Short answer: the Shure SE215. It ranks #384 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $109; the Etymotic ER3XR ranks #402, rated 2.8/5, and costs $149.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Shure SE215 is the better-sounding choice. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is lifted by about 4.2 dB with low mids up 2.2 dB, giving a warm, full sound that suits rock, pop and hip hop. Watch for: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3 dB low with a 5.9 dB dip near 6.7 kHz, and the top octave is down 2.7 dB, so cymbals and air sound dull.
The case for the Etymotic ER3XR: At 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and its single balanced armature design keeps things simple. The tradeoff: In oratory1990’s measurement treble falls about 8.5 dB below target from 6 to 16 kHz, with a 13.1 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals sound dull and fine detail fades.
Buy the Shure SE215. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Etymotic ER3XR and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Shure SE215 | Etymotic ER3XR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.00 | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #384 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #402 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.78 dB standard deviation | 3.48 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.78 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 17 ohms | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB SPL/mW | 102 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 22Hz - 17.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Shure SE215 compares with other leading options:
- Sennheiser IE 40 Pro vs Shure SE215
- iBasso IT01S vs Shure SE215
- FiiO FH3 vs Shure SE215
- BGVP DN3 vs Shure SE215
- Shure SE215 vs Jabra Elite Active 65t
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Shure SE215: $109.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is lifted by about 4.2 dB with low mids up 2.2 dB, giving a warm, full sound that suits rock, pop and hip hop. A 17 ohm impedance and 107 dB SPL/mW sensitivity make it easy to drive from a phone, and the single dynamic driver keeps the design simple. Upper mids sit right on target, so vocals are not pushed back.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3 dB low with a 5.9 dB dip near 6.7 kHz, and the top octave is down 2.7 dB, so cymbals and air sound dull. The warm balance can make the mix feel thick. The iBasso IT01S and the FiiO FH3 both have higher ratings.
Full Shure SE215 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2011 (15 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.78 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 22Hz - 17.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 17 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.78 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 174 Hz | -4.6 dB | 0.68 |
| Peak | 811 Hz | +3.1 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 3,430 Hz | +3.8 dB | 4.37 |
| Peak | 6,943 Hz | +5.4 dB | 2.76 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,725 Hz | +8.1 dB | 1.13 |
| Peak | 5,056 Hz | -10.9 dB | 2.93 |
| Peak | 7,269 Hz | -6.3 dB | 3.47 |
| Peak | 2,278 Hz | -2.1 dB | 2.94 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Etymotic ER3XR: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: At 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and its single balanced armature design keeps things simple. The warm, treble-shy balance fits listeners who are sensitive to sharp highs and want nothing glaring up top. It rates above the Jabra Elite Active 65t and Master & Dynamic MW07 at a similar price.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement treble falls about 8.5 dB below target from 6 to 16 kHz, with a 13.1 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals sound dull and fine detail fades. Sub-bass drops 6 dB below target by 30 Hz, and both the Shure SE215 and FiiO FH3 rate higher for less money.
Full Etymotic ER3XR review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.48 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,475 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.67 |
| Peak | 1,644 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.62 |
| Peak | 167 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 877 Hz | +2.4 dB | 1.64 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,614 Hz | -1.8 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 5,600 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -0.2 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 4,774 Hz | -0.5 dB | 3.58 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons