Reviews for Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

MPN: E2C

  • 5
  By member: icewolf08 - Dec 31, 2005

Great sound in a good package from a reputable sound...

Strengths: •Sound quality •Sound isolation •included zip-case •included "personal fit kit" •price •comfotable for sleeping

Weakness: •could be slightly awkward to put in the first few times

I ordered two pairs of the E2c’s, one for me and one for my mother in response to her not enjoying the sound quality of the standard Apple earbuds on a recent plane ride.  Got them a couple days ago.


First off, I don’t know how the E2c’s were shipping back in ‘03 when the first reviews were written, but now today in 2005 this is what comes in the box:
•the E2c’s, zip-case
•foam sleeves in three sizes
•PVC “flex” sleeves in three sizes
•"Ultra-soft" rubber sleeves in three sizes
•Instruction manual in three languages
•a waring on listening to music to loudly
•warranty information
•earwax guards


A little info about the sleeves: 
•The PVC sleeves are pretty stiff but not uncomfortable as long as you use the right size.  They provide very good sound isolation.  The smallest size seems to be slightly larger than the ultra soft sleeves.
•The Ultra-soft sleeves can basically be compared to the sleeves that you would find on a pair of sony’s.  IN the house, they block out almost all vocal and TV noise.  I could see how people may find these easier on the ears for extended periods.
•The foam sleeves definitely provide the best isolation, blocking virtually all outside sound.  They feel a little stiff, but when you roll them and let them expand in your ears it feels like inserting foam earplugs.


Notes on wearing the E2c’s:
•I noticed that people said that it was hard to get these phones in your ears and in right.  Well, i have found that the only part of getting these in your ears that really takes time or thought is unwrapping them from the case and keeping your wires straight.  The first time my mother picked them up she slipped the wire around her ear and inserted them without reading the instructions or having to be told.  It is really a rather quick and painless process, and once you do it one or two times it will become second nature.  Besides, if you have been using the trusty old Apple Earbuds you probably spend plenty of time getting them in just the right spot or adjusting them as you go about your day where wit the Shure’s, they just stay where you put them.
•As for where the cord goes, I don’t see/feel any reason why you can’t wear it down your front instead of your back.


Notes on cord size/guage:
•Yes, the cords for the E2c’s are relatively beefy (so to speak).  This is not a bad thing, as was pointed out in prior reviews it really isn’t that heavy.  Plus, I have a friend who had been using the Sony MDR-EX81’s which have a relatively thin cord which after less than a year had sweated out.  The cord on the E2c is by no means as thick as my laptop power cord, but if it can take a little more abuse, i think that is a plus.


Now the important section, sound quality:
•I am by no means an audio expert, but I am a theatre sound engineer, so i listen to many different sources with many different monitoring devices.  The E2c’s seem to produce a relatively flat response which means that as people have said they don’t have a “boomy” bass.  Personally I don’t find this necessary, and if you are really after that sound you should be using over the ear headphones with drivers that are big enough to really reproduce those sounds.  The response of the E2c’s seems to provide an accurate soundscape to the recording, meaning what you hear is what you would have heard when the recording was made or mixed.  As soon as I started using the E2c’s i started hearing parts of the music that i never new were there, adding an entirely new dimension to my music listening.  You also start to really hear the differences in bit-rates of files and the difference between MP3’s and AAC’s (MP4’s).
•The other important thing about sound quality is that you do have to have the E2c’s in the right position to get the best quality.  But this is not a new concept, no matter what head/earphone you have, it has to be in the right place to get the best sound.  With the E2c’s if you don’t have a good seal you don’t get good bass, as people have said.


Miscellaneous Notes:
•Shure is a company that specializes in producing professional audio equipment.  It is not proper to compare professional quality equipment to consumer grade equipment like Sony.  Also, you really can’t compare an earbud like the MDR-EX71’s which list at $50 to the Shure E2c’s which list at $100.  As with almost all technology,you have to pay for quality.
•I have found that the E2c’s are very comfortable for sleeping.  I often like to listen to music when i go to sleep, helps drown out dorm life, and it is relaxing.  I have found that the E2c’s tuck nicely into my ears, and when I lie on my side with my head on the pillow i don’t notice that they are there.
•There seems to by a mistake in the manual, it states that the bi-color shelled earbud is left, but this is not the case.  You can tell just by looking at th

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Reply by member: DPHILL7976
Feb 18, 2006

Right on, and a very well writen review. All who are looking at the Shure E2C should read this before they buy earphones...

  • 4
  By member: tiwang80 - Jun 28, 2007

very fine sound isolation earplug

Strengths: clear sound, effective sound isolation, durable build-quality

Weakness: more bulky design

I bought the E2C for about $80. It is a premium earphone. I also own the Etymotic 6i, another premium earphone. The premium earphones cost more because they deliver better sound quality and sound isolation than cheaper classes of earphone. Both the E2C and 6i produce clearer sound than the Sony 71 and much better sound isolation. They are both suitable for NY Subway use. The Sony 71 is not (especially for soothing classical music). The E6i has produces a more precise sound output. The E2C produces a richer sound, though less precise. The 6i is more compact and sticks straight into the ear. Its smaller double and triple flange plugs produce a better sound isolation than the E2C which has a bent entry for its earphones into the ear and uses bigger rubber, plastic and foam plugs. The E2C has a much more durable build quality than the 6i with thicker cord (less prone to peeling and creasing) and stronger cord connection to the metal plug (less prone wire fray).

