Etymotic ER4XR

You probably know what Etymotic and the ER4XR are, so I won't introduce them for brevity, as I'd like to keep this review short and to the point. The ER4XR is currently $300 USD in Australia.

User experience
The triple and double flange Etymotic experience can be daunting for those who have not experienced deep insertion. For the first few days, it hurt, and got better the more I wore them. Your results may vary though, as I have small ear canals. I would recommend sleeping with them to get used to the fit. The upper portion of the cable is microphonic. although the cable overall passes the roadie wrap test and feels nice, though has a more 'studio' type build as opposed to a 'luxury' build. No need to comment on isolation either.

Bass
Bass is not abundant despite the XR moniker. Although, it is clean and isn't lacking. If EQ is applied, then the ER4XR can be bought to a more 'fun' level, although lacks a certain satisfaction/impact due to the single ba. Genres like EDM still perform well on these; they're studio monitors for professionals, after all.

Mids
The Mids remind me of the 6xx series to a certain extent. Clean, accurate and intimate. Vocals and acoustic music shine on this. If you like the 6xx series of headphones, you are likely to enjoy the mids of the ER4XR.

Treble
The ER4XR is my reference for treble in iems. It's not perfect, but it's very close. Minor adjustments in the air region and you get the best treble out of anything really, although perhaps the Shure KSEs may dethrone it, but I haven't heard them yet.

Technicalities
Not a big fan of describing things that can't be quantified into numbers, but alas, here's what I think.
Soundstage is intimate. Could be opened up, but in my use case, which is in public environments, that doesn't matter. I just need something to force feed detail into my ears even with external noises, which this does very well. These are very detailed to the point which you cannot escape it. All the nuances of the music are presented to you plainly, a trait the original target audience of Etymotic products are very likely to seek. Imaging is accurate, though I do not care about it. Imaging and soundstage aren't the focus of the iems, and that isn't a concern to me, but it might be to you.

Other notes/Things to consider
Etymotics have proprietary cables, which require the usage of adapters in order to be used with bt earhooks. It's not too big of a problem, though it will mean an additional bit of money spent. Etymotics have some pretty expensive first party eartips, and the replaceable filters will also cost you.

Conclusion
Your satisfaction with these iems will really depend on what you're looking for. A non intrusive fit? Probably not. Isolation? Absolutely. Planar bass? No. Amazing treble? Yes. I could go on. These just happen to align extremely well with my use case, which is for listening outside of home as a daily driver iem which I can listen to in public and enjoy high levels of details without interruption from noise. Nothing else really provides what these provide, and unless another deep insertion iem that does everything better comes out at a similar or lower price, I'll be daily driving these until my tastes or priorities change.

What's in the Box:
- Foam tips
- 3.5 to 6.3mm Adapter
- Shirt Clip
- 3-Flange tips
- Filter replacements, and the tools necessary to perform the replacement.
- ER4-XR units
- Detachable cables
- Storage hard carrying case

The Eytmotic ER4XR comes in respectable packaging inside is all above accessories. They certainly give you a good amount of what you'll need. I found the ER4XR weird at first, I have similar shaped IEM and some triple flanged tips but these fit deep. It will take time getting used to them. afterwards you won't notice they are even there and going back to other IEM the seal and isolation will not be as impressive. The units are made well, and there are tips for every ear. I like the cable and the fact they went with MMCX. There are filters included but they should be changed as directed so it will be an additional expense.

Technical Specifications:
Impedance: 45 Ohm
Connector: 3.5mm / 6.3 mm
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 16.000Hz
Rated Power Efficiency: 98 dB / 0.1V
Maximum SPL: 122 dB
Cable length: 150 cm / 3.5mm Jack
Driver Type: BA, Ultra Isolation
Coupling Type: In-Ear, Deep Insertion Fit
Headphone to cable connector type: MMCX
Low Magnetic Emissions: Yes




Sound Impressions:
Well start by saying this version has an extended Bass response with a single full range BA driver.

Bass:
There is surprisingly not very much Sub-Bass here. Mid-Bass defiantly is the more and most prominent with good upper Bass details. The Sub-Bass can be heard with enough details but lacks a deep impact. Mid-Bass is super-fast and can handle boosted songs without falling apart to a distorted mess. The Bass in general is detailed and lends to a warm, smooth lower end.

