If you still love Etymotic ER4, this is the thread for you... - Page 36

Congrats...

 

And, Welcome to my World.

 

Jim

My first pair of 4s were bought about 12 years ago while flying a lot. They are still belting out their quality sound. But the things are getting old and I was being romanced by these new IEMs. The cable is spliced and the red/blue strains are falling apart so about time to buy a new pair. I just can't part with the sound so I guess it's time to have a custom mold made for a new 4s and quit looking for better. I too typically use just a PDP but the Xin Macro has bass boost that's perfect for them.

Not amping them yet, I can't wait for even more goodness to be squished out of the drivers!

 

It's easy to see how someone could go off on a tangent about the ER4 series. I can't believe they're one of the first in-ear designs, and still one of the best-sounding in all of history.

Thanks for the info. So you're saying there is no difference between the two part numbers? I just ordered the PA910 in a size small. The medium complys are a little too big for my ears so I'm hoping the small olives will do the trick.

Old Part Number vs New Part Number.

Jim

I love mine.

 

I just upgraded to a westone ES cable with the adaptors off ebay.

 

Since I had some custom molds made by ACS they have been super comfortable, but they protruded a lot from the ear. This made them hugely microphonic and annoying to use. With the new cable run over the back of my ears, this problem is very reduced. It was an expensive upgrade ($90) but it has made my ER4s even more awesome. I recommend it.

I opted for those westone adapters and a $30 Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors replacement cable. For 30 bucks, I haven't seen a better cable out there.

 

You can snag one here: http://ultimateears.logitech.com/en-us/ue/custom-in-ear-monitors/accessories

Do it.  I highly recommend an amp with a gain switch otherwise the volume range will be too limited due to loudness.  I use mine with iBasso D10, Headroom Ultra Desktop, Benchmark DAC1Pre, and CEntrance DACMini.   Only the DACMini lacks a gain switch and it's the only amp I don't like with IEMs.

 

 

I'm constantly amazed by this.  I've listened to many headphones and these remain my gold standard.  Every time a new $$$ IEM is released I think about buying it but at the same time I am very reluctant to believe that the sound quality of the ER4s can be significantly improved upon.

Edited by ert - 9/24/12 at 9:42pm

Just got an er6 and am very surprised at the sound quality. It is clearly the most technically correct iem I've heard (I haven't heard an er4s). It lacks sub-bass rumble but clearly makes up for it with accuracy in bass note definition. It fixes the slightly bright tonality of the DBA-02 while retaining extended treble response.

I'll still enjoy the GR07 for a more (subjective alert) live sounding listening experience (moar bass), but the er6 definitely makes me feel as though I'm in a studio with reference equipment. It's very impressive how even sounding the FR is, giving every sound equal representation.

That's exactly how I feel about those, congrats. Just use tips that aren't too short or too big big of a bore and the treble is smooth and extended.

I'm using the small bi-flanges and getting a pretty deep fit. Almost too deep actually. I'd like to try different tips but they seem hard to come by.

Also I was wondering what the difference is between the ER4 and the Er6 pertaining to the sound signature. Can anyone help out with some impressions ?

Wow. Been using the small shure olives for the past few days and they are definitely the best tips available for my ER4. I've been in and out of airports and planes this week and the isolation coupled with beautiful sound has been a lifesaver. I took them out of my ears for a few seconds on one of the planes and almost died. I couldn't believe how noisy it was in there and how many crying babies I was blocking out. I need to get a pair of these for my dad because he travels/flies a ton.

 

I've only heard the ER6 once, several years ago, and I would consider it an introduction to the Ety BA house sound -- similar, but not near the detail and cohesiveness of the ER4.  HF5 comes closer, but still there is a refinement in the ER4 that is just superb.

I think you're referring to the ER6i, ER6 is tuned to sound like the ER4S with higher sensitivity. IME it does sound close to its performance with a bit less treble extension but a bit more bass depth.

ER-6i is just an ER-6 with more bass (filters). I have both ER-6i and HF5 and they sound very similar.

 

I believe the HF5 basically replaced the ER-6 series, since the ER-6 is long since discontinued.