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  • 5
  By member: Romany - May 18, 2005

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Great sound. Fit well. No outside sound carries through.

Great sound and fit very snuggly, so much so you really can't hear anything around you and so the volume does not need to be up very high. I've been using them with my IPOD and have been very satisfied, I can't even hear anything else when I have them on! They also came with different inserts if your ears are smaller or larger than normal, and a very sturdy storage case.

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  • 5
  By member: Simianfox - Jan 27, 2005

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Better than noise cancelling headphones at eliminating ambient noise. Design conceals headphones while wearing them. Comes with a handy, compact case.

Weakness: A little uncomfortable at first and rather expensive.

I purchased the Shure E2c headphones about three months ago with some reservations. It seemed like these headphones were rather expensive, especially because they don't feature any type of noise cancelling technology. The design seemed very rudimentary, and they looked uncomfortable. Boy was I wrong!

Being a frequent travler (especially by plane) I was dying for something better than the noise cancelling headphones I was using - and the E2c's were the answer!

I was floored using the E2c's for the fist time! While listening to my iPod at a low volume, my friend had to YELL for me to hear anything he said! These headphones are more effective than earplugs beacuse while they are blocking external noise, they are supplying music or audio that you WANT to hear, thereby further superceeding any ambient noise. What's more, when using the E2c's, I typically keep my iPod volue 60-70% lower than with my noise cacelling headphones, allowing my iPod battery to last 30% longer. The E2c's are nearly perfect for eliminating the irritation and stress associated with any public area. Especially airports, bus stations, and Starbucks!!! I also use these headphones frequently at cafes to avoid distraction and help me concentrate on whatever I'm doing.

The only negative I can think of are that some people might find the different types of fittings (foam and rubber) a little uncomfortable at first, but you will easily get used to this after a week or two.

Bottom line...If you can't stand hearing: 1) A baby crying on an airplane, 2) Loud people who talk too much on the subway, or 3) Distracting noise while reading at a cafe, the Shure E2c's are perfect for you! These headphones are worth every penny!

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  • 4
  By member: Manaseeker - Dec 4, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Fit perfectly into the ear. Holds in place. Reduces outside noise. Clear sound quality.

Weakness: Takes some time to adjust the wire to go behind the head. Price depending on where you buy them.

I haven't had these for that long, but since I opened them, I haven't stopped using them.

These headphones really cancel outside noise. It makes it hard to know what's going on around you, so be careful where you use these. What's funny is that they plug right into your ear, so you may hear your heart beating while listening to music.

The sound quality is very good for earbuds. Though there are better headphones out there, these are perfect for mp3/cd players. I heard things that I couldn't hear in songs before I started using the Shure E2c.

It takes awhile to get used to the sleeves because they go deep into your ears. It felt bad at first when I felt constant pressure inside the ears, but I gradually got used to it as I used the headphones more and more.

The cone-like shape of these headphones really help them stay snug in the ear. So if you're doing some kind of sport, they should always stay in place.

The hard thing to face is the price. However, if you find a good deal, then take the opportunity. These headphones were worth it. I really told all my friends about how cool they are. If you want to feel a better about yourself and make everyone else feel bad about their own headphones, then get these.

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  • 5
  By member: liyantim - Oct 28, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: excellent isolation, easy to drive from portable source, accurate sound, comfort

Weakness: veiled highs.

I bought this because I need to block out the air condition noise and unwanted conversation. My colleagues have Sony MDR-V6 and Sennheiser EH2270 so I got a chance to compare them side by side. The E2Cs definitely have the ultimate sound isolation since they go deep into the ear canal and has perfect sealing. You don't have to worry about sweating in hot weather, a hassle you always come accross with over-the-head headphones.

The sound is accurate, I like the bass quite a lot since it's plenty but not boomy, which minimize the fatigue and extend listening time. Compared with two open headphones I have HD-580 and AKG K-401, the highs are pretty much cut off at a relative low frequency. This results in a sound image that's less vibrant. Yet, it's still comparable to Sony V6 and better than the EH2270. It's kinda unfair to compare it to the HD-580 since they are pretty much different price category.

Since you can hear the details at a low volume (all the noise is blocked out), extended listening time is guaranteed. I can wear them 5, 6 hours through without feeling painful. And it's easy to drive. I used the lowest possible volumn out of my C-Moy Amp to drive the headphone and it's enough and sound is clear.

the listed price $100 is a bit too high for the sound quality you get. But with deals of $65 out there, considering the isolation and portability you get, it's a good buy.

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  • 5
  By member: roget41 - Jul 28, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: comfort, portability,weightlessness, sound quality

Weakness: carrying pouch should have a spinning wheel to wind or unwind product

Shure's E2c performs best after adjusting the sound levels of the mp3 player. Some time is required to find the "spot" in the ear for which optimum sound reproduction will be acheived. Once that "spot" is located, the unit should not be removed. After using the E2s for awhile, the "spot" will be second nature to find. Some fiddling with the sleeves is necessary as well, but it will all be worth it. After an hour or so on the first day of usage, the weightlessness of the unit surprised me: it was as if I wasn't wearing anything at all. Highly recommended!

