Comments on: Shure SE210 Photos & an iPhone Earbud Tip

By: JSunny

JSunny — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:43:40 +0000

I bought Etymotic hf2, and really wanted to love them, but the feel like sharp sticks in your ear! I had to return them.

At first I thought it was just me/my ear, so I had my friend try them (he keeps the apple stock earpods in his ears all day). THe first thing he said was “it feels like its jabbing my ear”. So, it’s not my ear afterall…

They are a bit better with the foam instead of the tri-level plastic tips, but even so, it felt too much like they could impale my ear — I wouldn’t fall asleep in them for instance.

So, sadly, while the sound and all the iPhone features are great, I had to return them.
I’m thinking of replacing them with Shure Se210 which I thought sounded great and are really comfortable (and *round*, not pointy!)

By: BigD

BigD — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:15:06 +0000

Two points from a former researcher in the hearing aid/audiology industry.

1. The ideal angle at which your ear buds should be directed is dependent on the geometry of your ear canal. Ear canals are far more variable from person to person than one might believe. Insertion type devices more naturally get oriented in the right angle.

2. Another supplier one should consider is Etymotic Research, who are leaders in the acoustics/audiology world (I am not, nor have ever been affiliated). They have a new product called the hf2 which should be excellent. Mine are being shipped to me at this moment.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:52 +0000

Well that’s your problem, you have weird ears!

Weird ears! Weird ears!

Apple only caters to people with ‘normal’ ears. Specifically Steve Jobs No. 88484 ears. 1998 Standard.

By: Jeni

Jeni — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:12:04 +0000

@Meghan
I’m a current audiology grad student writing into say- yes, those Westone custom iPod molds are great! Especially for runners and others who have the buds fall out with movement. And they protect your hearing in the long run since you are more isolated from other noise and can listen to the music at a lower level.

By: Alyce

Alyce — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:56:30 +0000

@Meghan - thanks for that link and the info

Like so many others here, the stock Apple buds do not work for me. I can’t seem to find a bluetooth hands-free set that works either.

I’ve got some previous generation Shure headphones and on Jon’s rec, I bought the adapter. It works great. I was pleasantly surprised by how clear it was.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:17:49 +0000

Mary Moon, the earbuds don’t fit in my ears either! I say “I have big ear-holes.” Good to hear I’m not a freak. What a relief.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:19:39 +0000

I am constantly rotating between the crappy Apple earbuds for my iPhone so I can go hands-free in the car (NJ now will whack you $100 bucks for not using a headset), Shure E2c’s, and Bose Quiet Comfort 2’s. What has always amazed me is that Apple still cranks out the white ‘buds when I don’t know of a single person who can keep ‘em in their ears for more than 10 seconds. Which is just -oh-so-lovely when I’m using them in the car, because no matter that I have a hands-free headset, I still need to put my hand up to my ear to keep the damn things in! I’ve been looking at the vibe duos, but am getting scared off after reading some of the reviews, i.e. they stop working for no reason, etc. I also don’t like the idea of having to use an adapter to make any headphones iPhone ready, or the fact that for my other two headsets I need to carry the little headphone adapter with me everywhere.

By: Patti

Patti — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:07:18 +0000

Your ears are so clean. Coco?

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:50:49 +0000

My ears are way too small for the iPod earbuds, they always fall out. I had a pair of custom earbuds made by Westone that I pop my iPod earbuds into, and they are awesome. To get a pair you’ll need to get an appointment with either an audiologist or an ENT who can make silicone molds of your ear. I honestly don’t know how much they cost because I was an audiology grad student at the time, so mine were free. One of the few perks of being an ear nerd.

Here’s the model I have at Westone: http://www.westone.com/content/193.html
Mine are purple acrylic, with silver glitter. (Yes, very girly.)

I took a few photos when I first got them, here’s the first photo on flickr, click through to the right to see them close up, and then in my ear.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cphaurora/29829622/in/photostream/

They are a perfect fit, and the sound funnels directly into my ear. I’d highly recommend them for anyone who wants a better fitting earbud but doesn’t want to shell out the big bucks for a higher quality earphone.

By: Annie Rhiannon

Annie Rhiannon — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:56:44 +0000

My ears are way too small for any of these kind of earbuds. I prefer to wear proper big old-fashioned headphones at all times: partly because I can hear things through them, but mostly because they make me look like the DJ.