hardbop
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2005
- Posts
- 363
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- 111
I've begun the search for my ideal headphone. I plan on auditioning as many cans from Headroom as I can order and return them, until I find the right headphone for my ears and the music that they enjoy. First, is are the Etymotic ER-4P's (http://etymotic.com/ephp/er4.asp). I chose these first so I have a little extra time to decide on an amp.
I received these canalphones from Headroom this week and I've been listening to them solidly for the past three days.
At the moment, I still haven't expanded my audio equipment, so I've only been listening to these on my iPod. My iPod contains songs from nearly every genre, encoded with LAME --alt preset extreme or Apple Lossless. I haven't done very much critical listening yet.
The delivery was prompt, coming in only 4 days, including the weekend. It was double boxed and the headphone storage box was in a sleeve. It was smaller than I expected, made of plastic with "Etymotic Research" stamped in red on the top. The latch is a long, rounded bump of a button. The insides are just as pictured. The carrying pouch I received was zippered and made of a combination of what I assume is pleather and velour. Inside is a small mesh pocket with a velcro fastener.
Inserting the canalphones as instructed on Headroom's website was quick and painless. The seal occured naturally and isolation was immediately achieved. It was slightly wierd to have something in my ear like that, but it wasn't necessarily uncomfortable. As I understand, these drivers don't need to be broken in, so I went directly to the music.
Simply put, the ER-4P's sound excellent. They are clear, articulate and very detailed. There is noticiable separation between the instruments and the notes themselves. The initial attack is detailed and the note's end is clearly audible, with emptiness between it and the next note. It's nice to hear all the little embelishments, intentional or not, and even the papers shuffling on the stands. On some of my newer CDs I've discovered parts I didn't know were there and even some instruments I hadn't heard in the music before.
The music sounds almost like it is coming from inside my own head. Left or right balanced parts break that immersion, but I haven't experienced any listening fatigue attributable to the lack of crossfeed.
There is plenty of bass impact for these ears and the bass hits are as articulate as I've heard them in person. It has made for a very nice sounding timpani and bass drum in classical pieces like Fanfare for the Common Man. The lower frequencies vibrate my ears and the bass has been punchy in some rock songs sometimes to the point of detracting from the higher end. Mostly, it is just enough representation for me.
Overall, these phones sound balanced throughout the frequencies. Vocals are clear, midrange is full and the high treble is bright. The few occurances in which the music sounded bad was easily fixed with an EQ adjustment.
Isolation is very good with these canalphones; however, isolation is very good with these canalphones. For me, it has been a blessing and a curse. I was able to enjoy the music in my apartment without being bothered by any outside noises, but I hope I haven't missed any phone calls at work. It is difficult to carry on a conversation while wearing them, which is exactly what I expected. Sound leakage is nonexistant, except with the loudest of cymbal crashes and even then the outside observer would have to be invading your personal space.
The sealing of the ear canals present a major problem, though. Quite a bit of vibration is heard through the bones, as are internal bodily sounds. Walking while wearing the 4P's proved to be too big a distraction; however, it was less so while wearing softer, lighter shoes. Still, I doubt I would be able to walk to work with these. Moreso, eating is an interesting study in mastication and digestion, another activity to avoid while trying to enjoy these headphones. Along with the microphonic chord, it is difficult to listen to them while moving around. They are best used in conjuction with sedentary non-activities, such as sitting, computing, lying in bed, etc.
I haven't found these canalphones to be uncomfortable, but I may just have iron ears. I listened to them throughout the work day, while at home and I've even slept with them in my ears. I've easily listened to them 8+ hours at a time with little fatigue. The tri-flanges are a great deal easier to use than the foam tips. The flange tips insterted easily and comfortably. The seal was easily achieved and they stay in place fairly well. Unless I tugged on the cord, it took a while for them to work their way out of position. They sound better and bass response was a bit more palpable.
The foam tips took a bit more work to get into place and even then, they came loose easier. Perhaps the medium tips are not a good fit, since they don't tend to go in as far. Perhaps this can account for the poorer sonic qualities as well. The plastic stalks tend to be uncomfortable, too, and have poked my ear canals a few times.
