Big Picture Big Sound

These Shure Do Sound Good

Who says that portable audio has to be inferior to the soundscape we can get with large speakers and expensive electronics in our living room or den? As more and more audiophiles and music fans discover the convenience of transportable sound systems, the consumer electronics industry has risen to the challenge by providing a wealth of options for high quality portable sound... but it hasn't always been this way.

As a long-time music lover, I have been amazed at the inferior quality of the headphones or earbuds that ship with virtually all of the major portable electronic devices. And if you recall the 90s as vividly as I do, we audiophiles were encouraged to use enormous over-the-ear headphones ("cans" to you studio types) if we had any hope of getting a full sound and ample bass response. In fact, until just a few short years ago, high quality in a small package was practically an oxymoron. Diminutive earbuds capable of providing wide dynamics with superior sound quality while insulating us from the symphonic cacophony that bombards us in daily life were previously available only to a select few who were willing/able to spend the requisite cash. Thankfully times have changed.

If you are currently carting around full-sized, full range headphones, and are comfortable with that, don't let me dissuade you. But if you're ready for a petite powerhouse that can match or even exceed the quality and dynamics of big bulky headphones, or if you're just sick and tired of the junk that was included with your MP3 player, let me introduce you to a recent class of product, the in-ear-canal earphone.

Not Your Grandfather's Microphones...

The subject of this review is the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphone. This pair of 'phones falls squarely in the middle of the new line of earphones from Shure, perhaps better known as a manufacturer of commercial and studio-quality recording microphones and electronics. But what's a microphone in reverse? Yeah, you got it - a headphone! So it was only natural that Shure would expand into this space.

Shure began life in the earphone market by introducing professional quality reference earphones for musicians. Successful with these ear-ly models (pun intended), Shure modified the line for consumer use with the "E" series - the entry level E2c (a favorite of resident DJ Mike Prieto) up to the top of the line E5c. A later edition to the line, the E4c, has won numerous awards, and has dethroned the Etymotic ER-4P as many reviewers' reference. In 2007, Shure has introduced a new line of sound isolating earphones dubbed the "SE" line. The line consists of the entry level SE210, SE310 (Both of which are single driver models), SE420, SE530 and SE530PTH (all multiple driver units, with the latter including Shure's Push-To-Hear technology). The following is Shure's explanation as to the relationship between the product lines;

"The new line utilizes the same professional-grade, award-winning in-ear technology as the E3c, E4c and E5c, with their own unique sound signatures. Incorporating balanced armature drivers that are compact in size but not in sound, the SE models offer increasing range and detail as you move up the line."

It is important to understand the difference between a sound-isolating earphone design like the Shure and a Noise-Canceling headphone like the Bose Quiet Comfort. You can get a basic primer on this in our editor Chris Boylan's head-to-head review of the Bose Quiet Comfort headset vs. the Etymotic ER4P. Shure provides additional details on their own web site. In a nutshell, the difference comes down to sound-isolating earphones working by isolating you from the external sounds (exactly like earplugs) whereas noise-cancelling headphones cancel out noise electronically, with the use of a microphone that samples the external noise then creates an opposite signal to cancel it out. Both designs can be successful, but noise cancellation is defintely trickier to do well since the electronic signal used to cancel the noise can also impact the actual music. The Shure 'phones fall squarely in the "sound isolation" camp.



The SE310 is a small in-the-ear earphone which is designed to fit snugly in the ear canal. The tiny earphones tuck into the the ear itself with lead wires that wrap over the back of the ears to secure them in place and minimize strain. The split lead design allows the integrated cinch to be tightened under the chin or at the back of the head, depending on your preference, or how active you plan to be while using them. The individual leads from the earphones are about a 10-12 inches long and terminate in a single gold plated male stereo connector. To connect to a source, a 3 foot female-male gold plated extension cord is supplied.


Now as a bit of a purist, introducing another mechanical connection in line can be a bit of a negative, as these can allow noise in the signal path. On the flip-side though, this set-up can allow the creation/use of dedicated cables to connect to other interfaces (1/4-inch phono, Airline Dual Prong, or even a hands-free cellular adapter like the Seidio hands-free headphone adapter) without the need for excessively long cords or additional adapters. The short cord is also handy if you like to carry your iPod in a shirt pocket. The SE310 ships with a handy carrying case as well as the Deluxe Fit Kit consisting of various different plastic and foam ear-sleeves. It also includes the above-mentioned 3-foot adapter cable.

The Right to Bear Armature

The SE310 earphone itself is based on what Shure calls a "Balanced Armature Speaker". In this implementation the speaker consists of a diaphragm which is driven by a small drive pin. This design lowers the mass of the driver, and therefore allows it to respond faster to the transient responses in the signal and have extended high frequency response. By their nature, balanced armature speakers are typically smaller in size, have higher output and wider frequency response compared to traditional dynamic speakers.

The SE310 uses the same single driver design as its sibling the SE210. The primary difference is that the SE310 has been designed with a tuned bass port to enhance and extend the low frequencies. They are also lighter in weight, and sleeker in design.

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3

My testing was strictly limited to portable mp3 devices as these would be the typical sources used by most consumers. For the tests I used an iPod Nano 8GB, Creative Muvo and a Sandisk Sansa.