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  • 5
  By member: Lenoraa - Aug 23, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: FIT, size, sound.

Weakness: NONE

I use E2's with my PMS (Personal Monitor System). It fits comfortably in the ear and the right angle wireing allows me to hide the wire behind my ear. I have uses KOSS and Nady
ear buds and find the Shure far more compact and comfortable.
I am replacing my current set which is two years old because I closed a door on the cord and damaged the wite.
Repaired, it will be fine for my computer.

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  • 5
  By member: joysmahal - Jul 10, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Great sound, blocks outside noise, thick wire (not thin and flimsy like OEM iPod headphones), no hassle 2 year warranty.

Weakness: Price (MSRP $99.00), right angle plug-in.

I love the sound of the E2c's, they complement my iPod mini very well! These are the best ear bud headphones I have ever owned. They come with 6 different sleeves/cushions: 3 foam (S,M,L) and 3 flex (S,M,L).

The E2c does an excellent job at blocking outside noise. Be careful running and watch out for cars!

My only complaints is that the plug is at a right angle. I've read some other user reviews that the plug can short out if you pull consistently pull on it, causing it to short out the wire. Shure's warranty is very good from what I read. No hassle, just register online and if anything goes wrong send them in and they'll send you new ones.

My other complaint is that the cord is too long when I use it with my iPod mini ARMBAND. There is a lot of wire slack. But I wouldn't deter that from purchasing these. I don't see myself using any other headphones unless I wanted to move up to the E3c.

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  • 5
  By member: lpable - Jul 24, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Excellent sound. Excellent noise reduction.

Weakness: Harder to take off and put on then regular headphones.

Like wearing earplugs with speakers in them, the Shure E2c earphones do a great job at providing isolation from outside noise, allowing you to enjoy music at lower volume levels. The sound quality is pure, even providing more bass response than you'd expect from headphones.

They are designed to route the cord up the back of your neck and around your ears, and the earphones tuck fairly deep into your ears. They're very inconspicuous and the cord is not in the way. However, this design means they take a little longer to put on, so if you'll need to take them out and put them in repeatedly, they're less convenient than over-the-ear headphones.

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  • 4
  By member: zoglog - Aug 13, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Great Sound, Differnt sleeve types and sizes allow for customizability and preferences, pretty comfy overall for earbuds, potential benefit from sound isolation, look damn fab on top of my tofu.

Weakness: kind of pricy, no wire extension, another extra set of foam earbuds would have been nice, may take longer to put on and take out that regular earbuds, my tofu has no ear holes so he can't wear them.

Basically at work I was using 10 dollar cheap sony headphones (10 dollar sony earbuds) which would actually start hurting my ears after using them for 20 minutes. I got fed up so I decided to purchase these cuz i'm not super rich and i'm not a crazy audiophile. Also the reviews on this site were pretty favorable. After using these all day I must say these are the best earbuds I have ever tried. the orange foam sleeves I have found to be the most comfortable. The sound is decent for the price and the sound isolation could be very nice if my roomate at home was watching a movie and I needed to watch whatever I was watching in peace. Of course definetly the sound is many steps above those horrid cheap sony earbuds, but I'd say they match my seinhauser over the headphones pretty damn well. Unfortunetly since the foam ones seem to be more degradable and more comfortable I may have to fork over more money in the future. Overall I must say it was a damn good purchase even tho it was kind of pricy, I just hope they don't break or I lose em cuz they're so small.

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  • 5
  By member: jorwex - Oct 20, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: EVERYTHING! -amazing quality -not-too-boomy, not-too-weak bass -eliminate almost all ambient noise

Weakness: A little uncomfortable at first, but that's only because you're tempted to try all 6 different sets of sleeves (rubber ones hurt!)

I can't believe I got along listening on-the-go without these things before. Best of all, I got 'em for about 2/3 the price they are everywhere else. I'd recommend these to anyone who wasn't satisfied with their current headphones.

I've always wanted a set of in-ear earphones but I couldn't find anything that justified the usually high price. These are just right, and seem pretty durable too.

You can hear things that you didn't hear before with other headphones. I know that this is usually the case with other headphones, but the effect is more prevalent here. I was using some wireless RCA over-the-ear headphones when I was at home, and they were kinda staticky (cuz they're wireless). The headphones I used to carry around with me broke a while ago, so I was housebound in terms of listening to music. The transition from those to these was like night and day.

After the first day or so, you dont even feel them when you wear them. It's imperative to get a good seal with these, or else they'll sound really bad, so read the manual or check Shure's website if you're having trouble. Also, since they're pretty much in your ear canal, the volume doesn't have to be too high for you to be happy, so they drain less power from your batteries.

I personally can't find anything wrong with these, and can now justify checking out more expensive earphones after seeing these (though I can't imagine what they'd improve upon).

GO BUY THESE!

