another E3 post

[onebigdoor]

hi all,
i have a few questions for E3 users, and anybody else as well.
i've tried a bunch of headphones with my discman, and i never found anything i could tolerate besides the sony mdr 7506 i had in my studio. (the big black headphones that say 'studio monitor' on top of them) normal earbuds were out of the question because they make my ears really sore (the kind that sit in your ear, like any bud like the iPod stock buds) but i've never used a canal earphone.

i can't keep carting my big 7506s around because, they're big, and not conducive to the portability my iPod is forcing me to become accustomed to. (with the discman, i had discs and the player with me, so i didn't mind keeping big headphones in my bag)

so, i want a sound that's rich and full like the 7506s, and i'm also really attracted to the isolation promises of the in canal headphones, but my main trepidation is actually having to put them in my ear canal. i'm a musician, so i wear ear plugs often, but generally they bother me. my ears get itchy after about a half hour of wearing them. are the E3 ear pieces not like this, or do people experience something similar?

are there stores that let you try on canal phones? i'm tempted to start with cheaper ones, like the fontopia, or similar, but i don't want to just have to upgrade them immediately if it turns out the canal phones are okay.

any help is appreciated.

[kauffee]

You'll probably find the bass on the E3 somewhat weaker than the 7506s. Initially, you probably won't find them quite as "rich and full," as you put it.

As far as the comfort goes, there's a good chance the foamies will make you itchy if earplugs do. I've found some itchiness with the foamies. However, the shape of the silicone plugs doesn't produce any of this itchiness on me, and I find them very comfortable. My guess is that you'll be fine with the gray silicone pieces. I don't think I've read any opinions from people that find those tips uncomfortable.

I've never heard of a place that lets you try them on, since it would be unsanitary unless they gave out new earpieces each time. A lot of the internet retailers have 30-day trials... that's probably your best bet.

[onebigdoor]

i'd like to get to the bottom of this bass problem (no pun intended) i happen to love the bass on the stock iPod headphones if, and only if, i squeeze the buds uncomfortably into my ears. this not only looks stupid, but is stupid. can anyone give me a comparison btw that and the bass response of the E3s?
i don't need the bass drilled into my head, but it would be too bad if it felt like the bass was lacking.

also, the above post mentions 30 trials, but any of the sites carrying E3s i've found exclude in ear headphones from their 30 day deals.
can someone point me towards one that has it?
thanks again, you guys are great.

[AndyH]

Originally posted by onebigdoor
also, the above post mentions 30 trials, but any of the sites carrying E3s i've found exclude in ear headphones from their 30 day deals.
can someone point me towards one that has it?
thanks again, you guys are great.

Microphone Solutions (http://www.microphonesolutions.com) and Todd the Vinyl Junkie (http://www.toddthevinyljunkie.com/) and HeadRoom (http://www.headphone.com) all offer a 30-day trial on the Shure's. In fact, I think all Shure dealers have this deal.

[thedodgyguy]

Listening in a quiet room with the iPod earphones pressed against my ear, the E3c has considerably less bass. The big difference however is in portable use. The 'open design' of the iPod earbuds mean that surrounding low-frequency sounds impede on your experience and lessen bass. The E3c gives you a far more consistent listening experience from environment to environment.


If you need the 'pressed in ears' bass and you're looking for a sealed canalphone equivalent, only the Shure E5 will satisfy.

[jasperstory]

To be absolutely frank, ur making a trade off with the E3s.

I've got them, and though I find them great in general, with great isolation and perfect clarity in most cases. However, they are definately lacking in the bass department with the iPod. However, thats a problem with iPods 'weak' sound and poor e.q.

If I use them on my comp, they can certainly handle the bass and sound great. Too bad the iPod eq messes things up sooo bad.

[HRA]

I now have the Shure E2, E3 and E5. IMHO the E2 gives the best bass response but lacks in the high end. I generally use either the E2 or E5. The E3's don't get used that much. The Earplug store has the best prices along with their coupons.

www.earplugstore.com (http://www.earplugstore.com)

[onebigdoor]

the ipod has it's own eq settings. is this what people refer to when they say the ipod messes up the eq? or do they just mean the way the signal is amplified out of the ipod itself?

is the bass problem still present with the 'bass booster' eq setting in the ipod?

man, i really want to get these e3s but i do like my bass.

[kauffee]

Yeah, when people say that the iPod "messes up" the EQ they're most likely referring to the the iPod EQ settings, such as bass booster. The iPod's EQ severely distorts music, and with sensitive headphones like Shures, this is very apparent.

It's also true that the iPod's standard signal is a bit weak in the bass dept. It's not too bad though, and wouldn't be anything to be concerned with if the EQ was done right.

[dmt1]

Bass booster and loudness really distort. Try the Latin setting though--it's subtle, doesn't tear up the highs, and gives the bass just a little more oomph. Works great for the Ety 4ps--try it out on the Shure E3's; may help you there.

[nihil8r]

i don't think you will like the e3's, one big door, without studio grade eq.

