Etymotic MC5 are true 'Ety quality' in-ear headphones featuring moving-coil transducer drivers for an intensely clear sound and defined musical detail from any portable audio source. 98% blocking of ambient noise along with a comfortable earplug-like fit delivers outstanding listening privacy even in very noisy environs. The MC5 wallet-friendly price belies the advanced technology girding Etymotic Research products, the originators of audiophile in-ear headphones. Choose your coolest color.Review this product
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Good sound
Posted by gabriel-dan from Dubai, uae on 2012-10-28Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: clear sound, deep bass, good isolation
Cons: none so far
For the price you are paying, the mc5 are great value. The sound is very clear, mids are gorgeus. bass might be lean, but it does goes deep and clear. I do prefer this ones to my klipsch s4. The important thing is to get a good seal. Comfort and seal are good with`comply tips
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Steer well clear
Posted by Animal Chin from Prague on 2012-09-15Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Great noise isolation, Good build quality.
Cons: Uncomfortable after 20 minutes. Horrible sound quality.
This was a bit of an impulse buy at the airport after my old pair broke. Thinking Etymotic stands for quality I chose these... terrible choice. Great noise isolation, but Incredibly uncomfortable after a short time. Sound quality is terrible, whoever thinks these sound good must be hard of hearing. Wish I could get my 80 Euros (airport price) back!
6 out of 11 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Disappointing
Posted by QuarkMuon from Sewanee, TN on 2012-05-01Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Great noise isolation
Cons: Lackluster sound, uncomfortable
EDIT 2:
I got my replacement earbuds within a week. Instead of the soft case that comes with the 'phones, I've started using the hard case that came with my old Super.fi Ultimate Ears, which I'm hoping will reduce the wear and tear somewhat.
EDIT:
I finally started warming up to the sound - quite a bit, actually. So I'll boost the rating up to four stars.
Unfortunately, the cable connection at the base of the Y-splitter seems to have worn out, and now the left driver is fizzling out. I only bought them five months ago. I suppose I'm about to find out of Etymotic's customer service is all it's cracked up to be.
***
I bought these because I needed something that I could take on airplanes or long car rides. The noise blocking is indeed as advertised, so in that sense they do succeed.
Unfortunately, that's about all these Etys have going for them. The sound is fairly well detailed, but, in my opinion, neutral to a fault: there is no warmth, no kick to the sound; I'm not exactly into big, booming bass, but the low frequency response in these earphones is just pathetic, even when I have a good seal. In short, they sound extraordinarily flat and lifeless. The midrange, too, is not as clear as I had been led to believe.
As for comfort: I guess you can take it or leave it. They are IEMs, after all. I have trouble wearing them for long periods of time; it's murder. Perhaps getting some Comply or Olive Foam tips would help alleviate this, but I'm not sure I like these Etys enough to invest the money in them.
The build is so-so. I love the angled plug, but the cable seems flimsy to me.
Unless (like me) you really need good noise isolation and aren't ready to pluck down the cash for the HF5 (which I now wish I had done), I recommend looking elsewhere.
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Try before buy
Posted by Erkka Kulmala from Turku on 2011-09-29Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Build quality, accesories, trebles, isolation
Cons: Really weak bass
Usually I listen music with AKG K241 headphones and Alesis MKII Active studio monitors. I buyed these because I got annoyed by bad manufactured and easily braking in-ear headphones. I want them to last and it feels like Etymotic is right choice for that.
I listen all kind of music from classical to hip hop, jazz, rock and dubstep. Someone said that the lack of bass is only problem in electronic music. Remember that there is bass in classical, jazz, rock, blues and heavy metal as well, not only on electonic music. Bass is common in several type of instruments and when it's missing, you'll be missing it too :)
Isolation is really good and the building quality as well. Also MC5 is nicely accurate in high frequencies.
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Accuracy Over Power
Posted by Samuel J from Chicago, IL on 2011-08-19Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Detailed mids & highs, Build Quality
Cons: Lean bass, Quiet
I've been using the MC5's for almost a year, I believe. This is my first pair of Etymotic IEM's. As a listener, I'm interested in accuracy. The high frequencies are very detailed--vastly superior to my Senn. CX300's or Shure SE310's. Not only are the highs present, but I've really come to appreciate the musical textures in the high frequencies that just weren't produced by other sets I've owned/tried. The mids are just as clear and detailed-very satisfying. I will not deny that the bass is thin compared to most other manufacturer's. If I want to hear strong bass, I'll grab the Maximo IM590's. I do boost the lows on the MC5's when listening on my Cowon J3. A good seal in the ear canal does matter. I like the Comply foam tips over teh included Etymotic tips. I have come to use the MC5's as my go-to IEM's because I prefer the clarity and dtail of teh MC5's over the volume and bass advantages of the other sets I own. When I wear those other low to mid level sets, I feel like I'm not able to hear everything in the music like I can with the MC%'s. With the Comply tips, the MC5's are also the most comfortable IEM's I currently own. I hope this helps.
