XBarbarian
05-25-2004, 10:06 PM
Ok.... A n00b, wanna-be audiophile's impressions of the Shure E3's
I have read and read ..posted redundant questions, etc....lookin for info , trying to shop intelligently. Thanks for all of your patience.
well, I liked the sound fair 'nuff of the supplied Apple buds, but they just wouldn't stay seated..required regular adjustment, leading to ear pain from movement. Plus, I am obsessive, and once I began reading this site, of course it was only a matter of time before I HAD to have better. :) My near by Apple store had Sonys, so I headed over and bought some EX71's. $50 in store; I know they can be had cheaper on the web, but it's worth payin for immediate gratification :) However, to my surprise, they also now carry Shure E2's, for list of course, you know Apple, $99. I decided to go easy, get the Sony's, half the price, since I wasn't even sure I'ld like ear canal phones. Brought them home, and used for a week. My initial impression was, WOW, these are better than the supplied ones. I found I liked the in ear type, way better noise reduction, and music immersion. I liked the "bass-y" sound, at first. But after going thru my eclectic library a tad, I began to see what many say...too much bass , I lost a lot of mids, clarity. Well, Luckily, Apple has a 10 day return policy, for only a 10% re-stock. I was going to do that and get the E2's they had there, but then microphonesolutions offered we iPodlounger's a discount, 135 on E3's. Hmmm...99 for the E2's..or "for just a few extra bucks" ( I declarded to my checkmaster bride :) ) Then someone posted ecost.com had em for a 48hr special or something for 129! Well that sealed it! Ordered Sunday, recieved today.
I tried all the tips, different sizes, etc. The medium greys worked pretty well, have to insert rather deeply...or maybe I need more practice, but had to keep playing to get a good seal , otherwise like all in ear canal's I imagine, no bass without the seal.
So, finally, I tried the expandable yello foams, as mentioned by most reviews. !!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG! BASS, almost pounding like the EX71's, yet, NOT disproportionate. Now, with the foam tips, these things are blowing my mind. As has been mentioned in any other reviews, Im hearing strings scratched, coughs, everything on the recording; hi's, lows, mids, all with clarity. I am in a soundstage, the band is in my head! I mean, Bowie himself has apparently gotten inside my head, and is rockin out in there. AND, these yello foamies are way comfortable! Smoking good exclusion of noise in the room. I COULDNT be happier with these. They are what I had hoped for, and more. Of course some UE10's would be nice, heh, but unless I hit the Lottery soon, I am very well pleased with these E3's. As has been said, I wouldn 't drive a hot rod with crappy tires..so why listen to a great player like iPod with mediocre at best ear phones. Its only Logical!
So, my n00b impression of spendin some money on good phones? I'll never look back with regrets!
/waves, and reminds you -
?Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.? Thomas Jefferson
I have read and read ..posted redundant questions, etc....lookin for info , trying to shop intelligently. Thanks for all of your patience.
well, I liked the sound fair 'nuff of the supplied Apple buds, but they just wouldn't stay seated..required regular adjustment, leading to ear pain from movement. Plus, I am obsessive, and once I began reading this site, of course it was only a matter of time before I HAD to have better. :) My near by Apple store had Sonys, so I headed over and bought some EX71's. $50 in store; I know they can be had cheaper on the web, but it's worth payin for immediate gratification :) However, to my surprise, they also now carry Shure E2's, for list of course, you know Apple, $99. I decided to go easy, get the Sony's, half the price, since I wasn't even sure I'ld like ear canal phones. Brought them home, and used for a week. My initial impression was, WOW, these are better than the supplied ones. I found I liked the in ear type, way better noise reduction, and music immersion. I liked the "bass-y" sound, at first. But after going thru my eclectic library a tad, I began to see what many say...too much bass , I lost a lot of mids, clarity. Well, Luckily, Apple has a 10 day return policy, for only a 10% re-stock. I was going to do that and get the E2's they had there, but then microphonesolutions offered we iPodlounger's a discount, 135 on E3's. Hmmm...99 for the E2's..or "for just a few extra bucks" ( I declarded to my checkmaster bride :) ) Then someone posted ecost.com had em for a 48hr special or something for 129! Well that sealed it! Ordered Sunday, recieved today.
I tried all the tips, different sizes, etc. The medium greys worked pretty well, have to insert rather deeply...or maybe I need more practice, but had to keep playing to get a good seal , otherwise like all in ear canal's I imagine, no bass without the seal.
So, finally, I tried the expandable yello foams, as mentioned by most reviews. !!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG! BASS, almost pounding like the EX71's, yet, NOT disproportionate. Now, with the foam tips, these things are blowing my mind. As has been mentioned in any other reviews, Im hearing strings scratched, coughs, everything on the recording; hi's, lows, mids, all with clarity. I am in a soundstage, the band is in my head! I mean, Bowie himself has apparently gotten inside my head, and is rockin out in there. AND, these yello foamies are way comfortable! Smoking good exclusion of noise in the room. I COULDNT be happier with these. They are what I had hoped for, and more. Of course some UE10's would be nice, heh, but unless I hit the Lottery soon, I am very well pleased with these E3's. As has been said, I wouldn 't drive a hot rod with crappy tires..so why listen to a great player like iPod with mediocre at best ear phones. Its only Logical!
So, my n00b impression of spendin some money on good phones? I'll never look back with regrets!
/waves, and reminds you -
?Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.? Thomas Jefferson