The Battle of the Buds
4. Shure E3g
The E3g’s are the little brother to the E4g’s. They are smaller in size and lower in cost. They sit as the “middle child” of the lineup. Here is the official line from Shure:
Sound Isolating Technology
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.
Speaker Type: WideBand MicroDrivers
The E3g's speakers are constructed with studio-grade components to produce exceptional audio clarity, delivering detailed highs and enhanced bass that allows you to hear parts of your music you've never heard before.
Personal Fit Kit
Because every ear is different, E3g Earphones come with a pair of disposable Foam Sleeves, three pairs (small, medium, large) of Flex Sleeves, and three pairs of Soft Flex Sleeves (small, medium, large) to ensure the ideal personalized fit.
Secure In-Ear Design
The soft, flexible sleeves in the Fit Kit, gently contour to the inside of your ear to create a comfortable, secure fit, so that the earphones don't fall out while exercising.
Lightweight Construction
Weighing only 28g (0.9 oz), the E3g are among the lightest earphones on the market.
Earphones Carrying Case
The E3g comes with a stylish, compact carrying case. The cable spool inside, provides a convenient, tangle-free way to store your earphones.
E3g Technical Specifications
| Speaker Type: | Wideband MicroDriver |
| Sensitivity (at 1kHz): | 115dB SPL/mW |
| Impedance (at 1kHz): | 26 Ohm |
| Cable Length: | 1.45m (57 inches) |
| Net Weight: | 28g (0.9 oz) |
| Input Connector: | 3.5 mm (1/8") gold-plated stereo plug |
Design: The E3g’s are similar to the E4g’s. They are smaller and lighter than the E4g’s, however. These earphones also sit inside the ear and are angled for a tight fit into the ear canal. Like the other Shure earphones, they are meant to be worn “upside down” with the cord around the back of the ear.
Comfort: I found these earphones even more comfortable than the E4g’s. Perhaps it was due to the fact that they were lighter, perhaps it was that they were a bit smaller. I found that I could wear these Earphones for hours on end with very little discomfort. The Sound Isolation is just as complete as with the E4g’s.
Sound Quality: These Earphones are more than $100 cheaper than the E4g’s, so I was trying to figure out how much sound you lose for a hundred bucks. Well, the answer is not a whole lot at all. I found the bass not quite as deep as the E4g’s and that was to be expected. The E3g’s employ a Wide-Band Micro Driver as opposed to the High Definition Driver with the tuned port used in the E4g’s. What does that mean? The highs were crystal clear. The vocals were smooth – not as smooth as the more expensive E4g’s – but plenty smooth. The Bass was very tight. While it wasn’t as deep, I found it a bit more “realistic” to listen to.
When hooked up to the PSP, the sound quality was just awesome. In short, I don’t hear a hundred dollar difference – but maybe the audiophile will find enough to justify the added expense of the E4g’s.
Conclusions: The Shure E3g’s are fabulous Earphones. They sit comfortably in the Ear and they sound incredible. The difference between the sound of these Earphones and lesser models, truly has to be heard to be believed. At US$199.00 MSRP and available for less than that on the web – these are more economical than their big brothers and fit into the “sweet spot” of most people’s budget.
Overall Grade : A
Pros: Very light and comfortable, great sound, reasonably priced
Cons: Bass is good – but not as good as the more expensive E4g’s
MSRP US$199.00
