Check out the Netbooks @ Best Buy.Shure SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones (black)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc. Part number: SE110K
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If you're looking for a relatively affordable pair of earphones that can withstand both audiophile scrutiny and physical abuse, the Shure SE110 can rise to the challenge.
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Where to buy
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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CNET editors' review
Shure SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones (black) price range: $78.95
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on: 09/06/2007
- Released on: 08/31/2007
The good: The Shure SE110 earphones are the most affordable entry point for high-endurance, high-fidelity earphones. They are especially adept at delivering bass.
The bad: The SE110 earphones sacrifice some of the high-frequency sparkle and low-end definition found in Shure's more premium-grade earphones.
The bottom line: If you're looking for a relatively affordable pair of earphones that can withstand both audiophile scrutiny and physical abuse, the Shure SE110 can rise to the challenge.
With the majority of us simply looking for a reasonably priced upgrade from the stock earbuds that came with our MP3 players, Shure's SE110 earphones are one of the best values you can find for under $100.
Design
When you look at any pair of Shure earphones, it's easy to see the difference in construction quality compared to a budget set of earbuds. Shure's reputation of making professional-grade products for touring musicians is evident in its consumer audio products as well. With the included two-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects, there's a good chance that your Shure SE110 earphones will outlast your MP3 player.
One of the secrets to Shure's earphone longevity is its recognition that the weakest link in consumer earphones is the connection between the cable and the earphone. No matter how expensive your earphones are, if this connection breaks or starts to deteriorate, repairs to the miniature components are nearly impossible. Shure's earphones (including the SE110) hold one of the highest standards we've seen for construction quality. The SE110's cables are three times the thickness of the cables found on earphones like the Etymotic eR6i or Sony MDR-EX71SL and the critical connection between the cable and earphone housing is impressively reinforced with soft rubber. We also found that the thicker cables prevent those inevitable cord tangles from turning into tight knots.
The second-weakest link in consumer earphones is the seal the earphones create in the user's ear. Shure's included "Fit Kit" is one of the best around, offering multiple sizes and types of earphone fittings (foam and rubber) to create what is hopefully a well-sealed and comfortable fit. Without a good seal in the ear, even a $500 pair of earphones will sound thin and tinny, so we're happy Shure didn't skimp with its sub-$100 product. A zip-up carrying case and cleaning tool are also included.
Performance
The SE110 earphones take advantage of a single balanced-armature driver designed by Shure specifically for this model. Shure's previous sub-$100 set of earphones, the E2c, used only dynamic drivers, which were incapable of matching the detail produced by balanced armature designs. While the SE110 doesn't offer as much high-frequency clarity or low-end detail as the SE310 model, at less than half the cost, most people will have a hard time spotting the difference. When we compared the two, we noticed the differences mainly in the high-frequency ranges, places where the sparkle and twang of acoustic guitars or the flourishes of orchestral strings live. On the upside, the SE110 earphones do not lack for bass. Hip-hop and electronic music sounds fantastic. We did notice, however, that the more defined low-end sounds of upright bass were hazy compared to the SE310.
Labeled as a "Sound Isolating" earphone, the Shure SE110 earphones do not disappoint when it comes to offering peace and quiet. We were more than happy with the SE110's ability to isolate us from background noise, but again, finding an earphone sleeve that provides a tight, yet comfortable, fit is crucial.
All in all, the Shure SE110 earphones have the highest quality construction of any earphones under $100. Their sound signature leans a little more on bass than high-frequency detail, but in our experience, that's a good thing. Competing products such as the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 or V-moda Vibe also favor bass, but use a dynamic driver technology, instead of a balanced armature technology--giving them a different character.
User reviews
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While sound is good, a bit disappointed compared to E2c
by gblanchard on January 19, 2008
Pros: Passive noise reduction very nice
Cons: Sound quality a bit disappointing
Summary: I bought these to replace my E2c's that I thought I had lost. I then found the E2c's allowing for a direct comparison. These earphones are far superior ...
Summary: I bought these to replace my E2c's that I thought I had lost. I then found the E2c's allowing for a direct comparison. These earphones are far superior to the in-the-box iPod earphones. They both offer similar (and surpisingly good) deadening of external noise. I belive these are a superior alternative to noise cancelling headsets for air travel - think decent ear plug quality sound isolation. Like the E2c's, these are quirky to get in your ear and require a good seal for effective noise isolation. I have no discomfort from extended wear. I was surprised and disappointed to personally prefer the sound rendition of the E2c's. The SE110s have a more balanced sound and more midrange. The E2c's comparatively sound brighter, maybe a bit artificial. The biggest surprise was a relative lack of "presence" to the SE110s. The E2c's to me, have always been a bit magical, allowing total isolation from the outside world and giving the impression that the music is in your head. The sound is so direct, so detailed, that you hear the music differently, appreciating every sound (and defect in the iPod's quality). Comparitively, to my ear, the SE110 sounds smoothed over and distant.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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for around $75, you can't go wrong
by Creepy Ledbetter on February 25, 2009
Pros: -Shure audio quality
-Superior sound isolation
-Awesome cable design (no tangles, little cable noise)Cons: -Some people may dislike the bass in these headphones, but usually people either exaggerated or put them in their ears improperly which reduces bass response.
