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If you still love Etymotic ER4, this is the thread for you... - Page 48

post #706 of 1378
11/8/12 at 11:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by palmfish View Post

Just in case you dont know, the ety black foam plugs are not memory foam like the Comply or Shure foam. The black foam is more open cell type.

Yes! And that's exactly why I like them better than comply foam tips. normal_smile%20.gif (+ they isolate better I think!)

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post #707 of 1378
11/8/12 at 11:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Berkovajazz View Post

Try just eBay.com

I have been searching on eBay as well. But I am only able to find American sellers of the black foam tips. No European sellers....

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post #708 of 1378
11/9/12 at 1:42am

Does anyone know how the ER-4 compares with the Heir 4Ai?

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post #709 of 1378
11/9/12 at 3:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peculier View Post

Does anyone know how the ER-4 compares with the Heir 4Ai?

I am used to the ER-4S and tried the 4A.i at a meet. The signatures are much like eachother but the 4A.i are more open sounding and more dynamic and forward. In a direct comparison the 4A.i has more X-factor but I decided not to part with my ER-4S though because I thought they had the same satisfaction to me and the same level of detail retrieval.

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post #710 of 1378
11/9/12 at 9:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rasmushorn View Post

I am used to the ER-4S and tried the 4A.i at a meet. The signatures are much like eachother but the 4A.i are more open sounding and more dynamic and forward. In a direct comparison the 4A.i has more X-factor but I decided not to part with my ER-4S though because I thought they had the same satisfaction to me and the same level of detail retrieval.

I'm at this point in decisions but haven't heard the 4Ai. I'd like to get a bit more bass and decay weight. I love the 4s (now broken) but I don't like carrying a portable amp to get the most out of them.
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post #711 of 1378
11/9/12 at 9:59am

I also feel that the 4.Ai and ER4 are very very similar, however the ER4 have a slight edge in clarity and details in the highs. This may be due to the recently, and heavily discussed 4K dip in the 4.Ai, which favors smoothness over clarity to provide a listening experience that is much less fatiguing than the Etys. So if you need every single ounce of clarity, the ER4 is your choice, but they do get tiring and sound a little harsh, to my ears of course.

 

Also, forgot to mention that the 4.Ai provides a much more suitable bass response. It is still fast and punchy like the ER4 but the quantity is greatly increased so they are no longer the cold Ety signature, but on the warmer side of neutral.


Edited by anoxy - 11/9/12 at 10:01am
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post #712 of 1378
11/9/12 at 3:14pm

^ nice comparison

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post #713 of 1378
11/9/12 at 3:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post


I'm at this point in decisions but haven't heard the 4Ai. I'd like to get a bit more bass and decay weight. I love the 4s (now broken) but I don't like carrying a portable amp to get the most out of them.

 

When you say broken - do you mean one of the speakers doesn't work?

 

The reason I say that is, I thought mine were broken and let them sit for 2 years. I heard no sound at all out of one of them. I read that someone else had the same problem and it was just a clogged filter. Replaced the filter and worked like a charm.

 

Seems kind of dumb in retrospect, but I didn't think a clogged filter would eliminate the sound entirely.

 

Just an FYI in case that's what the problem is

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post #714 of 1378
11/10/12 at 8:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peculier View Post

Does anyone know how the ER-4 compares with the Heir 4Ai?

 

I have them both and will probably let the Heir 4.Ai go (got the 4.Ai with intend to replace my ER4) mainly to my preference in music (I like female vocals) in which ER4 is what you would probably call marginally but still quite noticable better, especially in the highs.

 

Finding ER4 to have a clearer sound and being more natural in the sound (timbre? sry english isn't my 1st language) compared to the 4.Ai. On the other hand 4.Ai often sound better with newer pop music and more bass-centric music due to generally being a bit warmer and having more bass quantity.

 

I find them to be quite different and don't think that one exactly remind me of the other when listening to them tbh. 

 

All only imo of course and hey I am also a fanboy when it comes to the highs of the ER4 normal_smile%20.gif

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post #715 of 1378
11/10/12 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lcooksl View Post

I have them both and will probably let the Heir 4.Ai go (got the 4.Ai with intend to replace my ER4) mainly to my preference in music (I like female vocals) in which ER4 is what you would probably call marginally but still quite noticable better, especially in the highs.

Finding ER4 to have a clearer sound and being more natural in the sound (timbre? sry english isn't my 1st language) compared to the 4.Ai. On the other hand 4.Ai often sound better with newer pop music and more bass-centric music due to generally being a bit warmer and having more bass quantity.

I find them to be quite different and don't think that one exactly remind me of the other when listening to them tbh. 

All only imo of course and hey I am also a fanboy when it comes to the highs of the ER4 normal_smile%20.gif
I agree with you. And above all I find er4 to be more open and airy, better clarity all over the fr.
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post #716 of 1378
11/10/12 at 12:56pm

I tend to agree with both of you as well. The ER4 are tough to beat, especially considering their modest price tag.


Edited by anoxy - 11/10/12 at 12:58pm
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post #717 of 1378
11/10/12 at 5:42pm

I recently tested the 4.Ai vs. my ety4, expecting them to be similar but with more warmth and bass, but was surprised at how different they were from the etys.

They are nothing alike; a totally different sound.  The 4.Ai does not have the articulate crisp detail of the ety.  They are warmer, more rounded, punchy and lively, but the sound seems more smeared.  The heir 4.Ai and the ety 4 sound signatures have nothing in common.

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post #718 of 1378
11/10/12 at 5:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdmoorman View Post

I recently tested the 4.Ai vs. my ety4, expecting them to be similar but with more warmth and bass, but was surprised at how different they were from the etys.
They are nothing alike; a totally different sound.  The 4.Ai does not have the articulate crisp detail of the ety.  They are warmer, more rounded, punchy and lively, but the sound seems more smeared.  The heir 4.Ai and the ety 4 sound signatures have nothing in common.

It's funny you use the word "smeared." I got that same impression with another multi driver iem, the UERM. I think there's something incoherent about multiple drivers that is audible.
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post #719 of 1378
11/10/12 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdmoorman View Post

I recently tested the 4.Ai vs. my ety4, expecting them to be similar but with more warmth and bass, but was surprised at how different they were from the etys.

They are nothing alike; a totally different sound.  The 4.Ai does not have the articulate crisp detail of the ety.  They are warmer, more rounded, punchy and lively, but the sound seems more smeared.  The heir 4.Ai and the ety 4 sound signatures have nothing in common.

 

The frequency charts are very similar iirc. You're one of the only people I've heard say they sound nothing alike.

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post #720 of 1378
11/10/12 at 7:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anoxy View Post

The frequency charts are very similar iirc. You're one of the only people I've heard say they sound nothing alike.

Their charts are pretty different actually. There is a sizable bass boost on the 4.ai and the treble of the ER4S is more extended. Also etymotic mids are flat throughout.

Edit: er4 graph here: http://www.headphone.com/headphones/etymotic-er-4s.php

And 4.ai graph here: http://i.imgur.com/ExbSF.jpg

Also I don't think the er4 graph is compensated the same way. Maybe someone can chime in.
Edited by gnarlsagan - 11/10/12 at 7:49pm
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