Etymotic ER3SE & ER3XR - impressions and comparison:
I've spent several days listening to both, and switching between the ER3SE and ER3XR. I feel that I am now ready to share my thoughts...
Sources used:
- Samsung S10e phone running UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) and Tidal (Hi-Fi plan for lossless streaming)
- Cayin N3Pro DAP playing local music (90% CD quality 44.1/16 FLACs, the rest: 24-bit and/or higher sampling rate)
I used various tracks by the following artists: (listed alphabetically):
- Adele
- Coldplay
- Dire Straits
- Foo Fighters
- Led Zeppelin
- Lorde
- Metallica
- Muse
- Nightwish
- Norah Jones
- Yosi Horikawa
Both ER3SE and ER3XR were super easy to drive! My phone had more than enough power, and I cannot imagine a single source that would not. Not requiring a headphone amplifier makes the ER3 IEMs ideal companions for simple and compact on-the-go setups. In fact, I walked down the street with the ER3XR in my ears, plugged to my phone (in my pants pocket).
The
ER3SE sounds very clear and airy, with excellent instrument separation. Switching to the ER3SE from the ER3XR immediately emphasizes the lighter bass. The difference (2db in mid-bass to 4dB in sub-bass) is not huge but I could very easily tell them apart in blind test. Going from the ER3XR to the ER3SE made the music sound less congested with better separation and clarity.
The
ER3XR sounds a little thicker. The added bass fills some of the air between instruments, and thus gives the impression of less space between instruments. The bass also changes the sound signature to be a little smoother and warmer. This creates the
perception of being less detailed. The details are definitely there, but the underlining bass smooths them a little bit. Mind you, the ER3XR is still
not bass heavy. Bassheads would still want more!
"So, which ER3 should I choose?" The answer is subjective, but here are some tips and guidelines:
- If you prefer vocals over everything else - get the ER3SE.
- For classical music - get the ER3SE for its better clarity and instrument separation.
- If you listen mostly to Pop, Rock and/or EDM - get the ER3XR. The added bass would make your music more "fun" and exciting to listen to.
- For acoustic and instrumental music - if you prefer thicker sound, get the ER3XR. But, if you prefer airy presentation with better instrument separation - get the ER3SE.
- Metal heads - this one is tricky! On one hand, I liked the clarity and congestion-free presentation of the ER3SE (especially with some Nightwish tracks). On the other hand, I loved the way drums sounded on the ER3XR. They seemed too anemic to my taste out of the ER3SE.
Important note: I am
not saying the ER3XR sound is congested. That is not the case! But, compared to the ER3SE - it sounds more congested
relatively to the more open sound and better separation of the ER3SE.
Foam tips vs. triple flange tips:
Isolation: Foam tips offer much better isolation. Both have far better isolation than most IEMs that I have ever auditioned, but the foam tips definitely take it to a whole new level.
Important side note: I do not recommend using the foam tips when some level of your surroundings' awareness is required (walking down the street, for example). You should be aware if you're chased by a huge dog or going to get run over by a bus...
Foam tips are ideal, though, for use at home when the kids are running around and screaming, and on flights (remember those?).
Comfort: Insertion is easier (at least for me) with the triple flange tips. No need to fiddle with and squeeze them, quickly inserting them before they expand. I am sure that with more practice - inserting the foam tips will be faster and easier, but with little to no practice - the triple flange is definitely easier! Once in your ear - they DO feel different. That part will be very subjective but for me - I like the feel of the silicone triple flange better. The foam requires getting used to (again, at least to me). People that use and love Comply foam tips might have the opposite opinion about this one.
Sound: switching from silicone triple flange to foam tips, the treble becomes a
little attenuated and less airy. Also, the bass feels like it is
slightly boosted and boomier. Those changes are small but noticeable.
Tip rolling summary: my personal suggestion is to choose the tip based on your comfort and desired isolation. Only if both tips feel equally comfortable - then choose by the
small sound signature differences.
Source and synergy comparisons:
The N3Pro has 3 amplification circuits: Solid State, Tube Triode, and Tube UltraLinear. The Solid State amp can be used with 3.5mm single-ended (unbalanced) or 4.4mm balanced connections, while both Tube amp options only support the 3.5mm single-ended connection. I have not tested the balanced connection (I do not have 4.4mm cable). I will update my impressions if/when I test the 4.4mm balanced option.
Samsung S10e phone: This one is a good example of what should be expected from a non-audiophile source. The S10e can easily drive the ER3SE and ER3XR to very high volume levels. Sound quality is just fine for watching YouTube videos, and even for music on-the-go when quality is not the top priority but rather convenience of “traveling light” with just the phone and the Etymotic IEMs.
N3Pro Solid State: Switching from the Samsung S10e to the N3Pro DAP makes it immediately clear why people buy dedicated devices despite being able to "just use their phone" for playing music… The sound is smooth and energetic, with added micro details and a much better dynamic range. A good analogy would be listening to a song from FM radio, and then switching to the same song played from a CD player.
Solid State mode is a good fit for both SR3SE and SR3XR.
Tube Triode: Compared to the Solid State mode, Tube Triode is warmer and smoother with a more relaxed sound.
The warmer sound signature of Tube Triode fits the very neutral ER3SE better than the slightly warmer ER3XR. Having said that, I found the ER3XR & Tube Triode combination very enjoyable with some tracks (e.g. Norah Jones), but not an ideal match for others (e.g. Lorde).
Tube UltraLinear: This is the goldilocks mode… Sitting in between the Solid State and Tube Triode modes. Smoother and warmer than Solid State, but not as warm or laid back as the Tube Triode.
This mode worked very well for both ER3SE and ER3XR, very much like the Solid State mode.
It would be good if I can get some entry level suggestion, wouldn't want to spend too much. Around $50 would be the sweet spot, can stretch to $100.
