr 27, 2006

Shure E3g earphones

Strengths: Sturdy product build, noise canceling fit

Weakness: Price, high end not as dynamic as hoped

The E3g earphones are Shure's midline priced product. I have not tried the E2 or E4 models but from what I've read, the E3's are smack in the middle performance wise.

Performance - These are great sounding earphones but I have to admit to being somewhat disappointed. They are the best in earphones (Note: I'm not comparing them against cans) but for $120 I thought they'd be better than they are. They have a nice even distribution of sound but I expected the highs to be a little richer and to be WOWed by the sound. It makes me wonder if the E4's are that much better.

Fit - As most reviews comment "These aren't for everyone." They are designed to be placed well inside the ear canal and for some it might be uncomfortable. I think two things need to be considered. One, make sure you try all the earpieces provided (i.e. Shure provides different sizes AND different types). For me the triple flange worked best (Note: the triple flange is typically not included but the place where I bought mine threw them in for free). Second, make sure you give it at least a week and that you placing them as indicated by the directions. They take some practice getting in and getting used to. I really like the fact that I can cut the grass and hear the music without cranking up the volume. They cancel out that much of the outside noise.

Design - One reason that I chose these over others is that I read that they were well built. The cord is much thicker than some of the others I've seen and used and gives me a nice feeling that they will last for a while. The cord is designed to be worn behind the ear and personally I like the ones that dangle a little more but it's not that big of a deal. The cord is plenty long so that the device the earphones are plugged into can be worn on the belt or pants pocket. I'm 6'-2" and the cord doesn't tug at all.

Price - I found mine for $120 but that's still pretty expensive for earphones. I'm pretty particular about my music however so I thought it was worth the investment.

All in all these are nice earphones and I would recommend them because of the dependability of Shure, the good (but not great) sound and the durability of the product. I would say that at $120 if they stretch your budget you might want to think otherwise as you might be disappointed. If $120 is within you budget these are a good choice. If you can go higher check out the reviews of the E4.

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  • 5
  By member: ha-evolution - Feb 21, 2006

Superior sound - small package

Strengths: Sound reproduction, size, durability, cord design & durability, fitment options

Weakness: None?

This is the headset to keep having tried some cheapo Sony isolating earhpones and the E2G's. The E2G's sounded good and the E3G's are just that much better with the added bonus of being small in size - the E2G's are just a little too bulky. The heavy duty cord is well designed although the behind the ear fit takes some getting used to. The variety of ear pieces included are sure to produce a fit for any type of ear canal. The Shure carry case is hard to beat as well - small yet very durable. A+++ overall.

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  • 4
  By member: deadlylsin - Apr 22, 2006

Great Bass

Strengths: It has amazing bass. It sounds great. They give you all sorts of earpieces to test it out.

Weakness: Very hard to fit into ear. Its so tough to keep it in my ear it was tough.

These earphones are great. They cost me $112 with an airline adapter. The bad thing is its very hard to keep in ears as it falls out of one ear when i put it into the other.

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  • 5
  By member: iddy92 - Sep 15, 2006

Excellant Sound Isolation earphones

Strengths: sound quality, sound isolation, ease of use, and looks!

Weakness: pricey

this earphones is great for using on the plane or train. the look is more shiny and flashy than its sister model, e3c.
the only difference is the cord length, but it's really not that much of difference for portable sound device.

wearing this on the plane will make u appreciate this alot. with my ipod, i only have to turn the volume halfway to hear the sound with minimal cabin noise.

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  • 5
  By member: irsfi - Apr 20, 2006

E3g's an excellent choice.

Strengths: Sound quality; isolation; comfort; durability

Weakness: Somewhat pricey; dangerous to use outdoors

With full bass as well as excellent sound quality on all levels, the E3g's are an excellent buy, with a reasonable price. Sound isolation and comfort are fantastic as well. Unfortunately, as with all in-ear phones, the sound isolation can be a hazard outdoors or simply a burden in a casual situation.

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  • 4
  By member: ntrovert - Apr 7, 2006

E3g Sound Isolating Earphones: Gaming Edition

Strengths: they don't move from your ears. if you hate earbuds slipping out or the weight of over-the-ear headphones, these are a nice option. They are compact and great for travel.

Weakness: if you plan on moving around a lot while wearing them, the impact of your footsteps or the sound of the cord moving around is noticeable. These are best used for sitting, biking, game-playing, etc.

I like them. great balance of price and performance. be sure to read up on the strengths and weaknesses of this product so you aren't suprised. these style of earphones won't meet everyone's needs. As a person who travels and plays PSP quite a bit, this is ideal.

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  • 4
  By member: earanda - Apr 6, 2006

shure for music

Strengths: good noise isolation, clear sound and comfortable wearing for long period of time.

Weakness: none

It is a very good headset it fits comfortably in the ears, the sound is excellent it only need to set volume half way to get loud enough for me to listen in, and it is excellent sound isolation when music on hardly hear any noise outside, I would recommend to anyone want a set of high quality earphone.

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  • 4.2
  testseek.com - Mar 9, 2009

Shure E3G

Testseek.com has collected 3 expert reviews for Shure E3G and the average expert rating is 85 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.

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