Etymotic ER•6i Earphones - Wires Tangle and Annoy

[SirRealist]

I just got these earphones and I really love them, Sound response is good (for the money), and the isolator quality of them really makes my music stand out (i use them while walking and using subway in NYC).

However, one thing that really annoys me are the wires. They are really thin (esp where they split), and get tangled easily. They are also very "bouncy". Because of these qualities, they are often rubbing against my shirt or jacket/coat and the vibration pushes an unpleasant noise up into my ears.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remedy these situations? I was thinking on wrapping the wires (after they split) in electrical tape, to give them some weight (just down on bounciness) and possibly help insulate against the rubbing noise.

Thoughts?

 

[ericj]

attach the included shirt clip?

they're also less microphonic when worn up-side down (wires looped over your ears).

 

[milkpowder]

Microphonics (what you are experiencing) is something I never had with the ER6i. They were much more of an issue with the ER4 series. Anyway, I digress. As ericj already mentioned, the shirt clip helped alleviate the microphonics with the ER4. The behind the ear method also helps but may require a bit of getting used to at the very beginning. Depending on how you use your MP3 player, it may be possible to run the cables behind your ears, then down your back and out the bottom into your DAP.

 

[SirRealist]

Thanks for your help guys.... I'll give putting them behind my ears a shot, but i don't think it will help. I use the clip, but the problem is that here in NYC in the winter you wear coats and jackets a lot. And you zip them all the way up to just under (or sometimes over) your chin. Which means, that there is almost not way to keep the wires from rubbing against your clothing and causing the microphonics.

The problem of microphonics isnt bad at all where the wire is running down my short of anything far from my ear. Its only real close to my ear where the wire rubbing against winter-fighting clothing is causing the microphonics. So, I'm really looking for a way to insulate against that I guess.

What do you guys think?

 

[jsmithepa]

I too had gripe with the er6 cable, until I recently recabled it with an iPod stock buds cable. Now is perfect. Thanks to Ericj, HERE.

 

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmithepa /img/forum/go_quote.gif I too had gripe with the er6 cable, until I recently recabled it with an iPod stock buds cable. Now is perfect. Thanks to Ericj, HERE.

Ah, you're welcome! Glad to see people taking the plunge after i found so many threads around the intertubes asserting how IEMs are impossible to recable.

 

[milkpowder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmithepa /img/forum/go_quote.gif I too had gripe with the er6 cable, until I recently recabled it with an iPod stock buds cable. Now is perfect. Thanks to Ericj, HERE.

Very nice. I was not aware of this mod being done even though it seemed perfectly doable. The flexible PCB was quite a clever thing. Is this commonly found in other IEMs?

 

[SirRealist]

any other thoughts on options?

 

[jsmithepa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirRealist /img/forum/go_quote.gif any other thoughts on options?

Wear some kind of hood in incremental weather, but careful about crossing the street and train tracks!

SEARCH through recent threads here about "plastic paint" or "spray plastic" may just stiffen up the wire enuff to serve your purpose.

There is an tiny adjustment collar on the er6 if I recall. Once you have inserted the phones where u want to, reach back (assume cable falling down your backside) and adjust this collar to take up any slack while still allowing for free head's left to right movement.

 

[SirRealist]

Thanks for the help guys! So far putting the wires from the buds BEFIND my head and under my coat has helped... I'll probably swap the wires out with Apple ones sometime when I have extra time.

Thanks again for the advice!