The best headphones for me

First of all, let me tried to explain a bit about my experience with the other 20+ pairs of headphones I bought over the years. I've tried the one that cover my entire ears (Bose On Ear Headphones) which is probably the most comfortable headphones I had before I decided to buy Shure SE210. Problem with that design is that it's not very practical to use when you go out. I seem to have problem with the On Ear Headphones everytime I stop using them because I don't have any place to put it unless I was wearing a jacket (which is a very rare occasion since I'm living in Las Vegas now). The headphones are too big to put inside my pocket so after a while, I was tired of it and stop using them when I go out. I've also tried regular earbuds (iPod and Creative earbuds). Problem with these earbuds is that they fell off almost every 2 minutes or everytimes I turned my head. Some people suggested that I should try different size earbuds (I also have one of the Altec Lancing earbuds that came with 3 different size covers supposely to fit different sizes of ears). Still, it just doesn't work for me. I finally realized that the pieces of my left ear that suppose to support underneath the earbuds are too widely apart. Therefore, the earbuds just can't stay on my left ears. My right ear, however, seems to be normal and hold the earbud quite well but who want to listen to music with just one ear??

So, I tried the neckband design (Sony) which was too big to put away when not in use. I tried over the ear design (Philips) which was probably best fit for my ears since they hook on top of my ears instead of rely on my ear canals to support them. However, the cord seems to tangle everytime I put it in my pocket and it usually took me 5 minutes to untangle the cord before next use (all my earbuds have the same problem except the Alect Lancing that use harder material to make the cord and for some reason, it never tangle).

Finally, I was so tired of the cord issue so I went and tried bluetooth headphones (Sony and Motorola). The Motorola headphones was very cool design (look very futuristic). Unfortunately, it kept pressing on my ears for support and gave me a headache everytimes I used them. The behind the neck desing means it was also too big to put away when not in use (again) and I can't even put on a jacket without the collar pushing up to the neckband and caused the head phones to move. Sony wasn't much better since they have a very old over the head design. And if you think Shure SE210 has bad sound quality, wait till you try bluetooth headphones.

So, what choice do I have left then? I was looking for a headphones that at least stay on my ears (nevermind the sound quality yet, just please stay on my ears first). I was looking for a headphones that small enough to put in my pocket when not in use. I was looking for a headphones with cord that is not require me to untangle it before use everytime. And of course, a reasonable sound quality would be nice.

I was almost gave up though since it was so hard for me to find a headphones that met my requirement. Fortunately, I was at the CES show this year and a Shure representative show me how to put the SE210 in my ears properly. The minute that I had these headphones in my ears, I know that the search (after almost 15 years) was finally over. When insert properly, I didn't even realize that I had headphones inside my ears. It's light and very comfortable. I even tried to run with it and it's never fell off even though it wasn't designed for sport use. It was so small just any other earbuds so when I'm not using them, I just wrapped it around my iPod and put it away in my pocket. The cord was also thick and never tangle (I really like that part). The choices between short and extension cord was nice too especially when I put my MP3 player in my shirt pocket. By far, these are the most comfortable, most compact and most portable headphones I've ever had.

Now, I heard so many people complaint about sound quality. Personally, I think this is about as good as it gets for speakers this small. It's true that some speakers can be small and provide better sound quality (such as Bose In-Ears Headphones). But we're talking about portable headphones, not home theaters, and I think being most comfortable to use and very portable should be considered too. I also have Bose In-Ear Headphones which I have to adjust the position of the headphones to make them stay in my ears at least twice every 15 minutes (granted though, it's usually stay in my ears longer than the Apple, Creative and Altec Lancing earbuds). However, I can go on all day with the Shure SE210 without having to touch them at all (just tried that recently when I went out camping, the SE210 stay in my ears through the whole 7 hours hiking without being adjusted at all).

Anyway, I can't say enough how good these headphones are. If you don't like them, you don't like them no matter what I said. It just that I have had such a good experience with it and I would like to share my opinion with those who are thinking about getting these pairs. For me, it's very well worth $150 that Shure asked for.