Why not a Dual BA from Etymotic? - Page 7

Would there be any benefit in using an impedance adapter with the HF5s (driven by either O2, Meier XXS or iBasso P4)? If so, where would I be able to buy one?

I was stating that lightheartedly but after re-reading my post, it sounded like I was being an ass. So sorry if I came off that way.

I would say the hf3/5 is more musical while the er4s is more analytical but noticeably more detailed. If you are going to use an amp, get the er4s. If you are going to use your phone only, keep the hf5.

I would say that is really good advice. As for sound I have not heard the HF's but I had the ER6i before the 4's and they sound quality improvement was not insignificant with the 4's!

After all this Ety talk I borrowed the HF5's that I gave away awhile ago because when I got my TF10 I didn't listen to the Ety's anymore.  They sound so much different then when I had them and thats a good thing, I kinda wish I didn't give them away now :(.  They were my first really good pair of IEM's but now they sound better to me than they did back then, I think because I've had and heard a lot more since that I understand quality now.  The soundstage is much better sounding with good width and depth and they always had good imaging and separation.  Detail is still their best quality and you don't miss a beat with these bad boys.  My R-50 is still a bit better over all imo but the HF5 isn't far behind and if the ER4 is a significant upgrade over the HF5 then I'm going to have to get a pair.

 

About the single or multi drivers for Etymotic I don't see the need for more drivers.  They sound great as it is and after listening to the HF5 again and some on my PFE 112 I'm starting to think more is not always better, though the one thing multiple BA's have over singles in most cases is a larger soundstage and thats a must for me.  Also if Etymotic did go to a dual or triple set up they wouldn't be the same company we all know them as, the single BA is their niche product.

It is really interesting to read your thoughts. I had until I gave them away last week the triple.fi 10's, initially they seduced me but after a short time i went back to my ER4's and realized that all I was hearing from the triple.fi's was a muddled over emphasized mess. I have not been able to listen to them ever since. I think if you went for the ER4's you would not be disappointed. Once you get used to how they deliver music you won't miss the bloat and exaggeration of other multi driver phones and you will enjoy just a pretty faithful rendition of the music. There might not be exaggerated bass but what is there is intoxicating as it contains so much detail.

Whats the soundstage like on the ER4?  I don't need it to be IE8 or TF10 big but I do like my width and depth.

I have no complaints with soundstage width and depth, there is enough room to feel full orchestra or to hear the placement of a jazz quartet and feel the space between the players. I think as well that because there is not so much over emphasizing one is able to define the space more.

Thanks, I think I'm going to give the ER4 a try but which one of the models I don't know but most likely the ER4S as thats the one most people like.

Hi there ,

 

I have a loved er4p/s but now they need a cable replacement and it looks like etymotic charge about $50 for a cable replacement but then another $50 for postage , so that takes me to $100 and im wondering if that is or what is the best way to get my er4p/s back working again ?

 

Any help from head fi-ers that have been through this is welcome

 

And i should say its not a filter problem as i have changed them both .

 

I also noted that an ebay seller has a i think a shure cable adapted to fit the er4p/s for similar money ..   not sure if anyone has tried this ?

 

Anyway thanks for suggestions
 

Regarding soundstage: I love ER4 for so many reasons, but soundstage is not one of them. IMO they are very monitor-like in their presentation. It is part of their nature and not something I'd like to change. ER4 are what they are, and they don't have a huge soundstage, which is fine by me. If I want a sound that comes close to ER4 with good soundstage, I use Beyerdynamic T70.

Well I found out why I thought the HF5 sound a lot different now then when I had them.  At the time when I bought them the only player I had was a Sony S series and not the Fuze and J3 that I use now.  I hooked them up to the Sony with the E6 and they sounded like I remember with a lot more closed in soundstage but with the Fuze and E6 they're larger and more cohesive.

 

I know this is a bad move but the person I gave them (which is my sister) is going to have to like the Sony XBA-1 instead of the HF5 because thats what she's getting back ;)  I know she's not going to mind because she knows I use them way more than she does and the XBA-1 really isn't a bad IEM either.  

 

I'm going to hold off on getting the ER4 because with me getting the HF5 back and really liking them again I don't need the 4's right now and I've had way to many impulse buys this year already.

The hf5 undergoes the same change that the ER4P undergoes. I am assuming this since they are the same drivers. Though the impedance is slightly higher on the ER4P.

I have an 100ohm adapter that was gifted to me from a head-fier. Upon using it from the O2, the first thing you need to do is turn up the volume (duh).

I turned up the volume to match a listening level similar to what I used on the hf5 without the adapter. The notable difference is the treble is brighter, which makes the bass seem less present and the details and speed more apparent.

I want to purchase an ER4 soon. I'm not sure if to buy the P or S. But the hf5 without the adapter has more bass and is more musical, with the adapter it's more clinical and detailed.

Out of interest what do you listen to them with? Do you amp them and if so what amp? I ask as I listen to mine through an amp and there most certainly is sound stage.

Again a request for anyone commenting, please, take a moment and list your rig in your signature. It gives us a chance then to see without having to ask what sort of equipment your listening to and basing your opinions upon.

After all, if one is listening through a bad source with compressed music one is going to have a different experience than someone who listens through something that can really give a fair quality playback.


I think it is why I have gone back over the past few months to reading HiFi magazines to base my purchases as at least most of them are listing their equipment so the reader has a fair idea.

Likewise, give some examples of the music you listen to as that helps as well.

I was reading a review here the other day and then saw a picture of the reviewers player. I could see they were listsening to Adele so it changed my feeling for the whole review as that album is terribly made and suffers from really bad compression. There is a reason why a lot of magazines listen to jazz, it's because most of it is superbly recorded so they can get a much truer picture of what the equipment is capable of.

This is not aimed purely at the poster quoted but everyone. If we don't have this kind of info then the opinions are all but useless!