[Solude]

  You mean the braided cable? It's a cable model common to all the late ER-4S & ER-4P(T) series. 

 
Now yes, originally no.  Also the PT comes with the PtoS where the S obviously does not.  In this case it turns out to be a P which had the modern cable but no PtoS.  Semi rare to be honest.  Both the P and PT are marked ER-4P on the split.  Hence why I said likely and not definitely.

 

[Voyageur]

Now yes, originally no.  Also the PT comes with the PtoS where the S obviously does not.  In this case it turns out to be a P which had the modern cable but no PtoS.  Semi rare to be honest.  Both the P and PT are marked ER-4P on the split.  Hence why I said likely and not definitely.

Yup, I was talking about the late series

 

[bobeau]

I cant for the life for me get a good fit with any of the tips, shures neither. For me the design is a pain. I cant relax with it. Plus i want to enjoy my music not dissect it for every single sound. Im giving up on etymotic iems for now. Nothing wrong with the er4sr its just not for me. On to earsonics! If anyones interested my er4sr it is now for sale on the classifieds.

 
FWIW, I used the ER4p on a daily basis about a dozen years ago... absolutely painful experience for me as well for the first couple weeks.  Then my ear canals adapted and they pretty much disappeared.
 
The one thing I never got over was anxiety about having something accidentally tug one out of my ear.  My girlfriend at the time tried once and I recall freaking out on her about how she almost ruptured my eardrum, lol.  

 

[C38368]

   
FWIW, I used the ER4p on a daily basis about a dozen years ago... absolutely painful experience for me as well for the first couple weeks.  Then my ear canals adapted and they pretty much disappeared.
 
The one thing I never got over was anxiety about having something accidentally tug one out of my ear.  My girlfriend at the time tried once and I recall freaking out on her about how she almost ruptured my eardrum, lol.  

This happened to me far too often with mine, using the grey three-flange tips. Got to the point where I just kept a pair of tweezers in my gym bag, or while flying. You know, just in case.
 
Just got a pair of ER4SRs, and I've been trying the slightly-smaller glide tips. So far they seem to work about as well as the ER4S' grey tips, but are slightly smaller. So hopefully fewer tips coming off in my ears!

 

[jegnyc]

I haven't checked the 700 pages of this thread (or more relevant, not even the last 50), but I just found out that Etymotic no longer sells the glider tips.  For me, these are the only tips from Etymotic that let me hear what their IEMs are capable of.  (And I tried all of the other included tips - extensively.)  Fortunately, I have some spares, so I won't run out immediately, but in a year . . .?
 
Are there any fans of the gliders who have found a replacement?
 
Edit - to avoid confusion, by glider I mean these.

 

[cocoonsyd]

Had to return my ER4XR because the metal enclosure gives me terrible static electricity shock in the ear, to the point where I'm actually afraid to use it 

 

 

[Riley Beale]

Hi!  I have been reading this thread for a while.  This is my first post in this thread.  Would I like the SR or XR better?  I listen to rock, industrial, metal, and a little elctronic stuff.  My  music is a vast mix of different kinds and periods of time.  Some heavy some not really.  I like a little warmth, but closer to neutral with airy treble that has good extension.  I currently have the Shure SE846 and am growing tired of their bass and warmth and overly forward mids.  I actually have not listened to them in a few days because of this.  I feel I would like either one, but would like some feedback.  I don't have a place to demo them.  I live in a small town in Northern California.  I farm almonds and walnuts and the busy season is just about to get started so traveling to a major city really is not an option for me.I do like a little bass just not my SE846 level of bass. 
 
Thank you
 
Riley

 

[bms44974]

  Hi!  I have been reading this thread for a while.  This is my first post in this thread.  Would I like the SR or XR better?  I listen to rock, industrial, metal, and a little elctronic stuff.  My  music is a vast mix of different kinds and periods of time.  Some heavy some not really.  I like a little warmth, but closer to neutral with airy treble that has good extension.  I currently have the Shure SE846 and am growing tired of their bass and warmth and overly forward mids.  I actually have not listened to them in a few days because of this.  I feel I would like either one, but would like some feedback.  I don't have a place to demo them.  I live in a small town in Northern California.  I farm almonds and walnuts and the busy season is just about to get started so traveling to a major city really is not an option for me.I do like a little bass just not my SE846 level of bass. 
 
Thank you
 
Riley

Hi Riley,
 
Etymotic has a 30-day return policy for purchases at their web site. You can audition both and keep the one you prefer (or send them both back if you find that they don't work for you). I have had my ER4s for about 15 years and recently got the ER4sr. The ER4s is a bit harder to drive works best with an amp (I use FiiO E12). The ER4sr does not require amp when paired with FiiO X5ii. I love the isolation and fidelity of both. The choice between SR and XR personal. The XR is tuned to deliver just a bit more bass.
 
