Etymotic ER6i vs ER4P
Jul 19, 2006 at 8:54 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 30
mr56k

mr56k

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Im currently using the Etymotic Er6 Isolators. These are the first in ear headphones I have used and really like. Just curious on the comparison between these two and also how much better if any it is. I like lots of isolation and listen to pop/rock and watch movies with them.

Thanks
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 8:57 PM Post #2 of 30
The ER4P is a definite step up over the ER6i. I did not hear much of a difference at first but the more I listened the more I fell for the sound of the ER4P. Better detail, tighter bass, better balance, and great highs. They even improve with an amp and you can use the P to S cable to get better sound quality if you so choose.
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 9:02 PM Post #3 of 30
ER-4p is very neutral and articulate IEM. It's very revealing and an exellent choice for those who listen to orchestral and chamber music. Also good for acoustic. It pretty much destroys the er6 as far as resolution and neutrality are concerned. However, if all you listen to is pop/rock and movies, the er4's may not be what you're looking for. I would not, by any means call them a "fun", "toe-tapping" IEM. Rather, they are great for critical listening. That's why they're Ety's reference IEM. You might want to look into Ultimate Ears. I hear that they are pretty punchy and bassy, yet have decent resolution. Good luck.
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 9:25 PM Post #4 of 30
Only reason im kinda staying away from the UE's is because I had tried the Superfi 3's and didnt like them. I thought they were super uncomfortable and didnt sound all that great. Plus I didnt like the idea that you really had to wrap behind the ear for use. So really dont wanna go that route.
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 9:30 PM Post #5 of 30
You may be right about he UE's. I've just heard about them. If you don't mind a bass that is heard but not felt, you can't go wrong with the ety's. I just got the p to s converter and I'm just in awe. Go for the Ety's and enjoy!
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 9:40 PM Post #6 of 30
Ok so how do sound signature of the Ety ER4P's compare to say the Shure E4c's ? They can be had for around the same price. Use will be from Macbook and iPod Shuffle.
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 9:57 PM Post #7 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by darkninja67
The ER4P is a definite step up over the ER6i. I did not hear much of a difference at first but the more I listened the more I fell for the sound of the ER4P. Better detail, tighter bass, better balance, and great highs. They even improve with an amp and you can use the P to S cable to get better sound quality if you so choose.



DITTO!!
etysmile.gif
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 10:15 PM Post #8 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by mr56k
Ok so how do sound signature of the Ety ER4P's compare to say the Shure E4c's ? They can be had for around the same price. Use will be from Macbook and iPod Shuffle.


The Shure's have a fuller sound, more bass but not as detailed as the Etys.
 
Jul 19, 2006 at 10:39 PM Post #9 of 30
For me, ER-4P < ER-6i < ER-4S. I realize that's not the expected ranking, but that's how it is for me.

The problem I have with the ER-4P is that its whole tonal balance seems off to me -- like a pan of water that's been tilted to one side. I can't get through more than a few tracks on the ER-4P before I start itching to dial in some EQ.

While the ER-6i too is bass-enhanced, and although it doesn't have the tonal subtlety of the ER-4P, it just sounds "right" to me in a way that the ER-4P doesn't. I don't love the ER-6i as much as the ER-4S (still my all-time favorite), but I find it a remarkably satisfying substitute when I don't have the 4S with me, and I can listen to it pretty much forever.
 
Jul 20, 2006 at 5:18 PM Post #10 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by episiarch
For me, ER-4P < ER-6i < ER-4S. I realize that's not the expected ranking, but that's how it is for me.


Same for me. I wouldn't go as far to say ER-4P's balance is "off" but somehow the ER-6i sounds more "right" to me too. I think I can hear why the ER4S was originally designed with 73 ohms more resistance than ER-4P. These drivers need that resistance! As detailed as the P still is, the S and even the 6i have slightly more natural highs that manifests into more realistic vocals and also orchestral sound, to me at least. I would slot the ER-6 between the ER6i and ER-4S too, like this: ER-4P < ER-6i < ER-6 < ER-4S

What I find in the Shure E4 is that it sounds much fuller and a bit warmer than the Etymotics, at the cost of just a tiny bit of high end detail. It is still detailed enough, and the low end is full enough to make them maybe the best all-around IEM in my opinion. ER-6i (or Westone UM-2 depending on whether you want to conpromise the highs or lows) would come in second.
 
Jul 20, 2006 at 7:38 PM Post #11 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by honda
What I find in the Shure E4 is that it sounds much fuller and a bit warmer than the Etymotics, at the cost of just a tiny bit of high end detail.



What I can never find here, is by hwo much? E4c=ER-6i in terms of clarity (sound signature aside). Are all three Ety's slightly more detailed? Or, is it that the E4c is less detailed than the Er-4's (which is my assumption)?
 
Jul 21, 2006 at 5:37 PM Post #12 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by ironman64
What I can never find here, is by hwo much? E4c=ER-6i in terms of clarity (sound signature aside). Are all three Ety's slightly more detailed? Or, is it that the E4c is less detailed than the Er-4's (which is my assumption)?


I think I can say that all Etymotics are more detailed than Shure E4c. By how much... is difficult to say, and how "detailed" they are certainly is not the only difference between them. I feel that for detail, Etymotics are in a class of their own, and E4c is the best of the rest. I would say E4c is just a notch below ER6i in terms of detail. One more step down from ER-4P, and perhaps 3 or 4 steps down from ER-4S. But E4c is also warmer than all the Etymotics, has a fuller low end than any of them, offers a better fit with more comfort than ER-4 for most people, and is more durable than ER-6/i.
 
Jul 21, 2006 at 6:03 PM Post #13 of 30
While the E4 is not lacking in high-frequency "details" if you listen hard enough, and in that sense might be called almost as detailed as the Etys, the Ety presentation is wholly different. With the Etys all that high-frequency detail is very clear, present, and in-your face, while with the E4 those details are considerably muted.

To my ears the difference in detail (by which I mean detail-oriented presentation) between the E4 and the ER-6i is very large. I also do not really hear the fuller low end on the E4 that others (not just honda) talk about; to me the E4's low end mainly sounds less clear, rather than better in any way. But I fully agree with honda's statements about the durability and fit of the E4.
 
Jul 21, 2006 at 6:45 PM Post #14 of 30
Well after using my Etymotic ER6 isolators for awhile I decided im gona stick with them. Sound is good and so is comfort. I really like how much they isolate me from my surroundings. Thanks for all the input. I might buy some diff tips just to test. Anybody try these http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/cofotipeco1p.html ??? Thanks
 
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