Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones (white)

Manufacturer: Shure Inc. Part number: SE310W

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$249.95 - $249.99 at 4 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
4.0 stars Excellent
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 18 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: If you're looking for a premium listening experience, check out the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones. They sound fantastic and will probably outlast your MP3 player.

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CNET editors' review

Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones (white)

price range: $249.95 - $249.99

If you're looking for a premium listening experience, check out the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones. They sound fantastic and will probably outlast your MP3 player.

The good: The Shure SE310 earphones sound fantastic, and the durable cable features a modular design that accommodates two lengths for wear. The variety of eartips ensures that you can create an effective seal within the ear, letting you block out ambient noise and listen to your music at a lower volume (which protects your hearing).

The bad: The Shure SE310s are expensive, and some users may find the earplug-like fit uncomfortable.

The bottom line: If you're looking for a premium listening experience, check out the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones. They sound fantastic and will probably outlast your MP3 player.

Read full review

When a company creates a product that's sufficiently remarkable to garner a spot among CNET's testing equipment, chances are that's a good direction to look for further quality products. Such is the case with Shure, whose E4c earbuds quickly become our headphone of choice for MP3 player audio testing. In fact, the entire E series is impressive, which is why the company didn't stray far from that blueprint when it created its new Sound Isolating line, the SE series. Shure's latest earphone collection, which offers new sound signatures and an improved design, includes the SE210, SE310, SE420, and SE530 (just a renamed E500). The $249.99 SE310 is the subject of this review.

On first glance, you might not notice the design tweaks that Shure has made to the SE line. But closer inspection will reveal that the SE310s have a more curvaceous earpiece than that of the E series. The material is also slightly different, giving it a more tactile feel. The model color--black or white--also applies to the color of the earpiece, rather than that of the cable. In the case of the white, the coloring is more silver than white, but I actually prefer the pearlescent sheen. These are subtle changes to be sure, but welcome.

The SE310 includes Shure's Deluxe Fit Kit, which includes everything you see here. Optional accessories include an airline adapter, a 1/4-inch adapter, and an in-line volume control.

Less subtle is the new modular cable. The main Y cable is just 18 inches long to accommodate listeners who carry their MP3 players in a shirt pocket or clip it to a bag strap. But Shure also includes a 37-inch cable extension for those who still prefer to stow their devices in a pants pocket or bag. The rest of SE310's Deluxe Fit Kit includes a sturdy canvas case, a "wax guard" (for cleaning the earpieces), and various ear tips: one triple flange, three sizes of soft flex, and three sizes of foam. The latter is now tapered for an easier fit, coated for easier cleaning, and black rather than yellow.

The innards of the SE310 aren't much different from those of the E4c. In fact, the technology is the same. Shure has just changed the name from High-Definition Driver to Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker to clarify that it is indeed a piece of hardware, as most people think of "drivers" as software. Unlike the V-Moda Bass Freq, which uses an inexpensive coil speaker (hence the low price), the tiny units in the SE310 are balanced armature speakers, which allow for more precise sound.

There is one internal factor that differentiates the SE310 from the E4c, and that's the size of the port. That is, the size of the hole where the music comes out is larger on the SE310, which means the earphones offer an enhanced low-end response. Truthfully, I expected it would be pretty hard to tell the difference, but I could indeed detect a noticeable difference: the SE310's bass response is weightier and more encompassing than that of the E4c.

As far as overall audio quality is concerned, the SE310s sound as you might expect from a $250 pair of headphones: fantastic. I experienced excellent response, range, and warmth across all genres of music. The triangle in Jem's "Finally Woken" pinged away with excellent clarity, and the underlying bass in The Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats" made me feel rather as if I were inside a speaker. I did notice one potentially negative quality: the bass can overshadow other low-end sounds in beat-heavy tracks. In Kanye West's "Gold Digger" for example, there's a blues piano accompanying the rhythm. The piano is quite clear with the Shure E4c, but slightly less so with the SE310.