To evaluate and compare the earphones, I used a variety of music from Black Sabbath, Allman Brothers, Joshua Redman, Fall Out Boy, John Mayer and the Blue Man Group. This eclectic mix not only reflected my listening tastes (bizarre, I know), but provided a rather interesting set of challenges for the SE310s. The music choices allowed me to determine the ability to play softly, loudly and dynamically. From the percussion sound of the Blue Man Group to the haunting voice of Ozzy, from the subtle and expressive saxophone of Redman to the straight-out blues guitars of the Allman Brothers band. Everything I threw at the SE310s came out crisp and clean. They brought me closer to the music, and further away from annoying external distractions.

I know that there is a valid argument about the quality of MP3s depending heavily on the sampling rate and codecs used to rip your music, but this is an earphone review, not an MP3 review. The important thing here is that it was all music I am used to listening to, and comparisons to other earphones were made with the same tracks using the same players each time.

As a frequent flier, my portable players and earphones see most of their use on airplanes. This is where the real advantages of the sound isolating properties of the Shure stand out - both with the sleeves supplied by Shure and with the custom earmolds that I had made for my own personal earphones. They are able to eliminate the horrible droning of airplane engines while on board. This alone is worth the price of admission, but I digress...


I currently use Etymotic ER-6i earphones fitted with a set of custom earmolds. I had the earmolds made primarily due to the fact that I couldn't get a comfortably tight fit with the standard sleeves that were supplied. And a loose fit for in-ear-canal phones spells disaster: the bass just disappears and the noise isolation properties are seriously compromised. I am a firm believer in the fact that all of us have different ear canals and therefore it's not unreasonable that sleeves designed for the average person just might not fit everyone. I also travel a great deal, and was looking for the additional sound isolation and comfort that is provided by a set of custom earmolds. That being said, I was actually able to find a comfortable fit with the Shure sleeves that were provided with the SE310's. For the purposes of the testing, I did attach the SE310's to my custom earmolds, and although the sound isolation was better, there was no appreciable effect on the sonic characteristics of the earphones.

Comparing the sound of the two, the SE310 has a richer more open sound with noticably deeper bass. The sound seemed to have a much larger sense of space. Detail at the top end seemed more extended without sounding bright or harsh. Male voices had more weight and were richer in tone. I'm not really a bass-head, but I do like a solid, balanced sound, and in this respect, the bass extension of the SE310s did not disappoint. I'm sure that the dual driver SE420's with a dedicated bass driver would add even more bass definition and extension for those who need it. Sensitivity was also better than my ER6is - I was able to turn the volume down on my iPod when listening to the SE310s, attaining the same volume level as my Etymotics. Because each of these 'phones offers excellent isolation, you won't need a lot of volume to reach enjoyable levels, but those with less beefy outputs on their MP3 players will appreciate the extra sensitivity of the Shures.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately the SE310 performed beyond my expectations, and I definitely preferred them to my current 'phones. It's not that my expectations were unreasonable, just that like all products, movies or books that come with a series of endorsements from friends, they rarely live up to the hype. The SE310 earphones lived up to the hype. Great sound and a good fit right out of the box (or plastic blister pack, as the case may be). Given the sound that I heard and the comfort and fit that I observed, I would retire my Etymotics in favor of these earphones.

But this review isn't only about the performance. We also have to consider the price. The current selling price for the SE310 is $249. A new pair of Etymotic ER6i is currently around $80. Even considering my inability to get a comfortable fit with the stock sleeves and the addition of a $100 set of custom earmolds, the Etymotics are still significantly less expensive. Also, the SE310s face competition even within Shure's own product line - the SE420 is only $100 more and introduces a multi-driver design, a premium fit kit, a volume control and various additional adapters. In Shure's "E" line the venerated E4c is priced at only $50 more, and brings with it a stellar reputation for sound quality. Glaringly missing from the SE310 package is a 1/4-inch adapter as well as an airline adapter, which is necessary for some airlines (but not all). In my opinion, these "accessories" are essential to the traveler or musician, and should not be missing from a product at this price point. Of course, you can buy these and other headphone accessories from Shure, Amazon, or even your local Radio Shack, but this inflates the price further.

The SE310 seems to be at a difficult place in the line-up. Similar in construction to its much cheaper brother (the SE210), more expensive than other established players in this category (E2c, E3c, Etymotic ER-6i & ER-6) and not that much cheaper than it's more technically sophisticated peers (E4c, SE420 and Etymotic ER-4P). That being stated, though, the SE310 is an excellent sounding product, and should be one that you audition yourself, along with its higher and lower priced brethren before deciding how to invest your hard-earned dollars.

Where to Buy:

• Shure SE310 (white) on Amazon.com
• Shure SE310 (black) on Amazon.com

Specifications:

• Speaker Type: Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker + Tuned BassPort
• Sensitivity (1mW): 111 dB SPL/mW
• Impedance (1kHz): 28
• Frequency Range: 22Hz - 19kHz
• Cable Length: 18in. / 45cm (with extension: 54 in. / 136cm)
• Color: Available in Black or White
• Warranty: 2 Years
• MSRP: $299.99

What's in the Box?:

• Sound Isolating Sleeves - three sizes (S, M, L) of both the flex and foam sleeves.
• Modular Cable
• Carrying Case

Manufacturer's Contact Information:

Shure Incorporated
5800 West Touhy Avenue, Niles, IL 60714-4608
Telephone: +1(847)600-2000 (U.S. only) +1(800)25-SHURE
Fax: +1(847) 600-1212

Support E-mail: info@shure.com
Web site: www.shure.com