Etymotic the headphones for me?

[Robot Mania FU]

I have been looking for a good in ear for a long time now. I have always used my grado's around the house and just my Sennheiser mx500 earbuds for portable use, but i want some better sound when im out.

I have been looking and i seem to get great reviews of Etymotics. I listen to a lot of rap (not the new mainstream crap...mainly Nas, Mf Doom, ect.), techno, and when i do listen to rock its a lot of louder metal type. So im looking for some powerful headphones with some decent bass.

My price range would be include anything up to about $130. Would Etymotic be my choice? Should i be looking at shures?

Anyone think they can help?

 

[MaillerPhong]

Though I love my ER6i's, I would never recommend them to someone on the basis of their bass performance. Their bass is plenty controlled, but the amount just doesn't impress.

I haven't heard the Shure offerings at that price point, but my experience with the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 3 showed that it was on par detail-wise with the Ety's but had more of a bass presence. I would look into those phones.

And I'm sure you'll get some recommendations for the Atrio m5's. Haven't heard them myself, but folks 'round these parts seem to like them.

 

[Capunk]

I'm in same condition as yours before, stuck with sennheiser MX500, and I do have Alessandro MS-1, but that's after I bought Etymotic ER-6i.

I thought ER-6i could complement and replacing my MX500 for portable use,
but I was wrong, they're not comfortable (for me), and I get irritated easily after using it for long time use (around 1 - 2 hours).
The sound is very analytical, and detailed but they're not fun for me, too bright - I prefer my MX500, coz it's bass signature, and much much more comfortable for long time use.

But it's time to retire my MX500, and I pick YUIN PK-1

since I have my portable DAC/AMP ibasso D1.

However, I'm in same boat and want to give 2nd chance for IEM, and I heard many ppl here using Westone UM2,
Have it a look.

 

[tstarn06]

Read up on the Denon C700s, there's a thread comparing it to the SE310s. I just got a pair, and they are fantastic. They're canalphones, but better than anything in the price range, $132 shipped on Amazon, including IEMs. I thought the Atrios were the best for the money, but the Denons seem to be a notch better (based on early listening). And they do isolate. But the Atrios are outstanding too, a little warmer than the Denons perhaps. Either one is a smart buy.

 

[Aevum]

in the 50-6o range, maybe you should be looking at the mylarone X3 and XB, 75 will net you a pair of super,fi 3 on ebay,

but if you want the best you can get for 130$, then go on ebay and make a $130 offer on a pair of futuresonics atrio M5/M8 to a roaddogonline, they have the price at 159, but they usualy accept 130,

 

[pez]

My main genre is Metal. I'll give the Ety's the edge in that genre over say Super.fi 3's, because it gives the detail and instrument seperation in Metal, which I find more enjoyable. As for rap, I would recommend something from Ultimate Ears, because they are known to have decent bass, while still keeping the Highs and the Mids excellent.

 

[willsterstyle]

anybody have any reviews for the

Ultimate Buds for the iPhone? That's why i'm interested in the ER-6i. So with the bass booster eq you think it'll still be sorta weak?

 

[dkpaul]

ER6 have a weak bass. I haven't heard ER4. Using EQ in Apple products usually distorts the sound.