Digital Trends

Shure SE310 October 23rd, 2007 | by Brandon King

Setup and Use

We tested the SE310s with a selection of jazz, classical, pop, rock, and techno tracks. All music was played through an iPod photo, iPod Classic, and a Creative X-Fi Elite, all of which were in MP3 format and encoded at VBR at 320kbps. We used both iPods because of some reports that the lower end roll off is worse than previous generations. As an aside, we could not tell much difference between the two iPods listening to the same track.

The general sound signature is punchy on the low end, offering plenty of energy and accuracy. Granted, there is a lack of boom and atmosphere on the low side, which is typical of single driver in-ear-monitors. (We have no doubt that the dual-driver models will fare better.) The highs are nice and accurate, but not shrill, and the mids sound clear. The balance across the spectrum is very smooth, and the soundstage adequately distant, but not too far away. Even the stereo effects are better than what we’ve heard in other options. Happily as well, the sound is not fatiguing, which can be a problem when isolated from environmental noises.

As for the “weakest” performing genres, think Classical and Jazz. Mind you, we only use the term weakest because across the board, these little buggers surprised us in their overall top-notch quality. Classical music lacked a little atmosphere during quiet, bass-heavy lulls. Likewise, the slight low-end roll off made live jazz recordings a little less unique to the venue they were performed in.

The Shure SE310 canalphone come with a nice thick cable

Rock and acoustic music fared very well though, with plenty of punch and energy. Fingers sliding across strings and the nuances of the instruments are easily discernible, while providing a comfortable soundstage. Pop, techno, and other synthesizer-heavy music sound excellent too. Of course, we have become used to a slightly different sound signature from months of listening to dual-driver canalphones, and in comparison, the SE310s sound slightly flat. However, after a few weeks we warmed up to the differences in signatures, despite never feeling as if the SE310s had a distinct character that they could call all their own.

The responsiveness to different frequencies creat an across-the-board excellent signature, but no single stand-out performer. This can be both a good and a bad thing. On the positive side, the SE310s can handle anything you throw at them, but on the negative side, people with very specific musical tastes might fare better with a more strongly-biased option. In other words, if you’re looking for a good present for someone whose musical preferences are mostly unknown or ambiguous, don’t worry too much… the SE310s will not disappoint.

Of course, the suggested retail price of $299 USD for a single-driver model is a little too steep – we would be happier to see an asking fee around $175-$200 USD. That said, it shouldn’t be a total deal-breaker. Afterall, these are the best sounding single driver canalphones we’ve heard.

Conclusion 

The Shure SE310s are the best single-driver canalphones we have auditioned to date. While they lack a unique signature and sound slightly flat, overall performance was excellent. The design showcases the maturity of Shure’s place in the market, and the new ear sleeves are the most comfortable we have used. The build quality feels solid, the fit is great, and we have no reservations about recommending the SE310s to anyone in the canalphone market… presuming, that is, you can afford them.

Pros:

• Excellent sound
• Comfortable design
• Adjustable cord length

Cons:

• Single driver design
• High price