jarrett
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Posts
- 685
- Likes
- 12
This has probably been done to death, but from all my reading it's the logical upgrade for someone who has owned the ER6i and don't want to spend more.
Etymotic ER6i
The left channel died after 2 years. The only symptoms of this happening were audible signs of distortion or 'buzzing' in some high frequencies.
Head-Direct RE2
I'll make it brief for owners of the ER6i...
The most obvious differences are the improvement in detail, soundstaging(!), mids, and more bass. They aren't as accurate to my ears, but have the same sort of balanced sound signature if you're looking for more of the same. In my opinion you don't have to EQ the bass, like the ER6i, to get acceptable amounts - I'm a Classical and Jazz listener so for me 'enough' is enough. The highs are not as present or perhaps they are rolled off sooner. I don't know why people describe them as 'fun' sounding, if anything they are more laidback and have an aura of softness to them lol. Isolation difference isn't worth bringing up so I'm calling it the same. Honestly, I want transit noise to drain out, not isolate me from reality. The cord is stiff, 5' in length, round (ER6i has two joined wires until they split for left and right), and did not come with the extension I read about (Edit: A 5' cord ships with new versions). Also it comes with a clip which I found extremely useful with the ER6i. I think the ER6i and my Sony had better synergy because the RE2 doesn't have the same 'slam' to the sound I remember. There was no audible hiss when the RE2's were plugged into my Sony like the ER6i's had, but I wonder if this is more an issue of the phones not having the same high frequency reproduction.
It's a good upgrade, but don't expect positive improvement in every single area!
Things I've played thus far: Ali Farka Toure (In The Heart Of The Moon), Giacinto Scelsi (Works for Chorus and Orchestra), Charles Mingus (Epitaph), Bartok (Concerto for Orchestra, Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta), Bach Cello Suites (Rostropovich), FM Radio
They probably only have 10 hours of break-in if anyone was curious. I'm not one of those people who absolutely must burn-in for 50 hours before they allow themselves to enjoy what they have
Edit: A 5' cord ships with new orders stated here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f87/wh...7/#post5448683
Etymotic ER6i
The left channel died after 2 years. The only symptoms of this happening were audible signs of distortion or 'buzzing' in some high frequencies.
Head-Direct RE2
I'll make it brief for owners of the ER6i...
The most obvious differences are the improvement in detail, soundstaging(!), mids, and more bass. They aren't as accurate to my ears, but have the same sort of balanced sound signature if you're looking for more of the same. In my opinion you don't have to EQ the bass, like the ER6i, to get acceptable amounts - I'm a Classical and Jazz listener so for me 'enough' is enough. The highs are not as present or perhaps they are rolled off sooner. I don't know why people describe them as 'fun' sounding, if anything they are more laidback and have an aura of softness to them lol. Isolation difference isn't worth bringing up so I'm calling it the same. Honestly, I want transit noise to drain out, not isolate me from reality. The cord is stiff, 5' in length, round (ER6i has two joined wires until they split for left and right), and did not come with the extension I read about (Edit: A 5' cord ships with new versions). Also it comes with a clip which I found extremely useful with the ER6i. I think the ER6i and my Sony had better synergy because the RE2 doesn't have the same 'slam' to the sound I remember. There was no audible hiss when the RE2's were plugged into my Sony like the ER6i's had, but I wonder if this is more an issue of the phones not having the same high frequency reproduction.
It's a good upgrade, but don't expect positive improvement in every single area!
Things I've played thus far: Ali Farka Toure (In The Heart Of The Moon), Giacinto Scelsi (Works for Chorus and Orchestra), Charles Mingus (Epitaph), Bartok (Concerto for Orchestra, Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta), Bach Cello Suites (Rostropovich), FM Radio
They probably only have 10 hours of break-in if anyone was curious. I'm not one of those people who absolutely must burn-in for 50 hours before they allow themselves to enjoy what they have
Edit: A 5' cord ships with new orders stated here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f87/wh...7/#post5448683
