Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones (black)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc. Part number: SE310-K
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- 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 (black) price range: $158.86 - $249.99
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 03/02/2007
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.
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.
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.
User reviews
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Excellent sound, poor ergonomics
by nwicker on August 18, 2007
Pros: Great sound quality, ear plugs help block (not cancel) background noise
Cons: Extremely short primary cable necessitates constant use of entender, earplug mechanism generates hollow sounding background noise with motion
Summary: Although I just bought these, one negative jumped out and I felt obligated to warn consumers. The headphone cord is EXTREMELY short, too short for use with my iPod armband (...
Summary: Although I just bought these, one negative jumped out and I felt obligated to warn consumers. The headphone cord is EXTREMELY short, too short for use with my iPod armband (unless I use the inline extender, which is bulky). A shirt pocket would be the only conceivable position the cord could reach without the extender. Although this was mentioned as a possible location in the CNET review, I didn't realize that it would be the ONLY possible location. I had hoped to use these casually, even at the gym, but the long cable makes it awkward. When the cables are linked together, it is about a foot longer than my iPod headphones.
The sound is impressive, I am hearing more detail in my music than I've heard before (with the standard iPod headphones), but the clunkiness of the headphones is a major turnoff. I bought them through a storefront on eBay, which is the only thing preventing me from returning them.
The earplug inserts are effective at reducing background noise, but I notice a hollow low pitched "rubbing" noise when I move, as the cable brushes against my face or pulls on the earpiece. This noise is surprisingly frequent and makes it hard to enjoy the beautiful sound quality.
These headphones would likely be good for someone sitting still, at a desk or on a plane, who wants great sound quality and background noise reduction. Anyone who plans to be a bit more mobile might want to consider other options or seek out a demo before buying.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Keep Looking
by rickeyp53 on March 17, 2007
Pros: Small Comfortable Durable
Cons: As poor as the SE210 but more money
Summary: There has to be an earbud that combines the best attributes of both the Bose TriPort and Shure SE series - alone they are both fairly poor - TriPort has ...
Summary: There has to be an earbud that combines the best attributes of both the Bose TriPort and Shure SE series - alone they are both fairly poor - TriPort has too much bass even with the MP3 bass reducer on - the SE Series gives up on the low tones (bass) in favor of stereo channel clarity. Whoever gets both right for just under $100 wins. I'm still looking.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I hate these things
by bros773 on October 14, 2009
Pros: they sound about as good as the earphones that came with my iPhone
Cons: 1) the earphones were over $100 even though they probably cost about $10 to manufacture. 2) they are hard to put into your ear. 3) they are VERY uncomfortable. 4) they make you look ridiculous.
Summary: i don't agree with the guy that said the boss earphones are better because both products are crap in my opinion. i do agree that they HURT your ears! ...
Summary: i don't agree with the guy that said the boss earphones are better because both products are crap in my opinion. i do agree that they HURT your ears! even the smaller earpieces gave me a splitting headache and i had to take them out every couple of minutes. what is the point of having stupid looking earphones that have mediocre quality? just buy headphones! at least they won't hurt like these pieces of s*** do. shure products are a complete ripoff considering you can buy an 8gig iPod touch for less than what they sell most of their products for, but here's the catch: the apple earphones that come with your new iPod touch are going to be better in every way! they are easier to put in and out, they are waaay more comfortable, they don't look frickin' ridiculous when you wear them, the logo painted on them won't wear off right away like with the shures, they sound just as good, they aren't inserted into your ear, and they are so much cheaper you would have to be an idiot NOT to go get yourself a nice new iPod touch just for the earphones. sorry for the rambling sentence. on top of the outstanding quality of the apple earphones, the mic on them can be used as a headset for your phone, which i have found perfoms better than any of the bluetooth headsets out there. so with all this in mind, go buy yourself an iPhone or a touch before you get these pieces of junk. just think of it as paying $$$ for the earphones and getting a free iPod for the same price as the shures. i am not an apple rep. even though that would be nice, i am simply trying to save you a ton of $$$ and a headache. hope this review helps
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Great sonics, only flaw of comfort levels
by parth010791 on June 17, 2008
Pros: It sounds great, clear highs, powerful mids, and rich bass
Cons: Comfort, all models fit better, even the 210s fit better
Summary: These buds sound great, precise sound, but the comfort levels let it down. other than that, for a single balanced armature driver, it is simply the best buds you can ...
