Shure SE115-K Sound Isolating Earphones with Dynamic Microspeaker II (Black)

by Shure

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 7.8 x 2 inches ; 1.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001TDMVO0
• Item model number: SE115-K
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (194 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 2, 2009

Product Description

Color: Black

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for music lovers looking to upgrade the headphones included with their MP3 players, the compact SE115 is a perfect introduction to the stunning performance of Shure earphones. Evolved from earphone technology road-tested by pro musicians and perfected by Shure engineers, the compact SE115 delivers a warm, detailed audio listening experience that’s free from outside noise.

A warm, detailed audio listening experience that’s free from outside noise.

Three sizes of foam and flex sleeves.

Includes phones, modular cable, sleeves, case.

Vibrant Sound and Style

Dynamic MicroSpeaker II

The SE115 features Shure's 2nd Generation Dynamic driver to deliver detailed, warm, sound quality with improved bass. Enjoy your favorite music with crystal-clear highs, rich mids, and serious low-end.

Sound Isolating Design

The included sound isolating sleeves block over 90 percent of ambient noise, minimizing outside interruptions and enabling you to focus on your music.

Sound Isolating Sleeves

The included sound isolating sleeves block ambient noise and ensure a customized, comfortable fit. Two types of sleeves are included: soft flex sleeves made from pliable rubber, and black foam sleeves. You can experiment with the size and style that creates the best fit for you.

Modular Cable

The included detachabe three-foot cable lets you quickly unplug the earphones--e.g., for a conversation, etc.--without reaching for your music player. The modular setup also lets you purchase different cable lengths for different applications.

Carrying Case

A compact, durable carrying case is also included with the SE210, for a convenient, tangle-free solution for storing your earphones.

Two-Year Limited Warranty

Every SE115 purchased comes with a two-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship.

RP-HC55-S Specs

Transducer Type:	Dynamic MicroSpeaker II
Sensitivity:	105 dB SPL/mW (at 1kHz)
Impedance:	16 W (at 1kHz)
Frequency Range:	22Hz – 17.5kHz
Cable Length/ With Extension:	10 Inches / 54 Inches
Input Connector:	3.5 mm (1/8 in.) Gold-Plated Stereo Plug

What's in the Box

Shure SE115 Earphones, Deluxe Carrying Case, Foam Sleeves (S, M, L), Flex Sleeves, Three-Foot Extension Cable

Product Description

The SE115 uses Second Generation Dynamic MicroSpeakers to deliver rich, warm sound quality. Sound isolating sleeves in multiple sizes block outside noise and provide a secure, comfortable fit, so you can listen like a pro while rocking out like a star

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

132 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sound. Great for keeping out ambient noise., October 2, 2009

By 

Sam (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shure SE115-K Sound Isolating Earphones with Dynamic Microspeaker II (Black) (Electronics)

I had two reasons for buying these headphones.

One was for working out in the gym. I couldn't stand listening to the same single CD that they just won't change and I wanted to block out the sound. I briefly considered getting the Bose noise-canceling headset but they were too expensive and too bulky for working out.

The other reason, similar to the above, is to block out all ambient noise when traveling on a plane with the migraine inducing cacophony of crying babies. What I used to do was put in good noise protection air plugs and put a headset over that just so that the ordeal of flying wasn't so horrific. Yes, the earplugs blocked out much of the music but I couldn't hear the interminable screaming babies or the overhead speakers. No matter what Bose claims, and some people believe, Bose headsets cannot reduce transient sounds (e.g. voices).

Finally, I never liked the iPod earphones. I find them to be uncomfortable and they don't keep out external noise. I know that they're designed *not* to keep out external noise so that you still hear the outside world.

This comes with a wide variety of ear buds and I wound up using the very smallest.

The sound quality of these earphones is fantastic. Between the sound blocking characteristics of the buds and the high quality of the sound, the external world blissfully ceases to exist. As the instructions state, you would never want to use these where you need to listen to warning sounds like car horns.

I didn't read any of the reviews before buying these earphones. I was in the Apple store buying a nano iPod and I grabbed the the Shure earphones because it said 'sound isolating'. It was somewhat of an impulse purchase.

After I brought them home, but before I opened the package (once opened, they can't be returned for health reasons), I checked out the reviews. Since the reviews were so glowing I decided to buy a set through Amazon for way less money than what I had paid at Apple.

