[luisdent]

 

Not sure if the box has changed or not, but I have the red/blue version and that is my box. I don't have a green y-split, mine is grey, but otherwise it is the old cable. I actually prefer it, but some say the new cable is just a bit better with cable noise...

 
Thanks guys! That is what I thought... I ordered a pair of ER4S from BH Photo because it pictured the new cable, braided near the top but still w/ the red and blue color. But they sent me the old box...and I guess the old cable, too, w/ the thicker, straight cable near the earphone. 
 
luisdent: why do you like the old cable? I do find the microphonics better on the ER4P-like braided cable.
 
 
Would anyone want to switch? Or if someone wanted, I could sell my ER4PT w/ the old ER4S cable and keep the ER4PT cable for my ER4S. I'd be happy with that. (See my listing if interested.)

 
First of all, I haven't had that specific er4 cable in person, so I can't say with 100% certainty, but I've had other cables that look just like it with the same type of braided wire. With that said...
 
The biggest thing honestly... I like the look of the old cable, and that it isn't braided. I don't really like braided cables. I don't like the way they feel and typically they can become less tightly braided and twisted over time (not necessarily guaranteed). With either cable from etymotic's own admission the cable noise is very similar, just a small bit reduced on the braided version. Personally, the cable noise is bad enough that with either I would use the shirt clip. With the shirt clip on the straight cable I have no cable noise issues. Plus, I've added a little cord lock to my cable, I like the way that feels on a straight cable as well, and that further reduced cable noise if I keep the lock near my neck.
 
This is just an opinion, but the older cable looks more durable to me. It looks like the material is a bit different, which technically might be partially true, as etymotic told me they made the new cable because of some regulation in a country or something. Not sure if it was the metal or plastic though.
 
Either way, I love the red and blue coloring and the right angle connector is awesome. It also looks like it might be a bit tougher. But no matter what, they are both excellent and the connectors and wires look well made and not super thin and cheap. So whichever people prefer really. Needless to say, other than very small differences in cable noise and the appearance, you're not really "missing anything" with the older cable. But again, this is all theoretical based on pictures and second hand reviews. I haven't used the new cable in person.
 
UPDATE: I suppose if the new cable right angle connector is any smaller it "might" fit certain jacks better. I've never had a problem personally, but I don't use cases that would cause a problem. But that might be a factor...

 

[imackler]

 
Would anyone want to switch? Or if someone wanted, I could sell my ER4PT w/ the old ER4S cable and keep the ER4PT cable for my ER4S. I'd be happy with that. (See my listing if interested.)

Doh! This was the stupidest thing I've said on Headfi. The difference between the ER4P and ER4S is the cable. Switching the cables would not accomplish my goal at all! 

 

[luisdent]

 

 
Would anyone want to switch? Or if someone wanted, I could sell my ER4PT w/ the old ER4S cable and keep the ER4PT cable for my ER4S. I'd be happy with that. (See my listing if interested.)

Doh! This was the stupidest thing I've said on Headfi. The difference between the ER4P and ER4S is the cable. Switching the cables would not accomplish my goal at all! 

 
You just want to confuse us all huh?
 
On another note, I'm uploading the latest song I mixed using the er4s !!! I completely mixed it with the er4s and only checked the final mixdown once or twice on my monitors and other speakers.

 

[luisdent]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME5-xcfB4-o&hd=1. This is a collaboration with some friends from other countries too! 

 

[james444]

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME5-xcfB4-o&hd=1. This is a collaboration with some friends from other countries too! 

 
Congrats, that's an admirable effort. Thanks for sharing!
 
I'd think the vocals would benefit from a tiny bit more reverb, as he's singing from his head rather than his chest. Just my unsolicited 2c, but I'm no mixing engineer lol.

 

[Jupiterknight]

I very much enjoyed Mr. luisdent video with the Ety's... absolutely nothing to complain about from my weak side..
 
I personally like the reverb on this track very much and I do believe that he is singing from his chest with some added emotion and feel of presence. The Dobro sounds quite decent, original with my pair of Ety's and just a beautiful song presented by an old friend of mine from a beautiful country.. 
 
