Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones

by Shure

Product Details

• Item Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007XGOTG
• Item model number: E4C
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 3, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Shure E4c Sound Isolating In-Ear Stereo Earphones for iPod or MP3, CD or DVD Players The Shure E4c delivers unparalleled sound quality with a sleek, high tech look for your iPod or other MP3 or music devices. Sound isolating earphones feature a unique design to block outside noise. With the Shure E series, these professional-quality earphones are available for use with portable audio or video devices such as CD, MP3 and DVD players.

The E4c model improves the airflow around the speaker within the enclosure. It's the perfect accessory for music lovers who are serious about sound quality and detail. Plus, the E4cs are the lightest in Shure's family of E Series earphones and mirror the iconic design of the iPod. The natural design of the stereo E4c rests comfortably within the ear, providing both a tight seal for sonic isolation and a secure fit. Like all other professional-grade E Series earphones, the E4cs are capable of being used with foam, flex, or triple-flange accessory sleeves. Each E4c's 1/8-inch plug additionally makes it perfect for use in a wide variety of other personal audio applications.

Incorporating the same precision components used by professional musicians to monitor their performances onstage, the E4c earphones are equipped with High-Definition drivers and Tuned-Port technology-two innovative features from Shure that combine to create an ultra-wide frequency soundstage with smooth, brilliant highs and extended bass. Ideally suited for use with Shure's PSM line of personal monitor systems, the E4s are outfitted with high-energy/low mass micro-transducers providing wide-frequency stereo sound, sonic accuracy, and-naturally-total isolation from outside noise. Sensitivity at 1 KHz is 111 dB SPL/mW, while impedance is 29 ohms (also at 1K). Gold-plated stereo output connectors are also be part of the package featuring a 1/8-inch plug. 61 inches of cable are supplied standard with each unit.

Shure makes audio equipment - microphones, earphones, mixers, etc. that are used by professional musicians the world over. Shure knows sound. If your music is important to you, you want earphones engineered with the same kind of technology that your favorite divas and bands use to be sure they can hear themselves during a performance. That's Shure's "Sound Isolating" technology. Rather than introducing external elements to block out ambient sound (as noise cancelling earphones do), the Shure system creates a sealed environment that keeps noise out, without covering it up by injecting noise-cancelling artifacts that can interfere with your music. You'll hear details in your music you never heard before.

Two Year Warranty with purchase.

Product Description

Digital edge technologies used for creating, transferring, and listening to digital music has made the iPod and various other Digital Media Players the most popular portable listening devices around the world. Shure recognized that at the start. Highly demanding and critical listeners have appreciated Shure earphones. Shure's E4c extends that enjoyment even further. The cutting-edge industrial design of the E4c is a breakthrough in sound isolating earphone technology. Ideal for the business traveler and on-the-go audiophile, the High-Definition Driver with Tuned Port Technology delivers brilliant highs and extended bass that enhance your listening experience with your portable DVD, MP3 and CD players as well as all other audio sources. The E4c's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes-even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. 60 inch cable length 3.5 mm (1/8) gold-plated stereo plug Although the E4c comes with an assortment of sleeves to ensure a comfortable fit, some users may want something even more personalized. In this case, we recommend contacting a hearing professional, such as an audiologist, to make custom-fit ear molds for your E4c Color - WHITE

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

328 of 336 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comparison of Shure E4C and Etymotic ER-4P, July 18, 2005

By 

Headphone guy (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones (Electronics)

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 that the Shure's were bought new by me, and the Etymotics are a loaner from a friend. Please be aware that the Shure's require some "burn in", and will not sound their best new out of the package. Have patience at the beginning, and notice the improvement in performance over the first 20-40 hours. I do not know the break-in characteristics of the Etymotics.

I'll cut to the chase. The Shure's are sonically much more impressive than the the Etymotic's. Both are highly resolving and have no major faults. The Shure's however, sound as though they have even greater resolution of detail, and have a flatter frequency response. They represent the subtleties of instrumental timbre much more accurately, and include even more detail in their presentation. One can hear all the qualities of the recording environment, the position of instruments of the orchestra (soundstage), and seem to create a sound that is less bottled up within the ear (headstage). They do not have the least trace of sibilance. Somehow, in spite of all this resolution, they still sound smooth and convey all the beauty and warmth of tone one could want. They have slightly "rolled highs", as this is the practice of Shure in all their products, but this is a very small criticism since the treble region is nevertheless very clear, balanced and controlled. In comparison, the Etymotics have a sound that is a little "tipped up", and can become fatiguing. There is a comparative lack of depth to their sound, and there is much information in the midrange in particular that is lost. Bass is not as present, controlled, or quick. Beauty of tone is lacking. I do not have the same emotional response to the music with them. However, these are still not sibilant, and are still very fine.

The Shure's are also better built. I feel they are sturdier and less likely to be damaged from hard use. They are more microphonic than the Etymotics, though, which will be very annoying if you intend to use them while moving around. One should realize they are both very microphonic because of the nature of their isolating design, and therefore will transmit a lot of unwanted bumping and rustling to your ears if you move around with them. I recommend sitting still.

The Shure represents true high fidelity in a portable form. In many ways, they outperform my expensive home headphone rig. What is more, they sound this good without the need of a separate headphone amplifier. In fact, I recommend you skip the amp, as I felt that mine added too much energy to the treble. I am very impressed with them, and I strongly recommend them.

154 of 159 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! But for audiophiles only., June 27, 2005

By 

L. Busch (Somerville, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones (Electronics)

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 sounds in your head if they scrape across your clothing.
- be prepared to be disappointed by the sound production values on some of your music. And you'll be able to hear hissing and compression artifacts in your MP3s.

But it's worth it for the sound!

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic sound and quality, July 25, 2005

By 

H. Cassell (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones (Electronics)

"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). I worried about an adjustment period, but I put `em in and was instantly enamored. No learning curve at all. The cord is designed to be worn over the tops of the ears, which is surprisingly comfortable and unobtrusive. I thought that a cord of five feet would be too long (Apple's is about 3'), but it's not at all. The E4Cs are aesthetically pleasing and sturdy-feeling (not at all like Apple's...but it's unfair to keep comparing the free model to the $300 pair). Bass is a little lacking, but I don't want to whine. They soar during guitar-heavy rock music. I can't have a conversation with these in. That means I miss a lot of subway drama, for better or worse. After removing them, there's about a ten-minute period where the rest of the world sounds a little...off. A little murky. These aren't complaints, just observations.

The real tests for me are wearing headphones on an airplane and sleeping with them in (I went to college in NYC's West Village where sleeping with something in my ears was a necessity and I have yet to give up the habit). The E4Cs pass both with flying colors; I can lie on my side with the E4Cs in and be totally comfortable. Since I spend way too much time in airplanes and airports, I've been able to test these on multiple occasions. Without turning the volume all the way up, these drown out airplane noise impressively.

I absolutely think these are worth the purchase price. My Apple-provided earbuds will never again see the light of day.