Cheers... Brian
 
Cheers... Brian

 

[castleofargh]

  Hi!  I have been reading this thread for a while.  This is my first post in this thread.  Would I like the SR or XR better?  I listen to rock, industrial, metal, and a little elctronic stuff.  My  music is a vast mix of different kinds and periods of time.  Some heavy some not really.  I like a little warmth, but closer to neutral with airy treble that has good extension.  I currently have the Shure SE846 and am growing tired of their bass and warmth and overly forward mids.  I actually have not listened to them in a few days because of this.  I feel I would like either one, but would like some feedback.  I don't have a place to demo them.  I live in a small town in Northern California.  I farm almonds and walnuts and the busy season is just about to get started so traveling to a major city really is not an option for me.I do like a little bass just not my SE846 level of bass. 
 
Thank you
 
Riley

overly forward mids of the 846, that's not looking good for you then
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/ShureSE846WhiteFilterSample2.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/EtymoticER4XR.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/EtymoticER4SR.pdf
 
 if anything Ety will have even more mids.

 

[FastAndClean]

 
overly forward mids of the 846, that's not looking good for you then
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/ShureSE846WhiteFilterSample2.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/EtymoticER4XR.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/EtymoticER4SR.pdf
 
 if anything Ety will have even more mids.

i love mids, more mids and sub bass = better, too much mids and sub bass = perfect

 

[Riley Beale]

 
overly forward mids of the 846, that's not looking good for you then
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/ShureSE846WhiteFilterSample2.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/EtymoticER4XR.pdf
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/EtymoticER4SR.pdf
 
 if anything Ety will have even more mids.

Okay thank you.  I will look elsewhere then.
 
Thanks  everybody
 
Riley

 

[TeknicalXtacy]

I think I would be careful in dismissing them to quickly.  From what you have said I think the XR's would be perfect.  As far as mid's, everything is relative.  I have not heard the Shure's but the Etymotics are known for their neutrality.  Any where you go, anything you read, discusses that neutrality.  What you will also find is a discussion regarding lack of bass for some, which the XR's address.  I listened to the XR's and they sound very very good and did not have an intrusive bass or overly forward mids in any way shape or form - period.  Others can certainly chime in with their experiences but the Ety's are a sound unto themselves and I do not see anyone grouping Ety's with the sound signature of Shure earphones.  
 
Buy from Amazon or direct from Ety - they will accept your return no questions asked and all you pay is the shipping to return them.  You really owe it to yourself to give them a try based on your description.

 

[Riley Beale]

  I think I would be careful in dismissing them to quickly.  From what you have said I think the XR's would be perfect.  As far as mid's, everything is relative.  I have not heard the Shure's but the Etymotics are known for their neutrality.  Any where you go, anything you read, discusses that neutrality.  What you will also find is a discussion regarding lack of bass for some, which the XR's address.  I listened to the XR's and they sound very very good and did not have an intrusive bass or overly forward mids in any way shape or form - period.  Others can certainly chime in with their experiences but the Ety's are a sound unto themselves and I do not see anyone grouping Ety's with the sound signature of Shure earphones.  
 
Buy from Amazon or direct from Ety - they will accept your return no questions asked and all you pay is the shipping to return them.  You really owe it to yourself to give them a try based on your description.

Okay.  Sounds like a worthy earphone to give a chance.  I have a pair of no longer working HF3 and I really liked them when they worked,  Does the XR have enoguh detail in the sound to compete with a lot of $1k iems?  I also need to send in my HF3 for out of warranty upgrade eventually.  I know the SR and XR are not offered in that program currently, but I could upgrade to the ER4S to use just while on the tractor and stuff.
 
Thank you
 
Riley

 

[TeknicalXtacy]

Not sure about the $1k earphones.  Earphones are like paintings, it all depends on what you like.  Based on the description of what you are looking for I think the XR's would be a perfect fit.  But, I can't say for sure.  However,you can return them if you don't like them.  But I wouldn't have bothered to post if I did not think, based on what you have said about your musical taste and what you are looking for, that you would like them. They are most certainly worth a look/listen.  I recommend the phone tips that came with them.  If you find them uncomfortable try comply tips, almost as good and more comfortable.  I found you lose a bit with silicon.

 

[Riley Beale]

  Not sure about the $1k earphones.  Earphones are like paintings, it all depends on what you like.  Based on the description of what you are looking for I think the XR's would be a perfect fit.  But, I can't say for sure.  However,you can return them if you don't like them.  But I wouldn't have bothered to post if I did not think, based on what you have said about your musical taste and what you are looking for, that you would like them. They are most certainly worth a look/listen.  I recommend the phone tips that came with them.  If you find them uncomfortable try comply tips, almost as good and more comfortable.  I found you lose a bit with silicon.

I really liked the spongy foam tips that come with the HF3 as well as the large triple flange tips.  Great isolation.  I didn't care for the glider tips at all.  They just felt awkward in my ears.  I am looking for as much or more detail than my SE846.  Not only a different sound signature.
 
Thanks
 
Riley