TheGimp
Feb 9, 2006, 11:25 PM
The Shure E4C headphone advertised as part of an iPod (latter which has since sold) package, which i reported as "sold", are once again available - only now as a separate purchase. The previous deal fell apart due to the buyer's last minute decision to reevaluate his financial state.
I've just taken some photos that show the headphone sboth with and without the fitting of the fully user replaceable and individually unique, personal earpads and mechanical parts. A small assortment of unused in-the-ear pads in several sizes are included, but I recommend ordering a packet of replacement pads from Shure once you've settled on a particular size and type (i.e. soft plastic vs. more rigid;large vs. medium; foam vs. plastic), or even follow Shure's recommendation and see a hearing specialist to have custom ear molds made to be sent to Shure if you want to elevate the E4C's even higher sonically. I paid the MSRP of $299 at the Applestore in Cambridge, Ma though surely new ones could have been had for less.
Given my E4C's excellent condition (see closeup photos), their 2 year "Profession Grade [manufacturer's] Warranty" (19 months left!), the type of music I listen to (mostly non headphone damaging, small ensemble classical, avante garde, 50's and 60's jazz, plus a little classic rock and electronic), relatively low listening volume (my ears tend towards sensitive), noise-isolating properties reducing the temptation to overpump the audiophile grade mini-drivers in these brilliantly engineered transducers mini speakers, their young age (bought new no more than 5 months ago), and the fact that my more expensive full-size earmuff style Sennhesiser headphones dominate more of the domestic listening time, I think $150 including insured shipping to continental US is fair. Paypal is accepted, but there will be a small fee for that, on the order of $5-$6.
Manual cover/product description
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0222.jpg
E4C's shown fitted with one type of earpad (several sizes, types, and colors included)
These easy to remove and install earpads/inserts are easy to order by the packet/handful from Shure, and I've included a few pairs that have never been in anyone's ear even once!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0216.jpg
E4C's shown without any earpads/inserts installed. NOTE: The white oblongish earpad mounting post, or what Shure calls the "sound nozzle", can be removed and replaced by the user, after first unscrewing a securing metal cap. I'm including one pair of totally unused posts with this package, so I can guarantee that you will NOT be putting something in your ears that has been in contact with those of some starnger's (i.e. mine).
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0215.jpg
Below is a page from the user manual showing and describing the various types of earpads/inserts.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0221.jpg
Below are the whole E4C package contents (NOTE: accidentally omitted from photo, but INCLUDED in my package, is the medium-small, round, black*hardshell* zipper open/close protective headphone carrying case made especially for the these Shure E4C's.)
Note the black "in-line volume control" that you can optionally insert in between the E4C's and your iPod or other audio device.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0218.jpg
Just to give an idea how much money it cost me to experience the portable sonic bliss which these headphones provide, note the pricetag. It being a non-Apple product, I didn't even receive any kind of Applestore student discount.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0214.jpg
Applestore link with user reviews (link might not work, but its an easy search):
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/73104/wo/0h1e5Zu4bxyW2NHvcnr1KXkX5KP/1.0.19.1.0.8.25.7.11.0.3
Even if you want these 'phone but decide not to buy my preowned pair, DON'T make the same impulsive decision that I did, which was pay the price Apple is charging (full $299 MSRP). These 'phones are truly killer, even for $299 "-in-the-ear" headphones, but gimme a break... they cost more than some ipods.
One thing I'll say about the E4C's is that, while not as warm sounding as my full-size Sennheiser HD600's or my gf's HD580, they have greatly textured and harmonically rich mids, decent bass - especially when fitted properly - and the highs (trebles) are both extended and *smooth*. So unless it's a godawful recording, these revealing headphones will tend to be more forgiving than most other in-ear headphones, which tend to be overly bright. So I'd say these are a good balance between being detailed and "extended" treble, and yet smooth enough 'up there' that you can still enjoy the universally low-quality, low-bitrate songs available from the iTunes store. Now plug these headphones into a home amplifier (using a mini to 1/4" converter), put on an above average or better quality recording, and you're in for more than just a taste of he sublime. Even though I ultimately prefer my full-sized Sennheiser HD600 headphones, the E4Cs provide the kind of "you are there" musical perspective, that injects one with wholesome energy, but they *sometimes* make one feel as if one's ear is *right next* to the cello instead of back in the audience, but this trick is pulled off without seeming harsh. Pop/rock/alternative is a different story...full of energy but with a musical/spatial perspective that is closer to what most people are used to - except more textured and tonally spot-on.
Hope you were intrigued by my mini-review, which I never intended to write when first I set out to post this ad. Sure, I intended to say a few great things, but I guess the thought of parting with these high-performing headphones had the last-minute effect of eliciting effusive sentiment which suggests I'm more attached to the E4C's mode of conveying musicality than I had realized.
happy shopping. As usual, paypal accepted and references provided via email upon request.
