Shure SE102 MPA
Manufacturer: Shure Inc. Part number: SE102-K-MPA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Shure SE102 MPA Sound Isolating Earphones are definitely a step-up from the headset that came with your music phone, but not everyone will find them comfortable.
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CNET editors' review
Shure SE102 MPA price range: $99.99
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 09/23/2008
- Released on: 09/15/2008
The good: The Shure SE102 MPA Sound Isolating Earphones come with a music phone adapter cable that includes an inline mic. Audio quality is generally good for both calls and music, and the cords seem durable.
The bad: The Shure SE102 earphones don't come with as many eartips as others in the line; not all users will be able to get a secure and comfortable fit.
The bottom line: The Shure SE102 MPA Sound Isolating Earphones are definitely a step-up from the headset that came with your music phone, but not everyone will find them comfortable.
Purists might not like it, but mobile phones and MP3 players are converging at a record pace. Even reputable professional audio companies are starting to take notice, as evidenced by Shure's latest personal earphone offering, the SE102 MPA. The $99 sound isolating set comes bundled with an extension cable with an inline mic and call button, so it's designed to play nice with your iPhone or other music phone. The SE102s aren't the best Shure earbuds we've laid ears on--the type and number of ear fittings is limited and audio is a bit brittle at times--but they're still a big improvement over the sets that come with most music mobiles.
The Shure SE102 MPA earphones are fairly standard in design. Each black earpiece is bulbous and conical with an angled arm that fits into the ear. Shure includes four sets of silicone ear tips--one small, two medium, and one large--but no flanged or foam set, which prevented us from getting a completely secure fit. We really had to shove them in our ear to hear any bass and as the ear pieces are fairly large, this did not make for a particularly comfortable experience. Also, the apertures of the arms are a bit larger than other SE models, so you can't use any of the tips designed for other Shure sets. Still, those with average-to-large ears shouldn't have too much trouble. When you're not wearing the earphones, you can store them in the soft travel pouch included in the box.
The SE102's cord style is typical of the SE line. The initial 18-inch Y-cable terminates in a 3.5mm gold-plated straight plug with the dual-band design accepted by the majority of MP3 players. (Each band outputs a channel--left or right--combined for stereo audio.) Shure then includes a 3-foot extender cable--a necessity for any listening scenario where you're not wearing your device around your neck or carrying it in a shirt pocket. As the SE102 MPA's name suggest, the extender is a music phone adapter with an inline mic and call answer/end button. The MPA terminates in another gold-plated straight plug, this one with a triple band design--the extra one is for the input from the mic. (Note that triple-banded plugs won't work properly with many standard MP3 players.)
Calls taken through the Shure SE102 sound quite good on both ends, as well they should given the wired design. Music audio quality is also good, for the most part. The SE102s provide a nice thump on the low-end, but only if you can get a really good seal with the ear. In fact, we noticed some distortion on one bass-heavy track, so they may be a bit too heavy at times. Also, some fast electronic and alternative can have a tendency to come across slightly brittle and harsh, but some may find the extra crispness at the high-end appealing. In general, though, audio has a nice, balanced response across all genres. Music sounds clear and solid overall, though not as stunning as with higher-end Shure SE models. Still, the SE102 earphones are on par with other $100 sets.
User reviews
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Not worth it.
by abahlassans on July 10, 2009
Pros: Sound is good but could use more bass.
Cons: Not to comfortable in the ear. it seems to put too much pressure on my ear drums giving the airplane feeling only you can get rid of it.
Summary: Many friends recommended shure headphones using different brand se210 and se110 , but i was somewhat dissapointed mostly due to comfort. Wasn't too impressed with the bass factor. Going to ...
Summary: Many friends recommended shure headphones using different brand se210 and se110 , but i was somewhat dissapointed mostly due to comfort. Wasn't too impressed with the bass factor. Going to try other headphones.
