The Shure SE115s are a new entry-level set of in-ear headphones. The SE115s are quite similar to the other headphones in their series (SE210s, SE420s, SE530s, etc.), but come with fewer extras. They only come with three sets of foam sleeves and three sets of soft plastic sleeves, where other entries come with a few additional sleeves and some optional, in-line accessories. The SE530s, for example, come with an optional volume changer and remote & mic.

The SE115s carry the same design as the other headphones in their series. They have a modular cord, meaning there's a plug after just a foot of cable. This design allows you to add the forementioned in-line accessories, but we thought the foot of cord set those add-ons a little lower than was comfortable. The SE115s also offer the same Shure design: the headphones are best worn with the cables wrapped around the backs of your ears. If you don't like this style, you can wear the headphones upside-down (so the cables hang downward naturally), which causes the ear buds to stick out. This awkward-looking solution can be remedied by wearing the left ear bud in your right ear and vice versa, but that's obviously not ideal. 

The Shure SE115s are currently available for about $120, although savvy shoppers will be able to find it at a significant discount.

 

Performance  (read the full lab performance results at HeadphoneInfo.com) 
The Shure SE115s had some issues with their frequency response: they fall off significantly towards the high end. They do have a strong, but not boomy, bass response and a decent mid-range. The headphones have very low distortion and great tracking. In terms of isolation, Shure typically does an excellent job with their foam sleeves, and the SE115s follow in this tradition. They also barely leak any sound and are capable of a high decibel output without succumbing to increased distortion. The combination of high isolation, low leakage and high volume make the SE115s great headphones for commuters.
 

Comparisons  (read more in-depth comparisons at HeadphoneInfo.com)
The Shure SE115s are a good set of headphones for their price point, and especially nice if you can find them at a discount. There are a few sets of headphones that out-perform it at this price, such as the Sennheiser MM 50 iPs and CX 300-IIs, but neither should be considered automatically better. The benefit of the SE115s is their modular cord. You can add all sorts of accessories and extensions to them if you so wish. Considering the MM 50 iPs? You can buy the SE115s and the optional remote & mic and match the MM 50 iPs' functionality. Of course, these add-ons all require separate purchases, so you'll pay a price for the versatility. 

Overall, the SE115s are a great option for a set of entry-level headphones.