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Reply by member: willbobaggins
Mar 7, 2006

don't buy used, buy new and don't pay more than $75

  • 5
  By member: lltucker - Mar 22, 2005

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: This is really a great product to have in the office to rid yourself of all the noise and allow you to do your work while you can enjoy your choice of music while on the computer

Weakness: The earpieces are a little big for women.. I have a little bit of a hard time getting them positioned just right and then they tend to come out.. Maybe my ears are just too small??

I do love the convenience and small size of this product but feel another type of earpiece should be added especially for women's small ears. They do a great job of filtering out the noise in the room when you are able to get them positioned correctly.

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  • 5
  By member: xboxboy217 - Jul 14, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Excellent sound quality. Good amount of bass. Comfortable once you get used to them!!

Weakness: The only thing I can think of is that the cable is slightly to thick. it is not as flexible as it could be.

I got these headphones three days ago and I adore them allready. They have superb sound quality with just the right amount of bass. They are also comfortable once you get use to the in-ear thing. The cord is a bit thick though, You have to get used to wrapping it beind your ear instead of letting it hang down.

Other than the cord, They are flawless.

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Reply by member: Futon69
Jan 4, 2006

I'd like to get some of the Crack that these people are smoking who wrote these revies for the crappiest headphones ever made. I can't believe that Shure released these #$%^&*I( of fecal matter. These are the type of headphones you'd find hanging next to the bubble gum rack at Rite Aid, as you wait at the check out counter. Don't waste your time, there is virtually NO Bass response whatsoever. In fact, the bass line in ANY song does not exist at ALL. This pair of audio excrement is an atrocity to the highest degree!

  • 5
  By member: kjc367 - Jun 2, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: compact size, good sound, great isolation/noise reduction

Weakness: isolation/noise reduction, case is a little ackward

I've listed the isolation/noise reduction as both a strength and a weakness. I've been using the flexible earpieces instead of the foam, the problem is that the isolation so good that you can easily tune out the world around you and drift away on the music. While this is great on a plane or bus, it's not so good at the office. People don't notice the earpieces and think that you're ignoring them, especially bad if it's your boss.

The cord is about the perfect length to allow you to just unplug and move around while being long enough to avoid inadvertent unplugs. The around the ear and behind the head wire routing keeps everything neat and out of the way. The earpieces fit flush enough to allow use while using a pillow or lounging on the sofa. The compact size makes travel a breeze.

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  • 3
  By member: ripankadakia - Jul 28, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: -Good overall sound quality for earbuds -Cancels most outside noise when using sleeves -Convenient carrying case -2 year warranty

Weakness: -Somewhat awkward shape (wrap-around that comes down your back -Sleeves are uncomfortable at first, even small sizes cause irritation, still waiting to get used to them

I did a fair amount of research in looking for headphones and basically had my list down to these, a Sony noise-cancelling set that was around $100, and the Etymotic ER-6. Ultimately, I chose these because they were similar to the ER-6 and were lower in price. I ended up paying ~$75 for this set.

Initially, I wasn't too impressed with the sound quality because I was used to having the volume fairly low on my old headphones (standard $10 Sony headphones). However, once I realized that I could crank up the volume withouth getting more white noise and other junk, I was really impressed with the sound quality. You are able to hear a lot more depth in the music that you would otherwise need a good stereo to here. I have currently only been using them in my office, which can be a noisy environment, but I have yet to test them out in transit (planes and trains). What I can say is that if you value good sound, it is definitely worth the upgrade from standard headphones.

My only criticism would be the design of the phones. Instead of a wrap-around with the wire, it just seems a little awkward. Also, if the sleeves could be a little more comfortable, I would give these a 4 or 5.

All in all a good buy in terms of value and quality.

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  • 3
  By member: diviktory - Nov 24, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Very clear & pristine sound. The treble & midtones are excellent.

Weakness: Weak, non-existant Bass. Earplugs a bit uncomfortable. Magnifies the sound of your heart beating.

I think these earphones are way over-rated. I find the high & midtones to be excellant, but the bass to be lacking. However, many say that these are made to be used with the iPod (which I don't have). So it's possible that they sound better with an iPod.

Actually the sound is very lousy if you use the plastic rubber earpieces. However, if you use the foam earpieces, the sound is almost amazing (almost becuz it needs more bass). Still, in comparison with professional headphones that cover your ears made by Sennheiser, Sony, etc., the sound quality of the Shure E2c earphones are inferior by far.

I also find the rubber earpieces to be a bit uncomfortable. The foam fittings-earpieces are a bit more comfortable. Perhaps I'm just not used to them.

When you use the foam fittings, you cancel outside noises almost completely, however you can hear the sound of your heart beating very clearly...which is very annoying cuz it's most always out of sync with whatever beat you're listenin' to. Also, if you're chewing or munching on something, you can also hear that very loudly if you're using the Shure earphonesplugs. Since I'm always munching on stuff while listening to music...I don't really like the earplugs. Shure, it blocks out the noise from outside, but it also magnifies all your bodily sounds (well just your heart & munchingchewing sound) tenfold...

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  • 5
  By member: wickedrick66 - Jan 19, 2006

SHURE E2c Sound Isolating Earphones

Strengths: Very lightweight and compact with awesome clarity.

Weakness: The bass can be lacking with certain sleeves.