 

 

[luisdent]

I was on a short time limit, and i tried to mimick the reverb alan parsons used to some degree. There's always something i want to change when i hear the song a while after, but i need to let go at sone point and says it's done. Otherwise i would still be editing it 5 years later. but i appreciate any feedback.

 

[luisdent]

Well, I've been doing a lot of comparisons lately, and I've been starting to find that I'm happier with another iem using eq than the er4s. As great as the er4s sounds, it is just never very comfortable. I find the silicon tips hurt my ears the most, but the foam aren't much better. Sometimes, if I wear the too long, say a 5 or 6 hours straight, I can actually detect a tiny bit of blood on the foam tips.
 
Anyway, after a lot of experimentation, and a lot of a/b comparisons, I've actually found that the apple earphones sound just as good, if not better with my custom eq applied. Not the earpods, but the stock "buds" that came with the older models. They sound horrible stock, but once you add the right bass eq and some treble points to smooth things out they sound a lot better than you would think. In fact, because they sit outside of your ears and not sealed deep inside, they have a more "open" sound to them. Things just sound very real and 3d.
 
I'm sure I'll get a lot of flack for this, but all I can say is that you should try it. It took a lot of back and forth comparisons with all my earphones to finally admit that it just wasn't worth the extra price when they really do sound so good with eq. For anyone interested I'll post the eq settings below. It's a bit of eq points, but the earphones handle it really well surprisingly. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be keeping the er4s as these are a much better value cost wise, and I wouldn't really be using them anymore from the discomfort. So I'll be putting them up for sale. I'm not looking to make too much, just get a fair value back for them. They are a bit used but excellent condition and with all original parts minus the used tips.
 
Anyway, here's the eq:
 
Luisdent's absolute perfect reference eq for apple earbuds:
 

Hz	40	100	475	2200	4900	5350	7700	8900	9600	10450	12000	14200	16000
dB	12	10	4	-3	1	-1	-2	3.5	-2	1	-1.5	1	3
BW	0.5	2.2	0.95	0.3	0.26	0.9	0.48	0.79	0.48	0.26	0.9	0.95	0.9
Q	2.9	0.6	1.5	4.8	5.5	1.6	3	1.8	3	5.5	1.6	1.5	1.6

 
If anyone has these, I'd love feedback too. Let me know if you find any points you think could use improvement or maybe that don't match your ear's acoustics and I can tweak them.

 

[LibiSC]

  Well, I've been doing a lot of comparisons lately, and I've been starting to find that I'm happier with another iem using eq than the er4s. As great as the er4s sounds, it is just never very comfortable. I find the silicon tips hurt my ears the most, but the foam aren't much better. Sometimes, if I wear the too long, say a 5 or 6 hours straight, I can actually detect a tiny bit of blood on the foam tips.
 
Anyway, after a lot of experimentation, and a lot of a/b comparisons, I've actually found that the apple earphones sound just as good, if not better with my custom eq applied. Not the earpods, but the stock "buds" that came with the older models. They sound horrible stock, but once you add the right bass eq and some treble points to smooth things out they sound a lot better than you would think. In fact, because they sit outside of your ears and not sealed deep inside, they have a more "open" sound to them. Things just sound very real and 3d.
 
I'm sure I'll get a lot of flack for this, but all I can say is that you should try it. It took a lot of back and forth comparisons with all my earphones to finally admit that it just wasn't worth the extra price when they really do sound so good with eq. For anyone interested I'll post the eq settings below. It's a bit of eq points, but the earphones handle it really well surprisingly. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be keeping the er4s as these are a much better value cost wise, and I wouldn't really be using them anymore from the discomfort. So I'll be putting them up for sale. I'm not looking to make too much, just get a fair value back for them. They are a bit used but excellent condition and with all original parts minus the used tips.
 
Anyway, here's the eq:
 
Luisdent's absolute perfect reference eq for apple earbuds:
 

Hz	40	100	475	2200	4900	5350	7700	8900	9600	10450	12000	14200	16000
dB	12	10	4	-3	1	-1	-2	3.5	-2	1	-1.5	1	3
BW	0.5	2.2	0.95	0.3	0.26	0.9	0.48	0.79	0.48	0.26	0.9	0.95	0.9
Q	2.9	0.6	1.5	4.8	5.5	1.6	3	1.8	3	5.5	1.6	1.5	1.6

 
If anyone has these, I'd love feedback too. Let me know if you find any points you think could use improvement or maybe that don't match your ear's acoustics and I can tweak them.
 