So the question remains: should you upgrade from the Shure E4c to the SE310? Well, that depends. The E4c earphones offer a more balanced sound spectrum overall; as a result, you get a bit more detail in your music. However, if you want to experience more bass response, the SE310s will please your ears the most.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 18 reviews

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 18

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7 stars

Review for high-end audio enthusiasts

by rvikul on November 12, 2007

Pros: Comfortable, good sound isolation, decent sound quality

Cons: Takes some getting used to, expensive

Summary: Comfort: These earphones are surprisingly comfortable. I have never had in-canal earphones before so I was quite anxious. The foam plugs are very comfortable.

Sound quality: If you are into

...

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Summary: Comfort: These earphones are surprisingly comfortable. I have never had in-canal earphones before so I was quite anxious. The foam plugs are very comfortable.

Sound quality: If you are into high end audio (I have a Linn system) this is not the ultimate earphone pair. So dont expect these to blow you away. You might want to try the S510 phones. I have not tried them. These are very good in that they actually let you hear some of the mids, which i have found to be the most lacking in earphones and non high-end audio systems in general.

Price: I cant justify buying earphones that are more expensive than my mp3 player which is why I bought these. These are still slightly overpriced IMO.

vs. Bose QC2: I also own the Bose QC2s which in my opinion are decent sounding (I am not a fan of Bose speakers. In fact I hate them). The Shures are overall better in every aspect - portability, midrange response is much better, better noise isolation (the cancellation in the QC2 is only OK). I have almost stopped using the QC2 since I got these.

Summary: Overall, these earphones are a very pleasing upgrade to stock earphones. I ride the bus a lot and these help block out most of the noise so I can listen at low volume levels. At work, I cannot even hear myself typing on the keyboard when i have these on. Its just music. Its nice. I am not sure if the SE510s are worth it if all I am going to use these are with MP3 players like the iPod and Zune. The MP3 player's quality might then become the weakest link in the chain.

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Amazing Sound, Balanced Presentation

by oak3x on October 6, 2007

Pros: Detailed Sound, Comfortable

Cons: Price, Cord Configuration?

Summary: I have the privilage of owning these amazing In-Ear-Monitors by Shure...

With a passionate appreciation for all types of music, when it comes to audio products...I research and buy

...

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Summary: I have the privilage of owning these amazing In-Ear-Monitors by Shure...

With a passionate appreciation for all types of music, when it comes to audio products...I research and buy only top quality. These Shure se310's represent that type of product.

The Shure se310 present music in a balanced presentation, which means the low, mid and upper frequencies are all represented in a neutral format. In addition to the above, the signature sound is what Shure is known for...amazing detail and transparency. As a further bonus, they are extremely comfortable to wear and provide excellent sound isolation.

Over the past six months, I have purchased a number of other IEM's...but have continually come back the the se310's. As a comparison, I have owned:

Shure se530 - excellent detail...but presentation is tilted to the lower frequencies more

Shure se420 - similar to the se530, but a bit darker presentation (lack of highs?)

Shure E4C - literally a carbon copy of the se310's in presentation. The se310's give you a bit more detail and bass though

UE Super.Fi 5 - nice presentation, with a bit more emphasis on the lower frequency. Vocals sounded a little recessed. Not as comfortable as Shure

UE Triple.fi - excellent balanced presentation, similar to the se310's. Not as comfortable as Shure

Etymotic ER-4P - the benchmark IEM for years. Amazing detail, especially in the upper frequency. A little bass shy though.

All in all the Shure se310's are an excellent IEM, especially if you appreciate a balanced sound presentation like I do.

Only downsides are the price and Shure's new cord configuration (18 inch with additional length extension)

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

You get your money's worth.

by drtrumm on August 6, 2007

Pros: Great Sound; Compact

Cons: Can be difficult to get into ear for best results.

Summary: I am a flight attendant who commutes on airplanes to work. I've destroyed my ears with standard ear 'buds' (the ones that come with MP3 players), schlepped around noise ...

