Headphones
Etymotic ER-4S
The first and still amongst the very best audiophile in-ear headphones, the Etymotic ER-4S delivers outstanding acoustic performance and ultimate clarity at this price. These earphones are exquisitely flat in frequency response and have been employed by location recording specialists and stage musicians for decades. Somewhat inefficient and power-hungry at a stiff 100 Ohms impedance, listeners should consider a headphone amp for maximized detail with iPod/iPad/iPhone and portable sources -- or select the low-impedance, slightly warmer-toned ER-4P model for non-amped mobile applications.
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Product Features:
- Exquisitely neutral with pristinely well-extended mids & highs
- The original 'audiophile' in-ears providing top isolation / noise-blocking ability
- Variety of eartips ensure a perfect ergonomic in-ear fit similar to earplugs!
- Surprisingly durable with replaceable earpiece filters for long use life
- Manufactured in the USA
What's In The Box:
- hard case
- travel pouch
- 1/4" adaptor
- 3 pair silicon tips
- 5 pair foam tips
- 2 pair replacement filters
- filter removal tool
- shirt clip
It's hard to imagine that such superb sound can come from such tiny earpieces, but trust us: these ER-4S in-ear headphones are a traveler's best friend. "Extremely detailed across the entire musical spectrum", "well-balanced", and "amazing highs" are just a few phrases used around here to describe the audiophile sound of the Etymotic ER-4S. A lovely sonic check-out from the hectic & noisy 'real world' is what the Etys promise—and they will deliver. The minimum -23dB of isolation leave the ER-4S unrivaled by any over-ear headphone or by active "noise-canceling" headsets. Wearing comfort with all in-ear headphones depends solely on your ear canals—85% of people find the design fairly comfortable to wear—and if you find the stock eartip selections too uncomfortable to deal with, one can always get audiologist-customized molds made exclusively for your ears and this model by the audiology labs at Etymotic or Sensaphonics Labs. Acoustically, the ER4S presents a very well-extended midrange & ultra-clear treble response that might qualify as one the very best in the entire in-ear category. However, funk-loving listeners seeking deep bass response might find the Ety sound a tad lean in the bottom-end for their tastes since the tonal approach gravitates toward analytical listeners needing detail clarity above all.
The Etymotic ER-4S are one of the few earphones that can potentially sonically transform under the drive and control of a dedicated portable headphone amp. Their very stiff 100 Ohm impedance rating makes them slightly hard-to-power -- and thus can be somewhat 'flat-sounding' and undynamic when plugged directly into most portable audio players (iPod, iPad, MP3 players) or laptop computers, unless you use a quality portable head-amp like one from our HeadRoom Mobile, Micro, or Desktop series! Please consider the nearly-identical low impedance [27 Ohms] Etymotic ER-4P in-ear model for non-amplified use.
The high-impedance, single driver Etymotic ER-4S provides excellent sound quality while remaining small enough for total traveling convenience. Contrary to popular belief, the chances of hearing damage are actually lessened with in-ears because of their amazing isolation properties—you don't need to turn them up as loud to overcome external ambient noise in order to get full musical clarity and impact. The ER-4S come with two different types of variously-sized earpieces: black foam-material tips and white flanged flex-silicon 'X-mas tree' type eartips. If none of the eartip types works right for your particular ear geometry, you can have customized ear-molds made by any of the audiologists found listed on the Etymotic.com website. The ER-4S package also includes a shirt clip that serves critical dual functions: to keep the tension from the cord off the ears, and to deaden that annoying microphonic "thump" sound made by accidental rubbing/body contact with the earphone cable. The cord terminates to a 1/8" (3.5mm) 'mini' plug with a 5ft cord length; also included is a durable plastic storage case that contains the following: 3 pr white 3-flanged silicon tips; 5 pr black foam tips; 2 green earpiece filters; a filter-changing tool; a shirt clip; a hard-shell carrying pouch; and a handy 1/4" inch adapter to a full-size stereo plug.
Obtaining a good ear canal seal with the Etymotics--or with ANY in-ear earphone--is critically important for best sound quality. Please watch the Etymotic Insertion Video to learn more about proper in-ear earphone insertion techniques.
As a very cool extra, optional custom audiologist in-ear molds for the ER-4 are available via Etymotic. Any customer purchasing an Etymotic product can register their product at Etymotic.com; after registering, you'll print a voucher from the Etymotic site, then schedule an appointment with an audiologist in the Etymotic network (which can be located through the Etymotic website by entering your zip code). Then take the voucher to the audiologist appointment, the audiologist takes impressions of your inner ears and sends the impressions -- along with the voucher -- to the Ety labs. Customer pays nothing to the audiologist; the lab will contact you for credit card payment ($100usd); the lab then produces the molds and ships them to the customer with the lab compensating the audiologist. BAM! It's a really easy way to get into 'master-level' sound quality performance and superb personalized wearing comfort at a very reasonable expense.
Specifications:
- Headphone Type: In-Ear
- Connector Type: 1/8
- Weight: 1 oz.
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 100 Ohms
- Detachable Cable: Yes
- Cord Length: 5 ft. (1.5 m)
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Coupler Size: Small
- Ear Coupler Type: IEM
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years
- Warranty: 2 years
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Wireless: No
- Isolation: -23dB
- Microphone: No
- Driver Type: Dynamic
Additional Resources:
- Manufacturer's Website
- http://www.etymotic.com/
- Product Manuals
- ER-4S Manual
- Product Info
- Inserting your Etymotics Video
- Product Reviews
- thestreet.com Jonathan Blum June 2006
- Customer Comments
- Gundeep Hora Oct 04
- Hardware Pacers Oct 2004
- Dans Data August 2004
- Bruce and Jenny Bartlett October 1997
- Soundstage! Greg Smith February 1998
- Stereophile Wes Phillips July 1995
- Mens Health Article
Average Rating
Posted by babbkutz from New Jersey, the Garden State on 2011-09-08
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: neutral
Cons: none
2 out of 3 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Posted by Zeus from Winchester, VA on 2011-08-04
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Accurate tonal balance, excellent value
Cons: Some find them uncomfortable; microphonic cable
While a few other headphones offer somewhat better definition than the ER-4S, it definition remains -- as it has long been -- among the best.
However, the ER-4S shines most brightly in the accuracy of its tonal balance. While they've been criticized as lacking bass, if inserted and driven properly the ER-4S is flat to below the lowest note on a string bass and close to flat an octave below that. Their only significant flaw is an elevation above 10,000 Hz.
After listening to other 'phones -- even 'phones I love -- listening to the way the ER-4S reproduces each instrument in an orchestra or jazz ensemble is always a joy. Putting on the ER-4S, I often think, "That's what [that trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, string bass, drum kit, voice, violin, viola or cello ] really sounds like."
Other 'phones have their virtues (and I have friends who, despite being careful listeners, dislike the tonal balance of the ER-4S). Still, if you're looking for 'phones that -- for $300(!) -- portray instruments with unique accuracy, these may be for you.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by crispy98007 from Bellevue, WA on 2010-07-12
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Still the industry standard
Cons: Can be uncomfortable after long periods, long break-in period, keep spare filters handy!
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?
