Originally Posted by Raphael
To be honest, I'm going to have to say to go with the Shures. I'm a huge Ety fan, and after buying them, I haven't looked back. But they are phones that will not warm up to your ears. Believe me, I've been using them for over 2 years. I've used the er6i for a good year and a half, sold that and currently using the er4s. The etys are amazing headphones, and I'm yet to run across anything I like better. But if you're going with the Etymotics, you have to keep in mind that they are like very exquisite oysters. If you make them well, they are absolutely delicious. But if prepared wrong, they will make you very sick.
In simpler words, if you're going to buy Etymotics, you better have a damn good source and a damn good headphone amp in your arsenal. Otherwise, you may be very disappointed. Then you will start understanding what everyone means when they say the etys sound thin, cold and metallic. But with the proper setup, they will put you in audio bliss. Etymotic has made portable versions of their earphones, but they failed imho. Etys were not made for portable DAPs. Either have a very good source (i.e. iMod, DAP feeding digital to dedicated DAC etc.), or you will find more comfort from the Shures.
I can't hep but agree. It's what I've said also in my review: the Etys have more potential than the Shure, but they can also sound bad, if paired with poor source. The Kenwood is a good one, iMod+amp is another good source.
The ER4P don't hiss much with Kenwood players, the slight hiss is absolutely tolearable, even in quite environments. The E500, instead, hiss noticeably in quiet environments.
George: Custom EQ on the HD20GA7 is very simple. I used to raise the bass to 180 Hz, +2. But you should try also the preset called Rock: I no longer have the HD20GA7, but "Rock" on the HD10GB7, well... rocks.
I don't know if these presets sound the same on both players, though.
I know that the Kenwood HD10GB7 and HD30GB9 have been selling also with rebranded Etymotic ER6i, so some presets could really be dedicated to make the Etymotic iems shine.