Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones

 (94 customer reviews)

So that you know a little about me and this review, I will start by saying that I am a professional classical musician, and I have recently had a hearing test on which I did very well. I am also something of a headphone enthusiast, as I have some very expensive headphones, a high-end source and an expensive dedicated tube headphone amplifier. I am aware of a computer magazine review that recently rated the Etymotics higher in sound quality.

This is a comparison of the E4C and the Etymotic ER-4P, using the Gmini XS200 as a source, with mp3's encoded at either 192 or 256 kb/s. (By the way, the Gmini is a great little DAP!) Both of these earphones are quite good and will provide vastly better sound quality than the typical headphones and earbuds that fill the mass market. I like the included foam tips included by each manufacturer, so that is what I used to compare them. The Etymotic foam tips seal better and provide superior isolation from outside noise. I must note...Read more

Wow, these just arrived and sound so good I was moved to write a review immediately. They really do reveal new clarity, new details in music you thought you already knew well. If you really care about sound quality, they are worth the money.

But, be prepared to pay for this amazing sound quality:

- they take time and care to insert correctly.

- you will need to swab your ears before using them.

- They are impossible to remove quickly, like if the phone rings or someone interrupts you. It's like pulling a plunger out of your head. So you need to have time to devote to the listening experience without interruptions

- speaking of interruptions, it's hard to hear external sounds, so don't drive or bicycle with them, seriously.

- If you're claustrophobic, avoid. When inserted, it feels like you are under water, with strange body sounds and a slight feeling of pressure in your head. And the cords make deep reverberation...Read more

"Find alternative to Apple-provided earbuds" sat on my to-do list for about three months. It was right up there with "clean the garage" and "organize vacation photos from last six years," so it clearly was never going to happen. After my Apple earbuds died an early death (again) and an experience with a pair of dreadful Sony EX81LPs (shudder), finding a good pair of headphones became mandatory. I messed around with a pair of Sennheiser HD 595s, which were excellent, but definitely not practical or portable enough for everyday, small carry-on bag use. I ordered these E4Cs, even though I was extremely skeptical about them before I received them. I was perfectly happy with Apple's but for their propensity to last two months before the wires started to expose themselves.

I LOVE these. The sounds is crisp, sharp, excellent. I hear music so much better than I ever have. They fit in my ears comfortably and all of the ear tips are satisfying (especially the ugly, yellow foam ones)...Read more