Shure PA910M Replacement Black Foam Sleeves (Medium) for Shure SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH Earphones

by Shure

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NDHIKY
• Item model number: PA910M
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #27 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories > Headphone Accessories > Earpads
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 13, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

These replacement sleeves are for use with Shure SE Sound Isolating earphones--specifically models SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530, and SE530PTH. The smooth and tapered foam design is easy to insert and fits comfortably in any ear. Three different sizes ensure a cushy, custom fit. This package includes 10 total sleeves.

Product Description

Replacement black foam Sleeves for use with the Shure SE Sound Isolating earphones. These reusable foam sleeves fit comfortably in the ear and allow for ease of insertion. The Shure PA910M sleeves are the replacement sleeves for the SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH Earphones. Shure also manufacturers other types of replacement sleeves for your earphones if you prefer a different fit. The Shure EA410 is also compatible with the SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH Earphones. Package includes 10 sleeves/5 pair.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice upgrade from the old yellow foam sleeves, April 12, 2007

By 

boofer (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shure PA910M Replacement Black Foam Sleeves (Medium) for Shure SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH Earphones (Electronics)

I've owned the e2, e3, e4, and now e500, and I've experienced all of the Shure sleeves that have come with each set of earphones. I finally got ahold of these new black foamies, and I have to say, they're very good. Previously, I split time between the clear flex PVC and the yellow foamies. I thought that they both had their pros and cons (PVC had a "truer" sound to them, but the yellow foamies were best all around in terms of isolation, sound quality, and comfort). These black foamies aren't without drawbacks, but they've still taken over as my sleeve of choice.

The reasons are: superior isolation, superb comfort, and the fact that they don't lose their ability to expand after only two weeks, which was the case with the old yellow foamies. These black foamies are also deemed to be washable by Shure, while the yellows would basically get dirty, lose their expandability, and become useless in a few weeks' time.

If I were rating the sleeves, it would go like this (1 worst, 10 being the best):

Sound Quality

Black foamies: 8.5

Yellow foamies: 9

Clear flex PVC: 9.5

Black rubber flex: 6.5

Isolation

Black foamies: 9

Yellow foamies: 8

Clear flex PVC: 8.5

Black rubber flex: 6

Comfort

Black foamies: 9

Yellow foamies: 8

Clear flex PVC: 7

Black rubber flex: 7.5

Believe it or not, the sound quality and presentation can vary quite a bit by switching sleeves. I'm not rating the triple-flange sleeve because I could never get comfortable with jamming it so far into my ear, even with it cut down to bi-flange.

The black foamies present the best balance of the three categories. Bass impact is probably most prevalent in them, but the treble does seem to get veiled somewhat, compared to the yellow foamies and clear PVC. The bass and midrange quality and detail is very comparable to the yellow foamies, and the extra isolation is an added bonus for us subway riders. I've worn these for 6 hours at a time and never had problems with them, unlike the yellows which would make my ear itch occasionally, or the PVC which could get uncomfortable.

Overall, it seems like Shure did their homework on these- a solid 4 star effort. Please be aware that not only does sleeve selection affect sound, but also ear canal and size may be a factor too. I'm sure that the earphone that you use these with will also play a part in different perceptions in sound quality, whether it be a Shure model other than the e500 or other earphones like the UM2, Etymotic ER-4, etc. What works best for me may not work best for you, but I've given my experiences with the other sleeves so that you can hopefully make a better-informed decision.

I own $400 earphones, so I have to (and obviously do) take this stuff seriously, right?

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars advise from a neurotic audiophile on getting the most from your earbuds, November 20, 2007

By 

Felipe H. Cersosimo "closet audiophile" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shure PA910M Replacement Black Foam Sleeves (Medium) for Shure SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH Earphones (Electronics)

I have spent more time than most would care to believe testing out the various sleeves available to my Shure SE310's, and have come to the following conclusions...

To get the most out of your earbuds, one need consider two factors of EQUAL IMPORTANCE:

1) How far the actual sound driver on the earbud (not just the sleeve) is into your ear canal

2) How tight the seal is within your ear canal

As most tend to discuss the latter of these two factors, I would first like to emphasize the following pertaining to the former...

If the seal is tight, but your buds are sticking out of your ears because the sleeves are so big(thus lacking in factor #1), then the sound which that tight seal keeps within your ear canal will be somewhat negated by the extra distance between the sound driver and your eardrum.

On the other hand, if you choose some smaller sleeves, and manage to get the earbuds in so far that they almost disappear entirely, you will somewhat inevitably be lacking in factor #2, i.e., an adequate seal, because if they are going that far into your ear canal they are probably not large enough to tightly create a seal.

With that said, the trick as I see it is this...

You need to find sleeves which provide a BALANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO FACTORS. Namely, a tight seal, but not so tight as to force the earbuds to push themselves out after the foam has expanded.

Also, one must understand that the best sound will probably not come from the most comfortable sleeves that you choose.

In my experience, I have gotten the most pleasing results with the absolute LEAST comfortable of the sleeves I have tried (large foam)- while the medium foam felt better, the seal I get with the more uncomfortable, and larger foam sleeves, was unquestionably the best.

ONE MORE THING.

These foam buds must be replaced FREQUENTLY in order to maintain an adequate degree of sound quality.

One will notice that over time, they tend to soften up, in a way which makes them almost feel as if the density of the foam has deteriorated.

What seems to happen, is that they break down some what from the constant scrunching and expanding, and over time they will just be like two little flaccid sponges, incapable of functioning correctly.

I spend about four hours a day listening to my earbuds, and I would say that I change them out about every three weeks more or less.

If you can't deal with this then go with the rubber sleeves. They work quite well and are of much less trouble to maintain.

Just my two cents.

Hope that helps and good luck!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars black is more debonnaire but less secure than yellow ones, January 11, 2008

By 

John E. Vidale "conventional Earth scientist" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shure PA910M Replacement Black Foam Sleeves (Medium) for Shure SE210, SE310, SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH Earphones (Electronics)

I'd been an adherent to the Shure yellow foams with my Shure E3Cs headphones, and just have been trying the new black foams for the last two days.

The appearance is less gaudy, both from less obtrusive color black and somewhat smaller size.

The sound seems to me identical, perhaps a touch less sound isolation from less secure contact at the tapered edges of the black foams. The black foam puffed up more quickly than the yellow, allowing less time to position them all the way in, slightly less convenient.

As I indicated just above, the grip of the black foams seems less secure, although still adequate, with the new tapered geometry - the cylindrical shape for the yellow ones has a bigger radius on the edge further in the ear, with the associated downside of the yellow ones being a little rougher on my ears with their firm grip. And the blacks seem softer in general.

[added 3 weeks later] I've opted for vanity and subdued appearance over secure fit, and use the new black ones, even though I've given them a lower rating. Indeed the grip and sound isolation of the softer black foams is less, but dignity counts for something.