Pros: Noise isolation, clear sound, perfect cord length, good looks
Cons: Requires determination to insert properly; value not there for everybody.
The Bottom Line: Some of people won't find these to be worth the money, because they don't have the ear for it. Maybe I'm one of them. Superb for the others, though.
derek_ween's Full Review: Etymotic Research Isolatorâ„¢ ER-6i Consumer Headp...
Ever been in that awkward social situation where somebody wants to "share" an earbud with you so that you can both hear something? I often wonder what exactly makes that so uncomfortable. Is it the idea of intermingling ear-wax? Probably. But another facet of it is the fact that in-ear headphones are really personal posessions...just the fact that the word "insert" is associated with them is a red flag that this isn't the kind of thing to be sharing with the whole neighborhood. And that's exactly what makes writing this review rather difficult. I feel like I've had such a personalized, individual experience with these headphones that my views may not be helpful to others. Oh well...let's go for it anyway.
I realized the flaws of the included Apple earbuds mere days after the purchase of my iPod (a now-obsolete 30gb photo, for the record). The sound was subpar, even to my non-audiophile tastes, and my ears got sore when I had them in for significant periods of time, especially (oddly enough) when I had been laughing or smiling. An audio-snob friend of mine mentioned that he had just picked up a great pair of noise-isolating headphones from Etymotic, but the 140 price tag was more than I could stomach.
Later, a coworker had me try out (inducing the aformentioned social awkwardness) his Sony Fontopia headphones, which can be thought of as a mass-market alternative to Etymotics. Earwax mixing aside, I liked the comfort of an in-canal earphone, and the sound quality was surprisingly impressive (in comparison to Etymotics, however, the Fontopia is much more colored and bass-heavy). I reconsidered my initial judgment and splurged on the Etymotics. The deciding factor was the fact that I was able to get them at nearly *half* of the MSRP through amazon. For some reason (and I find this to be true for a lot of headphones), they can be found online at ridiculously low prices compared to the "official" list price of the company and the price tags at bricks-and-mortar audio retailers.
After a full week of dedicated listening (I use my iPod a lot), I feel ready to hand down my judgment.
The ER-6is come packaged in a extremely unassuming plastic sleeve that has an almond-shaped cross-section. You've probably seen earphones come packaged in this type of thing. Included are the headphones themselves (with a shirt clip attached to the cord), one pair of "tri-flanged" earpieces, one pair of foam earpieces, two replacement filters, a filter replacement tool, and a leather pouch (though I've read the pouch material can vary depending on your country). The instructions are minimal, but nothing is really too hard to figure out. Here's the deal:
The headphones themselves are little plastic nubs with a spout-like nozzle thing sticking out. To this, you slide on your earpiece of choice. The foam pieces are easier to insert properly but get dirty quicker, whereas the tri-flanges are more of a workhorse, everyday option. Tip for beginners: do not try to remove the foam pieces from the little plastic tube that runs down the middle...that's what guides the piece on to the headphones. I know it looks like it won't fit, but it's flexible.
Once you've picked your piece, it's time to insert (see, there's that uncomfortable word again) the phones. Tugging your ear up and back does really help, believe it or not. The key is getting a good seal in your ear canal. Good seal is a subjective term, but when you've got a balanced sound, you'll know you're on the right track. If things seem to trebly or if you can still hear the outside world, then you probably need to readjust. I've read many reviews which suggested cutting the top-most tip off of the tri-flanges if getting a good seal proves difficult...it wasn't for me (again, the subjective experience).
Once you're ready to roll, just sit back and enjoy the quality sound reproduction these babies deliver. May I humbly recommend the stereo-separation-heavy track "Everything In It's Right Place" by Radiohead as a test drive?
The bass is smooth but not overpowering (it was actually boosted somewhat for this model from Etymotic's normal ER-6 line), the highs have good presence, but the real distinguishing factor for me has been the vast improvement of mid-range frequencies compared to standard headphones. This helps vocal clairity and distinctness of middle register instruments (guitar being a huge one in popular music).
Not only does the music sound great, but the outside world is also prevented from meddling. In the back of a loud bus, I can barely hear the rumble of the engine, and the conversations going on around me are totally silenced. You feel much closer to your music with these on than you do with any other headphones (or with your average home stereo, to be honest).
The comfort level for these headphones will vary widely from person to person. Etymotic makes smaller and larger-sized flanged earpieces for those who experience a problem with the included pair, and the foam pieces seem intended as a kind of catch-all solution. Personally, I discovered that my right ear canal is bigger than my left, which means that (a) it's harder to get a good seal, and (b) I feel slight soreness on that side, probably because I need to insert the earphone deeper in order to get the proper sound.
There are cons, of course. The lack of overemphasized bass makes these unsatisfactory for bass-craving hip hop fans. The insertion process is involved enough to make it somewhat difficult to do on-the-fly (for instance, putting them in in-between classes at college is almost not worth the effort depending on how long your walk is). And the trade-off with noise-isolation is the fact that internal sounds (such as you clearing your throat or simply the thud of your foot hitting pavement while you walk) seem much louder.
On the whole, it's very difficult to give these (or any canalphones, for that matter) a perfect rating. The sound is great, but I feel like I can't really appreciate it's full glory since I'm not an audiophile. The design is stellar, but some people just won't like having something stuck that far in your ear. The looks are appealing, but the included carrying pouch is lame and arrived with bad creases in the soft leather exterior. For any positive I think of, I can come up with a concordant negative, although these are certainly smaller in degree of seriousness.
I think these headphones are best left for people who can really recognize quality sound (or would like to try to). For those just in the market for something better than the iPod buds, there are many other, cheaper, options. Bassheads should opt for Fontopias (as should people just looking for cheap noise isolation). Those seeking inexpensive comfort should check out the Sony h.e.a.r. buds, which are super cheap, but seem to stop working after a year or so. Etymotics are really best suited to those with an ear for sonic detail and the dedication to insert them properly. Given that market, they're a magnificent option that I recommend wholeheartedly.
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