Final thoughts, conclusion and awards.
So now that you know the Shure E2g earphones really are the mutt’s danglies, should you get a pair? Well that brings me to the only stumbling block you might find… the price. These things don’t come cheap with an RRP of £79.99. However, you can find them cheaper on the net, so click the where2buy link at the bottom for a good deal at Play.com.
Click for larger imageAs has been said, the sound quality is superb and the Sound Isolation feature works very well. If you’re someone who regularly uses a PSP or MP3 player in a relatively noisy environment, you definitely won’t regret forking out for a set. Even in quieter places such as the gym (yes, this fat boy does go to the gym), you’ll find the E2g earphones give an incredibly secure fit and you’ll have a tough time knocking them loose.
The real question is, can you justify the cost of the E2g earphones against the use you’ll get from them? Yes, they are pricey but in all honesty everything about them shouts ‘quality’. If I was a daily commuter I’d certainly get a pair and I would even consider a pair for the long haul flights I do 3 or 4 times a year, even if I didn’t commute. For those environments alone the E2g earphones would soon prove their worth and you’ll be glad you bought them.
Pros
Excellent sound quality
Noise isolation – simple but brilliant
Works with all your kit
‘Fit kit’ ensures comfort
Cons
Can be fiddly to fit until you’re used to them
Price might be too much for some
A quality product for the commuting gamer
HEXUS Awards
Shure E2g earphones
HEXUS Awards
Sound Isolation ear-plugs
E2g Technical Specifications:
Speaker Type: Dynamic MicroDriver
Sensitivity (at 1kHz): 105dB SPL/mW
Impedance (at 1kHz): 16 Ohm
Cable Length: 1.45m (57 inches)
Net Weight: 30g (1 oz)
Input Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8") gold-plated stereo plug
Supplied with hard cover zip case, fit kit and 2 year warranty.
HEXUS Right2Reply
HEXUS World Leading HEXUS Right2Reply initiative invites manufacturers, their representatives and vendors which supply HEXUS with products for technical editorial evaluation, to comment on the articles that we publish. If they choose to respond, we publish their response verbatim.Paul Crognale, Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator for Shure Personal Audio UK, writes:
This is without doubt the most accurate and detailed review we have received to date with no stone left unturned. I am particularly impressed with the fact that you took the trouble to try out the earphones in a range of environments such as the bus, train, tube and even on a plane.
The most common problem for Shure is customers who are unsure of the differences between Noise cancellation and Sound Isolation technology, or simply customers thinking they are one and the same.
In short, Noise Cancelling headphones are generally larger, heavier, battery driven headphones that generate tones to cancel out specific outside sounds. Microphones inside the headphone sample the noise field and then create an inverse or ‘mirror image’ and add it to the music. Noise cancelling headphones typically target only selected frequencies.
Shure’s Sound Isolating earphones™ are a special type of earphone developed originally for musicians trying to monitor their performance in loud onstage environments. They prevent noise from entering the ear naturally. They work by using foam or flex sleeves to seal out background noise, allowing small, high-performance micro-speakers to deliver incredibly precise sound directly to the ear. Tests have shown that Shure’s Sound Isolating earphones™ cut out up to up to 93% (equivalent to 37dB) of background noise – more than any Noise Cancelling headphone. They are also more lightweight as they do not require batteries and so are perfect for all of the previously mentioned scenarios.
I would also encourage your readers to ensure they fit the earphones correctly to guarantee optimum performance. The E2g’s for example are designed so the cable must go around the back of your ear. A simple demonstration for each of the earphones can be found here: www.shurestore.com/earphones/howto.html
Once again, thanks for reviewing the earphones, we are very pleased with the awards.
Paul Crognale
Sales & Marketing Co-ordinator
Shure Personal Audio