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Caution! Can get stuck in ear!
Posted by boston from boston, ma on 2011-08-14Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Good sound
Cons: Tip came off and got stuck in ear canal
I rated these three stars only because when I read reviews, I'm more likely to read the mid-range reviews. However, I've had two pairs of these and while the sound and noise isolation are very good (though noise is a problem when the cord comes into contact with clothing), recently when I pulled out one of the ear pieces, the rubber tip detached and I had to go to the hospital to have it removed.
I've searched for this problem online and apparently it is not uncommon. Some reviews have advised twisting to remove them from the ear rather than pulling straight out. Others have said "I always carry a small pair of tweezers with me to use if they get stuck." !! If it were not for this problem I would rate them 4 stars overall (including durability) but this is a total deal-breaker.
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Beware if you are treble sensitive
Posted by El Marco from SF Bay Area on 2011-03-03Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Good Isolation, bass goes fairly low
Cons: Treble way way too strong uncomfortable for long sessions
If your ears are sensitive to treble do not buy these headphones unless you plan to run the audio through an equalizer. They emphasize treble above 6 khz in such a way that recordings with lots of energy in this region are simply overpowering and unpleasant to listen to.
I was getting a good seal with the large 3 flange eartips running these from an iPAD. I also tried the other eartips with similar results. Using the output from a computer sound card (low impedance) also produced the same results.
I am used to listening through Sennheiser HD590's and M-Audio DX4 near field monitors in a sound absorbent small bedroom . It was blindingly obvious that the Etymotic MC5 have significantly higher output in the region of 6 to 8 khz (by at least 3 - 5 db)
After EQing they are pretty smooth sounding but even with a 2/3 octave e.q. it is difficult to dial in a response that sounds realistic compared to my other headphones. I don't know how Etymotic calls these 85% accurate - they don't sound diffuse field equalized to my ears.
19 out of 28 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great entry product
Posted by LEOOO from Vancouver, BC on 2011-01-25Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: crisp mids, detailed highs, astounding sound isolation
Cons: fit can be trouble for some people
First Impression: nice packing. feel of it is very nice. nice metalic feel on the housing. great fit in my opinion.
Source: Cowon O2 with 75 ohm adapter, fiio E5 amp.
Bass: Weak but still noticeable. Many users complain about the lack of bass, which may be true, but in my opinion, the bass is just perfect for the MC5. This is Etys sound. reduced bass, then monster precision on mids and highs. If you're a techno, rap, hip hop, anything to do with lots of bass listener, look somewhere else.
Mids: Very well tuned. Very accurate sounding. Crisp but not exactly as precise as i hoped for. However it does really sound fantastic for something as cheap as 79 dollars, and the best part is, 2 years warrenty. Great stuff from Etymotic.
Highs: Brilliant. Once again, for something as cheap as 79 dollars, it cant really get better than this. Highs are soo detailed. It actually comes close to the Better Etymotic HF5s because the two are obviously from the same company. Amazing with Classical, Jazz, Soul, and anything along those lines.
Soundstage: A more fuller, open sound than many Etymotic products due to its Dynamic driver. Not the largest soundstage for a single driver, but its very precise.
Fit: Tri-Flange can "hurt" the ear a bit. They are capable of going in veeery deep. Foam i absolutely hate. Glider tips aren't bad. If you are planning to purchase this, i suggest buying some Shure Olive Foam tips or Comply tips. Most comfortalbe.
Feel: Feels stury like every Etymotic product. 2 years warrenty is a nice thing to have just incase something goes wrong with the earphone. Cable feels nice too. Sturdy, yet flexable.
Conclusion: Great entry level product. Not acceptable with bass heavy users, but it will reward the classical, jazz, soul users. You dont need an amp, but it does like to be amped. However i wouldn't buy this again. After owning the MC5 and the HF5, spend the extra for the HF5. It makes all the difference. This is my opinion and my feelings. If you are not as serious as i am about high quality products, the MC5 is an amazing deal. Great for entering the Audiophile world.
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Did you?
A Sonic Step Down from the 6i
Posted by CremaCans from Oakland, CA on 2011-01-05Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Makes a good seal, keeping out noise.
Cons: Harsh high end, odd sonic curve, a bit quiet.
I had my Etymoic ER-6is for almost two years before I broke them. No fault of Etymotic's - I appear to have crushed one of the earbuds by hooking it on an
airplane seat. They were not the best headphones ever made, but they were
musical and clear.
The MC5, by contrast, is quieter, has an odd, unnatural boost in the midrange, and truly bad high end. Almost any jazz or rock with cymbals becomes a din of undifferentiated noise, drowning out other frequencies. The high end almost never
sounds pleasing or musical, and is rarely accurate in the highest frequencies.