I was amazed at how well the sound isolation works and the great sound quality. When I rip a CD, I set the bit rate to 320 kbps to preserve the sound quality.

Even when I set the volume to fairly low, I wind up talking way too loudly. Between the sound isolation and the music, it's difficult to gauge how loudly you're talking. I'm so glad that I didn't buy the Bose at over 4x the cost.

Where I work, sometimes people talk way too loudly. Now I put these in, play soft music and I don't have to suffer listening to all the sports talk anymore.

I love these earphones. I'm buying another for a close relative.

------- Oct 6, 09 update ------

I ordered and received another set. Ordered on Saturday, arrived on Monday (normal shipping rates).
I checked the price on Amazon today (Tuesday). It skyrocketed 60% from last weekend! I wish my 401(k) increased that much so quickly.

------- Oct 15, 09 update ----

Bought another set. I love these guys. If you use the sound-insulating earbuds (the foam types) and you insert them correctly (like hearing protection ear plugs) the sound quality improves dramatically and the outside world disappears (under normal sound conditions -- I wouldn't expect them to block out the noise of a jack-hammer).

I was in a waiting room with someone else listening to music at a fairly low volume. I was thinking about my software code in my head and I whispered (or, so I thought) to my friend, "I found a bug in my program". Her face turned somewhat red and everyone in the waiting room was smiling in a friendly manner. It turned out that I had screamed. While I was in my own little world, I wasn't able to gauge the volume of my voice.

On another note, I'm surprised that these things can deliver bass so well. While your body doesn't vibrate like being next to multiple 12" woofers, the bass is pleasantly deep.

Keep checking out the price on Amazon before buying. The price fluctuates between twenty and forty dollars every few days. The stock market and gas prices fluctuate far less.

--- Oct 28, 09 update ---

While walking on a major thoroughfare in a big city, the din from the trucks and the traffic was deafening. I put the ear phones with the foam sound insulating ear buds on with the volume set to low to medium. In this case, I was listening to Simon and Garfunkel, not exactly blasting music. Except for one motorino (scooter/moped), I heard literally no city traffic. I became far more relaxed.

--- Sept 13, 10 update ---

Still working, no problems. I use them now even more frequently. They're great for routine, boring jobs like mowing the lawn. The ear phones block out much of the noise from the machine and I can listen to music. Good luck trying to do that with using Apple's ear buds.

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good first step in changing your stock MP3 player earphone, but it might be better, April 8, 2009

By 

Arie Andika Setiawan "seti4w4n" (Jakarta, Indonesia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shure SE115-RD Sound Isolating Earphones with Dynamic Microspeaker II (Red) (Electronics)

I have always been curious about Shure in-ear earphones, because I've heard a lot of good things about it. It was quite a risk buying this pair (the Shure SE 115) because it's quite new and the number of reviews are too few, however I still went ahead anyways because of my curiosity.

I'm used to hearing Sennheiser's phones (I owned HD 595, CX 500 and PX 100 headphones), so there are at least 2 things to consider when you read this review: I'm switching brand, and I'm switching phone type (mostly on-ear to in-ear).

Shure's SE115 has some good things going on about it (from my perspective). If you like bass, it delivers. But do note that the bass sounds a bit on the artificial side. Response is much better in the medium to low end of the frequency spectrum (special note to vocals, they sound more real, slightly warm, which is quite a good change to Sennheiser's rather crispy cold vocals). Due to more emphasis on the bass (which is what Shure is probably aiming for with this product), treble takes the back seat but it's still there. Plus, and this is important to me, since these are in-ear earphones I was expecting a more on-the-face experience (or in-ear, if you like), but the sound I got was a bit distant and muffled. This baffled me, because my PX100 and HD 595 manage to deliver on-your-face experience even though they are on-ears. Perhaps this is due to heavier bass (and Shure's foam tips and driver anatomy), but do note this when you're deciding to buy these phones. I would peg this more on preferences than good-or-bad-quality.

Let's move on to build and comfort. The build is of high quality and the provided accessories are complete, which is to be expected out of Shure (I've read reviews on their other models: thick and strong cables, pouch, spare foam tips, etc). In this department, SE 115 does not disappoint. In terms of comfort, I personally find myself hating the foam tips since they hurt the ear (I've used the smallest size and still they hurt and irritate my ear canals) but they do get the job done in isolating outside noise. So if you don't mind it, these do get the job done. I personally recommend the rubber tips instead. They're more comfortable, even though they don't completely block outside noise.

