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Etymotic HF2 - What are they?

post #1 of 16
8/16/08 at 8:15pm
Thread Starter 
I'm interested in knowing what these are, what they are compared to. Are they basically a set of ER4s set up for the iPhone?

Thanks

From what I've gathered at the official website, they use a single BA like the ER4s and the specs are almost identical to the ER4s. However, they have an MSRP of $180 vs. the MSRP of the ER4s of $300. That doesn't seem like the HF2 is an ER4 with equipment for the iPhone. Prices usually go up when they start adding stuff to their established lines.
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post #2 of 16
8/16/08 at 8:47pm
I am also interested in the HF5 which are only found on Amazon???
Amazon.com: Etymotic Research HF5 Portable In-Ear Earphones (Red): Electronics
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post #3 of 16
8/16/08 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
Those HF5s are interesting because not even Etymotic has any information about them. They appear to be the HF2s in color.
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post #4 of 16
8/17/08 at 5:47am
Looking at the pictures the HF5 only have a 3 points-of-contact jack and comes in 3 colours where as the HF2 have a 4 points-of-contact jack and only comes in black. Also the HF2 cost a bit more. As to what driver is inside and if it is closer to an ER4 or an ER6 I don't know.

Gizmondo did a shoot out and declared the hf5 the winner http://gizmodo.com/5033455/ultimate-...one-battlemodo
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post #5 of 16
8/17/08 at 6:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nc8000 View Post
Looking at the pictures the HF5 only have a 3 points-of-contact jack and comes in 3 colours where as the HF2 have a 4 points-of-contact jack and only comes in black. Also the HF2 cost a bit more. As to what driver is inside and if it is closer to an ER4 or an ER6 I don't know.

Gizmondo did a shoot out and declared the hf5 the winner Battlemodo: Ultimate Cut-The-Crap In-Ear Headphone Battlemodo
Sheesh, that review had some very wacky scores. The HK EP720s are basically AL iM716s and they received the worst score while the AL branded ones are outstanding in my opinion and the opinion of several other Head Fi'ers.

The Shure SE110s showed to be the best in their class above the Super fi-3s. Not a chance.

I can't agree with their assessment of the CX300s. Those can provide outstanding sound quality given the right sleeves and a proper seal.

They showed the Zen Aurvanas to be a high scorer and I can attest they are sad sounding canalphones.

I suppose this review would be a great thing for anyone wanting conformation of the value of the HF5s, UE M2s and Shure SE110s.
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post #6 of 16
8/17/08 at 7:00am
They look like E.D.G.E. GX400s only without the mic.
E.D.G.E. Acoustics

If they are they are basically just ER-4Ps in a new shell.
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post #7 of 16
8/17/08 at 7:22am
Thread Starter 
I suppose Ety is trying to diversify. They seem to have only had, for a long time, two models, the ER6 and ER4...with differing versions of each...while everyone else has a great many models. Doing the HF and EDGE lines, to me, isn't really helping. They need to start looking at multiple drivers and such...unless the current line needs no improvement. That is possible, I suppose but i have yet to test an ER4 and the ER6 certainly isn't at the top as far as performance is concerned.
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post #8 of 16
8/17/08 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lewislink View Post
...unless the current line needs no improvement.
Such a statement could start a relegious war

I love my ER4 but would also love the same sound with the convenience of a mike and control button for my iPhone 3G
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post #9 of 16
8/17/08 at 1:34pm
I still don't understand how Amazon is selling these, and they are not even a footnote on the official Ety website. Seems a little backwards and misconstrued.
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post #10 of 16
8/17/08 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nc8000 View Post
Such a statement could start a relegious war

I love my ER4 but would also love the same sound with the convenience of a mike and control button for my iPhone 3G
Fully understandable. I would like to use my iPhone as a music player but the batter is so crappy, I have to charge this thing every other day from almost empty and the wireless nor BlueTooth is on. I have to keep only for taking calls because if I did listen to music with it I'd imagine I'd be charging it every few hours. The battery life really sucks.

However, with that said, if I disable the cell radio by pulling the sim, it will play music, tested, for well over 30 hours.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Pangaea View Post
I still don't understand how Amazon is selling these, and they are not even a footnote on the official Ety website. Seems a little backwards and misconstrued.
It could be a case where this model is sold in other countries and is listed on the Etymotic website of those respective countries. Amazon might have contracted with Ety on an exclusive for USA.
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post #11 of 16
8/17/08 at 2:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lewislink View Post
However, with that said, if I disable the cell radio by pulling the sim, it will play music, tested, for well over 30 hours.
You don't have to pull the sim, just set it on airplane mode (although that kind of defeats the purpose of having it all in one unit). But yes the battery life is not very optimal. I play music about 6 hours a day in transport adn with light phone and email and internet use I have to recharge every other day. However as I alway bring my laptop I can usually top it up when it is needed.
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post #12 of 16
8/17/08 at 2:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FrederikS|TPU View Post
If they are they are basically just ER-4Ps in a new shell.
If they are indeed ER4 in new shell, I think I would prefer the replaceable cable on the old ER4 more.
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post #13 of 16
8/17/08 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post
If they are indeed ER4 in new shell, I think I would prefer the replaceable cable on the old ER4 more.
I agree. Replaceables are the only way to go.
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post #14 of 16
8/19/08 at 10:22pm
I wrote a review of the Hf5s on Amazon. The Hf5s are not the same as the Er-4ps...either a different BA or tuned differently. I was disappointed.
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post #15 of 16
8/20/08 at 3:40am
I wonder whether HF5 is based on the iM716 / EP730 transducer?
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