Ears-on with Shure's SE110 sound-isolating earphones

Any manufacturer typically associated with high-end personal and professional audio attracts our attention when it begins to cater for the average consumer. Just such a manufacturer is Shure, whose SE530 and E500PTH sit with scores on and above 9 out of 10 in our reviews. The company's new SE110s aim to bring its audio expertise to Mr Average Joe and take the entry level crown from its previous owner, the SE210s.

We've been pumping sounds through these new 'phones for a few days and so far, we're pretty impressed. Shure has given the 110s a sturdy construction with professional modular cabling. A supplied fit kit offers a variety of silicon and foam tips, each of varying size, to let you choose the fit that's best for you. The foam tips offer terrific sound isolation and an added pelting of bass.

Upon hitting play on the Dream Theater classic, Dance of Eternity, we noted impressive bass response and punchy mids, notably from Portnoy's well-tuned snare drum. Highs, along with the mids, are clear but lacking the crispness given by Shure's more expensive models. Sure (see what we did there?), this is totally acceptable on a pair of 'phones of this price, and performance on the whole is excellent.

The modular cable design allows you to disconnect the 17-inch earphone cable from the 36-inch extension cable. This is useful for iPod shuffle users who clip the player to their shirt pockets or jacket lapels and don't want a metre of cable flying in their faces. All connectors on these cables are gold-plated to ensure top-notch sound quality. Finally, all the bits and pieces can be stored and carried in a sturdy little carry case that seals with a chunky zip.

No official launch date has been set but Shure tells us we can expect a late October shipping with an RRP of £69.99.

Naturally we'll be putting the SE110s through the rigorous torture test we inflict on all our earphones and you can expect a full review soon. In the meantime, click through for some up close and personal shots of these very promising 'phones.

Update: A full review of the SE110s is now available. -Nate Lanxon

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