Thanks for the replies!
So I picked up some ER4PTs...
First the good...
The sound quality is absolutely superb. I can't stress enough how surprised I am by that fact. I mean, I knew they were good, but this purchase was more about maxium sound isolation rather than the best SQ... After all, I have a pair of Sennheiser ie800s that I enjoy when total isolation isn't required, so I was prepared to give up a little to get silence in loud cafes and the like. Furthermore, I've read plenty of reviews claiming the bass on the ER4PT leaves much to be desired. So I was expecting something pleasant-sounding, if a little thin. You know, that 90's hi-end earphone sound. These delivered fantastic bass and amazing clarity and separation. They are a truly great earphone, and absolutely give the $1000 ie800s a run for their money.
Now the bad...
I'm not getting the isolation so far. Tried the medium size triple seal tips, and the large size triple seal tips that are supposed to provide the best isolation... Nope. In fact, so far, I wouldn't even put these in the category of an IEM that provides "good" isolation, let alone "excellent", let alone "best in the world". My go-to isolation IEM has been the Westone UM2 with "olives" (Shure foam tips, modded to fit). Those definitely provide excellent isolation, but nothing like the stories I've read about the ER4s, people claiming they couldn't hear subway trains approaching while standing on the platform, etc. etc... I'd hoped that's what I was getting. The reality thus far is not even close. I was sitting at the kitchen table, and my girlfriend was sitting around 20 feet away on the couch, chatting with her girlfriends. With the UM2 with olives in, I couldn't make out the conversation. I'd occasionally hear a high pitched laugh or something, or a murmer, but mostly silence. With the ER4PTs with both medium and large triple seal tips, I could literally hear every word. It was muffled, sure (I did have something lodged deep in both my ears, after all) but I could make out everything easily. To be blunt, I'm not talking about a little difference between the two IEMs as far as isolation goes... this was a night and day difference. The UM2 with olives has so far destroyed the ER4PT as far as isolation is concerned. It's not even close. I haven't done a direct comparison, but I don't think they will fare much better against most of the IEMs I own, honestly. I think even the ie800 will pretty handily beat them in this capacity.
So this all begs the obvious question... What is going on? Is it possible I recieved a dud pair? I guess I could see being a little disappointed with these, like if they hadn't quite stacked up to their legend... But this is ridiculous. So what next? I'll try the other tips, maybe those will do better. If they don't, these will have to go back... Again, the sound is amazing... But I still prefer the ie800s as far as that goes...