leftism11's Full Review: Etymotic Research ER-4S Consumer Headphones
After having a pair of Grado SR-225s for over a year, I was still seeking a pair of headphones that I could use when traveling or working at a client site. As a computer programmer, I like to listen to music while I work, but don't want to carry my Grados around and also don't want to disturb my neighbors in the cubicle farm at work. And, of course, I just can't settle for poor sounding headphones.
After reading many reviews of the Etys, I decided to fork out the considerable amount of cash for the ER-4Ss and a Total AirHead amp from HeadRoom (www.headphone.com). Although they don't suit my tastes quite as perfectly as the Grados (I'll explain), they are wonderful "earphones" and have a few benefits that make them invaluable for me.
First, the sound. The Etys have a very natural, flat response with somewhat restrained bass and clear, detailed mids and highs. They rival the SR-225s and Sennheiser HD590s in terms detail, in my opinion. I think they have a more natural sound than the Grados and a more dynamic sound than the Sennheisers (although I have not heard a pair of the HD590s with an amp). And one very interesting characteristic of the Etys is the imaging--although quite different than headphones, it is truly incredible.
As for my personal preferences, I love the amazing dynamics of the Grados, from the strong bass to the enhanced mids and super-crisp slightly bright highs; however, I recognize that this is not necessarily fidelity, which is where the Etys really excel with their natural and warm sound. I always use the Etys with the Total AirHead amp, and typically connect to my laptop to listen to MP3s. I also always keep the AirHead processor turned on, as it enhances the lows, dramatically warms the mids, and enhances the imaging effect of the Etys. The bass response is perhaps the only slight disadvantage, as the Etys are not good at reproducing the strong, heavy bass of some rock, pop, or rap songs. But the bass is definitely solid and tight, the voices are smooth and natural, and the highs are detailed and clear. With that said, if you listen to booming rap, death metal, or other bass-heavy music, the Etys may not be the best choice for you in terms of sound.
The imaging of the Etys is like nothing I have ever experienced. Hook them up to a Total AirHead with an REM song and you will hear Michael Stipe's voice resonating INSIDE your head. His voice seems to float at eye level inside of my head with such incredible realism that I feel like I'm diving through the sound. The guitar and bass sound as if they are located inside of my jaw, where the piano and percussion sound like they are hovering just inside each of my ears. Great speakers that I have listened to let me close my eyes and hear the instruments 10 feet away so that I can point to them. The Grados give me a soundstage about a foot or two around from my head. The Etys go a step further and make my head the concert hall. I haven't spoken to any other Ety owners about my experience or this apparent effect, but I've been an audio enthusiast for many years, and it is definitely an authentically unique and wonderful sound.
Next, the portability. There simply are no other headphones that can match the portability of the Etys while providing anywhere near the quality of sound. Just roll them up, drop them in the provided pouch, and off you go. The pouch fits in a shirt pocket and stows perfectly in my laptop bag along with the Total AirHead. I am constantly driving from place to place and occasionally fly from California to New York and always have them with me.
Finally, one of the best things about the Etys is the 'earphone' design that blocks outside sound and in turn, keeps the music in your ear. I don't have to listen to the bickering, ringing phones, or other noise around me while working, and my coworkers don't hear a single thing. It lets you keep the volume much lower and you can hear the music better--it's amazing how much noise you are confronted with when you take them out of your ears.
And now the unexpected, and wonderful bonus of the earphone design. If you ever fly on a plane, the Etys are worth every penny. I have flown twice from Los Angeles to New York since buying them, and the Etys were the only thing that kept the flight bearable. Two aisles in front of me were two very loud kids and sitting next to me was some couple that talked for 6 hours straight during the flight. Flying on JetBlue, I plucked the Etys out of my pocket and put them into my ears. Instantly, the roar of the engines disappeared. Kids? What kids? Jabbermouth to the right? I can't hear him. Then I plug into the armrest and flip through the DirectTV channels without disruption, listening to Emeril, TLC, THC, and CNN. It was wonderful. Pure bliss compared to the cacophony around me. So despite my headache, my sore butt, and my lack of sleep, I was content. And every time I had to take them out to head to the bathroom or ask for a drink, I appreciated them even more, since the roar of the engines would hit me as soon as they left my ears.
Even if you are simply a frequent flyer but not an audio enthusiast, then you owe yourself the Etys and a good portable MP3 player. They will be worth every penny after just one long flight. If Etymotic Research marketed to frequent flyers, they would sell like crazy.
One last point that I would like to make is regarding the proper fit of the Etys. If they sound tinny, lack bass, or generally sound bad, then you definitely do not have them in your ears properly. Do not despair--they do sound good, but you just need to get a good fit. I personally cannot get the white rubber tips to fit well in my ears at all. But the gray foam eartips fit me wonderfully, fitting snugly and providing an excellent seal to block out sound and enhance the bass. Make sure to try both, be patient, and figure out the best fit for you.
Oh, which reminds me--you can listen to these for hours in perfect comfort and will forget you have them in your ears. My coast-to-coast flights took that test to the extreme, and they are far more comfortable than any other headphone that I have tried. No pressure on your head or ears, they don't feel hot on your ears, and they are feather light.
Hope this was helpful. I, for one, will never travel without them again!
antonline Search PN Continental US Orders Only. Store Search Search by SKU/PN Store Pages Payment Terms and Shipping Info Store Policies About the Sel...More at eBay
ER-4S Stereo earphone have the most accurate frequency response for reproducing CD and MP3 recordings. The sensitivity is comparable to home and profe...More at PCNation
The ER 4 MicroPro earphones are the next best thing to live music, with noise isolation far surpassing that of active noise-canceling earphones. The E...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.