Shure E5c. Mini Review.

[Possédé]

After much decision, I purchased the Shure E5c’s. They came this morning, and I’ve been listening to them since I’ve opened them. I quickly grabbed my digital camera to take a few snaps. Anyway, down to my mini-review…

First Impressions
After getting tore into the package, I brought out a small cube. This is very small. I thought it would be much larger, it’s roughly 9cm by 9cm. I carefully opened up the top and sitting in there was a smaller, metal cube. I haven’t been so happy in my life. :p After opening up the metal cube, there was my E5c’s sitting there waiting to be listened to. Shure has made a very professional job with the presentation of these earphones. I took everything out of the box and sat there, looking at everything. With the E5c’s you get an assortment of tips, a level attenuator, a crush-proof case and a user manual. Here’s some pictures:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/Possede/Parcel.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/Possede/Box.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/Possede/Box2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/Possede/Box3.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/Possede/Box4.jpg

Comfort
Flex Sleeves – These are my favourite tips for when I’m out and about. They provide brilliant isolation and I find that they’re the easiest to put in.
Soft Flex Sleeves – To me, these are the worst out of the bunch. They provide hardly any isolation, and sometimes can make the bass less as strong.
Triple Flange Sleeve – Is this a joke? Or am I doing something wrong here? These cannot go into my ears, they just bend. I’ll get back to these when I can get them in.
Foam Sleeve – The most comfortable and they provide the most isolation. Clearer mids and highs and the bass is slightly more punchier compared with the Flex Sleeves.
Custom Earmolds – You need to get impressions done and then sent off to a company such as Westone or Sensaphonics. Depending on the company this will set you back around $150.

The Sound
Even though I have only been listening to these for a few hours, I’ve got a good idea of what these earphones are like. Unfortunately, out of my Pc I can hear a large amount of hissing and slightly less out of my iPod due to the high sensitivity. Though this is drowned out when I play music.
Lows – These things have BASS and I love it. Sometimes I find it can get a bit too “thumpy” and that can be easily cured through EQing it on your iPod or iTunes. The bass is very deep and accurate. It’s a pleasure to listen to.
Mids – Very detailed and warm. I think they’re cleaner and smoother compared to the E3c’s and the E2c’s.
Highs – I dunno if it’s me, but I think that the highs are a bit more forward in the E3c’s than in the E5c’s. It’s slightly recessed. Though you can still make out them, I find that the E3c’s do much better in this category.

Conclusion
These earphones are one of the best universal earphones out in the market just now. If you can justify spending just under $400 for these and you’re into bass-heavy music, I suggest you go and give them a test drive. The only thing apart from the price that annoys me is the “Memory-Fit Wire” that goes around the top of your ear. I think this a big gimmick that Shure has put into there top model to make it more appealing.
Any questions you wish to ask me I will answer to the best of my knowledge. If you want more pictures just ask. I hope you enjoyed my mini-review.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/Possede/Earphone.jpg

[Reiki]

Congrats on your new acquisition and thanks for the review. For the perfect seal, try mating the soft flex sleeves with the foamies. I've done this with my E3's and it's taken them to another level.

[Possédé]

Thanks. ;) I've heard about that before. Never thought about doing it though. Someone said that when you take it out the Soft-Flex Sleeve comes off or something. I'll just stick with my flex sleeves... :p

[thedodgyguy]

You could also try the ER-6i foamies for more complete isolation (sound may not be so hot).

[Doug Gilmour]

I'm guessing the tri-flanges aren't going in properly because they are too large for many. Most cut the top flange off of the bud to fix that problem, especially with the Er6i's. You might want to try that and see if there's any improvement.

-Dan

[mavis]

Originally posted by Doug Gilmour
I'm guessing the tri-flanges aren't going in properly because they are too large for many. Most cut the top flange off of the bud to fix that problem, especially with the Er6i's. You might want to try that and see if there's any improvement.

-Dan

Agreed, I did that with mine, and I also cut down the stalk just slightly (so it was flush with the outside edge of the bottom flange) ... Worked like a charm.

[Possédé]

Thanks guys for the imput. I have realized that using the level attenuator with my pc it cuts most of the hissing noise out. Anyway... Could I use a knife or something to take off the top part of the tri-flage sleeves?

Thanks,
Possédé

[mavis]

Originally posted by Possédé
Thanks guys for the imput. I have realized that using the level attenuator with my pc it cuts most of the hissing noise out. Anyway... Could I use a knife or something to take off the top part of the tri-flage sleeves?

Thanks,
Possédé I used scissors on the first pair, a razor blade with the second.

Just flip the top flange up to expose the stalk, and cust as close as possible to the the middle flange.

[Possédé]

Thanks man, I'll try that some time today. Maybe now... If I can be bothered. :p

[Possédé]

Just done it there. Ahhh, there awful. They really hurt and they make the sound fairly muffled. :( I'll stick with my flex sleeves. They rule. :cool:

[[zerophase]]

i wish i was rich enough to afford some.

[jerrodh]

The E5s are *way* too expensive for my tastes, but at only $190, I did order some E4c's. Early users (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=116780) over at HeadFi are enjoying them *more* than their E5c's.

It'll be interesting to see more opinions from those who own E4 & E5.

[Possédé]

Originally posted by azdude_40GB
The E5s are *way* too expensive for my tastes, but at only $190, I did order some E4c's. Early users (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=116780) over at HeadFi are enjoying them *more* than their E5c's.