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Great if you're used to in-ear headphones
by wmurch3 on June 16, 2009
Pros: Great sound quality, comes with mobile phone extended cord for answering calls and pausing music. decent carrying pouch
Cons: doesn't come with as many interchangeable ear tips as my old Shure e2c's but I didn't have trouble getting a good fit.
Summary: If you're used to in-ear headphones than you probably won't have an issue getting a tight seal with these buds. I've owned the shure e2c's for ...
Summary: If you're used to in-ear headphones than you probably won't have an issue getting a tight seal with these buds. I've owned the shure e2c's for a long time and had no trouble with these. Kind of stinks I can't use other tips from other Shure buds since I have so many laying around.
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Very nice, fit comfortably, decent sound.
by rfp0923 on June 15, 2009
Pros: Had them a few months now and I don't understand the negative reviews. The buds stay in my ears perfectly, the sound is good (not quite as nice as the Bose QC3's) and they work well with my Iphone. 1000 times better than the original Iphone set.
Cons: Not too much to say bad, but I will say they recomend you run the wire over the top of your ear and I found they fit better when you insert them upside down, with the wire directed down.
Summary: While they may be a bit pricey for some people, overall I really like these earbuds. And after trying to use the garbage buds that come with any apple product ...
Summary: While they may be a bit pricey for some people, overall I really like these earbuds. And after trying to use the garbage buds that come with any apple product these are a welcome relief. They fit nicely, they don't fall out (granted, I am not an excersize nut so I don't weear them while moving much) and the sound is good. They could stand a bit more low end, but that could be just the Ipod portion of my Iphone not generating the lows.
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Won't stay in ears!!!
by michaelj2377 on May 15, 2009
Pros: The sound is great , comfortable fit when sitting still. solid construction
Cons: Fall out constantly if you are moving.
Summary: I bought these for use with my iphone when out walking or when i am outside. They sound great, but they constantly fall out of your ears, and they have ...
Summary: I bought these for use with my iphone when out walking or when i am outside. They sound great, but they constantly fall out of your ears, and they have no other tips to provide a better fit. I read that shure has other size tips, went online and they want like 20 bucks a pair for other sizes. After wasting 100 on these, I refuse to give them any more money. I had the Bose earbuds prior to these and thought that their tips were much better, I just was expecting a little better sound from Bose. I think the apple iphone headphones are just as good as either, and now I am just using a 20 dollar pair of Sony Earbuds and have no complaints, I have given up looking for something better.
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Very difficult to imagine a greater waste of money
by MV on March 2, 2009
Pros: construction seems durable, two piece modular cord a plus
Cons: Requires perfect fit in ear to get decent but not great sound
Summary: It seems there is a new trend in headphones that seeks to fool customers into buying extremely expensive headsets that never sound as good as a $10 set of Sony ...
Summary: It seems there is a new trend in headphones that seeks to fool customers into buying extremely expensive headsets that never sound as good as a $10 set of Sony earbuds.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
- Part number: SE102-K-MPA
- Description: Featuring dynamic MicroSpeakers, these sound isolating earphones deliver optimized audio for a rich, lifelike listening experience. Assorted sleeves and a modular cable provide unmatched comfort and customization. Designed for music lovers looking to upgrade the headphones included with their MP3 players. Evolved from earphone technology road-tested by pro musicians and perfected by Shure engineers, the SE102MPA delivers a rich, lifelike listening experience that's free from outside noise.
General
- Product Type Headphones
- Series Sound Isolating
- Color Black
- Additional Features Noise isolating
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear ear-bud
- Headphones Technology Dynamic
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 22 - 17500 Hz
- Sensitivity 105 dB/mW
- Impedance 16 Ohm
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Headphones cable - Integrated - 1.5 ft, 1 x Headphones extender - Detachable - 3 ft
- Included Accessories Carrying case, 3 foam sleeves, 3 soft flex sleeves
Power
- Power Device None
- Battery None
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 2 years warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 2 years
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
