Shure SE215 IEMs?

Hactar · #1 02-08-2012, 09:27 PM

I am looking for a set of IEMs that can also work as earplugs and are also good for casual music listening.
I don't have a lot of money to spend.

The Shure SE215s look quite nice. $100, detachable cables, a variety of tips.

Can anyone weigh in on these? Also open to other suggestions, but keep in mind, I'm on a bit of a budget.

Much appreciated.

MK1 · #2 02-09-2012, 05:05 AM

I would not recommend them at all if you are planning to use them with bass, they are quite poor for that use. If you can afford them you can get a set of Future Sonic Atrio M5s for about $160 on amazon, these seem to be pretty well respected here. When I switched from the SE215 to my Westone UM2s it made a world of difference. Using the 215s I could only have the lead singer, his guitar, and my bass otherwise I could not hear my bass at all (even then it was a struggle), but when I switched to the Westones I was able to add anything I wanted without fear of losing myself in the mix.

Hactar · #3 02-10-2012, 07:47 AM

How well do the Atrio M5s function as earplugs?
Also, they don't appear to have detachable cables

Oh, and how well do the SE215s work as earplugs?

Thanks

MK1 · #4 02-11-2012, 07:44 AM

I guess I should ask exactly what your goal in using these is. Are you trying to use them as earplugs without anything plugged in? Will you be monitoring bass? As far as isolation goes the biggest factor in that will be how good of a seal you get when wearing them. The best solution is custom molded IEMs, but that would be way out of your budget, the next best solution in my experience is the silicon triple flanged tips.

Hactar · #5 02-12-2012, 11:19 AM

As far as use goes, I would like to be able to use them as IEMs and occasionally as earplugs. And also for casual music listening, possibly on-the-fly mixing.

WaltsSound · #6 02-17-2012, 05:30 PM

I use them and a pair of se425, what they can handle all depends on what's driving them, if you're using a pos PSM200 no u can't run hardly anything cuz they have like no power, if you run wired with a decent headphone amp then no prob. Btw out of the Shure SEs the 215s actually have the most bass... u can google RTA graphs and check for urself

Hactar · #7 02-17-2012, 09:55 PM

Thanks very much for the responses.

What would be a very cheap set of custom molded IEMs?

Alien Ears are $160, yes?

Also, could anyone weigh in on Westone UM1s? and Westone 1s? (What's the difference?)

Thanks

Hactar · #8 02-27-2012, 10:36 PM

Bump, still curious about the Westone UM1s vs the Westone 1s.

Can't for the life of me figure out the difference.

**TXLawDawg** · #9 03-17-2013, 08:56 AM

Older thread but, FWIW, I recently purchased the Shure SE 215 IEMs and they handle bass just fine. According to charts I found, they actually have more bass response than some of Shure's higher-priced offerings. They get very good reviews over at head-fi.org which is one place I always go read when researching items like this. For $99, the SE 215s are tough to beat it seems.

Stone Soup · #10 03-17-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXLawDawg

Older thread but, FWIW, I recently purchased the Shure SE 215 IEMs and they handle bass just fine. According to charts I found, they actually have more bass response than some of Shure's higher-priced offerings. They get very good reviews over at head-fi.org which is one place I always go read when researching items like this. For $99, the SE 215s are tough to beat it seems.

I have a pair. They work very well for the price. My problem is getting them to seat in my ears. They sound better to me than the $300.00 M-Audio (ultimate ears) set I had--that I had to replace the cable on three times.

NickfromSOS · #11 03-17-2013, 04:17 PM

I just picked up a set of se215s and i love them. 2 of my bandmates bought sets as well and love them

jmoorewright · #12 03-19-2013, 11:08 PM

I've had a set of 215s for a few months now and am quite happy with them. Isolation is really good once I get a good seal. I find if I roll the tips between my fingers to squash them a bit before inserting, they seal up nicely. They're not as crisp sounding as I might like, but work perfectly well to hear myself.

havlix · #13 03-20-2013, 03:59 PM

In our church band we are all using Sennheiser CX 200 on stage with the Behringer P16 personal mixers. It was cheap, sounds just fine for the price and fits well. It is also important to mention that we have Padtech edrums (Really high quaily) so volume is not a problem.
It feels like on the stage like we were in the studio.

Duke21 · #14 03-25-2013, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hactar

How well do the Atrio M5s function as earplugs?
Also, they don't appear to have detachable cables

Oh, and how well do the SE215s work as earplugs?

Thanks

The SE215 isolate more then the common earplugs.

Duke21 · #15 03-26-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MK1

I would not recommend them at all if you are planning to use them with bass, they are quite poor for that use. If you can afford them you can get a set of Future Sonic Atrio M5s for about $160 on amazon, these seem to be pretty well respected here. When I switched from the SE215 to my Westone UM2s it made a world of difference. Using the 215s I could only have the lead singer, his guitar, and my bass otherwise I could not hear my bass at all (even then it was a struggle), but when I switched to the Westones I was able to add anything I wanted without fear of losing myself in the mix.

I would actually warmly recommend the SE215 for bass playing. They are not as good as other multi driver units out there but if you want to keep the budget down they are the among the best out there.

tbplayer2 · #16 04-12-2013, 07:54 AM

IMO... you will always find bigger, better, faster.

I play bass at church and we all use iems.

The SE215 is good sound isolating and has good bass response. I would say the sound is accurate, not artificially boosted; more bass in the mix means more bass in your ears. Blocks outside sound well. When playing I can feel the stage vibrating when I play, but can not hear anything not fed through the iem.

Good value ($100) and good performance. Suitable for my needs. Highly recommended.