[tbourret]

Based on the group's earlier discussion of the E-3's, I purchased a pair and am very disapointed with their bass response. The mid and high end is great, but I find myself going back to my Grado SR60's most of the time. The bass with the E-3's is only somewhat acceptable when they are well seated, but I find that any kind of activity, especially walking or jogging, quickly causes them to lose that necessary tight seal, regardless of which tip I use. Does anyone have experience with custom molded inserts, and would that solve the problem?

[kauffee]

There are some threads at head-fi about custom molded tips. Search for lindrone's comparison of E5 tips. I think he reviews 2 custom molds in that.

Do you lose the seal with the foamies? That would be surprising.

[HRA]

Mine fit perfectly. I think this is the problem with earcanal phones. They are such a personal thing that even a fantastic pair won't suit eveyone because of fit issues which then cause performance issues.

[dmt1]

From my experience I'd strongly recommend staying away from custom ear molds. You're better off upgrading your earphones rather than spending the money on the molds. Depending on your ears, the earmolds can make the bass response worse. Worst $100.00 I've spent on audio gear. You're better off saving your money toward E5's than getting the molds IMHO.

I have Ety 4P's, and the bass is a tad light, but with the latin EQ setting, it helps a bit. But all of these earphones come with trade offs--the E4Ps are fantastically clear and detailed, but the bass is a little light; the E5's supposedly (I haven't heard them myself, but I'm convinced of it from other posts) have fantastic bass, but at the expense of a little clarity and detail. Pick your poison....They're both great earphones, but none of them are perfect.

[onebigdoor]

well, i'm giving the e3s a shot anyway. they'll be here soon. microphone solutions does give a 30 day trial (although it's confusing on the website) and so i'll send them back if they're no good. i'll post my reactions after i get used to them/find the right tips.
thanks for your help so far

[Moody]

How does the Sony E888 compare to the E3's?

Are the E3's really worth 3x the money???

How "bad" are the 888's when you've used the E3's for a while?

[HRA]

I haven't found one Sony earbud that compares to any of the Shures, not even the $150 Sony noise cancellation buds....my own opinion of course.

[iJman]

Originally posted by onebigdoor
well, i'm giving the e3s a shot anyway. they'll be here soon. microphone solutions does give a 30 day trial (although it's confusing on the website) and so i'll send them back if they're no good. i'll post my reactions after i get used to them/find the right tips.
thanks for your help so far

Tell me how you like them when you get them.

I was planning on getting the E3's, but some previous replies have scared me a bit...

[jpmac55]

I just purchased a pair of the Shure E3's and am in the process of burning them in. So far, I prefer the muted base. Strong base can sound muffled in my ears. The balance of instruments are crisp and clear. I am told after burn in, the base will increase but will have to see for myself.

I own a few other pair including the Sony EX71SL's which as you have probably read in your research to be a great pair for the money. Plenty of base and fairly easy to fit.

[onebigdoor]

okay, here's the one week later rundown for me.

first thing, i like the headphones, i will not be sending them back.

okay, now the details. be careful what you read on this site because people tend to exaggerate and/or the repetition of the same points may exaggerate things from a readers perspective.

firstly, these earphones are not going to blow your mind. from what everyone says about their clarity, and responsiveness you may think you're going to stick these in and get an immediate eargasm, it doesn't really work that way. instead, you expect the most gorgeous sound you've ever heard pumped directly into your brain and instead you get nice, well balanced and faithful sound reproduction. so, don't let comments on the forums over-hype you.

next is the now famed 'bass' issue. the bass is very nice in these headphones. if you've got something with a good eq (ie not an ipod) you're going to be really happy with the bass. these guys really do have a butt in them. if you've got an ipod, which is what i use them for primarily, it's a matter of finding the right fit for the plugs, and the right eq setting in the ipod, but most importantly getting used to the way the phones sound. you're never going to get the bass to 'thump' in your ears. it's never going to sound like you're in a club and the beat is pounding through your entire body. if i cruely listened to the e3s and my sony 7506s back to back it seems like the bass in the e3s is terrible, but the more i wear the e3s the more i find the bass adequate and comfortable. any more bass in them causes rapid ear and head fatigue anyway, so it's almost preferable. i'm not sure if the phones needed to be 'burned in' or if i got more used to the sound but the bass did seem to get better within the first week.

i've found the grey tips that come initially on the buds the most comfortable. the foamies get the best seal, as everyone says, so i'll wear them if i'm on the subway or somewhere equally noisy, but they get uncomfortable after about a half hour. i've been very pleased with the isolation provided by both tips. one of the big reason i got the canal phones was my gym. they pump insanely loud hip-hop through the whole place, and i could never get my headphones above the level. my e3s kick the hip-hop's ###, and it's no longer a worry (although it's funny when i'm listening to hip-hop in my headphones)

so my best advice to potential e3 buyers is if you're looking at e3s you can afford them, so don't worry about the money. take advantage of the 30 day trials, but try your best not to make any decisions for at least a week. you need to teach your ears how to hear them. and if you've never used canal phones before, which i hadn't, it takes time. if you need bass to blow your head off, don't get these phones. if you prioritise isolation, clarity, and a well-balanced sound, i would highly recommend these phones.
i hope this helps any potential buyers, and i'll answer any questions you might have.
and thanks again to the people who helped me out by responding to my post to begin with.