I came to know that you notice a difference with the es cable on the super.fi.

What I would like to know are the following?

1. What are the specific differences that you find with the es cable when compared to the original cable?

2. Is the volume less with the es cable or the same? If less then is it quite a bit lesser?

Please let me know..

Ok guys, I have the ER4S Apuresound in my hands. Jan (aka nc8000), another headfier member and a friend, has been so kind to send his pair to me.
They are a beautiful thing to see. I really love the looks of this braided cable. They feel hand-crafted (well, they are). I'm listening to the them now.

One thing you have to keep in mind is I'm playing them unamped. The volume is set at 23/30, the same I used to enjoy my Altec Lansing at.
My very first impressions are sound more digital compared to the Triple fi (this is what I find when going straightly from the triple fi to the Etys).
Another think I find, is that they don't sound more detailed than the Triple fi, and whispers and lip-touches are not so apparent as they were with normal ER4S. This can be a good or bad thing, but it's one of the distinctive characteristic of the ER4S, which is lost (ok, sometimes I used to find disgusting to hear some singers' furred tongue with the stock ER4S). Highs are drier than highs on the Triple fi. The overall feeling is harsh when AB-ing them.
Again, please keep in mind that I'm using them unamped: as much as I find my JVC player good, it might not have enough power.
When I say digital, I mean they don't sound as natural as normal sound should be. I shall receive my iBasso T2 in a matter of days, so we'll see how better things become.
What I can say for now is the Apuresound ER4S don't seem to have "ER4S' detail with a natural tonal balance", as I was expecting. They still sound metallic, thin. I have been told they sound great with the Lisa III and bass knob turned 25%. The bass is better than ER4P, it hits harder, still detailed. I have some compaints about vocals, which sound digital, as said. When I say "digital" I think to a sound signature that comes out of a cheap speaker.
Sorry, I might be too harsh (sorry Jan), but I was really expecting something different. I'll have my ears get more used to this sound, then get back to you folks.
I want to point out I'm not bashing towards them since "they aren't mine, so the triple fi have to win". I've just bought a pair of ER4 in order to recable them (and I have also proposed to nc8000 to sell me his pair and get my Etys + money in exchange), and I'm evaluating carefully what to keep (the Triples, the Etys or both).

Sibilance compared to the ER4P? From memory, I don't find many changes: the ER4P lost their sibilance as soon as I put the Shure black foam tips on them.
Best trait: soundstage is out of the ears, especially vocals. This is the real great thing of these IEMs. Usually the ER4S sounded in my head when unamped. Soundstage is so awesome I might need a pair of these APS Etys just for it.

For now, what I think of the Recabled ER4S is similar to what I used to think about the normal Etys: they are like an empy box, detailed, extend very well. When this box is filled (ie their sound signature is coloured with a GREAT amp), they will sound awesome.

Hey Tony, you say that the vocals on the Shure E500s sound a bit artificial. I often think so too, but I find that sometimes when I get a really good fit, that is not the case at all - the Shures start to sound incredibly natural, and vocals sound better than on any other headphone I have heard so far. So my guess is that a lot depends on the shape of your ear. Personally, I am therefore considering getting some custom tips for my Shures to get the best out of them.

Well, it's possible we have just different taste (I don't like the saying "different ears"... taste matters more than ears in my opinion ). I had perfect seal with the E500 (thanks to the usual olive foamies), but I didn't like them. Custom molds could be a great idea, especially for convenience. I have been told, though, that IEMs tend to sound different with third party custom molds, not always for the better.

I'm trying to "fill" the Etys with a strong bass boost. They sound MUCH better, much fuller. I'm going back and forth between the Triple fi and the ER4S.
I'm listening to Jazz now (Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Zappa's King Kong): differences in bass are much less pronounced, but the Triple fi seem to have a more musical bass... more impactful. The bass on the Etys is more detailed. Highs sound still more "screechy" on the Etys.

On a side note, the recabled Etys are impressively small. They are as small as I've seen the Klipsch Image to be. The Etys are also more comfortable than the Triple fi... not in regards of fit, but the cable is more comfortable to wear.

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i always thought vocals were very forward and a very strong point of the shures also, i get a perfect fit first time but fit should be essential for every IEM to even hear the qualities, they are pretty forward and due to warmth of the phones the texture and soul of vocals comes through strong and clear.

some people claim the shures warmth as being the weak point but in most cases i think it helps complement the mids and highs with added feeling and timbre

I don't consider the mids on the E500 to be forward and I'm not alone to think this. But this is a thread about the Triple Fi, and I don't want it to derail.

dont worry were not pulling the limelight off of the trips they are still good even if we think shures do things better.

i think one thing is certain, one is not better than the other both have their weeknesses.
but anyway back to the UE's

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Hi Tony,

ER-4P(Apuresound, with Apuresound P – S Converter), they don’t really sound like regular Ety, the magical hyperdetailed clarity and the separation lost). This could be a good thing and a bad thing depending on preference, but I find the vocal is majorly improved especially using LISA III. It makes the sound very close to Triple.fi but of course with the inconvenience of bulky amp.

ER-4P(Apuresound with Etymotic P – S converter), They still retain the characters of original Ety. The magical hyperdetailed clarity and separation there. Honestly, I tend to use Ety P – S converter from time to time, since I have always been a fan of ety hyperdetailed magical sound. The harshness is reduced majorly, also I like how the cable is done over the ear and non-microphonic.

ER-4P Apuresound, sounds very laid back and warm, organic, but the bass is a lot less than stock ER-4P. You definitely need to drive this with a bassboost amp.

Unamp, Ety is very poor compared to Triple.fi.

Triple.Fi indeed sounds good directly from any player. have you considered TTVJ Millett? It sounds great with Triple.Fi IMO.

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Also Another thing to consider is our hearing Ability. I visit an audiologist once a year to test for my hearing. That way, I would know whether my hearing has been degraded over time for certain frequencies.

I find E500 midrange high is a bit sharp for my ears.

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I agree entirely. I own third party custom mold for E500, and IMO it makes the bass sound very strong and too overwhelming. Definitely didn’t sound as expected.

I also read that custom mold for Etymotic, making etymotic to sound even more digital than foamies.

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Ehhh.. wasn't it so big, I would have bought it.

Update: I have ordered a Westone ES2 cable to see how the Triple fi sound with it. I seems to change the sound signature. I'll report whenever I get it.

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Hey Theory, does the same Westone ES2 cable fit both the Superfi 5 and the Triple fi, or do the pins need to have different length?

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heheh it's not big, it's just long It's only about 1cm thickness, and 10cm width.

How do you get/put other manufacturers cables on the triple fi? I saw replacement cables available on ultimate ear's web site but how does this work. Any recommendations on what to re-cable it with and where to get the cable? THANKS