I think that about covers my original thoughts on the ER-4P canalphones. I'll cover more as I think of it. This review has been highly subjective, so your milage will vary.
Up next will be critical listening with as much music as I have time for.
I received these canalphones from Headroom this week and I've been listening to them solidly for the past three days.
At the moment, I still haven't expanded my audio equipment, so I've only been listening to these on my iPod. My iPod contains songs from nearly every genre, encoded with LAME --alt preset extreme or Apple Lossless. I haven't done very much critical listening yet.
The delivery was prompt, coming in only 4 days, including the weekend. It was double boxed and the headphone storage box was in a sleeve. It was smaller than I expected, made of plastic with "Etymotic Research" stamped in red on the top. The latch is a long, rounded bump of a button. The insides are just as pictured. The carrying pouch I received was zippered and made of a combination of what I assume is pleather and velour. Inside is a small mesh pocket with a velcro fastener.
Inserting the canalphones as instructed on Headroom's website was quick and painless. The seal occured naturally and isolation was immediately achieved. It was slightly wierd to have something in my ear like that, but it wasn't necessarily uncomfortable. As I understand, these drivers don't need to be broken in, so I went directly to the music.
Simply put, the ER-4P's sound excellent. They are clear, articulate and very detailed. There is noticiable separation between the instruments and the notes themselves. The initial attack is detailed and the note's end is clearly audible, with emptiness between it and the next note. It's nice to hear all the little embelishments, intentional or not, and even the papers shuffling on the stands. On some of my newer CDs I've discovered parts I didn't know were there and even some instruments I hadn't heard in the music before.
The music sounds almost like it is coming from inside my own head. Left or right balanced parts break that immersion, but I haven't experienced any listening fatigue attributable to the lack of crossfeed.
There is plenty of bass impact for these ears and the bass hits are as articulate as I've heard them in person. It has made for a very nice sounding timpani and bass drum in classical pieces like Fanfare for the Common Man. The lower frequencies vibrate my ears and the bass has been punchy in some rock songs sometimes to the point of detracting from the higher end. Mostly, it is just enough representation for me.
Overall, these phones sound balanced throughout the frequencies. Vocals are clear, midrange is full and the high treble is bright. The few occurances in which the music sounded bad was easily fixed with an EQ adjustment.
Isolation is very good with these canalphones; however, isolation is very good with these canalphones. For me, it has been a blessing and a curse. I was able to enjoy the music in my apartment without being bothered by any outside noises, but I hope I haven't missed any phone calls at work. It is difficult to carry on a conversation while wearing them, which is exactly what I expected. Sound leakage is nonexistant, except with the loudest of cymbal crashes and even then the outside observer would have to be invading your personal space.
The sealing of the ear canals present a major problem, though. Quite a bit of vibration is heard through the bones, as are internal bodily sounds. Walking while wearing the 4P's proved to be too big a distraction; however, it was less so while wearing softer, lighter shoes. Still, I doubt I would be able to walk to work with these. Moreso, eating is an interesting study in mastication and digestion, another activity to avoid while trying to enjoy these headphones. Along with the microphonic chord, it is difficult to listen to them while moving around. They are best used in conjuction with sedentary non-activities, such as sitting, computing, lying in bed, etc.
I haven't found these canalphones to be uncomfortable, but I may just have iron ears. I listened to them throughout the work day, while at home and I've even slept with them in my ears. I've easily listened to them 8+ hours at a time with little fatigue. The tri-flanges are a great deal easier to use than the foam tips. The flange tips insterted easily and comfortably. The seal was easily achieved and they stay in place fairly well. Unless I tugged on the cord, it took a while for them to work their way out of position. They sound better and bass response was a bit more palpable.
The foam tips took a bit more work to get into place and even then, they came loose easier. Perhaps the medium tips are not a good fit, since they don't tend to go in as far. Perhaps this can account for the poorer sonic qualities as well. The plastic stalks tend to be uncomfortable, too, and have poked my ear canals a few times.
I think that about covers my original thoughts on the ER-4P canalphones. I'll cover more as I think of it. This review has been highly subjective, so your milage will vary.
Up next will be critical listening with as much music as I have time for.
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