Weak bass on Shure E3c's?

[boy_asunder]

So I just (as in about an hour ago) received my new Shure E3c's, and I'm checking them out now and comparing the sounds to my old Apple In-ear headphones. I can tell they are clearly more efficient (I damn near deafened myself when I turned on the iPod because the volume was cranked to work on the apples), but I'm not sure about the bass.

From listening to the apples a lot, I'm used to a fairly resounding bass sound kinda fillin' my head. But here, it just sounds like I'm getting a lot of mids and highs and the bass seems especially weak.

To test it, I went to one place where I used to specifically enjoy and notice the bass (the part where the whole band kicks in in the New Pornographers song "From Blown Speakers," if you care) and I know there is a distinct difference.

Have any of you noticed this? I though that it could be that I don't know how to insert these, but I never had a problem with inserting the apples. The other possibility is that since I'm turning down the volume to not be deafened by Nico Case, I am turning down the bass even more. Or that my headphones are just messed.

I also think I am noticing certain high background things not being present (like an electric organ sound in one song that is buried under guitars), but I have no idea if that's related or not.

Btw, I have noticed these issues with the foam, triple-flange, and regular-type sleeves.

[Joshdude]

Yeah the E3c's give more detail an a crisper, cleaner sound. However, I was disappoited with the bass. I'm sure it's more accurate, but I prefer thumpy bass as well, and the Apples delivered in that respect.

[MuzakMan]

I tried the E3's once (I have the E2's), and I had to cram the 3's so far deep into my ear canal, I thought I'd never be able to get them out.

The bass isn't what I would call strong or deep, but I noticed it. I thought it was definitely satisfactory for the overall quality of sound they gave.

I got the E2's cause they were cheaper. They definitely have decent bass. If you crank it up with Moby, and certain hiphop, it definitely sounds great.

[am0eba]

The bass is great if you get good isolation with the earpieces. It seems to take everybody about a week to find the right tips/sleeves to use, and to get used to the right way to insert them in the ears. I was only able to get good isolation with foamies and triple-flange tips, and only by inserting them deep, using the two-handed method described in the instructions, pulling the ear outward to straighten the ear canal. I also insert the tip with the body of the earphone rotated so that it is is mostly vertical. Once the earphone is inserted, I rotate the body of the earphone into it's normal mostly-horizontal position.

You will not get good bass from these 'phones without proper insertion. You can gauge proper insertion by the amount of isolation you're getting. If you can clearly hear sounds in your environment, they're not inserted properly. With no sound playing through the 'phones, you should just barely be able to hear someone speaking to you in a normal voice from five feet away. Even then, I find that I need to watch the lips to make out the words.

Sometimes, I can hear a slight amount of ambient noise from my environment, and there's almost a sensation of a slight breeze within my ear. Those are signs of poor insertion, and the bass suffers.

You will never get the chest-thumping sensation from these or any other headphones that you can get from loudspeakers, but they are capable of reproducing bass as well as almost any other mid-priced 'phones out there.

_Dave_

FWIW, many people seem to be surprised and sometimes alarmed by how far in they need to be inserted.

[BillClinton]

Think about getting a headphone amp - I just got one a few days ago and just love it. Of course it partly defeats the portability of the iPod, but a little "mint" one is very portable as well. I thought my Etys were wonderful before - now they are fabulous. Check out headsave.com or headroom.com.

[boy_asunder]

am0eba, I think I may just need some time to figure out how my ears and the foamies or triple-flange work together. I do remember having an epiphany moment with the apple in-ears, and realizing exactly how nice they could sound, so I bet I just need to futz with 'em until they work.

And Mr. President Clinton, I have been thinking about getting, or having my bf make, one of those mint tin ones. Is that what you bought, or did you get one of the more commercial types?

[BillClinton]

mint tin

[MuzakMan]

My Shure E2's have finally started to become very comfortable. It's taken a few days, but it was worth it.

[Pov]

Proper insertion is VERY important. You won't get the bass that the phones were designed to deliver unless they are seated properly in your ear. This takes a lot of experimentation and practice. I've found at times that even when I thought they were properly inserted they were not.

Also, if you want booming bass these are not the phones for you. They are designed for accuracy, not for thumping. If you want your bass to boom get a pair of Sony EX71s.