I think it's a Harman Target OE compare to Ety Target.
If Harman IE has more lower treble.
Interesting. Do you mean similar to ER2XR or ER(3|4)XR?
Also my question still stands about the "why" behind particulars of the bass-boost on the ER2XR.
Regarding the slight differences > 1kHz, I'm curious if Harman's coupler differs slightly from Etymotic's where it results in a sightly different 2-3kHz spike for their target.
I think it's a Harman Target OE compare to Ety Target.
If Harman IE has more lower treble.
Ah, sorry. The bass boost on the EVO is really closer to the ER2XR than the ER3/4XR. There are some mechanical limitations to what we can do with the single BA driver on the ER3/4. We have more sculpting ability with the EVO's dual bass drivers.
As far as the "why", it's because I (and others) happen to like that style of bass boost. We've been kicking around internal prototypes with similar curves (particularly with dynamic drivers) since 2008 or 2009, long before Sean Olive released his target. That's not in any way a dig at the curve, it just wasn't around when we started. Since accuracy in low frequencies wasn't the target, the boost ended up catering more towards our personal preferences, which in my case is a boost with a low enough corner frequency that it doesn't muck up the upper bass and lower mids. So no, we didn't really start out with a target "this is what we need to hit" curve for the bass. There was trial and error, a lot of listening and some arguments with some spirited discussions with driver manufacturers about what we wanted.
The biggest delay in getting the XR series made was internal. An intentionally inaccurate bass response wasn't really part of the company's ethos, so it took a bit of convincing. Sure, we had released the ER4P, but I've long argued (and still do) that it wasn't really a true bass boost. It was a tilt that gave the impression of more bass and less highs. But the motivation for it (back in the day) was gained sensitivity so that it could be used with the relatively weak outputs of portable players at the time. The XR series is the same sensitivity as the SE/SR series, so it's only about adding bass (thus reducing objective accuracy). Mead (Killion, Etymotic's founder) still makes fun of me on occasion for it, but it has been well received so his teasing doesn't bother me too much.
Since Dave said it first... I totally agree that the bass on the EVO is "XR-style".Ah, sorry. The bass boost on the EVO is really closer to the ER2XR than the ER3/4XR. There are some mechanical limitations to what we can do with the single BA driver on the ER3/4. We have more sculpting ability with the EVO's dual bass drivers.
Yup! Count me in for "others" who like the bass boostAs far as the "why", it's because I (and others) happen to like that style of bass boost.
I am really glad you prevailed.The biggest delay in getting the XR series made was internal. An intentionally inaccurate bass response wasn't really part of the company's ethos, so it took a bit of convincing.
Which ER4 are you referring to? ER4SR or ER4XR?Interesting. I expected more resolution/ larger soundstage/ better instrument separation from EVO in comparison with ER4 series but definitely not "more bass"
I like the Etymotic target because it leans slightly towards warmth in the treble and mids compared to Harman. I liked the ER4 a lot except that it didn't quite follow the target completely. Some of the upper mids/treble was recessed around 6-8K compared to the lift above 8K. Also, getting the intended upper treble linearity is a bit tricky with the various options in terms of tips.We've been kicking around internal prototypes with similar curves (particularly with dynamic drivers) since 2008 or 2009, long before Sean Olive released his target. That's not in any way a dig at the curve, it just wasn't around when we started. Since accuracy in low frequencies wasn't the target, the boost ended up catering more towards our personal preferences, which in my case is a boost with a low enough corner frequency that it doesn't muck up the upper bass and lower mids. So no, we didn't really start out with a target "this is what we need to hit" curve for the bass. There was trial and error, a lot of listening and some arguments with some spirited discussions with driver manufacturers about what we wanted.
Dave - would this edited FR graph tell the story then?
I wasn't going for accuracy, so I guess I succeededNot accurately, but that's very funny.
That's pretty funny too.Mead Killion [...] His knowledge on this stuff is very deep, as are his opinions.
Einstein once said you should simplify, but not simpler than that. I disagree; this is properly funny.Dave - would this edited FR graph tell the story then?
Well, I personally prefer the tonality of the ER3SE over ER4SR/S, still neutral but with more body and "meat on the bones".Which ER4 are you referring to? ER4SR or ER4XR?
Hopefully @EtyDave will have a FR graph soon, so we can have objective data on the bass.