The SE420-Ks are very similar to another pair of Shure earbuds I reviewed before, the SE310-Ks, but a few things distance them from the lower model: Price, comfort and sound.
The SE420-Ks sound terrific. Bass is strong and smooth, highs and lows are clear and overall the entire sound is very, very nice. I didn’t think there’d be as much difference between the 310 and 420 models, but there was. I had both pairs in my possession at the same time, so I was able to do direct sound comparisons.
Like the other model, these earbuds require the cord loops over your ear, which is fine by me. The 420-Ks are very comfortable. Again, they’re very similar in design to the lower model, but just slightly different in size which just so happens to make them much more comfortable in my ears. I recently wore them on two flights for 6+ hours without any discomfort. The added bonus is that they’re sound isolating so they added some dampening to the loud engine noise. This also works on the street, where noise and bums are drowned out by your music, without going too far and making you feel deaf to the world. Also important: No cord noise or whistling in your ears from the isolation.
The biggest drawback to these earbuds is that they require using the Shure MPA-3C adaptor for iPhone/iPod control. It adds a microphone and remote, which is great, but it’s not a terribly elegant design (read: it’s huge) and it hangs a little lower than it should.
Sound-wise, these earbuds are great. And they’re very comfortable. Even though I have to use the iPhone/iPod control adaptor, design-wise they’re still the best I’ve reviewed. Of course, it figures they’re also the most expensive pair at $230 for the headphones and $40 for the adaptor (they now retail at Amazon for $200 and $35 respectively). Verdict? We have a winner.
Note: This was an ongoing series of mini-reviews in which I attempted to find a perfect pair of in-ear headphones to replace two broken pairs of V-Moda Vibe Duos (and succeeded!). If you’re interested, you should read all of the mini-reviews.
The SE310-Ks sound pretty good—let’s get that out of the way immediately. While their bass is stronger than other pairs, it’s not nearly as strong as the V-Modas, but it’s clean bass. On a whole the sound is pretty good, although a little muted in places.
These earbuds require the cord loops over your ear, which doesn’t bother me, except in this case they aren’t quite the right shape for the cord to stay over my ears. When walking the cord kept falling off. Additionally, the cord system for the Shure headphones is a little intense—it’s a one-foot cord with a plug which you then plug into an extension (in this case I’m using the Shure MPA-3C adaptor which adds a microphone and remote), which is less than ideal.
The sound is good but not the best I’ve heard and the cord and fit isn’t quite perfect. For $190 (plus $30 for the iPhone adaptor), I would prefer the cording was better and stayed on my ears. Verdict? Returned.
Note: This was an ongoing series of mini-reviews in which I attempted to find a perfect pair of in-ear headphones to replace two broken pairs of V-Moda Vibe Duos (and succeeded!). If you’re interested, you should read all of the mini-reviews.
The Apple In-Ear Headphones got me really excited because I’ve never been able to wear the default iPod/iPhone headphones since they don’t fit my ears. The design is attractive and I like the big remote, but the cord is plastic and it’s the bad kind that keeps bends and tangles easily. And the volume buttons on the remote don’t work with the iPhone (yet?). The fit was decent, but required I really cram them into my ears, deeper than I felt I should have. Even then it wasn’t great.
The worst part about these headphones is the way they sound. I heard nothing but good things about them before I bought ‘em but either I’m nuts or everyone else is (don’t answer that). These headphones have zero bass. I mean ZERO. It feels as though they were designed for elderly gentlemen to enjoy the tinny, treble-loving sound of records from the days of yore.
For $80, I don’t need to be barely comfortable while listening to what sounds like music played over a CB radio. Verdict? Returned.
Note: This was an ongoing series of mini-reviews in which I attempted to find a perfect pair of in-ear headphones to replace two broken pairs of V-Moda Vibe Duos (and succeeded!). If you’re interested, you should read all of the mini-reviews.
The 4vis have an extremely simple and attractive design, with metal buds. The cord, while plastic, is better than other plastic cords I’ve used since it doesn’t easily get bent and doesn’t seem to knot up as easily. The unfortunate thing about the cord is that the microphone and remote are separate and the remote is below the split in a ridiculous spot. Very hard to find without looking for it.
Sound-wise, the 4vis are crisp and clear and have more bass than the previously-reviewed Etymotic hf2s, but not quite as much bass as I’d like. I did, however, start to get used to the sound. Well, at least, I would have, had it not been for the fact that I could not stand having the earbuds in my ears for more than a few minutes at a time. I tried all of the included rubber sleeves and foam and couldn’t get a single combination that was comfortable. I’ll put it plainly: After wearing these headphones for the last 15 minutes, it feels like someone raped my ears.
At $129, they’re roughly the same price as the V-Moda Vibe Duos, but they’re not nearly as comfortable and the reduced bass and awkward remote placement make them a no-go. Verdict? Returned.
Note: This was an ongoing series of mini-reviews in which I attempted to find a perfect pair of in-ear headphones to replace two broken pairs of V-Moda Vibe Duos (and succeeded!). If you’re interested, you should read all of the mini-reviews.
The hf2 is very comfortable in the ear and very light. Not nearly as much cord noise as a previous pair of Etymotic I had. Nice remote button with a very defined clicker. I liked the style of the buds, but I hate the cord—it’s that classic kind of plastic cord that gets bends in it that won’t come out so it looks like you slept with your headphones on. It’s also a little too long at 46 inches (I keep my phone in my back pocket while walking around and don’t like a lot of cord slack).
And, most importantly, the sound nearly completely lacks bass. It was very crisp and clear, but I need bass. Felt like I was listening to AM radio at times. For $179, I want a meatier sound. Verdict? Returned.
Note: This was an ongoing series of mini-reviews in which I attempted to find a perfect pair of in-ear headphones to replace two broken pairs of V-Moda Vibe Duos (and succeeded!). If you’re interested, you should read all of the mini-reviews.