Asking $150 insured and ground shipped to continental US.
Please PM me.
I've just taken some photos that show the headphone sboth with and without the fitting of the fully user replaceable and individually unique, personal earpads and mechanical parts. A small assortment of unused in-the-ear pads in several sizes are included, but I recommend ordering a packet of replacement pads from Shure once you've settled on a particular size and type (i.e. soft plastic vs. more rigid;large vs. medium; foam vs. plastic), or even follow Shure's recommendation and see a hearing specialist to have custom ear molds made to be sent to Shure if you want to elevate the E4C's even higher sonically. I paid the MSRP of $299 at the Applestore in Cambridge, Ma though surely new ones could have been had for less.
Given my E4C's excellent condition (see closeup photos), their 2 year "Profession Grade [manufacturer's] Warranty" (19 months left!), the type of music I listen to (mostly non headphone damaging, small ensemble classical, avante garde, 50's and 60's jazz, plus a little classic rock and electronic), relatively low listening volume (my ears tend towards sensitive), noise-isolating properties reducing the temptation to overpump the audiophile grade mini-drivers in these brilliantly engineered transducers mini speakers, their young age (bought new no more than 5 months ago), and the fact that my more expensive full-size earmuff style Sennhesiser headphones dominate more of the domestic listening time, I think $150 including insured shipping to continental US is fair. Paypal is accepted, but there will be a small fee for that, on the order of $5-$6.
Manual cover/product description
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0222.jpg
E4C's shown fitted with one type of earpad (several sizes, types, and colors included)
These easy to remove and install earpads/inserts are easy to order by the packet/handful from Shure, and I've included a few pairs that have never been in anyone's ear even once!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0216.jpg
E4C's shown without any earpads/inserts installed. NOTE: The white oblongish earpad mounting post, or what Shure calls the "sound nozzle", can be removed and replaced by the user, after first unscrewing a securing metal cap. I'm including one pair of totally unused posts with this package, so I can guarantee that you will NOT be putting something in your ears that has been in contact with those of some starnger's (i.e. mine).
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0215.jpg
Below is a page from the user manual showing and describing the various types of earpads/inserts.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0221.jpg
Below are the whole E4C package contents (NOTE: accidentally omitted from photo, but INCLUDED in my package, is the medium-small, round, black*hardshell* zipper open/close protective headphone carrying case made especially for the these Shure E4C's.)
Note the black "in-line volume control" that you can optionally insert in between the E4C's and your iPod or other audio device.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0218.jpg
Just to give an idea how much money it cost me to experience the portable sonic bliss which these headphones provide, note the pricetag. It being a non-Apple product, I didn't even receive any kind of Applestore student discount.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/hedphlegm/IMG_0214.jpg
Applestore link with user reviews (link might not work, but its an easy search):
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/73104/wo/0h1e5Zu4bxyW2NHvcnr1KXkX5KP/1.0.19.1.0.8.25.7.11.0.3
Even if you want these 'phone but decide not to buy my preowned pair, DON'T make the same impulsive decision that I did, which was pay the price Apple is charging (full $299 MSRP). These 'phones are truly killer, even for $299 "-in-the-ear" headphones, but gimme a break... they cost more than some ipods.
One thing I'll say about the E4C's is that, while not as warm sounding as my full-size Sennheiser HD600's or my gf's HD580, they have greatly textured and harmonically rich mids, decent bass - especially when fitted properly - and the highs (trebles) are both extended and *smooth*. So unless it's a godawful recording, these revealing headphones will tend to be more forgiving than most other in-ear headphones, which tend to be overly bright. So I'd say these are a good balance between being detailed and "extended" treble, and yet smooth enough 'up there' that you can still enjoy the universally low-quality, low-bitrate songs available from the iTunes store. Now plug these headphones into a home amplifier (using a mini to 1/4" converter), put on an above average or better quality recording, and you're in for more than just a taste of he sublime. Even though I ultimately prefer my full-sized Sennheiser HD600 headphones, the E4Cs provide the kind of "you are there" musical perspective, that injects one with wholesome energy, but they *sometimes* make one feel as if one's ear is *right next* to the cello instead of back in the audience, but this trick is pulled off without seeming harsh. Pop/rock/alternative is a different story...full of energy but with a musical/spatial perspective that is closer to what most people are used to - except more textured and tonally spot-on.
Hope you were intrigued by my mini-review, which I never intended to write when first I set out to post this ad. Sure, I intended to say a few great things, but I guess the thought of parting with these high-performing headphones had the last-minute effect of eliciting effusive sentiment which suggests I'm more attached to the E4C's mode of conveying musicality than I had realized.
happy shopping. As usual, paypal accepted and references provided via email upon request.
Asking $150 insured and ground shipped to continental US.
Please PM me.
