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Is there such a thing as a "bad" Etymotic P to S Adaptor?

post #1 of 5
3/31/11 at 2:40pm
Thread Starter 

I need a P to S adapter.

 

There is etymotic's ridiculously expensive version ER4P-24, several plug options on ebay from $10-18 and Head Directs Dowin DW04 cable for $25. I haven't found other options and I'm sadly not a DIY kind of guy. 

 

I've heard that the Etymotic's adapter sound quality is better (although having paid that much I would think so too) and that the plugs can strain the jack (seems to make sense). I've also read good stuff about about the Dowin cable.

 

Can anyone here tell me if it matters? Can I go with the cheapest or is this a sonic/structural advantage to going with the Dowin or Etymotic cable? Are there other options I'm missing?

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post #2 of 5
3/31/11 at 2:55pm

Basically anything using non-inductive resistors and good connectors should be fine. I know for a fact that you can easily get a few precision resistors and some Neutrik connectors for less than $10, so if the eBay ones look good then go for it.

 

For disclaimer purposes, I'm not a cable believer and I don't think that boutique resistors sound better than normal ones. I do, however, know the value of high-quality connectors, and the ones on those Chinese cables look much better than the ones on the official Etymotic adapter.

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post #3 of 5
3/31/11 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 

Can you tell by looking at them the quality of the adapters? I know nothing about them!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Etymotic-ER4P-ER4S-3-5MM-plug-resistor-adaptor-/280627105435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4156adce9b

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ETYMOTIC-ER4P-ER4S-RESISTOR-ADAPTOR-3-5MM-PLUG-/290372905689?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439b92ead9

 

And here is the dowin cable. Was that the Chinese one you were referring to?

 

http://www.head-direct.com/userfiles/image/DW04/DW04-1.jpg

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post #4 of 5
3/31/11 at 3:40pm

They're all from China. tongue.gif

 

It's really a matter of your preference; the two eBay ones will do the job fine but may put strain on your headphone jack if they get bent whilst in situ. The Dowin one is slightly more expensive but doesn't have the disadvantage of the other two due to the cable.

The Dowin one for certain is using Neutrik/Rean connectors, but the other two also look solid. If you're using this for home use on a HPA then the eBay ones will serve you well. If you're planning to use it portably I'd go for the Dowin one.

 

I believe that Head-Direct do/did free shipping on their cables. Not sure now.

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post #5 of 5
3/31/11 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the advice! That helps a lot!

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