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Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones
Price: $119.00

Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5
Rating: 4.0 / 5.00 (175 reviews)




Manufacturer: Shure

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Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones Details

Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Shure
EAN: 0042406119900
Feature: Smallest of Shure E-series Weighing only 0.9 ounce - less than 1 ounce
Is Autographed: 0
Is Fragile: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Shure
Manufacturer: Shure
Model: E3c
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Shure
Studio: Shure
Warranty: 2 years warranty

Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones Features
  • Smallest of Shure E-series Weighing only 0.9 ounce - less than 1 ounce
  • Instead of bulky headphones, E3 wearers get form-fitting earpieces that stay securely inside the ear without uncomfortable headbands
  • Sound isolation prevents outside noise from interfering with the music, and creates a quiet space for exceptional audio clarity
  • The studio grade, low mass, high energy micro-speakers employ balanced armature technology for more efficient output and extended high frequencies
  • Compatible for use with 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) audio output ports



Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones Reviews

Customer Rating: Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5
Summary: NOT Sound Isolating
Comment: I hope that my comments will help anyone thinking of buying these earphones for their sound isolating ability. My Sennheiser earphones I have had for three years and love them. Recently, I sent them back for repair and decided to buy the Shure E3c as a substitute pair. They seem to have no sound isolating ability. I tried to create the best seal possible by trying various buds and the foams that came with them but without any increase in performance. Sound quality was OK but my $50 Bose are about the same. The cord is much longer than I need. My husband has a cheaper pair of Shure's that have a cord extender for when you need it. The tiny case that comes with the earphones barely fit the earphones. I have concerns of bending the wire to make them fit in the case. My husband' came with a larger case. I read all the reviews before buying and thought overall most were satisfied. I am so dissatisfied. I can't believe that others really like them.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5
Summary: Not Worth the Money
Comment: I've had these headphones just over a year and have never been happy with them. The sound is great, there's no arguing about that, but my primary complaint is that they hurt my ears. None of the earpieces were comfortable, except the foam ones, and they get dirty quickly. Forget about wearing these earphones to the gym or doing any exercise with any of the earpieces. The gray earpieces actually slipped off in my ear when I removed the earbuds once. I got it out myself, but was still concerned.

My second complaint is that the volume is usually too loud. The lowest volume setting (above totally muted) on my computer and my iPod (two different models) is too loud when using these. I don't need excessive volume to hear.

Next, they didn't last. The left earbud just stopped working after a little over a year. At the price, I expected these to last several years. I wouldn't buy them again, nor would I recommend them.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5
Summary: Don't waste your money!
Comment: Okay, the sound on these ear buds is quite good, but if you're a commuter who expects these buds to stay in your ears for an hour or more as the cable is gently tugged and pulled by your jacket, arm or whatever, this is NOT the product for you!

If you're going to use this product in your favorite chair and not moving around much, then this just might be the product you seek.

I tried every ear fitting that comes with the ear buds and none of the options were able to keep the buds in place. Even the slightest tug of the cord caused the buds to pop out. VERY frustrating.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: Great sound, no noise, feel funny
Comment: First off, these are fantastic headphones. I put 'em in and the world goes away. My office-mates on the phone? Gone. Girlfriend talking to her mother? Gone.


The sound is also very clear. Not too heavy on the bass, which is great. It's nice to be able to hear the words of Digable Planets, rather than just the beat.

I had to mess with the various tips to get the ones that fit correctly -- turns out I have 2 different sized ear canals. Who knew?

My only minor nit is that they feel a little funny. I'm not used to having something stuffed that far into my ears. When they're all the way in and no music's on I can hear my breathing, sometimes even my heartbeat -- and don't even try having a snack! Once the music comes on the internal noises fade into the background, but there's definitely a surreal moment (similar to scuba diving, for you divers out there).

All in all, fabulous headphones and I heartily recommend them.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5
Summary: Great Customer Service
Comment: I'm a consultant and travel a lot for work so I love the noise isolation for airplanes and less than ideal work environments. I used them daily for 16 months and then the right earbud started to lose volume. I sent them back to Shure and within a week I had a new pair.

More Reviews for Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones


Editorial Review for Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones:

If you're looking to upgrade your portable music listening experience, the Shure E3c sound isolating earphones deserve a serious look. The E3c's offer a level of sensitivity and range that places them in the audiophile tier of earphones and fortunately, Shure has priced them to make this kind of quality within reach.

In many ways, judging sound quality is all about making comparisons, and when the E3c's are matched against their big brother, the Shure E5c earphones, the E3c's do reveal a noticeable loss of dynamic range and clarity. Of course, the E5c's are worth every penny for those who want to spend more on earphones than they spent on their iPod. The E3c's, on the other hand, come out a clear winner when you weigh their quality and cost.

Design
The E3c earbuds are small and easy to insert in the ear-- easier, in fact, than the E5c earbuds, which are larger and less friendly to folks with small ears. The E3c's thin and pliant cords are light and easy to manage. They're also designed to be looped over the back of the ear, but some testers found it uncomfortable and awkward to keep them there. These testers also said they preferred inserting the earphones upside down, letting the cords dangle downwards from the ear to avoid hassles. By comparison, the E5c earphones feature a bendable stiffening material in the section of cable that runs behind the ears, allowing the listener to loop the cables over and behind the ear more securely. It would be nice to see this simple solution added to the E3c earphones.

Shure did choose to give the E3c's the same gold-plated, 3.5mm input connector as the E5c's. The connector has a low-profile elbow bend to minimize accidental unplugging and snags-- great for laptop and airline users. And just like the E5c's, the E3c's come with a number of earplug "sleeves" packaged in what Shure calls a "fit kit". Our testers had little trouble finding a sleeve that felt comfortable. We especially liked the expanding foam sleeves that, like those foam dinosaurs that grow in water, expand to fit the contours of the ear canal.

Sound Quality
As we listened to a broad range of musical genres on the E3c earphones it was hard, once again, not to make comparisons with the E5c's. If you aren't even entertaining the notion of purchasing the E5c's, then make sure you never have occasion to listen to them. Rest easy in the knowledge that the E3c's deliver clear, crisp highs and rich, thundering lows. Delight in the fact that they excel at delivering the celebrated earphone experience; the external world is largely silenced and the music resonates inside your head. Meanwhile, if you are toying with the idea of stepping up to the E5c's, go ahead and give both models a listen. Although the difference between the two is not stark, we immediately noticed that we had to drive the E3c's at higher volume to get the same kind of resonance and fullness the E5c's deliver at a relatively lower volume.

Comparing the E3c's to the E5c's is a bit unfair, but in many ways, the comparisons revealed just how good both sets of earphones really are. The E5c's represent an extremely high benchmark, and fortunately for those who don't want to spend a bundle on top-quality earphones, the E3c's aren't too far off the pace. We recommend them as a massive upgrade to the standard headphones that ship with most portable music devices.--Joshua Gunn

Pros

  • Simple, compact design
  • Designed for compatibility with most ears
  • Excellent sound quality at a non-stratospheric price
Cons
  • Cord ergonomics could be better
  • Lower-quality sound than the E5c model generates unplanned spending urge




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