Customer Reviews
Great Sound Quality....Lacks the POUND though 
2008-10-14
When you're looking for quality and sound....Shure is it! Hands down, the most quality and dynamic sound I've ever heard in a headphone. Maybe its me and maybe I got an different model. I knew these were discontinued and I like the price but it seems they just lack that FUNK I was hoping to get via the bass!! For Hip-Hop/R&B and some Contemporary Gospel, you need a strong bass line. What I had to do was adjust the levels in iTunes on my computer and PSP and so now I'm good!
Worth the money? You bet! A definite safe buy cause you have to have a good idea of what you're gonna get and that's QUALITY! But not a cure all for bass-heads! However, as the saying goes....To each his own.
A+ 
2008-10-13
Shure headphones are by far the best headphones made. Bose doesnt compare when it comes to headphones. (i have both)
SUre they are a little extra money, but they "Shure" will last forever!
Lacking in bass, overpriced 
2008-10-12
This model is lacking in bass. I certainly agree the accuracy of reproduction on the mid and high end is excellent, but this is ruined by the lack of balance with the lower audio spectrum. I would not recommend for this reason. That said, these may work better with stronger audio sources than portables such as iPod. A $30 dollar pair of Sony buds provide much better audio range and kick in the bass range for portables. Also be aware this model number has been discontinued. Amazon has failed to update their site to reflect this. It is the same ear bud according to Shure, just renamed.
Solid Phones 2008-10-08
I recently bought these headphones used, and I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. My brother bought some E5s and I tried those out, and was amazed thoroughly. When I put in the E5s, I couldn't hear people talking to me at all. One of my main reasons for these headphones is to deaden outside noise. However, the E4s I got are horrible in comparison. I might need to get a better fitting earpiece or something... Or maybe since they're used they aren't soundproof anymore. Don't get me wrong, the sound is still great, but there is all the outside noise to combine it with.
Better than E2c's, but not by much... 2008-09-20
I have had the E2c's for more than three years and upgraded to the SLC4s. The cord on my E2c's was having static problems so I had to replace them. I loved the E2c's so decided to stay with Shure over Atrio and UE.
One important note here, Ace Digital sent me the SLC4's and not the E4c as was ordered. However, I called Shure and they indicated that there is no difference so not a big issue for me. E series no longer being manufactured so SLC series is being sold.
Overall, I remain impressed with Shure, but not quite sure this model offer a huge improvement over the 2's. I paid $164 (incl. shipping) and I see the 2's can be purchased for around $50 on Amazon.
Compared to the 2's, the sound of the 4'sis "brighter" with higher highs. The bass sound is about the same, but not quite as dull. I notice that I do not have to turn the sound up as much with the 4s. If you like the lower models of Shure, you won't be disappointed with these, but have to admit that I am having a hard time hearing a $100 difference compared to my 2s.
The fit and comfort of the 4s is much improved compared to the 2s aided by the new black foam inserts (if the e2s include the new foam inserts, the difference between the two would be even less.) Shure gives a large number of ear fittings so it may take you some time to figure out which ones work best. Having come from the 2s, I already knew which ones to use. You might want to buy more foam inserts so you have an extra pair or two on hand, but these new black ones are washable. I've washed mine once already and they hold their fit.
CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH, FIT IS CRUCIAL TO GETTING GOOD SOUND!!! I suspect that those that have posted reviews questioning the sound don't have proper fit.
The better fit of the black foam inserts also gives greater noise canceling qualities. Can't hear the outside world as much and thus the overall sound quality is better.
The quality of the cord has been downgraded, not sure why they did this. The thickness of the cord coming from the ear phones is thinner than the cord coming off the jack. On my 2s, the cord was the same heavy thickness from jack to phone. I suspect the thickness of the cord on the 2s is why they lasted so long. Hope this doesn't become an issue for the 4s.
Overall, very satisfied, but might consider 2s or 3s if price is an issue.
Mark from Houston 2008-09-16
The E4C earphones feature a High-Definition driver with Tune Port technology for an ultra-wide frequency soundstage with brilliant highs and extended bass. As the ideal companion to any portable or home audio source, the E4C incorporates the same precision components used by professional musicians to bring incredibly accurate sound with remarkable isolation. The E3G's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes, even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. The soft, flexible sleeves in the Fit Kit gently contour the inside of the ear for a comfortable, secure fit so that the earphones don't fall out while you're exercising. The cable spool inside provides a convenient, tangle-free way to store your earphones. Sensitivity (at 1kHz) - 109 dB SPL/mW Impedance (at 1kHz) - 29 Ohm Cable Length - 1.42m (56 inches) Input Connector - 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) gold-plated stereo plug Unit Weight - 31 gram (1.1 ounces)
Always quality 2008-09-12
Wonderful headphones - everything else is inferior. I just bought these and used to own E3C's and I see a little difference, but not a ton so if you are more concerned with money I'd get the E3C's.
I'm not sure what happened with people saying these are bad sound quality - they must've gotten a bad pair or fakes (which I will touch on later). Listening to these (assuming you have a good quality song) is like watching HDTV for the first time. It's more fun to listen to music because you can hear so many more subtleties. You can hear all the beautiful highs, as well as the lows. The bass is not overpowering or dominant, but there's enough there so you know it's there (as it should be).
Pros and use:
(1) Awesome sound, make sure you have a good seal with the foams.
(2) Comfortable and light, I only wear these with the wire going up and over behind my ear. Any other way isn't comfortable or doesn't sound as good.
(3) You will hear things in songs you never heard before.
Cons:
(1) Price - though now that the SE series has come out, the E series are cheaper.
(2) Thin wire - my old pair of headphones started cutting out, I imagine the wire broke somewhere around where it curves over my ear. The actual copper that carries the sound is soooo thin it was near impossible to sotter it back in place.
WATCH OUT FOR FAKES, EVEN ON AMAZON. I ordered a pair of these from the Used section claiming they were mint. They WERE mint, but they were imitation knock-offs. The price was around $80 which you'll find is very low for these phones...DO NOT risk buying them if they are cheaper than they should be. The seller wasn't aware, and I got a refund. Just be weary of cheaply priced phones.
Extremely low quality sound 
2008-09-10
While the sound produced by the Shure E4c-n Sound Isolating Earphones is clear, and they do effectively block out other noise, the overall experience using them is terrible. The bass response is incredibly weak, they are quite uncomfortable (even with the dozen or so ear buds included), and the cord is too heavy to wear comfortably while moving around. I've used much lower priced earphone of much better sound quality in the past and would strongly recommend against purchasing these!
solid investment 2008-08-18
If you're an audiophile like me, you will appreciate the incredible dynamic range that this set of headphones is capable of resolving. You will hear every minor detail in your music (which can be a bad thing if you have bad digital copies) in a crisp and warm tone. I am very happy I purchased these headphones and sincerely recommend them to anyone who wants to go 'a step further'. Enjoy.
In-ear head phones (Shure) 2008-07-04
Shure E4c-n Sound Isolating Earphones (Black)
I love these headphones! They are extremely comfortable, secure (they don't fall out), and sturdy (the cables are thick enough to give me confidence that they aren't going to break anytime soon). The sound is also excellent. I have tried many headphones (in-ear)and none of them meet all of the criteria I have described here. Additionally, they are the best sound-proofing headphones that the market offers (in my opinion). They seemed a bit expensive when I ordered them, but after wearing them for a week, I believe that they are worth every penny!!!
Thank you Shure!!
