FlatListener
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2012
- Posts
- 55
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- 14
Granted, APP2 and Etymotic are probably too far apart to take this topic seriously. But please hear me out.
I have always been into appreciating audiophile rigs, could barely afford middle ground. Have Triangle speakers (french, bought new 1985, MSRP around USD2500).
Now exploring HP options. Wishes:
- Good isolation while on commuter train
- As good soundstage as I can get for my budget
- Appreciate true sound, I'm not a bass head, but I don't like it "too flat". I do like Immersive music experience
- Ear protection: I have a 16kHz -ish continuous tinnitus tone in my head, so:
- Quality sound at lower volume levels
Therefore:
- Good isolation
- Good isolation
- Good isolation (you get the point)
Using iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Music with lossless source. I am aware that the AirPods cannot benefit from lossless.
Why the Etymotics?
I do like the tech in the APP2 and APM, but I would like to get closer to the source and make out individual instruments some more, I believe this is called soundstage. I did read many Etymotic reviews, for the ER2-3-4 SE/SR/XR series. What I read is they provide very good isolation.
My questions:
1. Which model matches my above wishes best?
2. Is the isolation really good enough to take a train, plug them in, set volume to 25%, and not be bothered by ambient noise?
3. Any other suggestions?
Budget: let's not pin that down too much at this point. European prices are higher than US and suffer from bad (for us) USD-EUR exchange rates. Examples:
- APP2 are 299
- APM are 629
- ER4SR/XR are 349
- ER2SE are 129
- ER3SE/XR are around 200
Thanks for your efforts.
I have always been into appreciating audiophile rigs, could barely afford middle ground. Have Triangle speakers (french, bought new 1985, MSRP around USD2500).
Now exploring HP options. Wishes:
- Good isolation while on commuter train
- As good soundstage as I can get for my budget
- Appreciate true sound, I'm not a bass head, but I don't like it "too flat". I do like Immersive music experience
- Ear protection: I have a 16kHz -ish continuous tinnitus tone in my head, so:
- Quality sound at lower volume levels
Therefore:
- Good isolation
- Good isolation
- Good isolation (you get the point)
Using iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Music with lossless source. I am aware that the AirPods cannot benefit from lossless.
Why the Etymotics?
I do like the tech in the APP2 and APM, but I would like to get closer to the source and make out individual instruments some more, I believe this is called soundstage. I did read many Etymotic reviews, for the ER2-3-4 SE/SR/XR series. What I read is they provide very good isolation.
My questions:
1. Which model matches my above wishes best?
2. Is the isolation really good enough to take a train, plug them in, set volume to 25%, and not be bothered by ambient noise?
3. Any other suggestions?
Budget: let's not pin that down too much at this point. European prices are higher than US and suffer from bad (for us) USD-EUR exchange rates. Examples:
- APP2 are 299
- APM are 629
- ER4SR/XR are 349
- ER2SE are 129
- ER3SE/XR are around 200
Thanks for your efforts.
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