Etymotic's new ER2 series

Etymotic has released two new IEMs. The ER2-SE (studio edition) and ER2-XR (extended response with a tiny bit of extra bass). Today, we're looking at the ER2-XR. Price is $160 (RRP) at the time of testing. Purchased with my own money.



Etymotic has been doing research on hearing aid and in-ear monitors (IEM) for decades so it needs no introduction. Its latest products include the ER3 and ER4 (XR & SR) series, all based on a balanced armature (BA) driver. While Etymotic has previously made some dynamic driver (DD) earphones, such as the MK5 and MC5, these models have been priced relatively affordabe and have not been able to compete with their flagship ER4 series. The new ER2 series, priced at $160, are based on a dynamic driver and are perhaps their first serious attempt to make a solid mid-range DD offering. If you are new to DD vs BA drivers, you can find some basic details here.

Build

The ER2-XR's housings are metal earpieces with anodized finish, identical to the ER4 and ER3 series. The build is sturdy and I have no complaints here. However, the cable, which seems to be identical to the ER3's, is quite thick around the ear and generally not very comfortable for over-the-ear use. I would suggest getting a ER4-06 cable - the one that ships with the ER4 series - as a replacement. Please also note that Etymotic uses a proprietary MMCX connector and this will not directly work with any MMCX cable. A final thing to note here is that the ER4 (XR and SR) series are made in the US, while the ER2 and ER3 are made in China.

Accessories

Identical to the ER3 series. Less accessories than the ER4 series but still adequate. Includes both small and large tri-flange clear silicone tips and Comply foam tips. I personally prefer the large silicone ones as this allows me to get a good seal. The ER4 series come with a personally signed copy of the IEM's individually tested frequency response, channel matching, THD, etc, which you don't get with the lower priced ER2 series.

Fit

If you are a new Etymotic user, these may not be very comfortable during the first few weeks. Applying a bit of lubricant to the tips may help a lot in terms of putting them in and getting a good seal. Once you get used to that, comfort is unlikely to be an issue. However, sleeping with them will not be ideal, given the fit. Wearing them over the ear completely eliminates microphonics so I highly recommend that, despite the fact that they are seemingly not designed for such use. I personally use the ER4 series cable on the ER2-XR as it's longer and considerably more comfortable when worn over the ear. A final thing to note is that sound is heavily dependent on fit. Make sure you select the right tips and you get a good seal. The way I do it is I push the tips as deep as possible and then drag them back a little bit until I hear a popping sound.

Isolation

As good as it gets. Etymotic lists the ER2's external noise isolation as 35-42 dB and I found no difference between these and the ER4 series. Etymotic has confirmed that despite these being DD, there are no external vents to the outside world. Completely blocks all sound around me when I get a good seal. No sound leakage to speak of. If you are like me and you are overly concerned about disturbing others, these would be great for you.

Sound

Very easy to drive. Bassiest Etymotic IEM I've tried to date - this includes the ER4-XR, ER3-XR and MK5. It is warmer and has considerably more sub-bass than its higher-priced BA counterparts (worthy of the Etymothicc label). That said, as the old saying goes, don't expect a bass-heavy Etymotic and this added bass is all tastefully executed -- well controlled and there's little or no bleed.

The rest of the frequency response is quite typical for an Etymotic earphone and you still get a ton of detail and good separation, plus the clarity Etymotic is known for. The treble is perhaps a touch more recessed compared to the ER4-XR. Relative to the ER4, the ER2 may sacrifice a tiny bit of detail in the upper range -- but don't expect a really obvious difference. On the positive side, the ER2-XR is arguably more enjoyable on bass heavy tracks due to the extra punch in the low end and the natural feel of the dynamic driver. Soundstage is adequate but don't expect too much from an Etymotic in-ear in this regard. Overall, I have very little to complain about, given the price.



Frequency response and comparison with ER4-XR. Source: csglinux

Conclusion

For $160, the ER2XR is a steal. This is a very competent IEM with significant amounts of detail and it's arguably better value for money than the ER4 series, considering the massive price difference. Its low end is punchy and engaging, making it well suited for modern music. If any Etymotic IEM I've tried so far deserves the 'fun' label, the best candidate for this would be the ER2-XR. Despite the cable not being ideal, the ER2-XR definitely gets my recommendation as one of the best IEMs in this price range.

Price: $299. More information available here. Personal unit.

Build and fit

High-quality 3D-printed shells made of medical-grade resin. Fit is great. No-hassle, reasonably deep (not as deep as Etymotic IEMs but much deeper than most universal IEMs I’ve tried) insertion which makes the insertion of my Etymotic ER4XR feel like a massive (painful) chore. I typically use bi- or tri-flange tips where possible but I get a great seal with singles here. There is also absolutely no pain or discomfort while wearing them. They are very light too so I don’t really notice their presence after a couple of minutes. Running and working out with them is great and there is no chance of them falling out. Same goes for sleeping. There is no need to re-adjust the fit after wearing them for some time.



Isolation and leakage

Isolation and leakage are great, possibly as good as universal IEMs get. FiiO doesn’t provide any official information regarding noise attenuation and I don’t have the expertise, let alone professional equipment, to measure this but I wouldn’t be surprised if these isolate in excess of -30 dB. My gold standard for isolation is the Etymotic ER4 series which are rated at -35-42dB. While the FA7 doesn’t compete with the ER4s in this regard, its isolation is seriously good and probably the best I've tried after Etymotic. Great in terms of noise leakage. If you are someone like me who is overly concerned about disturbing others in a quiet office, the FA7 will do great. The lack of vents (or at least I haven’t seen any) helps. My girlfriend couldn’t hear any noise while sitting one meter away from me in a quiet room at normal-to-loud listening volumes. Comparable to Etymotic’s unvented designs in terms of leakage.

Sound

Easy to drive at 23Ω impedance and 110dB/mW sensitivity. Performs well out of an iPhone 6S and MacBook Pro 2018. I don’t believe in burn in so this has not been a consideration. However, I've listened to the FA7 for around 100 hours. Default sound signature is warm and thick with a massive emphasis on the bass. You can check out Brooko's frequency response graph here. I used EQ to reduce mid-bass impact by about -4-5dB, leaving most of the sub-bass untouched.

As noted by Brooko, the main issue seems to be that the bass emphasis goes a bit too far into the mid-bass, resulting in bloating and bass bleed overshadowing the other frequencies. After EQ, I am completely satisfied with the low range (and the overall sound). Pretty hard hitting for a BA. Midrange and treble are good once you EQ down the bass; may otherwise sound recessed. Decent vocal performance, good instrument separation. Even with EQ, vocals may sound a little bit distant if you're used to more mid-forward headphones like the HD600 series. Soundstage is good and clearly better than the ER4XR.

Comparisons

Etymotic ER4-XR ($349)

The ER4-XR (a single BA IEM) is widely regarded as one of the best and most accurate IEMs in this price range, as well as the point where diminishing returns becomes really noticeable. ER4XR is naturally leaner, more mid-forward and bass-light compared to the FA7. Despite having less bass quantity, bass is more articulate and punchier on the ER4. I prefer ER4’s default sound signature. FA7 offers much better comfort and hassle-free use. Tyll's XR graph, for FQ comparison.

FiiO FA1 ($99)

Massive price gap but a lot of people are asking for comparisons. Out of the box, the FA1 is a lot more linear and it doesn't have the massive bass emphasis that the FA7 has. It is leaner and offers really good value at this price range. Some people said that they preferred the FA1 over the FA7 (seemingly even if price was not a consideration) but I’ll have to disagree. Even without EQ, I’d get the FA7 if price was not a factor. Having equalised the FA7, I’d say the FA1 can’t even compete with the FA7 — the FA7 is much clearer, the low range is punchier, instrument separation is light years ahead. Comfort is about the same and the FA7 might have slightly better isolation.

TL;DR

- Great potential but you may have to EQ down the mid-bass - would've given them a 5 otherwise
- Excellent build with beautiful 3D-printed. Ergonomics and fit are top of the league as far as universal IEMs are concerned. Isolation is great and sound leakage is close to zero.
- The default sound signature places a lot of emphasis on the mid-bass, resulting in some bloating and bleed. Equalising down the bass can eliminate this pretty much completely. If you don’t mind doing this, an equalised FA7 offers good instrument separation and detail.

Do I recommend?

Yes, if you don't mind EQ. If you cannot be bothered, you might want to consider some other good alternatives like the ER4XR, FH5 or IT01S which don’t require any EQ. Do have in mind that the FA7's ergonomics and comfort are much better than any of these.