The E2c earphones come with a hardcase and 9 different pairs of sleeves. The hardcase is rather bulky (it’s larger than my MP3 player) so I can't see carrying it in your pocket, but it would work great for storage in luggage. I found the largest foam sleeve to be the best as far as fitment, clarity, and bass, but it took some trial and error. Everyone is different, so I suggest devoting some time to finding the right sleeve for you because it makes a world of difference. I purchased mine for $88 (shipping included) and would consider it a great purchase for the price.

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  • 5
  By member: samuelkhill - May 23, 2005

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Noise canceling, custom fit, dynamic sound range, "bang for the buck"

Weakness: Wire-over-top-of-ear placement, relatively subtle differentiation of right vs. left earpieces

These headphones so totally rock!

Having read several industry (non user) reviews before buying I was convinced that these would be worth a whirl, since my last set of decent headphones were getting a little long in the tooth.

Three sets of pre-formed, clear, plastic ear inserts and several orange foam throw aways came with the 'phones and allowed me to choose a fit that was right for me.

The over the ear wire/back of the head wire placement took a little getting used to, but I quickly adapted.

I had intended on reserving these for use with my iPod and laptop in "clean" situations and using a pair of cheap Sony's for yard work and other nasty stuff.

That didn't last long. ;^) Now my e2c's go everywhere and my S.O. will be getting a pair for her birthday.

For a good pair of noise canceling headphones at a decent price these can't be beat.

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  • 4
  By member: FujiRider - Dec 21, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Very comfortable, Excellent Sound Quality, Afforable Price

Weakness: Takes some time getting used to sound isolating headphones

I have had these headphones for 2 weeks. The sound coming from these are amazing. You can hear sounds you never heard before while listening to music. Vocals sounds great and the bass is just the right amount so that you can still hear the fine details of each song. Wearing them is very comfortable, after a while you'll not even notice they are in your ears. These are great if you are studying and want to block out environmental noises. I would recommend these headphones to anyone who is looking for a pair of sound isolating headphones in this price range.

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  • 4
  By member: rpross - Dec 11, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Superior sound to OEM ear buds. Excellent noise isolation. Well designed case.

Weakness: Expensive. Difficult to seat earphones correctly. Level of base depends on proper seating.

I bought these earphones to use on air flights and my daily bus commute with an MP3 player. The noise isolation seems to be as good as my Bose QuietComfort 2s though the sound quality isn’t as good. It takes a bit of time to get use to wearing these earphones correctly as they are inserted into your ear canal to seal out external noise. Therefore, they are not for people who don’t like the feel of something in their ear. They are extremely compact and therefore an excellent choice when traveling light. There are better sound quality noise isolation earphones on the market (all of which cost more), but for use while traveling light, where there is a good change of losing or damaging them, the lower the price the better.

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  • 3
  By member: cyclepipe - Mar 20, 2005

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Clarity, Mids and highs were translated very well, isolation, instrument placement

Weakness: Bass performance from song to song varies due to limited low end range

If you listen to any rock or rap with heavy bass you will not like these cans but if your musical taste lean more toward classical or pop you will be fairly impressed.

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  • 4
  By member: compcons - Apr 5, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Sound quality, fit, isolation

Weakness: High price, should include more ear cushions

After trying the Koss Plug and other cheap imitations, I decided to spend the money for what has gotten great reviews in many places. I am happy with my purchase, but there are a few things that could be better.

Sound is well-balanced and the unit is well-designed. Isolation and comfort is best with the included foam plugs, but you may need to purchase more from Shure at a high price ($15)... They lose their isolation characteristics after a while with using foam tips, but I haven't had any problems yet. Just make sure you follow the fitting instructions for best sound (those that use foam earplugs already know how to do this.) It's also neat that you can make the cords go around the back of your head. I've actually put lapel clips on two parts of the cord so the cord doesn't pull too much.

Case is a little bit small; takes time to wrap cords and stuff. But the cord is about the perfect length in my opinion: not too long, not too short.

Overall, I'm still very happy with my purchase. People will probably look at you since they don't look like regular earbuds, though. (Just tell them musicians use them.)

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  • 4
  By member: element07 - Apr 17, 2007

Pretty good

Strengths: decent sound

Weakness: awkward case

I like these OK, but to be honest, I was hoping for a bit better sound. Putting them on and taking them off is a task, but worth it once they're on, because they won't fall out.

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  • 3
  By member: kangotang - Jan 11, 2007

An EQ definitely helps sound quality

Strengths: Sound isolation, comfort, durability.

Weakness: Sound quality (without an equalizer).

I have been looking for some decent pair of earbuds for a while now and bought the E2's after reading numerous positive reviews. The E2's were a definite improvement over my Sony EX51LP's, but were also about $30 more. I was, however, somewhat disappointed in the overall sound quality when used with "un-equalized" sources such as the iPod.

I am not an audio engineer so I'm not exactly sure how to describe the quality of audio, but it seems to be somewhat of an annoying ambiance in the upper frequencies. When using the E2's with iTunes on my PC, I simply turn down the 8K range on the equalizer. The resulting sound quality is excellent, and the annoying ambiance is gone. My iPod, however, does not have any way to set a custom EQ and none of the presets seem to help. My ears seem to grow "tired" of the music very quickly when listening with this setup. If anyone has had a similar experience, or if anyone with a better audio vocabulary would like to explain what I'm hearing, I would love to read that explanation.

