Shure E2c, pain in the ear, what to do?
 

I am disappointed after a recent MR with my newly purchased E2c ear buds. I just purchased them from Amazon and used them around the house for a few days before heading out on a MR to FRA. I was excited about taking it as my experience at home had been very positive. I settled in on the red eye from SEA to DFW put them in and found the noise blocking to be fine and the music very clear. However as we began to descend my right ear began to throb. This became very noticeable and I had to start rubbing the side of my head. I had taken the ear buds out by then (my left ear was fine though) and the pain continued a bit even after we landed. After a short stay in DFW it was back on to FRA. My ear was fine by then so I just figured it was one of those things. But the same thing happened on the way into FRA, again right ear only. I decided to use a different headset on the way back and had no problem.

So now I am a bit scared to use the Shure set on flights, the primary reason I bought them, even though I think they did great at home. I have another trip in a couple of weeks (within the 30 day refund window) should I try them again or just send them back before I do any damage to my ear? Has anybody else experienced something like this?

I had pretty much the same.

It can be a wrong size ear foam or gel.

What I ended up doing is ordering the Triple Flanged ear rubbers off the Shure website, and using them for my e2C's. Even though they are not made for the e2's they fit just fine (after cutting a tiny bit off the end of them).

Thanks ScottC. I remember you saying that before I will have to order that now.

The modification is really simple.

If you look at them:

http://music1online.com/shpatrflsl1p.html

Then you'll see that the tube on the end is too long, snip a little bit off them, and slide them on the hardphones, they will be pretty tight, but they do fit.

ScottC, Do you still use the wax protector.

Do you like those better than the yellow foam ones? I'm pretty happy with the foams for my E3cs, except for the fact that they have to be replaced every so often, but haven't tried the triple flange. Maybe I should.

A business associate of fifteen years recommended some $24.22 Sony ear buds. He has a pair of the Shure's for home, but did not want to travel with them.

His bottom line feeling, save your money and buy the Sony's. The specific model is Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia Headphones (I ordered some on Amazon, but they haven't arrived yet).

Nope...

I've got the e3c's with a similar problem. Another easy solution is to just wiggle the little buggers for a few seconds every few minutes during descent. You just need to do it a little bit to pop the seal which builds up and equalize the air pressure.
The problem is a testament to how completely these things seal in your ears when properly inserted!

ScottC--whats your opinion on the triple flange's noise reduction? Are they better than the hard plastic and foam ones that come with the E2Cs?

I currently use the clear hard plastic ones because they are easier to wash and keep clean than the foam ones. The left ear fits really well, but the right ear one for some reason always needs to be readjusted and doesn't fit as comfortably.

Thanks!

I think the triple flange give the best sound isolation of all the tips. A reviewer on Head-fi.com tried all tips and custom ear molds. He ended up using the triple flanges. Just remember that the reason Shure offers so many different options is that everyone is different.

I have never had such a good seal that I get earaches from ascent or descent. The positive side of this is that you are getting the best sound and bass response. You obviously know the negative side. Sounds like you should either follow the previous suggestion of breaking that seal or not using them during descent, or try a different ear adapter that might not give such a tight seal.

The Sony earbuds might give ok audio quality, but they don't seal into the ear and hence don't have the sound isolation performance of the Shures. Of course that also means they won't have the OP's problem of creating a pressure zone inside the ear.

But I use the Shures for the noise isolation properties while flying and will continue to use them rather than move to non-isolating ear buds like the Sony's.

The yellow foam sleeves supplied in the Shure Fit Kit may breath more than the plastic sleeves with a good seal.

Kind of weird quoting myself...

Anyhow... I got the Sony's two days ago and find them quite comfortable. Two of the three rubber plugs fit well. However the sound quality is clearly inferior to that heard in the Apple earphones which came with my Ipod Mini. Not enough bass response, no matter how much I adjust them in my ear.