I too am skeptical.
Etymotic is very particular about how the ER-4's sound. Their sound is not happenstance, it's a matter of careful study and decision on their part. Among other things, this deliberateness in the design of the sound signature is why they sell three different versions of the ER-4. To suggest that they've gone from Classic Coke to New Coke in their sound signature without breathing a word of it to anyone, without changing the verbiage and graphs on their site, and without anyone that I've heard of other than your friend noticing it, defies all we know about them as a company and much of what we know about the audiophile world.
However experienced your friend may be, I have to ask two things:
1. Can he elaborate on these descriptions? I have no idea what "colorful" means in this context.
2. Is it certain that he used clean filters in both sets? "Weak" is an apt description of ER-4's that are overdue for a filter change.
Etymotic is very particular about how the ER-4's sound. Their sound is not happenstance, it's a matter of careful study and decision on their part. Among other things, this deliberateness in the design of the sound signature is why they sell three different versions of the ER-4. To suggest that they've gone from Classic Coke to New Coke in their sound signature without breathing a word of it to anyone, without changing the verbiage and graphs on their site, and without anyone that I've heard of other than your friend noticing it, defies all we know about them as a company and much of what we know about the audiophile world.
However experienced your friend may be, I have to ask two things:
1. Can he elaborate on these descriptions? I have no idea what "colorful" means in this context.
2. Is it certain that he used clean filters in both sets? "Weak" is an apt description of ER-4's that are overdue for a filter change.