It'll be interesting to see more opinions from those who own E4 & E5.
Yep, I have also read about that. I went for the E5c's because:-
1) I can afford them.
2) I think that "Dual Drivers" will be able to produce better sound quality over "Single Drivers".
3) I like the E5c's design more than the E4's and the Super.fi 5Pro's.

Shouldn't Shure get worried if the E4's/Super.fi 5Pro's sound matches or is better than the E5c's? I don't understand why Shure would sell something that has better sound than a more expensive product. :rolleyes:

[Doug Gilmour]

Originally posted by Possédé
Yep, I have also read about that. I went for the E5c's because:-
1) I can afford them.
2) I think that "Dual Drivers" will be able to produce better sound quality over "Single Drivers".
3) I like the E5c's design more than the E4's and the Super.fi 5Pro's.

Shouldn't Shure get worried if the E4's/Super.fi 5Pro's sound matches or is better than the E5c's? I don't understand why Shure would sell something that has better sound than a more expensive product. :rolleyes:

I'd agree with those three points, with the exception of the third. I think the E4c's look much nicer than both. But to each his own..

The question is, is the $200+ ($100 from Shure) price difference worth the jump to the E5c's? I think that's the point that Jerrod is trying to make.

-Dan

[Possédé]

We'll just have to wait for they guys at Head-fi to do some comparisons between the higher-end universal earphones. Let's just hope the UM2's and the E5c's come out on top. *Crosses fingers*

[Doug Gilmour]

Originally posted by Possédé
We'll just have to wait for they guys at Head-fi to do some comparisons between the higher-end universal earphones. Let's just hope the UM2's and the E5c's come out on top. *Crosses fingers*

I'd be very surprised if they didn't, but will they have a better quality-to-price ratio? Probably not..

-Dan

[Possédé]

Originally posted by Doug Gilmour
I'd be very surprised if they didn't, but will they have a better quality-to-price ratio? Probably not...

-Dan
That's a good point you made there Doug. Even though the E4's and the Super.fi Pro5's can't be that far off the sound quality of the UM2's and the E5c's I don't think the extra $100-$150 could justify the small improvements. No one knows yet... We'll just have to wait and see.

The Shure E4c's are being shipped tomorrow if I can remember correctly. ;)

[HomelessIpOD]

do you have to wear the wire over your ears?

[Doug Gilmour]

Originally posted by HomelessIpOD
do you have to wear the wire over your ears?

No, you can use the "right bud in the left ear" technique to get them to hang down the conventional way. I prefer the "over the ear" much more though.

-Dan

[jerrodh]

Originally posted by Doug Gilmour
No, you can use the "right bud in the left ear" technique to get them to hang down the conventional way. I prefer the "over the ear" way much better though.

Right. The "over the ear" thing is pretty much required, unless you do some weirdness by switching ears.

However, what isn't required is the "Behind the Head" thing -- you can go over your ears as usual, then bring the cables down in front. This is nice sometimes.

[egokun]

A question for Possédé:

what volume level is necessary with the E5c to have an acceptable volume and exclude outside noise when used with an unamped iPod? With the Etymotic ER-4S, on my iPod I had to bring volume to 90% or more to hear the music pleasantly and to totally block outside noise to interfere with the music. I have read the E5c are more sensitive and thus should require lower volume levels to be listened to, but still that impedance is high enough to raise the question:p

Thanks in advance.

[thedodgyguy]

Way, way way lower. Really. You'll be surprised.

[Possédé]

Answer to egokun's question -

Yes, as thedodgyguy said, you only need to have the volume at around half way (And I have a European iPod so that means the volume can't go as high as a American version). The Shure E5c's are very sensitive and they're easily driven. :D
Now for my own question. Would a portable amp bring out they slightly 'hidden' highs?

Thanks.

[mavis]

Originally posted by Possédé
Answer to egokun's question -

Yes, as thedodgyguy said, you only need to have the volume at around half way (And I have a European iPod so that means the volume can't go as high as a American version). The Shure E5c's are very sensitive and they're easily driven. :D
Now for my own question. Would a portable amp bring out they slightly 'hidden' highs?

Thanks. Depends on the amp I suppose. When I had my E5c I really liked using the SuperMacro with the OPA627 opamp, as it helped the high end a bit. The OPA227s on the other hand were a terrible match for the E5c ...

[Possédé]

Thanks Mavis. Just wondering why the OPA227 module was so terrible? I have been checking on eBay for cMoy amps and I have found a couple I like the look of but they come installed with OPA227 or the OP2132. I don't have that much money to spend, tops of $65.

Thanks.

[Possédé]

The only cMoy amp that is on eBay here in the UK is this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3274&item=5775914641&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW) one. I really don't have a clue about amps. Help would be great.

Thanks.

[Possédé]

Forget the amps. I think the E5c's are fine unamped. Anyway... After emailing Shure about cutting off the "Memory Fit Wire" and if it affected the warranty I got this reply:

"Hi
Provided there is no evidence of cutting the actual wires to the earpieces then you warranty should not be affected. However all warranty claims are based on an inspection prior to replacing Earphones under warranty
rgds Phil"

So after a longsome battle with these awful "Memory Fit Wires", I now shall be cutting them off. :D Woo Hoo! Hopefully I don't muck it up. :rolleyes: Oh god... Please... :p