The E2's do seem to do an excellent job of canceling outside nose, and are quite comfortable overall. It will take you a few attempts to insert them correctly, but it becomes easier with time. These earbuds are also some of the most durable. The cord is thick and sturdy, and earbuds themselves appear very durable.


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  • 2
  By member: agarturbo - Dec 27, 2006

Good, but not for people who really like bass

Strengths: Excellent noise reduction. Crisp, sharp response.

Weakness: Lacks bass response. iPod earbuds provided better, but muddier, bass

I use these commuting in Boston on the commuter rail and subway. They really cut down the ambient noise. For example, I can still hear the music while standing on the station platform when an F40 diesel locomotive goes by 5 feet away! However, I am disappointed in the lack of bass response. It's there, it's crisp, it's just not enough. Great midrange, but I like bass. Oh well, guess I need to pay more.

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  • 4
  By member: cobden - Oct 11, 2006

shure e2c

Strengths: good isolation but not complete, comfortable

Weakness: 1st day with them was a hard day, then you get used to. For a short people wire may be little to long.

It was good bargain, I recommend it to everybody who wants to spend around $70. I am satisfied and some of my friends started thinking to get pair for themselves.

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  • 4
  By member: sgupta_maine - Feb 20, 2006

Good solid earphone

Strengths: Value -money for sound quality

Weakness: low end frequencies

Good earphones. I have tried the whole shure line-up. The e5s were my favorite and are worth the price difference if you have the money (web price 360$) However, the e2s are good considering the cost (paid 70$ delivered).

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  • 5
  By member: wxgee2002 - Dec 3, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Strong bass, dynamic sound, excellent sound reproduction.

Weakness: Ear bud padding don't seem to fit properly.

These E2C's are "shure" worth the money $$$. At $65 bucks a pop, these are extremely expensive but well worth it. Just don't lose them. Sound reproduction is exceptional. Bass is also very good. I would recommend these over and over. Once you hear these, you will never go back to those cheap throwaways.

The only drawback I encountered is the ear bud paddings don't seem to quite fit right. I tried different size that was supplied but couldn't find the ideal one. That's my only complaint.

Otherwise, excellent investment for the audiophile.

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  • 4
  By member: bxt007 - Nov 20, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: way better than typical headphones

Weakness: not sure it's worth THIS much money

as everyone knows, the ipod comes with terrible stock headphones. replacements are definitely in order. the e2c's are very capable. you have to experiment with the foam or rubber ear coverings to get a proper fit; otherwise, it sounds pretty unimpressive. i use the foam pieces, and really enjoy the noise reduction; living in chicago and riding our ancient clackety public transit on a daily basis, it's nice to be able to drown some of that out. but, i'd like it a little crisper and clearer, at this price. i have a perverse desire to hear what the $500 versions does! i'll definitely keep them, but i'm not sure i would unhesitatingly recommend spending this much.

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  • 4
  By member: jkurgan - May 24, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Excellent at blocking out outside noise. Crisp sound.

Weakness: Difficulty staying inside ear.

Wow, the sound on these blows away any earbud, and is perfect for use on buses, trains, and planes. Since most of my music collection is in MP3 form, these earphones expose sound deterioration of the MP3 format.

Highly recommend if you do a lot of traveling and dont want to carry around over the ear monitors.

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  • 4
  By member: samirjp - Jan 15, 2007

Shure E2C Isolating Earphones

Strengths: Does a great job isolating external sound

Weakness: You have to try the different sleeve types for a while before you will get used to the fit and performance.

Wow! I bought these earphones for use while traveling on an airplane. With the regular iPod earphones, I had to turn my iPod volume way up on an airplane. With the Shure E2Cs, the volume level was a fraction of what I would turn the iPod up to using the regular iPod earphones.

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  • 3
  By member: donzelli - Dec 10, 2006

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: none

Weakness: unconfortable, price.

Cord is somewhat thick and it is a kind of difficult to
put the headphones in the case.
About sound, they are not much bettert than my old $30 sony headphones.

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  • 5
  By member: Trial_ForCe - Sep 10, 2006

Fantastic quality

Strengths: The cord is the perfect length for someone whos around 6 foot. It actually blocks noises.

Weakness: like everyone said: Finding those right earbub sizes can be a task on its own. And trying to wind the earphones in that case is hard.

I remember starring down a pair behind a case in a mall overseas. Why was I starring? Cause they cost over 300 dollars! I always wanted to know how they sounded and finally found an affordable price to settle my un-easing thoughts.

In basic thought: they look cool. They have a style that most likely nobody with earphones has on. I myself was sick of seeing them wimpy ipod earphones and actually wanted to take these bad boys out for a test run. They did get looks, but of course I couldn't hear what they were saying...

I'm one of those people who buy the Sony earphones because A) Cant afford anything else and B) They're everywhere. Buying these knowing they're going to be the greatest sounding earphones ever seemed like bollix but of course curiosity had the best of me.

