I'm trying to slim down my carry-ons in order to meet BA's draconian standards during a trip to Copenhagen at the end of next month.

One candidate for the "diet" is my Bose QCIs. Based on searching the previous FT threads on this topic, I've narrowed down my choices to the Shure E3C or the Shure E5C earbuds. (In either case, I'll likely have custom-fitted sleeves made for them.)

There's a big difference in price. (On eBay, approximately $140 vs. $379.) So, my question is: If you're not an hard-core audiophile, and your criteria include blocking out as much noise as possible with comfort, is the E5C really going to be worth the premium?

Thanks for any and all input!

The e5's are IMHO more comfortable than the e2 and e3's.

Sound if also better, but as you said not important unless you are an audio nut...

If you do go for the e2 or 3's then order a set of the flanged covers, you can easilly convert them to use them on these headsets as they are normally only for the e5's.

Both earphones will work just as well with custom earmolds to block out noise. That said, the E5's sound incredible and well worth the extra $$$, but since you mention that you're not a hard-core audiophile, the E3's will be adequate for your needs, and are certainly not slouches in the quality of sound you get from them.

Use Google.com and type in "Shure E3c review" and "Shure E5c review" separately. You will find lots of reviews for either product. I am looking to buy as well and as was learning towards the Shure E3c's due to the cost savings and great reviews.

Stereophile and CNET really liked the E3c's.
http://www.stereophile.com/accessoryreviews/504shure/
http://reviews.cnet.com/Shure_E3c/45...-30612174.html

I have not tried the E5 (though I am tempted at times), but I have recently upgraded from the E2 to the E3 and I'm sure that you will be more than satisfied with the sound you will get from the E3.

My only caveat would be that if you've never used in-ear phones before, they will take a little getting used to. In the beginning, I fussed with them quite a lot, but now, I don't give them another thought. I use the foam inserts and get great isolation on plane rides(I'd even be willing to sit within two rows of an infant now).

I've also read and found myself, that there is a "burn in" period in the beginning, where the phones sound subdued. After listening to them for a while, you will notice one day that they sort of "kick in" and all of a sudden sound really great. I took mine straight away and plugged them into my stereo and left them playing off of the radio, at a high volume, for a day or so before using them. That seemed to shorten the "burn in" time.

I love my e5s as does a colleague that bought them shortly after hearing me rave about them. The best deal I found was on eBay and came with the Shure warranty and overnight delivery. Easy to find as the guy selling them touts both of those features.

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/forum...p?s=&forumid=2 is great on issues such as this

I love my E5's. I traded my Etymotics in for them. The etymotics are also great. For custom earmolds, you can try the ear plug superstore (http://store.yahoo.com/earplugstore/index.html). They are a pretty economical way to get earmolds as you take the impression yourself. I did this for my etymotics and they did improve the sound and noise isolation considerably. I have not done this for the Shures--but I have been enjoying them with the provided triple flange for the best seal and sound quality.

Mike

I love my E3's. There is a big difference between E2 and E3, and well worth the price increase. I could not justify paying three times the amount for E5 over E3.

I do a lot of sound work for bands (as a hobby, not professionally) and have not bought 6 sets of E3 for in-ear monitors. We use them for keys, drums, bass, accoustic guitarists and they all love them. Even the bass players are happy with the low-end response, which is where the E5's outperform the E3's. 6 sets of E3's for under US$800 was managable, 6 sets of E5's at more like US$2700 was not. I bought mine in two lots of 3 off eBay.

The E5's are also more sensitive, at 122dB compared to the E3 at 115dB. But even the E3's 115dB is way more than most over-ear headphones. I have never managed to find the specs on the Bose QC1/2, but expect they are more like 102-105dB. The extra sensitivity of the E5 makes them seem "beefier" at the same output setting on your audio source.

The isolation will be the same for E3 and E5, especially when using custom molds.

The E5's have the "memory fit cable" which helps to hold them in place. This may be helpful if wearing them while sleeping. The E3 cable is much improved over the E1's which they replace. The cable on the E1 was its biggest problem.

So for my money (and it was my own money), the E3 was best value. But if you can affort the extra, the E5 is certainly a very good product.

Thanks for all the great feedback (and the useful URLs). Based on the price (and the reviews --thanks CApreppie and richarddd), and the fact that while I appreciate good sound reproduction, but am not a hard-core audiophile, I'm probably going to end up with the E3Cs.

Y'all have really made this newbie feel welcome!

FWIW; Amazon now has the e2C's on sale for $85 with free shipping.

I love my E3's. When you check around on the web for prices you can usually find someone who will price match that gives free shipping. That was what I did and got mine for $75. They do take some getting used to. My ears were a little sensitive to them for the first flight I used them on. I also recommend that you purchase the separate volume control for them if you are going to use them with the IFE systems on most aircraft as they are way to loud to be comfortable even on the lowest setting.