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Summary: I am a flight attendant who commutes on airplanes to work. I've destroyed my ears with standard ear 'buds' (the ones that come with MP3 players), schlepped around noise canceling monsters that needed batteries, or even had noise canceling ear buds. I hated them all on the aiprlane, specially turbo-props, where you need a sound-killer. I was intrigued by the Shure's and gave them a try at the Altitunes in SFO. The gentleman there showed me how to insert them properly, and put on some tunes... ahhhhhhhh, a commuters nirvana. Once properly inserted, any Shure headphone is a noise dampening ear-plug. They are effective without music. But put on the tunes, and you will appreciate and not worry about the price. Crystal clear highs, encompassing lows. I heard things I haven't heard in my music before (while being on a TurboProp!!!). If you want sweet headphones and you are serious about cutting out ALL of the background noise wherever you to, don't hesitate. The best part is they are unobtrusive and fit in the palm of your hand.

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

PLEASE Rate the ENTIRE new SE line

by FJKB on May 10, 2007

Pros: Hello !!!! The Sound

Cons: I do not own a pair yet.

Summary: CNETs reviewing only one out of the 4 different models in the new SE line is worthless. There are obviously significant differences between the $150 "starter" model and the $500+ ...

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Summary: CNETs reviewing only one out of the 4 different models in the new SE line is worthless. There are obviously significant differences between the $150 "starter" model and the $500+ top of the line phones. By not reviewing the entire line you are doing your readers a great disservice.

In Ear Earphones such as these are not easily auditioned by the normal buyer making CNETs and it's users advice even more appreciated in deciding between the vastly different models and price points. When I bought my E4s I was originally looking at the 2s or 3s but your advice allowed me to justify spending the extra cash to both myself and my wife.

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4 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Changed my life

by MidCenturyTechSlut on August 16, 2007

Pros: Truly fabulous sound

Cons: Sometimes I have to take them out

Summary: These are just awesome, didn't rank them a 10 because I don't know what perfection is. The sound quality is so good that I have gone back and ...

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Summary: These are just awesome, didn't rank them a 10 because I don't know what perfection is. The sound quality is so good that I have gone back and re-ripped all the music I had at bit rates below 192. They also screen out enough outside noise that I use them for chamber music on the subway. They seem superior to my Bose noise-cancelling headphones in every respect. I float happily through crowds. I only wonder what the top-of-the-line ones are like!

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

iPod Users and EC3 Users READ ON!

by ww05002 on July 15, 2007

Pros: Fantastic cord options, excellent bass, more comfy, tighter slpiknot

Cons: More pricey, and no warranty for accidental damage which is offered for other "toys" in this price range. -I also will still be using the yellow buds.

Summary: I use them for iPod and iPod/MP3 only. So, please take that into account as you read on.
I come from a history of knowing that it costs what
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Summary: I use them for iPod and iPod/MP3 only. So, please take that into account as you read on.
I come from a history of knowing that it costs what it costs when it comes to entertainment. I have an 37inch LCD for my PC, a 58inch plasma for TV and a 106inch HC gray screen/1080P DLP for my movies. All linked with harmony890. That being said...I needed the best I could get when it came to my 80GB iPod. And I really liked the price point of the EC3's and 4's but after an electric skateboarding accident, I had to replace the iPod (free with my warranty) and the headphones (not free). I searched to find the best deal on EC3, but came across the 310's.
After hearing them with my new iPod (same songs/bitrate) I can truly hear a difference. The bass is Sooo much more pronounced. I felt like I had that rumble feeling which I have only gotten from over the ear cans... and the highs are equal if not better. than the 3's or 4's. The comfort is better due to the strap on the back being improved, and most of all I thank the company for being smart enough for putting out a product that has an extension cable to it. The buds come as 18inchs with a 3ft cable for extension. (for breast pocket or back pocket optional use) ...Had I had this during my spill on my skateboard, I would have only needed to replace the extension cable, not the whole thing. (due to the stereo tip being damaged).
I do , however, like the yellow earpieces better (personal preference) but the new black ones are decent ...the price is about right, but possibly a little high...but the main thing I would like...(TAKE NOTE HERE SHURE!!!) -is the option to warranty this product for accidents. When you have a price this steep I would wish I can insure my purchase. A shuffle for 79.00 even has an option for it...why not headphones for 250.00-500.00????

