Shure SE210 In-ear phones

The last time we reviewed a Shure was in our in-ear showdown, where it scored high. This time we have for review a higher-end model from the SE series itself, the SE210. It's marketed as 'noise isolation' and not noise cancellation, which is astute from a marketing angle. It comes with a hefty price tag, so let's put it under a thorough scan...

Design
We received a white model; I believe black is available too. The box pack contains the earphones, a flattish oval shaped zipper carry case, with a black matte exterior. This case has a small pouch containing numerous extra sleeves (7 pairs) of a couple of different sizes, made of rubber and foam.

One white sleeve caught my eye; something that was absent in previously reviewed lower end stuff. It was a triple-flanged sleeve; simply put, it had three concentric ‘mushroom heads’ rather than one. It can go pretty deep into the ears. A thin black cleaning device is also included, which is useful for power users.

The SE210 in-ear phones are just what you’d expect from a pro audio company, at least in terms of design and aesthetics. Simplicity and effectiveness are the hallmarks. One point to note is that the earphone tends to slip off if you put it straight on from the front. Putting it over the ear pinna creates a firmer grip. Though some amount of adjusting allow them to stay firm from the front also.

The nozzle and enclosure are white, with a grey body feeding out to similar colored grey wires. These terminate in an EP (3.5mm) jack all too soon, though a modular extension is provided. Factory fitted, the piece comes with foam sleeves, which I personally don’t like. I prefer the rubber, though this is a truly subjective point as the material of the sleeves doesn’t really create audible differences. Note the use of the word 'audible'.

Technically Speaking
Like most modern canal phones, these come with a balance armature micro-speaker, with a thin protruding tube over which you attach the sleeves. The sensitivity is 114 dB SPL/1 mW, while the impedance is 26 ohm. The 26 ohm rating is lower than 32 ohm rating seen in most models, so we can expect a little ‘loudness’ due to efficiency. The frequency range is 25 Hz – 18.5 KHz, which is sufficient.

Performance


We first ran the piece through a some software tests, consisting of audio tones and sweeps, to check the caliber of sound produced. I generally don’t do this for consumer level in-ear phones, but these are from Shure, and they deserve a respectable run through.

The bass response below 30 Hz rolls off very sharply, while at around 2-4 KHz I had to reduce the volume somewhat to bring back comfortable listening levels, hinting at a bump around that area. That's it though, we’ll keep it to the subjective tests – it's the quality of sound that matters in the end.

So we moved on to music, consisting of some .flacs and CDs first, then we tried some MP3s at 128 kbps upwards. The sound was definitely loud, and also had a well-segregated dynamic range, which exposed subtler nuances that are easily discernible in uncompressed music. The body of the sound was thick and whole; this coupled with brilliant noise isolation results in a very intimate and clear response.

As for criticism (that’s what we’re paid for!) I didn't find the bass all that spectacular, considering the price. The mids were a tad forward for my taste, though not harsh at all, just a wee bit up. Highs were clear and airy, and the overall response might appeal to many listeners. The sound is much better than in some cheaper pieces, with more depth and decent punch, but again, that ‘thumping’ tightness is not there.

Conclusion
The Rs 7500 price tag is not overly high, but I must say I'm a little disappointed. For this price I'd expect more. The clarity on the high frequency side is good, and I’m sure stuff like this doesn’t get 'spoiled', so it’s a one time investment – provided you don’t chew the wires. The previous Shure SE110 we reviewed was way better. For this one, if possible, I'd recommend an audition before purchase.