They do sound fantastic. So good infact my bass loving ears wanted my mp3 setting changed from ultra high bass setting to something mellower: Jazz. Crazy I thought, why does jazz have better bass than the actually bass setting? Well apparently its cause these earphones do everything right so you don't need to be switching settings.

And lastly i bought these for the sole reason alone that they were sound isolating. I wasn't really excited for the audio fidelity (which changed of course) but i wanted to sit in a room and not be bothered by the sound of the kitchen, voices, televisions and dogs. Well it's safe to say that they do infact isolate all the sound with ease. Put them in and the noise is muffled. Turn on the music and the noise is gone. To understand how good these are: I mowed the lawn with these on and i could easily hear what my podcast was saying. That means bitty sounding home recorded voice chatting could easily be heard right next to a lawn mower. Amazing.

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  • 4
  By member: paulheitz - Aug 19, 2006

excellent

Strengths: light, good price, sound quality, excellent quality of the product

Weakness: position in ear, heavy wires

very good product
Test different ear pieces before you find the most comfortable, once you have it it's an excellent product with excellent sound quality.
I enjoy it in planes or in very noisy environment. It's great

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  • 5
  By member: redsbazaar - Aug 10, 2006

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Heavy cord which does not tangle easily. Excellent sound. Seem to be very durable.

Weakness: None apparent so far.

I bought these for my INNO. The difference in sound from the ear buds that came with the INNO is amazing. I am not an audiophile by any means. But these made such a difference even I could tell a marked difference in quality of sound.
I would recommend these to anyone wanting to upgrade the earbuds or headphones that come with any type of player.
The sound isolation is very good without totally blocking out all outside sounds.

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  • 5
  By member: modzona - Feb 14, 2006

The Best!

Strengths: - The Sound! - The quality! - You dont hear the sound around you. - The wire is not 4 meters.

Weakness: - The costs, it's a litle bit expensive. but its ok.

i have had it for 1 year now. nothing is comparable to them. I live in Norway so her they is a litle bit more expensive, they costs 170$ her.

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  • 4
  By member: davewms425 - Feb 6, 2006

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Comfotable, good sound and good sound isolation.

Weakness: The cord seems about a foot too long.

I bought these online about a month ago. I have been on 3 plane trips since I got them, and they are very comfortable to wear for extended periods.They take a while to get properly fitted, you need to try the different sizes and styles of inserts that come with them.I am 5' 8" and the cord loops down way past my waist with my ipod in my hip pocket. This is my only complaint, and a minor one.

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  • 5
  By member: adheskett - Dec 7, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Great sound quality, noise cancelling, secure fit.

Weakness: In-ear fit may take time to adjust to.

These earphones are great. Fit may take a while to get used to, however try the foam for comfort and noise cancellation. A steal at $66.

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  • 5
  By member: capreppie - Nov 28, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Compact, lightweight, sound quality, noise reduction, quality

Weakness: No two-prong airplane adapter included, comfort is highly subjective, foams plugs need to be replaced often

I wanted to a pair of headphones to take on trips where weight and size was a priority. I also have noise-cancelling headphones when those requirements are not as strict. I decided on the Shure E2C earphones because of their compactness, size and weight, and the positive reviews I found on the Web. Overall, the sound quality is excellent and the fit is good for me. I think the noise reduction is roughly equivalent to earplugs. I am used to wearing earplugs when the occasion calls so having the E2Cs wedged into my ear presented no incredible discomfort. If you dislike having anything in your ear, do not buy noise-reducing earphones, but the over-the-ear type. For fit, I think the foam plugs are more comfortable but they sure get dirtier quicker than the hard plastic, which can be wiped clean, and need to be replaced quicker.

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  • 5
  By member: cecilchiefe - Jun 13, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: High-quality sound, isolation

Weakness: May not be for everyone

I have found these headphones to be fantastic. I think the sound quality is very good for the price, and i haven't had any trouble getting them to stay in my ears. Try all the inserts and play around with them to insure a good fit. Some people may have trouble with these earbuds, as they do feel awkward in your ears at first and because the sound feels like its right in your head. Nonetheless, I highly recommend them.

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  • 5
  By member: watrmeln - Jan 27, 2005

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: The e2c really isolates you from outside noise, provides good sound fidelity, and is compact and convenient.

Weakness: Unusual design - may be difficult for some users to adapt to at first.

The Shure e2c is truly one of my favorite purchases within the past year. It's unusual design does a great job of isolating outside noise, even on the NY subways. The sound quality is excellent as well - I've been discovering details on so many of my old mp3's that I've never heard before. I had no problems putting on the earphones - they fit very comfortably within the ear canal and the cord wraps very convenient around the ears behind the head. I also have very large ear canals, but the standard size isolator flange fit me just right. Make sure you shop around - it's available for much less than it's list price of $99.

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  • 4
  By member: ckanne - Jun 9, 2004

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphone

Strengths: Excellent at blocking out other noise.

Weakness: A little hard to keep in your ear.

The Shure E2 earphones block out the sound so much better than my old hearphones with background noise isolation. My old ones went over my head so people could see that I have them on. Now people come up behind me to talk to me and they don't know that I have them in my ears.

I would definitely recommend this product.