Do note the title of my review though, and it is true that this is a good first step for those thinking of changing their stock earphones with something better (welcome to the audiophile's world!). But do consider the following: if you're completely adamant in getting audiophile entry-level in-ear earphones and made by Shure, then you can't go no wrong (duh). But if you don't mind on-ear models, then go for Sennheiser's PX100. There are tons of good reviews here in Amazon on that model (700-plus reviews and an average of 4.5 stars, that's a safe bet). It's cheaper, and delivers high-quality audio hands down. If you're willing to shell out more cash, go for Sennheiser HD 595 (I got it from Amazon for around USD180) and I think it's damn cheap for something as excellent as those.

If you really want noise isolating, in-ear models then try Sennheiser's CX300 (I don't own them but I've listen to them), or if you have more cash to spend go for CX500 (which I also own). But do note that Sennheiser has a different audio characteristics. When it comes down to it, sometimes it's only a matter of preferences.

These are, assuming, you're in the USD100-200 price range.

So to sum it up:
- Strong bass, a little artificial
- Warm, rather realistic vocals
- Excellent low-to-medium response
- Excellent build quality
- Accessories provided are quite complete
- Foam tips vs. rubber tips (preferences)
- Slightly muffled overall sound (preferences)

Hope the review helps!

81 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good noise isolation, poor sound quality, March 10, 2010

By 

A. COSTA "music_passionate" (Frisco, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shure SE115-K Sound Isolating Earphones with Dynamic Microspeaker II (Black) (Electronics)

I rarely do review for lack of time, or just because I'm lazy. But after purchasing this headphone I felt compelled to write a review, and is not a good one. In a nutshell this is a sound isolating headphone. Not a musical appreciation headphone.

I have long used shure microphones and they are excellent. I was reluctant to purchase those "expensive" headphones once shure has no real history in the headphone industry ... perhaps for a good reason. I'm an audio buff. I love sound equipment and have purchased a number of headphones in my life, always looking for the next best thing, and I don't think this is it.

I also have to say that my unfavorable review is due to the sound quality. Most people don't care or can't see the difference in audio quality from poor to excellent. But I can hear the difference. For me a good sounding speaker or headphone has to be, well, good. My home headphone is a Sennheiser 600, and I have many other portable headphones like Sony, Etymotic, Ultimate Sound and Koss. Yes I'm a sound maniac, and I wanted to listen to the shure 115 due to the raving reviews and here is what I think of it:

The hardware
1 - (bad) The box is a pain to open. Others are not. But who cares, right?

2 - (good) they are good looking and well built.

3 - (excellent) they fit perfectly and comfortably. You may have to exchange the foam sleeves to fit you ear canal perfectly, and they do.

4 - (excellent) noise isolation is among the best in the ear headphones I have tested. I can say that it is close to 20db or more.

5 - (excellent) cables are sturdy (at least look like)

Now for the audio

6 - (excellent) Bass - Bass is good. Tight not too soft or loud as others say. It is not flat, it does color a bit, but I like it. In lame terms the headphones amplify the bass a little bit. If you listen to rock, pop, electronic, r&b and other bass full music this is good. If you listen to classic, cool jazz, new age and softer music this may not be good. Personal preference here.

7 - (poor) mid range. Sound is brittle, inexpressive, thin, dull and lack definition or sound stage. There is no real tonality to it. Sounds artificial, almost like those $2 dollar airline phones. Ok, not that bad but certainly is not a $70 midrange sound.

8 - (deficient) highs. They are just not there! For rock, pop, electronic, r&b and other less detailed music this may or may not be a problem, but for anything else it sounds horrible!

Conclusion: For a $70 buck headphone is just not worth it. If you are looking just into a sound isolating headphone OK if you want to spend that much, but if you want a musical appreciation headphone, forget it!

Moreover, the Sennheiser CX300 cost half the price and sounds MUCH better. Don't have the same sturdy construction neither the sound isolation but are way more pleasant to listen and work well to isolate noise. Low end Sony's too. Again flimsy construction, not as good sound isolation but the sound quality is way, way better than Shure 115.

Hope my two cents can save you a buck, or 70.

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