They also don't get as loud as the ER-6is. This is not an issue for me, but given
that the ER-6is are not terribly loud it could be a problem for you.
The MC5s did seem to mellow slightly with a few plays, but still are not pleasing
and simply crap out with cymbals, some trumpet sounds, etc. Very disappointing.
Get the 6is.
12 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Did you?
The best $79 I have ever spent
Posted by violeta88 from Medical Lake, WA on 2010-11-27Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Extremely clear, detailed, and refined sound
Cons: Not the most comfortable IEM
The MC5 from Etymotic is by far the only dynamic IEM that has fully met (and in this case, greatly exceeded) my expectations. In the past I have owned Shure SE310 headphones, which I loved the sound of, but was allergic to the Shure "olive" foam eartips, so I could never enjoy them. Since owning the Shures I purchased a pair of Sennheiser IE7 IEM's, which were very comfortable, and very boomy sounding and thus I never really warmed up to the IE7's sound. This leads up to the MC5's from Etymotic. Simply put, the Etymotics have a similar tonal balance to what I loved about the Shure SE310's, but are more detailed overall than the Shures, and blow the IE7's out of the water in terms of detail and accurate tonal balance. That being said, they are not very comfortable, and the sound is very dependent on the tips used. (EDIT: I just discovered the small triple flange eartips work much better than the large ones in my ears and are more comfortable to boot. It is very important to experiment with all of the eartips to find the right tip for your ears. Also, clean your ears before trying any Ear Canal headphones, it will make them sound more detailed.) In terms of soundstaging, the Etymotics are really good performers as far as IEM's go, with good depth and width of the soundstage and great seperation of sound elements. You cannot find a better headphone for $80, IEM or full-size. Also, I find that the MC5 scales up nicely with better sources, lossless sound files and high quality amplification. Highly Recommended!!
17 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Not for me
Posted by chreese on 2010-11-22Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Articulate
Cons: Lack of bass response
Clean sound, but not enough kick. Plus, the tips were not exactly comfortable. If the tips work for you, and you don't need a whole lot of bass, these are a great choice.
5 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Annoying Chord
Posted by JBGarrett from Butte, MT on 2010-11-15Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great Sound
Cons: Chord too long
The sound is very good with these headphones, though the volume could go a little higher. I wish the headphone manufacturers would realize that most people wear their i-Pods in cases attached to their upper arms while working out and the 3 foot chord is a hassel. The short chord with an extention needs to become the standard. I won't buy another set of headphones without this option.
36 out of 40 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Excellent choice for a price-conscious audiophile
Posted by audio.fi from Ann Arbor, MI on 2010-10-29Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Superior accuracy, excellent value, sturdy build, noise isolation
Cons: Low frequencies underemphasized
Etymotic Research has managed to pack a great deal of precision in the sound reproduction on their MC5. This may not blow you away instantly, but becomes absolutely evident when you do some careful listening of familiar tracks. The accuracy is very much consistent throughout frequencies, with something perhaps slightly off in the midrange. The lows on the other hand, as with many ER headphones, are not the forte of the MC5. Getting a good seal is essential, it does improve bass reproduction dramatically (while also isolating pretty much all ambient noise). The low frequencies are consistent and accurate, but they do not have the impact and presence many listeners will be looking for. However, even with the somewhat lacking bass, the MC5 will give you a well-rounded listening experience that all the audiophiles among us will appreciate. These are in-ear _monitors_ after all, and they do just that - reproduce sound as it has been recorded.
I would recommend the MC5 for an audiophile on a budget (a true audiophile would probably shell out $300+ on a more high-end kit), but I would discourage any casual listeners against this product. If you are looking for a well-rounded, perhaps more bass-heavy pair of headphones, give something like Klipsch S4 a try. You will miss out a little on the precision of the highs but the bass will complement the sound nicely. After all, it's all about finding a product that meets your personal listening needs.
20 out of 23 people found this review helpful. Did you?
A true bargain
Posted by supersleuth from Painesville, OH on 2010-08-13Posted on Etymotic MC5
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Sound, Value
Cons: None
These are my first IEMs and though my expectations were high because of Etymotic's reputation, the MC5s comfortably surpassed them. The sound is balanced, clear and natural, and gives up nothing, really, in comparison to my Grado SR80s- in fact they have nearly a Grado level of detail without the Grado upper-midrange emphasis. They also appear very well-made and the cord (equipped with shirt clip) is reasonably free of microphonics and seems as though it should be durable. I found that the larger (white) triflange tips gave a good seal at a comfortable insertion distance and gave the best sound; I don't recommend the new Ety "glider" tips which I felt significantly degraded the sound. If you want to take truly high-quality sound with you anywhere, at a price where you wouldn't be devastated if they were lost or damaged, look no further.
54 out of 56 people found this review helpful. Did you?
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