Actually, in the hi-fidelity/audiophile headphone market, Etymotic is one of the most respected names, and for good reason. Their products are very hi-quality, as is their service (one of their engineers frequents this board and has always been very open and generous with his time and knowledge). I have the ER6, and at it's price (or anywhere close to it), you will not find a better sounding earbud, period. The only earbuds/canalphones that I know of that are better are the Etymotic ER4P and 4S, and those cost significantly more.
Quality is superb, but bear in mind that these are very small so despite their build quality you should treat them with a little more care than your regular earbud. Fit is a bit of an issue, although Etymotic has solved that for me with the foam earpads. If you have large ears, then the silicone tips might make it hard for you to achieve a good seal, but with the foam tips it's very easy to get a good seal.
As far as sound, these are very neutral headphones that are clean, clear, and extremely detailed (they render microdynamics particularly well - I can only imagine what the ER4S does). Treble is among the best I've heard out of headphones in terms of clarity and extension, the midrange is very pleasing - maybe could use just a touch more warmth for my tastes (but that might be a personal thing), and the bass, while not as full-bodied as you're probably used to in headphones, is still very deep and tight. Instrument seperation is fantastic - and the soundstage, while definitely not as wide as regular over-the-ear headphones, is still very well clear and doesn't feel compressed like many closed headphones do.
I think the biggest thing you'll have to get used to with these headphones is their fit. The go fairly deep into your ear (as compared to your common earbud), and some people find the sensation of having "plugged" ears a little annoying. I myself don't really mind, although sometimes I'd rather listen to my full-sized headphones just to forego the minor hassle of putting the Etys in. Another thing, they offer A LOT of isolation - when I'm listening to them I really can't hear much of anything going on around me (I've had housemates yelling at me in the same room and I couldn't hear them) - this might be a good thing for you though, who knows.
This also means that every time you want to talk to someone, you'll need to take out one side, and then have to stick it back in.
One thing you might want to check out is getting a portable amp (does the Riot have a line out or just a headphone jack). There's a chance that the ER6
might sound a little thin out of the headphone jack, even though it should be powered well enough by your average heaphone jack. I know that my Ety's sound filled out a bit when I got a headphone amplifier.
I guess that's about it. And, if you want to see if the Ety's are for you or get other recommendations, feel free to call Headroom (
www.headphone.com - best headphone retailers on the planet
) and they'll be glad to help you out. They offer a 30 day money-back period so you can buy something and try it out, and if you don't like it you can send it back and get a full refund.