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  • 2
  By member: 1_eighty - May 3, 2008

Not a long-lived product

Strengths: Good sound, good isolation

Weakness: over-the-ear wire placement /short-life to wiring

First, to those of you contemplating your first isolating headphones, you're doing your hearing a favor - the volume I play my mp3 player at is literally 80-90% lower than with standard ear-bud headphones.

These were my first noise-isolating headphones, and I was impressed by the good seal and by the general proof-of-concept. However, because these 'phones are so effective at isolation, I'm literally on volume level 1 - and that is often too loud - however I can't go lower. I would've appreciated an on-cable volume adjustment since I'm sure this is common occurance as senstivity to volume is much greater.

On a definite negative - the cables began to break down only 6 months after purchase, and given the price, that was very disappointing. I hadnt worn them for exercise or anything too stressful - just commuting to work. Still after a few months the cabling actually started to ooze a blue pigment on my ears, then to crack open shortly after.

I also dont like over the ear placement as the wires are stiff and thick, so they often come off the top of my ears and I have to very often fumble w them to seat them again. They are hard to seat. The way to solve this is to cinch the cable under your chin with the little plastic gasket on the cables, but this adds somewhat to a "trapped by wiring" effect - if you dont like lots of wires around your electronics, it's not ideal - not to mention it makes you look pretty geeky walking around.

Overall for the price, I'm quite disappointed in the lack of longevity of these headphones.

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  • 4
  By member: letsgojets15 - Dec 27, 2007

Great Product!

Strengths: Great sound quality, awesome bass and treble, lightweight, comes with a good case

Weakness: Hard to figure out how to put in, but shure.com walks you through the process.

I really am impressed with the quality that these headphones put out. It really has helped me to realize that 128 kbps music just isn

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  • 5
  By member: onedesirealone - Jul 18, 2007

Great Headphones!

Strengths: They cut a great amount of noise out!

I have used these headphones while operating a backhoe, tractor, & riding lawn mower and have been very pleased with their ability to cut out the unwanted noise. The interchangeable Earphone Sleeves have met the need of each situation I have faced while desiring to use the old iPod.
The size and shape also is the best design that I've tried so far. I have owned & tried many brands and styles over the years. My E2c's out distance all others!

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  • 4
  By member: Plazma444 - Jul 12, 2007

good quality

Strengths: well built, Good quality, Brings 3 foam self-adjusting pads L,M,S and 3 Rubber Buds L,M,S

Weakness: Shape is alittle awkward and can be uncomfortable for smaller ears

I bought sony's Fontopia MDR-EX51LP before getting these, and I expected better bass responce from the EC2's, but It turned out sony's fontopias have great bass responce due to their size. One thing I did like about the EC2 was it's clarity and great mid-range.

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  • 4
  By member: LogicTheTiger - Apr 23, 2007

good plugs

Strengths: Thick cord, interchangable/variety of plugs, Sturdy build, UnHyped response, LOUD!

Weakness: Interchangeable plugs are too big - the small ones are still a little too big.

The sound is crisp and flat(not hyped). The highs are very smooth and I can listen 8 hours at work with very little fatigue. It's nice to be able to listen at very low levels (so i can concentrate) and still block out the incessant office chatter, tapping, printing and groaning!

The foam plugs were the most comfy for me, but there were too hard to take in and out at work when people come up for a chat. The behind the ear fit is nice for me, stays out of the way and cord is just right to go down the back, around and into the pocket - I'm 6ft.

I appreciate the cord quality - my $50 sony's broke after 1.5 years at the cord. The case is a little small, but I just leave the end plug hanging out.

You can really crank these up with little distortion.

I also used them for checking some mixes of home recordings and they helped me spot some distortion that was happening due to a fader being up too high. You can hear little details, that you won't notice with mediocre speakers.

If you love bass,you'll need to make sure your source can adjust it's bass settings to pump it up a bit. With these in and my ipod mini volume all the way down I can still hear the music a little bit - funny.

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  • 4.0
  testseek.com - Oct 30, 2008

Shure E2C

Testseek.com has collected 21 expert reviews for Shure E2C and the average expert rating is 80 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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  • 4.5
  hipcheq.com - Jun 28, 2007

Say Sure to Shure

It's an ear plug to block out annoying noises typically caused by annoying people in such places as a bus, a plane or train. It also helps produce a rich sound into the ear with its high performace quality and technology. Basically you are going to get the sound of a studio speaker without having to mess up your 'bed head' look. It may take you a couple trial and error fits to get the right...

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  • 4.0
  about.com - Oct 20, 2004

Shure E2C Stereo Earphones

The Shure E2c mini-stereo earphones are an excellent, compact alternative to traditional large bulky studio-type headphones, providing audio performance rivaling its larger cousins.

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  • 4.0
  ilounge.com - Nov 30, -0001

Shure E2c Earphones

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  • 3.0
  laptopmag.com - Nov 30, -0001

Shure E2c

It takes some time to grow accustomed to the Shure E2c earbuds. Even with the multiple sleeves included in the package, none of the foam or Ultra-flex rubber tips gave us an immediate sense of comfort; they felt a bit too large and stiff to fit into the ear canal with ease...

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