*blonk* (my jaw hits floor!)
I received my ER-4S this morning, while I was waiting for the bus to go to work. At that time I was using only my Sony D-EJ1000 PCDP with its remote. So I plugged the Etys in.
My first impression was that they sounded a bit thin. But just an hour into listening to those freakin' canalphones, I began to notice that trademark Etymotic bass (that's right - bass that you hear, not feel). Mids and highs are very nice, and not at all harsh or shrill! And that's using the default white rubber tips.
Okay, I've told you about the sound quality, but how loud is the ER-4S/D-EJ1000 combo? Loud enough for use on the bus, but maybe not the subway train. (An Airhead amp will fix that problem.)
As I told you, I bought the 4S instead of the 4P because of the latter's bass that's a bit too visceral for my listening tastes.
I also own Koss The Plug and Sony MDR-EX70LP. No contest. The ER-4S (and ER-4P as well) COMPLETELY blow away those mass-marketed crap masquerading as isolating canalphones!
My rating is as follows:
ER-4S > ER-4P > MDR-EX70LP > The Plugh (with a REALLY BIG gap between the ER-4P and the MDR-EX70LP)
The ER-4S is definitely a keeper!
cya l8r
Randall