-Started off too expensive ($100.) I got them for $70 which is a fair price.Summary: Hi. First off let me introduce myself a little so you don't jump on me for not knowing what I am talking about. I was a music student for ...
Summary: Hi. First off let me introduce myself a little so you don't jump on me for not knowing what I am talking about. I was a music student for a year, before transferring to a NYC school for communications and video. I use headphones every day for the commute to and from school, as well as the video production work I do. With that said, I ended up getting the Shure SE110s for 3 reasons. The superior sound isolation for the subway rides, the balanced drivers for my eclectic music tastes, and the cable that connects your headphones to your Zune... i mean, iPod. After breaking these headphones in, as well as understanding how to put them in my ears properly, I couldn't complain at all about them. The drivers are what they claim to be. Balanced. They aren't the absolute best for any particular audio genre, however ARE better than average for every genre. The cable doesn't get the praise it deserves either. It never tangles, the two-piece design helps eliminate cable noise found in ALL in ear headphones, and allows for other additions such as an in-line volume control.
Hope this review helps, feel free to comment or ask questions!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Stop Saying They're "DURABLE!!!!!!"
by supercourier on July 5, 2009
Pros: Decent sound, provided you shove them deep enough into your ear canal.
Cons: INCREDIBLY FRAGILE wires that split, eventually doing so at the earpiece driver where they CANNOT be repaired.
Summary: The CNET first look video was just that: a first look. After the honeymoon is over, as it was in less than a year with my higher end Shures, the ...
Summary: The CNET first look video was just that: a first look. After the honeymoon is over, as it was in less than a year with my higher end Shures, the quality decline begins, and abuse is not a factor. Buying them from anyone that Shure doesn't consider an "authorized dealer" takes them right out of warranty. I've read that they're good about taking them back if they are considered covered though, but that it's so often necessary should raise red flags. Please learn from my mistake.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very good, not Excellent !
by El Duro21 on September 13, 2007
Pros: Better than the average (the sonys-jvcs-etc.) earphones out there
Cons: I would expect better definition of sound for $100 bucks
Summary: I just got mines from the apple store at 5th ave NY with the new ipod classic (80GB)i try it for about 3-4 hours today and they sound very ...
Summary: I just got mines from the apple store at 5th ave NY with the new ipod classic (80GB)i try it for about 3-4 hours today and they sound very good but i find that the Etymotic Research 6i which i also have has a better imiging and clarity of the music (whatever you trough at them) although bass is much,more present on the Shure SE110 i guess you have to sacrifice either one of both for that price but atleast they perform way better than those that come with the ipod and the $20's-$50's made by Sony, JVC and others.
2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nowhere near as good as they should be.
by Randomview on March 10, 2009
Pros: Vocals come through crisp.
Absolutely excellent isolation.Cons: Expensive.
Sound quality does not come close to matching the price tag.
Absolutely no bass, regardless of configuration or fit.
Low and medium end are reproduced very poorly, translating to an extremely tinny sound with overbearing vocals.Summary: I picked up a pair of these SE110s yesterday, and I'll be returning them tommorow. They'll beat the earphones that were bundled with your iPod, but not by ...
Summary: I picked up a pair of these SE110s yesterday, and I'll be returning them tommorow. They'll beat the earphones that were bundled with your iPod, but not by near as much as they should. A ~$75 price-tag is disgraceful; make no mistake, these do not sound like $75 earphones. My last pair of Audio Technica earphones were less than half of what the SE110s cost me, and I'd have them again over the SE110s.
They'll make just about any song in your library sound tinny, and forget about anything with bass in it - you'll hardly hear it, let alone feel it. By all means, treat yourself to some nice inner-earphones, just make sure it's not these. You'll feel cheated.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Just average / no bass
by yooniss on September 1, 2008
Pros: Low distortion
Very good sound isolationCons: Poor bass response
Very hard to get sleeves offSummary: I cannot fathom how the CNET reviewer can say these earphones are "adept at delivering bass". The bass on these earphones is practically non-existent - even with an extremely good ...
Summary: I cannot fathom how the CNET reviewer can say these earphones are "adept at delivering bass". The bass on these earphones is practically non-existent - even with an extremely good seal. To get even close to audible bass on these I must use the bass booster setting on my iPod Touch. Try pressing your stock iPod earphones into your ear canal and you will hear bass about 30dB louder than the SE110's.
On the other hand, the audible frequencies on the SE110 are very clear and free of distortion. And the sound isolation provided by the foam/rubber sleeves is fantastic: a lower tech but far superior solution to active noise cancelation, in my opinion.
