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I've had the ER4P/S for almost two years, and recently spent three weeks of practically living in the SE530s. With the Shures, I missed the crisp detail of my Etys, and when I had my Etys in for comparison, I really missed the full, rich sound of the 530s. I kept thinking that if I could merge the two, I'd have my iem.
I had to send the Shures back to Shure (they were a loaner pair for the Florida meet along with the rest of the line). The problem I'm having now is deciding whether or not to buy a pair and just be happy with the goodness they offer, or start looking for an iem that has the best of both (as in start saving for UE10 pros or maybe something else by the time I'll have the money. Guess I stick with my Etys until then.
Yup, they are both great IEM's but I can live with the E530's deficiencies much more than the ER4P's. I can't speak for UE10 but I find Triple Fi Pros no better than E530. Coming from Etys you would still find the TFP highs a little cloudy.
I use my ER4-P with my Rockboxed H120 unEQed and my Meizu M6 slightly EQed. They sound simply amazing to me with both. I have no complaints about the bass. It could be because of how far I shove them into my ears, though.
The only cons for me are that I can't lay down while wearing them and cable microphonics. It's amazing that I can use them in my NYC subway commute and all I hear is my music.
I use my ER4-P with my Rockboxed H120 unEQed and my Meizu M6 slightly EQed. They sound simply amazing to me with both. I have no complaints about the bass. It could be because of how far I shove them into my ears, though.
The only cons for me are that I can't lay down while wearing them and cable microphonics. It's amazing that I can use them in my NYC subway commute and all I hear is my music.
Almost every iem that I've tried is uncomfortable when lying on my side, the ep-630s are about as close as I get to comfort and that's with a really soft pillow. I guess if you lay on your back it's not a problem...
About the microphonics, have you tried taking one of those clips used for cell phone earpieces and clipping the cord to you shirt or something? I've found that it at least cuts the effect of the microphonics in half.
Also: can someone explain how to best set the eq settings for the best overall sound? I have a zen micro.
__________________
Team iSwim | Team Listen to the music not the headphones
Have: Creative Zen Micro; Creative ep-630; Bose Triport IE
Want: Zune 80; Super Fi 5 Pro w/ ES cable
I have been using the ER-4P directly connected with an iPod Nano and it has a good sound for the office and is portable. I also use the 4P-S ETY adapter cable with an ALO Super Cotton Dock and a Hornet M... Not quite as portable but wonderful sound.
__________________ I have the simplest tastes. I am only satisfied with the best" - Oscar Wilde
My First Portable Rig:
iPod Nano (1st Gen) > ALO Cryo Dock > RSA Hornet M > ETY er4p-s Converter > ETY ER-4P(s)
FWIW the E530's do not hiss. No IEM hisses. Hiss comes from the source and IEMs that are on the sensitive side (such as the E530) simply tend to reveal it more. Get a quiet DAP and you won't hear any hiss (I hear virtually none from my ZVM.)
I also can't agree that the E530 do not respond to EQ. On the contrary, they respond very well to some treble boost (along with slight mid-bass cut) which will make them sound more balanced and pretty near perfect... albeit without the extreme high-end resolution of the ER-4 which just about nothing else can match. Too bad that characteristic comes at so high a sonic price though (thin presentation everywhere else), as others have noted.
Otherwise I agree with the balance of the comments in the thread and those about the ER-4 in particular. Superb transducer when backed up up with the right source, amp, and EQ, but without these they're a one-trick pony and sadly not very suitable for a barefoot DAP.
FWIW the E530's do not hiss. No IEM hisses. Hiss comes from the source and IEMs that are on the sensitive side (such as the E530) simply tend to reveal it more.
Obviously. It's just a way to say.
Get a quiet DAP and you won't hear any hiss (I hear virtually none from my ZVM.)
Many people happen to have very expensive players (like Kenwoods or the Sony A818) which sound awesome but present hiss. I wouldn't tell them to change such a good source only to get the Shure E500 (or d-JAYS, for what is worth). I've also noticed that many IEM makers are realizing IEM should reveal less hiss. Westone 3 have a lower sensitivity after westone heard people's complaints about hiss out of the UM2. Qjays have also low sensitivity, and many people (like Kramer and me) often posted d-jays picked up lots of hiss.
I also can't agree that the E530 do not respond to EQ. On the contrary, they respond very well to some treble boost (along with slight mid-bass cut) which will make them sound more balanced and pretty near perfect... albeit without the extreme high-end resolution of the ER-4 which just about nothing else can match. Too bad that characteristic comes at so high a sonic price though (thin presentation everywhere else), as others have noted.
I didn't find the eq improved the Shure E500 as radically as it did with the ER4P.
Otherwise I agree with the balance of the comments in the thread and those about the ER-4 in particular. Superb transducer when backed up up with the right source, amp, and EQ, but without these they're a one-trick pony and sadly not very suitable for a barefoot DAP.
Yup. Very very difficult to match.
__________________ "My means of compensation should be small enough to fit my waist pouch"
Tony '08
CURRENT GEAR:
Headphones: Stax SR-003, Karstadt-SFI 32 Ohm Orthodynamic Hybrid
Amp: Stax SRM-1 MkII Pro
Sources: iRiver E10
Incoming: Audiocats-modded Stax SR-001 MkII Pro, Stax Smegma Pro
Yes, sorry, the phrasing was just my way of emphasizing that hiss is a defect of the source, not the transducer. Sensitive IEMs are a good thing, especially given how marginal the amplifier section is in most DAPs. The correct fix for the issue is a quiet source, anything else is a less desirable workaround.
I don't think how high the sensitivity on IEMs are a really that much of a great thing. I couldn't even use my ex-E500 with a desktop amp, since the pots aren't even balanced at the volume required for such a sensitive IEM. I much prefer my 420s in that sense.
hey anthonyfirst,
how is the sound compared to futuresonics atrio m5 vs the etymotics er4p
which do you think is the best in terms of overall sound quality.
thanks.... because i have the xtrememac fs1 and want to upgrade to between these two i mentioned above.
-Atrio: bloated bass, recessed midrange (resulting in very poor vocals), confused imaging, subdued trebe
-Etys: weak but detailed bass, great midrange, good highs, great imaging. Tonal balance without EQ is a bit plastic sounding, needs a good amount of bass boost
Try to use the search function to find more information.
__________________ "My means of compensation should be small enough to fit my waist pouch"
Tony '08
CURRENT GEAR:
Headphones: Stax SR-003, Karstadt-SFI 32 Ohm Orthodynamic Hybrid
Amp: Stax SRM-1 MkII Pro
Sources: iRiver E10
Incoming: Audiocats-modded Stax SR-001 MkII Pro, Stax Smegma Pro
Linear Mode
