[lapis]

My beloved and out-of-warranty ER6i pair has a broken cable on one side, and Etymotic's replacement program (there's no repair program, the support rep said) costs $76. So it's just as cheap to get a new pair.

But should I get another 6i pair, or go with a different model?

REASONS TO GET ANOTHER PAIR OF 6is:
- they seem to protrude out of the ear the least (important for me, to sleep and travel in them, wear under hats, etc.)
- 6i costs least
- I still have a lot of 6i replacement filters and eartips

REASONS TO SWITCH TO 4Ps or HF5s:
- all non-6i models seem much more durable than the 6is
- reportedly somewhat higher noise isolation (I don't understand why this would be; they use same-looking tips?)
- reportedly better fidelity (although my 6is sound beautiful to me)

Thanks for advice or help re. any of these individual considerations, or my question overall.

 

[Sinocelt]

HF5 looks like the best deal right now.

 

[lapis]

Thanks for that code mention -- unfortunately there's no way I can afford the new set before May 31st when the code expires. I'm doing research now to prep for buying later in summer.

 

[Sinocelt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for that code mention -- unfortunately there's no way I can afford the new set before May 31st when the code expires. I'm doing research now to prep for buying later in summer.

They offered the same $99 deal a couple of months ago. They may offer it again a couple of months from now.

 

[lapis]

Cool, thanks.

Does anybody have comments on how far the 4P or HF5 phones protrude out of the ear? (Both of them look like they stick out much worse than the 6is.)

 

[episiarch]

They are less stealth than the ER-6i, but they don't really stick out far. When they are inserted fully, the cord comes down flush with your earlobe.

 

[PaulF]

Definitely just wait until the HF5 go back down to $99 again. I bought mine in march for $99 from amazon, and I have been enjoying them ever since.

 

[lapis]

The HF5s seem like an excellent deal at that price! I'm mostly just concerned it wouldn't feel good going to sleep with them inserted (that's a big part of why IEMs are important for me, going to sleep with music and being able to stay asleep through noises). The 6is are already slightly non-comfy when I'm lying on my side...

 

[episiarch]

I don't think you'll be able to use HF5 while sleeping. I don't think I could use the ER-4 that way, and it's a similar shape (though not the same shape).

If you feel strongly about getting something a little more heavily built, I would suggest the d-jays, which cost around $100, disappear into your ear like the ER-6i, are equally comfortable and isolating in my experience, and which seem to be pretty durable (mine have been dropped, trod upon, etc.). I do not enjoy their sound as much as that of the ER-6i, but it's still pretty good.

 

[PaulF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapis /img/forum/go_quote.gif The HF5s seem like an excellent deal at that price! I'm mostly just concerned it wouldn't feel good going to sleep with them inserted (that's a big part of why IEMs are important for me, going to sleep with music and being able to stay asleep through noises). The 6is are already slightly non-comfy when I'm lying on my side...

I cannot sleep with HF5s when I lay on my side. I have done some fancy pillow positioning and have slept for a few hours, but this is definitely not an IEM you can easily sleep with.

Other than that, great headphones!