Summary: These buds sound great, precise sound, but the comfort levels let it down. other than that, for a single balanced armature driver, it is simply the best buds you can get .
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Overpriced, whimpy bass, crackle at higher volumes, NOT worth $200 more than e2c's
by explodingtuna on April 30, 2008
Pros: (too) bright highs, mid range, might make you feel good about owning earphones more expensive than the guy next to you.
Cons: Crackle or whimp out at low end freq's/high volume, earbud pads uncomortable, high freq's are almost shriek-y and painful, overpriced
Summary: These were the most disappointing ear/headphone purchase I've ever made. $250 is a joke for the minor improvement in high end and mid range quality. I have been ...
Summary: These were the most disappointing ear/headphone purchase I've ever made. $250 is a joke for the minor improvement in high end and mid range quality. I have been happier with $50 Sony earphones. My audiophile ears were plenty happy with my old e2c's which (for $200 less) come very close in sound quality/clarity and can handle higher volumes and low end much better. Although they start to clip when my iPod hits 3/4+ vol, especially if there is any bass even w/ the EQ at Flat/Off. The earbud pads also seemed way more comfortable, and directed the sound into my ear much better due to better fit. But that will vary for each person. Get a pair of e2c's for $50 on Amazon/eBay and use the $200 you save for something else.
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Great sound and value!
by Nolwe71 on April 13, 2008
Pros: Amazing sound, comfortable fit, sound isolation.
Cons: None I could think of
Summary: Well, it took me a wile to find the headphones that could fit in my requirements: light weight, sound blocking (isolation), good quality of sound. My first was Sennheiser PXC ...
Summary: Well, it took me a wile to find the headphones that could fit in my requirements: light weight, sound blocking (isolation), good quality of sound. My first was Sennheiser PXC 250. Active cancellation of noise was great, but on-ear design and bulky noise cancellation device were deal breakers for me. My second choice was Bose Quiet Comfort (original), but it was too pricey and bulky. Third was Shure Se210. Still lack of bass made me exchange it for the last and the best of them all - Shure se310. The sound is fantastic for the asking price: $200. After some bargain hunting I found J&R store at 31 Park Row, NY, NY, 10038. (tel#: (212)238-9000)
Yes, I?ve heard this argument: ?It?s only ear buds, high price, ergonomics, etc.? Still, you pay what you get for, and unless your budget will allow you to spend more for shure 420 or 520, I strongly recommend this particular product.
p.s.: By the way, shure 420 at that store is sold for ?only? $250.
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Great Sound Worth the premium price ??
by styleline52 on July 9, 2007
Pros: Outstanding clarity ,comfort ,and build quality
Cons: Kinda pricey Have adjust eq for good bass
Summary: I have been searching for the right set of IEMs for a while now and am finally happy. I got the se310s the other day and all I can say ...
Summary: I have been searching for the right set of IEMs for a while now and am finally happy. I got the se310s the other day and all I can say is WOW!! I have tried a lot of other brands Bose IE(ok if you sit in library and like bass tracks), Zune Premium (Premium?..not so much),and Sennheiser CX300( actually a great set for the money)but the se310s are really incredidle,sound is so detailed and defined and great fit and seal wih the supplied earpeices. My only complaint is that the bass is lacking alittle but if you have a EQ you can boost the bass and it is still really clear. I am finally done shopping. btw got them online for 139 shipped
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Very good earphones
by lalitbs on July 5, 2007
Pros: Sound reproduction is excellent.
Cons: it takes about a minute to wear them
Summary: Well in short they are the best earphones i have used. before these i was using etymotic ER6i they were also very good but i cant compare them to Shure ...
