I've listened deeply to the E500 and ER4P, and I've finally decided to do an exhaustive comparison between the two. First of all, sorry if my english won't be perfect.
Source: Kenwood HD20GA7, Kenwood HD10GB7 mp3 players
IEMs: d-JAYS, Etymotic ER4P, Shure E500
The Players
The Kenwood mp3 players are probably the best dap on the market. They are the only good alternative to carry a player+amp. They are rich of details, they have large soundstage and a warm, liquid tonal balance.
They cost a bloody lot of money (see audiocubes), but they are worh of it.
ER4P vs d-JAYS
I received the ER4P about two months ago, coming from the KSC75 and the D-Jays. The D-Jays are said to have a gradoish sound... I've never heard other headphones than IEMs (besides the KSC75), but I trust what Kramer told me.
I tried the ER4 with the triflanges and then with the Etymotic black foam tips, and I found that the foam gives to them a much more natural sound. My guess is that foam walls help the propagation of the low frequencies, but, more likely, the narrower tube of the triflanges is part of their problems.
The Shure Black Foam tips, besides, make the ER4 lose any kind of sibilance.
Switching forth and back between the d-Jays and the ER4 gave me the impression that the d-JAYS were veiled in comparison. The sound spectrum is also more compressed on the JAYS, while the unequalized ER4P are brighter in comparison, but have also deeper bass (I can bring it on with EQ).
The d-JAYS sound overall good (and very good for the price), but they have overpowering electric guitars that I don't like. Other people, like Kramer, like them ("snarling, in your face guitars"). The electric guitars are more detailed and much less distorted on the ER4P, and more relaxed. I like them more.
Also, the d-JAYS don't change much with equalizer. A fellow to whom I sold them, confirmed that they sound like Grados without deep bass.
I've read many posts saying that the Etys have cut transitories, but it isn't the case: it's only a matter of volume. I found that boosting the bass made them sound much less thin than people were saying. They are impressively detailed, making possible for me to hear whispers, or musicians touching their instruments.
The Shure E500
After getting used to the Etymotic, I wanted to know how much better could I get from them, and I bought a pair of Shure E500.
They are very warm. I didn't find difficult to get used to them. While I find the d-JAYS veiled coming from the Etymotic, this isn't the case for the E500. They are very detailed, but they have a much fuller tonal balance and warmer sound. I'd dare say they are lush.
With the Kenwood players I've used, they hiss much more than the ER4P.
Using the same players, their soundstage is better than the ER4 (but not wider). The instruments occupy more places in the space where you hear the music.
Etymotic ER4P vs Shure E500
Basically, after having tried the E500 I couldn't go back to the Etymotic. The E500 are different, but I liked them immediately.
I had to try some equalizer settings with the ER4 to bring out a sound signature closer to the E500.
Eventually, I've managed to do that with the little HD10GB7 (better than the HD20): a tighter tonal balance compared to the Shures, but much more detailed.
The "Rock" preset of the Kenwood HD10GB7 synergizes incredibly well with the ER4, making them sound much warmer. I'd dare saying "tubey", but I've never listened to a tube amp. What I've found incredible is how the equalization made the Etys sound so realistic, with good, resonating bass and sparkling highs. The overall sound is sweet, and hearing violins, guitars, voices and noises (like the bump of shoes or a closing door in a track) is pure bliss. They all sound like they are being played from a vinyl. For exemple, I can hear the violin being played, but also being touched while playing. And the same for piano, guitar... it's like having not only sound, but "touch+sound".
This overall sounds sweet and resonating, not cold like it was without using the equalizer.
Instrument separation is awesome (obviously, talking about the ER4P).
My guess is that the ER4 was originally a headphone that needed to be used with large amps, so that people could tune the sound at their will, thus shaping the response of the Etymotic.
The etymotic are not simple to drive by mp3 players, and the classic Ety sound, cold, analytical isn't what was originally intended for them. It's a matter of how good the equalizer (or the amp) is.
Conclusions
When buying the E500, people have a great sound out of the box. They are already coloured to sound great. The E500's tonal balance can't be shaped like I can do with the Etys.
The ER4, instead, have to be shaped properly to sound like they are intended to, but once you do that, they are heaven.
In fact, I needed to hear the E500 to understand what to ask to my ER4, and now I've found their perfect balance.
I hope you enjoyed my comparison. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
[Review] Clash of Kings: Etymotic ER4P vs Shure E500 (and d-JAYS appearance!)
