Headphones
Etymotic HF5
Etymotic HF5 is the 'fifth' generation of audiophile in-ear headphone technology from Etymotic Research. Bringing much of the sound quality of their top-level reference ER4 series down to a lower price, the HF5 fully deliver Ety's signature accuracy and musical clarity. Deep earplug-like fit ensures the best isolation versus any other headphone type, and their low impedance means clean acoustics directly from your portable player of choice. Pick your color.
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Product Features:
- Precision-matched balanced armature drivers offer closest sound to upscale ER4
- Tough-built construction with Kevlar cord for extra durability
- Nearly total isolation/noise-blocking from deep 'earplug-like' fit
- Custom-fit audiologist voucher easily available via Etymotic after purchase
- Choose from 3 bold colors
What's In The Box:
- 4 pr of assorted Etymotic eartips
- Etymotic filter replacement tool
- Extra HF5 replacement filters
Applications:
Etymotic Research (Etymotic meaning "true to the ear") remains one of the earliest originators of in-ear technology and their HF5 model continues Ety's famous tradition of phenomenal musical clarity, precision tonal accuracy and a deep in-ear seal delivering near-total external noise-blocking ability. The HF5 possess amongst the best-rendered upper mids/highs detail resolution possible at this price along with a slightly fuller -- but still very tightly controlled -- bass presence than is typically heard from earlier incarnations of Etymotic headphones. The HF5 in-ear canal fit is also a bit shallower and easier to work with versus the Etymotic 'ER' audiophile counterparts, although the HF5 earpieces do tend to stick out from the ear canal just a bit more. That tiny ergonomic quirk aside, the smooth high-definition sonics of the HF5 are impressive. Perfect choice for iPod, iPad or MP3 players due to the HF5's very sensitive low-impedance efficiency, so no portable headphone amp is needed. The Etymotic HF5 offers a wonderfully engaging, wholly satisfying sound perfectly nestled between mediocre 'entry-level' approaches and 'shock & awe' priced ultra high-end earphones.
The three colorful Etymotic HF5 choices in Ruby Red, Cobalt Blue, and Matte Black give a fresh nod to the style demands of modern times -- it's not just boring shades of grey anymore, folks! Full selections of replaceable Etymotic eartip sleeves ensure the most comfortable fit, best noise-blocking ability, and strongest bass response so definitely try all the provided pairs to find the best ones for your ears. As a very cool extra, optional custom audiologist in-ear molds for the HF5 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 great wearing comfort at a very reasonable expense.
Specifications:
- Microphone: No
- Sensitivity: 105dB
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 year
- Headphone Type: In-Ear
- Weight: Less than 1 oz
- Connector Type: 1/8
- Isolation: -35dB ~ -42dB
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 16 Ohms
- Detachable Cable: No
- Cord Length: 4 ft
- Ear Coupler Type: IEM
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Driver Type: Balanced Armature
Additional Resources:
- Product Reviews
- Stereophile, Wes Phillips
- Steve Guttenberg September 2010
Average Rating
Posted by Happyman from San Lorenzo, CA on 2011-08-23
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Light, great sound, good warranty
Cons: None for me
Second sound. Very nice, accurate, true to Etymotic. I have an amp with 6db of bass boost which though not necessary really completes the sound I like.. You can play around with your equalizer and find something you will like. The build is nice, they have the least microphonics of anything I own and the isolation is as good as it gets short of custom plugs which are available for nearly the price of the buds. Historically Etymotics have a reputation for good longevity. I don't own any other IEM that I'd replace if it died but I'd replace these in a heart beat.
20 out of 23 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by Truzen from Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brazil) on 2011-07-10
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: The sound is perfect (for me); it's discreet, appearing to be not worthy, avoiding thiefs assaults;
Cons: I found it dificult to get the fit that give the perfect sound.
Pros (continuation): It shows a lot of details of the musics.
1- The perfect sound (for me):
I were searching for a portable headphone to hear musics of games and animation series. Some of these musics don't have a good quality (some of them are from games of 16 bit console, but others have a good quality I guess. I don't know exactly because I don't search quality on musics. Then I don't hear them because of how they're good. I hear them because they remember me the good things I could see in the animation and games. Then I don't know if these headphones are a good choice to hear good quality musics. But for me, who was searching for a headphone that offers a true sound in either mid, low and high frequences of the musics I hear, It's perfect.
2- The fit problem (for me):
In the begining, I thought I've made a bad choice because I wasn't getting the true sound I wanted. But that was because I were not getting the perfect fit. Only after more or less 3 days experimenting diferent ear tips and trying to find the perfect fit, I got it. But when I remove the headphones, it's difficult to get the perfect fit when I put them again. Generaly it takes me 10 minutes to get it, and seldom it takes me an hour of patience. But it's worthwhile.
3- Conclusion:
Then these headphones are a very nice solution. With their perfect sound, the fit issue is almost insignificant. There is some sounds in the musics that I hear that I've never heard before with any of the Full Size headphones I owned before.
12 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by LEOOO from Vancouver, BC on 2011-01-14
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Excellent Highs, Very good mids, Fit is fantastic
Cons: Slight Microphonics, Fit is negotiable, Design is simple (opinion)
Source: Cowon O2 with 75 Ohm adapter and Fiio E5 Portable Amp.
Lows: OMG THESE CAN SHAKE MY HOUSE!! Obviously im joking, but the Bass isn't "bad" at all. Bass is weak but its still there. It doesn't shake my head but its still making sound and doing its job. Very little Air movement going on in this earphone. If you LOVE bass, go look somewhere else.
Mids: Very good mids. Very clear and precise however, i find the mids a bit... cold.. Im not saying its a bad thing, but you dont really feel the soul in some vocalists like Whitney Houston. But this is Etymotic however. They are known for Cold Precision.
Highs: AMAZING.. Because of the reduction on bass, that leaves room for Mids and Highs. With that, Etymotic made the HF5s very High and Mid oriented. Im going to be honest, im not really a "high" guy, but the HF5s are probally one of the best out there in Highs. The HF5s like being Amped though. Less tiring on the ears then.
Soundstage: Feels like you are in a Small Recording room with your fav band, singer, orchestra, ect.
Fit: DEEEEEEEP. I think the ER stands for Ear Rape XD. Ok im being over expressive, but the fit can get some getting used to. I like them with the Shure Olive foam tips the best.
Build Quality: Come on. Its Etymotic. 2 Years warrenty says it all.
Isolation: I belive the best in class with Etys Tri-Flange tips.
Value: amazing price for this much sound precision.
Conclusion: Best Single Driver earphones ive ever owned?? Amazing with Classical music. Tested with various music types for assurance. Great buy. No Regrets
45 out of 49 people found this review helpful. Did you?