Summary: Well in short they are the best earphones i have used. before these i was using etymotic ER6i they were also very good but i cant compare them to Shure SE310. You have to get the fit right for it to sound good.
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Won my comparison test vs. Bose, Sennheiser, etc.
by mangomochi on June 6, 2007
Pros: lightweight, sturdy, excellent sound isolation, earplug choices
Cons: cost, not widely available yet
Summary: I work in an open-plan "war room" style office where it can be very difficult to concentrate among all of the conversations and goings-on. I also commute daily on a ...
Summary: I work in an open-plan "war room" style office where it can be very difficult to concentrate among all of the conversations and goings-on. I also commute daily on a very loud train.
After systematically borrowing my colleagues' Bose, Sennheiser, Koss, and Sony noise-cancelling headphones, I can honestly say that these Shure earphones are the best at blocking ambient noise, and the most lightweight and comfortable for many hours of wear at at time.
For example on my train ride, with the Shures I can keep the volume level of my iPod quite low at about 20%. However with the Bose QC3s, I had to crank up the volume to 95%. That's not safe for your hearing in the long run!
I'd give them a '10' if they came in fun colors aside from white and black.
Peace at last! -
Hear sounds you haven't heard before!
by eyeballs on June 5, 2007
Pros: Sound quality (of course), can wear over or under the ears, comfort
Cons: Price, availability for testing
Summary: I was skeptical when I read that you can hear sounds that you've not heard before with some of SHURE'S other headphones. But when I tried my SE310'...
Summary: I was skeptical when I read that you can hear sounds that you've not heard before with some of SHURE'S other headphones. But when I tried my SE310's, I was blown away. The sound was crisp and sharp, and the bass was true. I also like the shortened cable which eases clutter and doesn't get tangled. Even though the price is a little steep, you'll definitely get your money's worth.
Here are a couple of things you need to consider: these are noise INSOLATING headphones. They block out ambient noise. They are not noise CANCELLING headphones like the Bose Triport. Therefore you don't get that "echoing" sensation as you do with noise cancelling headphones. Also, you need to be comfortable with in-ear headphones. These feel like earplugs and in order to get the best sound quality, the fit needs to be snug. Some people (like my wife) can't stand in-ear headphones so keep this in mind. Lastly, the quality of your music must be of high quality, or else the bad sounds will be amplified. For example, my laptop has a cheap sound card. So when I plugged these headphones in, the sound that came out wasn't so hot. But when I plugged it into my receiver at home, the sound was completely different! When listening to MP3's, remember to save your music at a higher quality.
If you are OK with all these things, then these headphones are for you. I also particularly like the shortened cable which eases clutter and doesn't get tangled.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
- Part number: SE310-K
- 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.
General
- Weight 0.1 lbs
- Color Black, White
- Additional Features Gold plated stereo plug, Sound isolating design
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones
- Headphones Form Factor Ear-bud
- Connectivity Technology Cable
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 22 - 19000 Hz
- Sensitivity 111 dB
- Impedance 28 Ohm
- In-Cord Volume Control Yes
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included x Stereo extension cable - 1
- Included Accessories Carrying case, Soft foam, Soft flex, Triple flange sleeves, Cleaning tool, Stereo extension cable
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 2 years warranty
Product series
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Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphones (white)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, White, 1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor
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Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones (white)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black, 1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated stereo plug, Sound isolating design, 2 years Limited warranty
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Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones (white)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated stereo plug, Sound isolating design, 2 years Limited warranty
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Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor
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Shure SE530PTH Sound Isolating Earphones
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, Ear-bud, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor
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Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphones (black)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black, 1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor
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Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones (black)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Ear-bud, Black, 0.1 lbs, Stereo, Gold plated stereo plug, Sound isolating design
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Shure SE420 Sound Isolating Earphones (black)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated stereo plug, Sound isolating design, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor
Manufacturer info
- Shure Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Shure Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.shure.com
- Address:
5800 West Touhy Avenue, Niles, IL. 60714-4608 - Phone: 1-847-600-2000
- Email: info@shure.com
- Fax: 1-847-600-1212
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