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Etymotic Research ER-4S Consumer Headphones
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Etymotic Research ER-4S Consumer Headphones
34 reviews   4.59 of 5

Product Description

Price Paid:  $270.00 from Headroom Corp

Summary

When my Sennheiser 580 finally succumbed to the repeated abuse of being tossed around on long intercontinental flights, I decided that my next headphones would have to be much, much smaller. In came the ER/4S. My initial comment upon putting the ER/4S on was, 'boy are these things uncomfortable.' Hooking up the phones to my Headroom Supreme amp, I was slightly disappointed at the sound quality. The ER/4S are good, but not quite as good as the 580. After a few days, the situation improved. My ears got accustomed to the feel of the white rubber plugs and the ER/4S seems to fit better. Like leather shoes, the ER/4S takes some time to break in. And like good leather shoes, the ER/4S gets better over time. Treble sounds became smoother and less grainy. The soundstage expanded and the bass became tighter. Although the Sennheiser 580 edges over the ER/4S in terms of smoothness and wide soundstage, the 580's superior performance was limited to quiet listening environments. The ER/4S on the other hand, is more versatile thanks to its sealed design; versatility that I've come to appreciate over the past two years. Compact and efficient enough for a portable CD player to drive, the ER/4S gave me high quality sounds on the move. Plug it into a good quality headphone amp and the ER/4S will give you Hi-Fi quality sounds to satisfy all but the most esoteric audio geek. My only qualm with the ER/4S is that the plastic clip that attaches to the cable is a bit flimsy. At $270, a firmer clip should be provided. Trust me, you do not want to lose the clip. With the foam tips inserted deep into your ear canal, every time the ER/4S's wires bounce or rub against something, your ears will pick up the sound amplified many times over. Try pressing your ear against a table while lightly tapping the table with your fingertips. You'll see what I mean. I would recommend the ER/4S for anyone a high quality headphone/earphone small enough for transport ease. You'll need a dedicated headphone amp to get the most of the tiny phones though.

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Price Paid:  $270.00 from Headroom

Summary

Simply put, these are the best sealed headphones of any type that I've ever heard! After I heard these Etymotic ER-4S's at the Headroom World of Headphones tour, I was so impressed with them that I ordered a pair the day after the show. But when I received my ER-4S's, I had only a portable CD player to try them on. They sound okay, but a little thin and weak, directly from my portable sources (a Panasonic SL-CT470 and a Sony D-EJ1000). But two weeks later, I ordered a Headroom Total Airhead portable amp (which came two days after I ordered it), and then connected it to my Sony CD player. The difference between the ER-4S's sound amped and the same 'phones unamped is like night and day! Amped, the ER-4S delivers clear, rich and articulate sound - from the deepest bass to the highest audible treble, and everything in between. :-O No more of that boomy, muddy, honky, tinny, crappy sound that I've usually associated with larger headphones. But before you indulge yourself in this luxurious sound, your source must be up to the task of driving these 'phones. Most newer portable players can barely drive them to adequately loud levels - and then these headphones often reveal the true mediocrity of such portable jacks. Also, you may find that some of your favorite recordings sound crappy, as well! (Don't blame the ER-4S's; blame the way those "crappy" recordings had been mastered or re-mastered.) And getting a proper seal on these canalphones takes some getting used to: If you don't get a good seal with any Etymotic canalphones, they will sound as if they have all highs and no bass. But with a proper seal, they will certainly block out most external noises - useful when listening in a noisy plane, train or bus. But such extreme isolation may be hazardous when walking around outside. :-P And don't even try wearing these 'phones on a bike! :-X So, if you must have the best sealed headphones, and you have good equipment, then the Etymotic ER-4S is for you. Etymotic Research also makes a portable-friendly version of these canalphones, called the ER-4P. The ER-4P should be considered only if you want excellent sound directly from an unamped portable. Otherwise, the ER-4S is a better choice.
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Price Paid:  $243.00 from amusicdirect.com


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Summary

Up to now I am disappointed with these earphones.

The first impressions were not good. I've tried the advice from various places about inserting the phones and getting a good seal. When inserted with the white tips the outer flange is just visible on the outside of my ear. That's as far in as I want any object stuck in my ear!

But the sound quality is not reference quality in my view, certainly nowhere near the Sennheiser HD-580s. My perception is the quality is similar to a mid-priced normal headphone: reasonably flat freq response. good dynamic range but not much fine resolution of detail.

For me the ER4S is easily beaten by the Senn. HD-25 and the HD-580/600s are a different class. I'm bewildered by the reviews that place the ER4S as better than HD-600s?!
By the way am using good quality sources plus an X-cans or total airhead amp.

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