The EB100's earpieces are easy to insert, and the gel-foam tips provide a good seal that enhances bass output. Unfortunately, the good news ends there, because as good as the bass might be, the midrange and treble frequencies get pushed way into the background. (For readers old enough to remember, the sound is a bit reminiscent of a cassette tape that's been through your car's tape deck a few too many times.) And even in the bass region, you get far less extension than that provided by the Atrio canalphones. Of course, given the super-low price of the EB100, you can't expect audio miracles, and the truth is that no audiophile will be shopping for canalphones in this price range. So Memorex is providing a classic "budget" compromise: decent bass "kick" at the expense of bass extension and better clarity and accuracy throughout the rest of the audio range. The overall sound isn't objectionable; for the non-critical listener with a taste for bass and a very limited budget, the EB100 In-Ear Headphones are worth a try.

The two Shure models I tested are unique in having very short cables--a perfect reach from a shirt pocket to your ears, providing you're not too tall. Each also includes a 2-foot extension cable, which some people will use all the time. Some might question the utility of this design, but I liked the flexibility. The cables themselves are sturdy and seem to be of high quality. Each cable ends in a straight miniplug, and there's an adjustment slider to snug the left and right cables under the chin.

The $120 are near the bottom of Shure's SE line and are available in black, blue, red, and pink. (I tested the pink model, which isn't as garish as you might expect.) Included in the box are five additional pairs of eartips of different sizes, as well as a cleaning tool and a soft carrying case. The SE115's eartips are made of a smooth foam that makes cleaning and insertion easy--no pre-squishing is needed, and I was able to easily get a good seal.

Perhaps the best way to describe the sound of the SE115 is to suggest reading my comments on the Sure SE310, next, and then qualify each of those comments with "just not so much." The overall sound signature is natural, with a good balance across the audible frequency range. However, audio is a bit veiled--not quite as detailed--compared to that of the SE310. Similarly, the highs roll off a bit lower in the frequency range, and the bass thins out a bit higher. Still, the overall sound is not at all bad, and the balanced delivery makes these phones easy to listen to. For someone on a budget without a need for audiophile-level performance, these canalphones, with their solid construction and two-year warranty, are a solid choice.