[ClieOS]

 
What, if anything, can you say about using ER4S with 02 vs Cayin C5 vs JDS C5 vs C421 with OPA2227?  (I can't find a C421-AD8620 at a price I'm willing to pay)
 
I've got a Fiio Q1 DAC/AMP that I'm thinking about moving on from b/c the DAC doesn't seem to do much for me coming from iDevices. I use it both with a pair of over-ear cans and with ER4S. I don't need true portability - the O2's rechargeable battery is fine. But if the either C5 or C421 will sound noticeably better with ER4S, that would make the extra $$ worth it to me.
 
If you can shed any light, thanks! If not, thanks for all of the other knowledge you've dropped here!

 
Never listen to Cayin before, but C421-OPA2227 is pretty good as well, just about as good as O2 with ER4S. Neither is as good as C421-AD8620, but they are still excellent choice. Same can be said for JDS C5. These are all pretty good sounding amp with ER4S, but they don't quite have the kind of synergy as C421-AD8620. Actually you can convert a C421-OPA2227 to AD8620 by simply changing the opamp, but you need to know how to desolder / resolder SMD chip.

 

[nk126]

   
Never listen to Cayin before, but C421-OPA2227 is pretty good as well, just about as good as O2 with ER4S. Neither is as good as C421-AD8620, but they are still excellent choice. Same can be said for JDS C5. These are all pretty good sounding amp with ER4S, but they don't quite have the kind of synergy as C421-AD8620. Actually you can convert a C421-OPA2227 to AD8620 by simply changing the opamp, but you need to know how to desolder / resolder SMD chip.

You think O2 sounds as good as the others (except AD8620)? O2 is about $40 cheaper than the others (I'm looking at used gear), so I'd just as soon go that way.
 
I'm not going to get in to soldering right now
 
Thanks, ClieOS!

 

[ER4S]

I also listened ER4S with both C421s, C5 and O2. My choice is O2 now. I found C421s are little bit aggressive (especially AD8620) and C5 is little bit dull. To me, O2 just stands between them.

 

[AnyDave]

Can we have an ergonomic over the ear build for the new etys

 
I think there is a strong possibility that this will happen.  I certainly hope to make it so.

 

[AnyDave]

  ER4SSF for super shallow fit, please! 

 

 
I assume that this means that you'd like the overall length to be as short as possible?
 
I'll do what I can on that, but there are some mechanical limitations to it.  Due to the internal component stack-up, it's can't be much shorter than it already is. 

 

[I g o r]

I wonder if one day Etymotic will make an IEM with two or more balanced armatures. I'd love to see more extension, both on the low and high ends of the spectrum. For now I have to be happy with my HF5 while I keep dreaming.

 

[FastAndClean]

I wonder if one day Etymotic will make an IEM with two or more balanced armatures. I'd love to see more extension, both on the low and high ends of the spectrum. For now I have to be happy with my HF5 while I keep dreaming.

treble extension on er4s is better than a lot of multi driver earphones

 

[I g o r]

I haven't had the chance to try them yet. But what about low extension?

 

[FastAndClean]

they have slight roll off at the lowest sub bass region but nothing too drastic that bass EQ cant fix

 

[nk126]

I wonder if one day Etymotic will make an IEM with two or more balanced armatures. I'd love to see more extension, both on the low and high ends of the spectrum. For now I have to be happy with my HF5 while I keep dreaming.

If you want more extension, go from HF5->ER4. That's what I did. The difference isn't night and day, but it's there, for sure. 
 
And it sounds way better than any non-Ety multi-driver nonsense  

 

[FastAndClean]

i really like er4 treble, is very clean and fast, makes my ortofon q5 roll of and dull in the treble

 

[ER4S]

I haven't had the chance to try them yet. But what about low extension?

 
It depends. If you drive it well, you can hear the bass but I'm not sure you can feel it or not, I mean there're not so much subbass.. 
 

  I also listened ER4S with both C421s, C5 and O2. My choice is O2 now. I found C421s are little bit aggressive (especially AD8620) and C5 is little bit dull. To me, O2 just stands between them.

 
p.s. C5 is discontinued too. Like C421s. C5D is still alive and I think they have exactly the same amp section.

 

[ER4S]

I just saw this and wanted to share:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Original-Sytle-Earphone-Plug-Cable-For-Etymotic-ER4B-ER4PT-ER4S-ER6I-Er4-/252384829168

 

[Snake07]

Nice looking,but where is resistors?

 

[ER4S]

Nice looking,but where is resistors?

 
I couldn't find any info about resistors.