Headphones
Etymotic ER-4S
One of the first and still remaining of the very best in-ear audiophile headphones, the ER-4S delivers outstanding sonic performance and ultimate clarity at this price. These earphones are exquisitely flat in their frequency response and have been used by professional location recording specialists for decades with little sign of their popularity declining. Somewhat inefficient and power-hungry at a stiff 100 Ohms impedance rating, you should consider a headphone amp for best use with iPods and portable players -- or select the low-impedance, slightly warmer-sounding ER-4P model for non-amped mobile applications.
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Product Features:
- Exquisitely neutral, with pristine and well extended high frequencies.
- Ear canal headphones provide the best isolation of any can.
- Wide variety of tips ensure you'll find a good fit.
- Surprisingly durable with replaceable filters for long use life.
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 objects, but trust us: these ER4S ear canal headphones [ECHs] 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 closed/sealed headphone or by active "noise-cancelling" 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 sleeves too uncomfortable to deal with, one can always get audiologist-customized ear molds made exclusively for you by the good folks over at Sensaphonics or Westone Labs. The ER4S delivers a very well-extended midrange & ultra-clear treble response that might qualify as one the very best in the ear canal headphone category. However, funk-loving listeners who enjoy a big, full bass presence might find the Ety sound signature a tad lean in the bottom-end for their tastes. The ER-4S are one of the few earphones that require a dedicated portable headphone amp to sound their best. Their very stiff 100-ohm impedance rating makes them slightly hard-to-drive--and thus somewhat 'flat-sounding' and undynamic--when plugged directly into most portable audio players (iPods, 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 Etymotic ER-4P model for non-amped use.
The high-impedance, single microdriver 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 the Etys and other ear canal headphones 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 ER4S come with two different types of variously-sized earpieces: black foam-material tips and white flanged flex-silicon 'X-mas tree' type eartips. If you find that neither of these tip types works right for your particular ear geometry, you can have a custom ear-mold made by specialists like Sensaphonics or Westone Labs. The ER-4S also include a shirt clip that serves 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 Etys are terminated to a 1/8" (3.5mm) mini-plug with a 5-ft cord, and come in a nice, plastic storage/maintenance case that contains the following: 3 pairs of white flanged rubber tips; 5 pairs of black foam tips; 2 green internal filters; a filter-changing tool; a shirt clip; a hard-shell carrying pouch; and a handy 1/4" inch adapter to a full-size 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.
Specifications:
- Coupler Size: Small
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years
- Weight: 1 oz.
- Cord Length: 5 ft. (1.5 m)
- Detachable Cable: Yes
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Ear Coupler Type: IEM
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Wireless: No
- Microphone: No
- Connector Type: 1/8"
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
- Headphone Type: In-Ear
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 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!
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Posted by Scott from Rancho Murieta, CA on 2010-04-04
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: comfortable, excellent noise isolation, very accurate
Cons: same lack of low end everybody else complains about
The reviews others have done on the audio quality are accurate so I am not going rehash them. Let me say this; Again mine are 9 years old and have probably 1000's of hours on them 95% of which is in an airplane. They have never failed me, never fallen apart, the cord is original, and they still sound fantastic.
Folks these are some of the original consumer ear buds and they work great. I do not think the ER-6's were even available when I bought these! Anyway I still have 'em and I still love 'em. By the way Etymotics customer service is 2nd to none. You can all a speak to a live person anytime you wish. Though I will clarify that I have never called them about anything to do with my ER-4's. I am also an Ety Com user which I initially had some problems with when I used with my first iPhone hence the customer service comment.
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Posted by VinnieVidi from NYC on 2010-01-24
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: sound, fit, isolation, durability, extras
Cons: not suited for portable listening
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