Aside from that...
Thank you Shure. Thank you for a product I can enjoy, to better hear my music.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Great Sound With Proper Fit

by dahnb on July 3, 2007

Pros: Excellent balance; great bass for buds; short plug perfect for t-shirt pockets

Cons: Minor- buds need frequent adjustment if your doing anything physical

Summary: For $200+ they better sound good! I demoed a few other buds in their price range & could have lived with most of them.
I got the Shures because they
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Summary: For $200+ they better sound good! I demoed a few other buds in their price range & could have lived with most of them.
I got the Shures because they were the most comfortable for me & I love the short cord.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
4 stars

Im torn about this product

by Bigpun19 on August 23, 2008

Pros: Excellent sound Quality

Cons: Poor quality

Summary: Short and sweet

Sound quality is great, loved the shures.

But after a year and a half, the plastic wire covering on both sides cracked where the headphone wire wraps

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Summary: Short and sweet

Sound quality is great, loved the shures.

But after a year and a half, the plastic wire covering on both sides cracked where the headphone wire wraps over the ears causing the right ear to stop working.

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT IF YOU BUY SHURES. Shure has a two year warranty but they only honor your warranty if you have your reciept.

I learned the hard way to keep your reciept, now my broken shures se 310 are in the dump and I am a very happy owner of Ultimate ear pro 5.

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10 stars

Perfection

by parth010791 on June 5, 2008

Pros: pristine sonics- strong rich bass, sparkling highs, sound isolation, balanced armature driver, fit,

Cons: fit may be uncomfortable for long periods of listening

Summary: This earbud is perhaps the best value for money. Its older brothers cost a lot more, but dont give you that much more sonics wise. These deliver perfect audio, and ...

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Summary: This earbud is perhaps the best value for money. Its older brothers cost a lot more, but dont give you that much more sonics wise. These deliver perfect audio, and create a soundstage like no other in its price category. It may be expensive, but if you are an audio enthusiast, it is worth it. The bass and highs are clear, rich, and defined, and the isolation is amazing. However, the fit may not suit all users to use over long periods of time.
Updated
The earbuds offer great sonics, sparkling highs, full mids, and good bass. I own the V-moda vibes, shure e2c, bose quietcomfort3, eltimate ears triple-fi, and the jbl reference 220. But these offer the best overall sound of the lot, and are worth the money. The only buds that beat these in sound quality, are the se 530's. Even the dual driver 420s have more flaws, and sound weak in all departments compared to this. However, one major flaw is the comfort. It may feel ok for a while, but after long periods of listening, and you take it out, you feel relieved and it hurts your ears. All in all, a great buy.

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9 stars

Great headphones!

by nccho1 on March 11, 2008

Pros: Excellent sound quality and noise isolation

Cons: earplugs are comfortable, but take some getting used to.

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 18

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Part number: SE310W

General
Product Type Headphones
Series Sound Isolating
Weight 1 oz
Color White
Additional Features Gold-plated plug
Headphones
Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
Headphones Form Factor In-ear ear-bud
Headphones Technology Balanced armature
Connectivity Technology Wired
Sound Output Mode Stereo
Response Bandwidth 22 - 19000 Hz
Sensitivity 111 dB
Impedance 28 Ohm
In-Cord Volume Control Yes
Connections
Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )

Miscellaneous
Cables Included - 1, Headphones extender - 3 ft, Headphones cable - 1.5 ft
Included Accessories Triple flange sleeves, Carrying case, 3 soft flex sleeves, Airplane adapter, 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 2 years warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 2 years

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Manufacturer info

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