Midrange:
Mids are clear with a warm and sometimes thick register to male vocals, this is in contradiction to the female artist that sound more in your face but not in a harsh way usually. At adequate volumes and lower ones Mids are balanced and well heard with no recession. Source and recording will be intricate in weather the upper mids are presented. Clarity and details are defiantly a feature of the ER4XR and SR Mids.

Treble:
The Highs of the Eytmotic are relaxed and definitely good for treble sensitive listeners but maybe to an extreme.
The highs lack air and energy in general and give the upper end a softness, don't get me wrong there is clarity here fine details and extension are more subdued. Most songs sounded like the symbols were just a gentle presence.

Soundstage:
The Staging on the ER4XR is is small, not narrow but more like a small room very closed in. Imaging, details, as well as the great positioning and fine separation are great features.

My Afterthoughts:
The Eytmotic ER4xr is unique in its tuning, design and sound. It's a high quality In Ear with excellent details and clarity. I can see why they have a large following.

For the longest of time, I've loved Etymotic. In fact, I own their entire XR line up. I even got my son into it and he now refuses to listen to anything else, but I think it's time I re-evaluated my position. You see, not long ago, one of my kids bought the Salnote Zero and I was absolutely floored with the tuning. Then, when my ATH-MSR7 died (finally!) and I had a new excuse to get more audio equipment, I bought the Letshouer S12 Pro. This time I was floored by the apparent technical abilities of the S12, with so much detail being brought forward. This made me wonder, how does the ER4XR stack up against the competition these days?

Well, I previously posted a review lambasting the ER4XR for being boring and muddy. It turns out this old champ still holds the crown and it's not going to give it up easily.

After 3 months of using the Letshouer S12 Pro as my daily driver, I decided to try my ER4XR again. Good lord. What a revelation! This old champ was still the best, most versatile IEM on the table. I hung my head low and begged for forgiveness. What a fool I had been. My true love was by my side the whole time.


SOUND:

My impressions using my Samsung mobile phone with a Fosi Audio DS1.

Bass: Probably the weakest element. I could really use some more sub-bass, but there's warmth and slam. Listening to EDM is a treat! Yeah, and that's coming from the S12 Pro! Sure, not as intense, but does a great job and maintains outstanding clarity. Only bassheads need not apply.

Mids: Amazing. Just that, amazing. Meaty, chunky and forward, but never muddy (unless you need to change the filters).
There is a bit of edge to the upper mids, but the presentation is so coherent that I'm more than happy to overlook that. I even prefer a bit of bite there.

Treble: My favourite part. Clear, non-fatiguing and detailed AF. When I got my S12 Pro, I was impressed by the quantity of treble it had, bringing every high hat forward. That was great, but it also meant that songs which were mastered a bit hot, had this annoying sizzle at the top. After a month it started to drive me crazy.
Moving to the ER4XR, is like entering a warm, relaxing bath. The treble is all there, but not drilling holes in your eardrums.
Keep in mind though, if you want 'air' and 'sizzle' with your IEM, you might like to look elsewhere.

The tamed treble does have the consequence of making the soundstage sound compressed. Don't expect 3D imaging. The main aim of the ER4 is accuracy and realistic timbre, not party tricks. Despite this, the separation is very good. You don't get instruments bleeding into each other (unless the filters need changing... again).

ONGOING EXPENSES:
Something I rarely hear about, it's the ongoing cost of using Etymotic products. And here is where the praise ends for now. Tips and filters are not cheap, and even if you clean your ears religiously, you will need to replace them at least every 6 months, and they are not cheap. A lot of IEMs do not need replacement filters and tips, why does Etymotic products need it then? In fact, I'm half convinced that it's all part of Etymotic's business model to make sure you keep buying replacement parts. There really is no reason why Etymotic tips should self destruct after a few months. Per year, I'm looking at about $50 - $60 AUD in filters and tips replacements. No sir, I don't like it.

Another negative point is the use of proprietary cables. They are MMCX, but have a little notch that makes buying aftermarket cables difficult unless you go to Etymotic themselves. Also, Etymotic cables seem to be flimsy and of low quality, failing after a few months. This has soured my love affair with Etymotic products somewhat as I feel like an open wallet for the privilege of using their products.

IS THAT IT?
Pretty much. I'm not going to go into the fit because everyone and their mother knows about the Etymotic fit.
If you get the chance to demo the ER4XR, you might not be impressed. The ER4XR is not a K-Pop model that will wow you and make your jaw drop. No, the ER4XR is the cute, friendly girl next door, the one you'll end up marrying for life and realising what a lucky guy you are.