 
I thought that you were high or something but I tested on my Coby CVE92.... and wow... I know they are no apple but the sound signature is similar.... I gave it some power with my amp... and wow man.... eq does great things....I'm not selling my er4 but damn I will start a cheap earbuds buying streak... thanks man

 

[gnarlsagan]

Well, I've been doing a lot of comparisons lately, and I've been starting to find that I'm happier with another iem using eq than the er4s. As great as the er4s sounds, it is just never very comfortable. I find the silicon tips hurt my ears the most, but the foam aren't much better. Sometimes, if I wear the too long, say a 5 or 6 hours straight, I can actually detect a tiny bit of blood on the foam tips.

Anyway, after a lot of experimentation, and a lot of a/b comparisons, I've actually found that the apple earphones sound just as good, if not better with my custom eq applied. Not the earpods, but the stock "buds" that came with the older models. They sound horrible stock, but once you add the right bass eq and some treble points to smooth things out they sound a lot better than you would think. In fact, because they sit outside of your ears and not sealed deep inside, they have a more "open" sound to them. Things just sound very real and 3d.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of flack for this, but all I can say is that you should try it. It took a lot of back and forth comparisons with all my earphones to finally admit that it just wasn't worth the extra price when they really do sound so good with eq. For anyone interested I'll post the eq settings below. It's a bit of eq points, but the earphones handle it really well surprisingly. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be keeping the er4s as these are a much better value cost wise, and I wouldn't really be using them anymore from the discomfort. So I'll be putting them up for sale. I'm not looking to make too much, just get a fair value back for them. They are a bit used but excellent condition and with all original parts minus the used tips.

Anyway, here's the eq:

Luisdent's absolute perfect reference eq for apple earbuds:

Hz	40	100	475	2200	4900	5350	7700	8900	9600	10450	12000	14200	16000
dB	12	10	4	-3	1	-1	-2	3.5	-2	1	-1.5	1	3
BW	0.5	2.2	0.95	0.3	0.26	0.9	0.48	0.79	0.48	0.26	0.9	0.95	0.9
Q	2.9	0.6	1.5	4.8	5.5	1.6	3	1.8	3	5.5	1.6	1.5	1.6

If anyone has these, I'd love feedback too. Let me know if you find any points you think could use improvement or maybe that don't match your ear's acoustics and I can tweak them.

Guys I just skeptically tried this (took a good 10 minutes to punch in the eq lol), and I'm actually pleasantly surprised. I've suspected for some time that many cheap iems could be eq'ed into top tier performers. I'm not yet saying that is the case here, but it's definitely worth trying.

 

[OJNeg]

Interesting findings luisdent. Although I'm not that surprised you were able achieve decent sound out of the earbuds using PEQ. A lot of tonal issues with cheap headphones and cheap loudspeakers can in fact be corrected with a healthy dose of EQ, IME. If you are working on the professional side of things, obviously flat response is #1 so that you can be sure that the changes (EQ) you make to the mix are being verified by your ears.
 
But as audiophiles, I think there's an important distinction with regard to priorities. Audiophiles tend to look for something that can deliver a more involving musical experience, whatever that might mean to the individual. Different folks might value different qualities that a system could deliver. In this sense, tonal neutrality (what pros rely on) might take a back seat to other qualities like detail retrieval, clarity, dynamics, textural rendering, etc. A lot of these terms get a bad rep as audiophile B.S. but the differences are real. It's the reason you can take two different headphones/loudspeakers, PEQ the hell out of them to reach the same transfer curve, and they still sound different.
 
So before you drop the Etys like a hot potato, I'd challenge you to try to eek out any differences that might remain between your ER4S and the earbuds. Listen to music instead of sweeps. I don't think the differences in technicalities should be too hard for a trained ear like yourself to pick out. But that's just my advice; if the comfort/convenience/price is the real deal breaker for you then so be it.

 

[luisdent]

 

[LibiSC]

Lol...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[groovyd]

You are a day late for April Fools luisdent

 

[OJNeg]

Was finishing my cereal this morning and it hit me like a brick wall. Well done; you got me good