My only other gripe is the earphone sleeves are nearly impossible to slide off. I feel like I am going to snap the speaker port off or tear the sleeve apart trying to remove them.
Although I expect to get good use out of these earphones for a number of years, I will look to a brand other than Shure for my next set of budget earphones.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very Good .At the moment they are less than £50 .
by Bostedclog on November 12, 2009
Pros: Very good balanced sound .Not too much Bass not too much Treble .I have compared these to my B&O A8 ,Denon AH C360 and my ,Sennheiser px100.Very good build quality ,Great buds,
Cons: Not %100 sure about the over ear style .Its not that I dont like it its just im 44 and dont like change.LOL..
Summary: It seems like Shure have played it safe to be honest.The Bass is not as booming and as dominant as my Sennheisser.s which lack any highs.The Treble (...
Summary: It seems like Shure have played it safe to be honest.The Bass is not as booming and as dominant as my Sennheisser.s which lack any highs.The Treble (highs) are not as piercing as the B&O which lacks Bass.The Denons are good but have a really annoying hisss on any esses sung.The Shure SE110 has none of these faults it has Bass (quite tight and punchy),it has decent highs and and very good middle.In fact its boring.Only kidding.One thing I will say is that I use Rockbox on my Cowan X5 and with this I can do and awful lot with the sound..
I forgot to say I have a Cowon X5l player with Rockbox installed.Right after fiddling around with my EQ for a while last night Ive cracked it.Here are the eq settings Ive found which work superbly for me .Great sound all round.Love em..Enjoy .
Overall the sound is safe for me ,its clear and precise and does the job thank you.For £50 these would be a vast improvement on your factory supplied headphones .Cheers Mr Clog..
Updated on Nov 13, 2009
The EQ settings for these earphones are as follows:
80Hz +10
250Hz -3
1kHz -5
4kHz +6
13kHz +12
The mid-bass is a little muddy, so you're going to need to make adjustments.
The midrange is where it needs the most adjusting.
4-6kHz is the presence range, so this will need to be raised quite a bit if you want some airiness to the sound and to bring out more detail. -
Great headphones_!
by Minimalwyte on October 18, 2009
Pros: The physical structure of the product is great, and the cable seems really strong. I really enjoy the sound these headphones produce. The lows are really nice.
Cons: I don't have any complaints about this product.
Summary: Bottom line, these are the best headphones i've come across. I can't imagine how the top of the line Shure headphones sound. I listen to a lot of ...
Summary: Bottom line, these are the best headphones i've come across. I can't imagine how the top of the line Shure headphones sound. I listen to a lot of electronic musik (techno/house) and the bass sounds great. Great headphones. I recommend these over any headphones in the price range. They are way better than the Bose in ear. I wouldl love to listen to musik with the top of the line Shure headphones.
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Sound great, broke in one month.
by fred5607 on September 19, 2009
Pros: These headphones sounded great.
Cons: The sound just quits working on one speaker. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Faulty craftsmanship. Must be American made. Would not purchase ever again.
Summary: These are terrible ear phones.
Summary: These are terrible ear phones.
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Good sound, bad built quality!
by yufmb on September 7, 2009
Pros: -Great sound
-Comfortable to wear after you get used to the memory foamCons: -Rubber and wires not durable enough for a winter climate
-8 month shelf-life too short for $120 CAD earphones.Summary: Yes, these headphones are anything but durable! I got a pair of these for Christmas '08, the wires split and the rubber parts around the headphone fell off by August ...
Summary: Yes, these headphones are anything but durable! I got a pair of these for Christmas '08, the wires split and the rubber parts around the headphone fell off by August 09! They did have to go through a Canadian winter, but prior to these I had Skull Candy earphones for two years, and apparently they were made of more weather-resistant materials! I am careful with all of my things, and these were the most expensive headphones I have bought to date, so I took care of them. I loved the sound quality, and want to buy the upper model of Shures new line of headphones but I'm not sure about spending that much on headphones that might not last.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
- Part number: SE110K
- Description: Designed for music lovers looking to upgrade the earphones included with their MP3 players, the compact SE110 are the 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 SE110 deliver a rich, lifelike listening experience that's free from outside noise. Developed for the discerning music lover, Balanced MicroSpeakers deliver optimized audio for a vivid and detailed listening experience. Rediscover your favorite music - richer and more lifelike than you've ever heard it. Comfortable sound-isolating sleeves block over 90 percent of ambient noise. Combined with the compact design and a modular cable, interruptions from the outside world are minimized, enabling you to focus on your music.
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 Balanced armature
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 22 - 17500 Hz
- Sensitivity 113 dB/mW
- Impedance 27 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
Product series
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Shure SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones (white)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, White, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty
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Shure SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones (black)
Manufacturer: Shure Inc.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Noise isolating, 2 years Limited warranty
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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