Finally time to replace my Etymotics ER-4s

[proedros]

i am an analytical sound guy

i bought re-zero, re-262 , re-252 , eq-5 - they were good but something was missing so i kept on searching

then i got re-272 and i stopped searching.

if/when i will want/have money to spent on customs , we shall talk again

until then , 272 is the one i want/need.

cheers

 

[Spyro]

You sound more knowledgable and technical than me but I'd still say that the desire to achieve the highest possible extension of treble is NOT a good thing for a variety of reasons (bitrate, volume, recording quality).  Many times the roll-off is intentional just for this reason.  Aside from any "deficiencies" you note,  the GR10 is the most natural sounding and "alive" IEM in my list of past IEM's which includes many, some 3X it's cost.  ER4S may very well destroy GR10 from a specification standpoint however I simply don't find ER4S fun to listen to.  Personal choice I guess.
 
We can agree to disagree on this one 

 

[Max Minimum]

Sorry to make the thread and then abandon it for a couple of days.  Had a minor emergency come up.  Almost as much of an emergency as my Etys finally giving out!
 
I really appreciate all of the suggestions.  I'll take what's been said here into account and do further research on the 'phones suggested.  I think I recall the RE272 being compared to the Etys in the past.  What about contrasting the two, what are the differences? 

 

[Max Minimum]

Quote:

Based on what I am reading, Heir Audio 4Ai may make ER4S obsolete!!
 
Griin...snicker....cough, cough....does anyone want to compare ER4 to 4Ai?
 
Probably much like Westone W1 to W4

I just read an article on CNet about the 4Ai.  I know they're not exactly the authority on sound sometimes, but it was Guttenburg (sp?) and he's usually pretty solid.  He loved them.  I second your suggestion that someone compare them to the ER4s...  I'll have to look up more info on these for sure.

 

[Inks]

You sound more knowledgable and technical than me but I'd still say that the desire to achieve the highest possible extension of treble is NOT a good thing for a variety of reasons (bitrate, volume, recording quality).  Many times the roll-off is intentional just for this reason.  Aside from any "deficiencies" you note,  the GR10 is the most natural sounding and "alive" IEM in my list of past IEM's which includes many, some 3X it's cost.  ER4S may very well destroy GR10 from a specification standpoint however I simply don't find ER4S fun to listen to.  Personal choice I guess.
 
We can agree to disagree on this one 

Without bandwidth, you don't have the most airy presentation possible. Highest possible extension is best, the treble past 10k is almost never harsh/deviating, it's to bring about micro-details and air. Manufacturers strive for the biggest bandwidth, the GR10 falls short here, I simply accept the shortcoming. 

 

[Max Minimum]

There are definitely times when the Etys expose bad recordings and low to mid-bitrate files to the point that I can't enjoy them as much as I can even on a set of Skullcandy Titans, which are obviously far inferior, technically speaking, to the Etys.  Maybe I should give something with a slight roll-off a try...hmm.  Torn.  When a recording is up to the potential of the Ety's, the experience is just awesome, but when the it's not, it can be pretty grating.  On the other hand, a less-resolving but fuller-sounding 'phone sounds fine with the reduced sound quality material/equipment, but no matter what you do, you can never have that "high-end" almost euphoric experience that the Etys with a good source/amp/recording can provide.  Maybe I'll have to buy two sets.  Another set of Etys (or similar) and something that aims to provide a "thicker" presentation.

 

[Inks]

There are definitely times when the Etys expose bad recordings and low to mid-bitrate files to the point that I can't enjoy them as much as I can even on a set of Skullcandy Titans, which are obviously far inferior, technically speaking, to the Etys.  Maybe I should give something with a slight roll-off a try...hmm.  Torn.  When a recording is up to the potential of the Ety's, the experience is just awesome, but when the it's not, it can be pretty grating.  On the other hand, a less-resolving but fuller-sounding 'phone sounds fine with the reduced sound quality material/equipment, but no matter what you do, you can never have that "high-end" almost euphoric experience that the Etys with a good source/amp/recording can provide.  Maybe I'll have to buy two sets.  Another set of Etys (or similar) and something that aims to provide a "thicker" presentation.

That has more to do with the midhighs, lower treble, where a revealing presentation here can really expose poor quality.
 
The matter is the very high regions that give recording air and details, even poor recordings should do fine, it has more to do with those small nuances that get missed when the bandwidth is poor.

 

[proedros]

max , i use my re-272 with flac only and good quality recordings (especially vinyl rips which kick ass sonic-wise)

i had zero listening problems with sibilance etc - in fact i am so content with the 272 , which if broken god forbid , i would probably buy them again

they are analytical yes , but the sound is marvelous - i had to sell my eq5 as the 272 simply outgunned them

anyway , your money/ears , best of luck with whatever iem you choose , we all want/search for the same thing , a good iem that will cure our permanen upgraditis (or at least put it to sleep for a while) - the 272 did this to my upgraditis.

cheers