[AndroidVageta]

Anyone know if a ER4P cable (or any non-resistor replacement) will help with the ER4S's high power need? I need to get these recently purchased ER4S to be a little more tame in the power requirement area.
 
None of my phones, tablets, MP3 players, etc can push this headphone to acceptable levels...even my amp is requiring higher volume levels then anything I've owned before be it full-sized, multi-driver IEM, etc.

 

[SilverEars]

  Anyone know if a ER4P cable (or any non-resistor replacement) will help with the ER4S's high power need? I need to get these recently purchased ER4S to be a little more tame in the power requirement area.
 
None of my phones, tablets, MP3 players, etc can push this headphone to acceptable levels...even my amp is requiring higher volume levels then anything I've owned before be it full-sized, multi-driver IEM, etc.

If you have ER4S, why not get a ER4P cable?  ER4S has a 75ohm resistor, that's what drops significant power to the drivers.  The change you get is the bass.  

 

[AndroidVageta]

  If you have ER4S, why not get a ER4P cable?  ER4S has a 75ohm resistor, that's what drops significant power to the drivers.  The change you get is the bass.  

So getting a ER4P cable will do what I want? Will lower the ER4S's power draw? 
 
Is that really the only difference between the two? The cable? Nothing internally with the actual earbuds themselves?

 

[SilverEars]

Maybe somebody can chime in to be sure, but I don't see why not, as the added 75ohm impedance adapter essentially changes the 4P to 4S.  This means that the cable on the 4S has the resistors in it, and the 4P cable doesn't.  So if you get the 4P cable, it would be a 4P since there is not resistor in the cable, and there will be no significant power drop since the resistor is not there, and all the power will be delivered to the drivers which means it will get louder.

 

[AndroidVageta]

  Maybe somebody can chime in to be sure, but I don't see why not, as the added 75ohm impedance adapter essentially changes the 4P to 4S.  This means that the cable on the 4S has the resistors in it, and the 4P cable doesn't.  So if you get the 4P cable, it would be a 4P since there is not resistor in the cable, and there will be no significant power drop since the resistor is not there, and all the power will be delivered to the drivers which means it will get louder.

True, but we also don't know if the resistors are in the actual buds...guess we can just wait for further input.
 
What you say makes sense though, my thoughts exactly.

 

[SilverEars]

  True, but we also don't know if the resistors are in the actual buds...guess we can just wait for further input.
 
What you say makes sense though, my thoughts exactly.

I thought the resistor was in the grey section on the cable.  Could be wrong though.
 

 

[AndroidVageta]

  I thought the resistor was in the grey section on the cable.  Could be wrong though.
 

Yes, this is what I'm thinking as well...just don't have a spare cable to check and see! Like I said, I believe you are correct, fully, but I still want to see if someone else has something to say.

 

[wuwhere]

You can't buy just the cable.

 

[SilverEars]

  You can't buy just the cable.

If not, possibly aftermarket or he can probably contact Etymotic.  Etymotic has excellent CS.

 

[wuwhere]

  If not, possibly aftermarket or he can probably contact Etymotic.  Etymotic has excellent CS.

 
APureSound, not cheap, bought one, not worth it.
 
http://apuresound.com/er4.html

 

[AndroidVageta]

  You can't buy just the cable.

 
I would look into making my own or going some other route...there are always ways...

  If not, possibly aftermarket or he can probably contact Etymotic.  Etymotic has excellent CS.

I will try this. 
 
Either way, still want to know. Well, I guess I could just ask them, eh?

 

[wuwhere]

   
I would look into making my own or going some other route...there are always ways...
I will try this. 
 
Either way, still want to know. Well, I guess I could just ask them, eh?

 
If still under warranty, they will fix them for free. Call their CS #. They'll give you an RMA #. As soon as they receive them, you'll get a call from a friendly CS representative. Really good people to talk to.

 

[shotgunshane]

What the impedance graph is showing is that treble quantity/presence increases with with more resistance on the Ety's Knowles driver. 
 
Here are the differences in measurements of the P, S and B variants of the ER4. Etymotic specifies their impedance values as 21, 100 and 100.

 
This graph is of the HF3 and is showing the results of added impedance from stock to an additional 33 ohms and 100 ohms.  The changes are increased treble presence.
 

 
Less treble will also help the perception of more bass as well. This thread has some very good information around the effects of different dampers (filters) on the ER4: http://www.head-fi.org/t/626457/nrb-mod-nut-rattlin-bass-from-an-ety-yes-yes-yes-how-to-nrb-mod
 
As far as aftermarket cables go, here are some additional possibilities:
 
http://www.null-audio.com/products/lune-series-mkiii-premium-upgrade-cable-for-earphones
 
http://forzaaudioworks.com/en/product.php?id_product=71
 
 
(graphs by Rin Choi)

 

[SilverEars]

  What the impedance graph is showing is that treble quantity/presence increases with with more resistance on the Ety's Knowles driver. 
 
Here are the differences in measurements of the P, S and B variants of the ER4. Etymotic specifies their impedance values as 21, 100 and 100.

 
This graph is of the HF3 and is showing the results of added impedance from stock to an additional 33 ohms and 100 ohms.  The changes are increased treble presence.
 

 
Less treble will also help the perception of more bass as well. This thread has some very good information around the effects of different dampers (filters) on the ER4: http://www.head-fi.org/t/626457/nrb-mod-nut-rattlin-bass-from-an-ety-yes-yes-yes-how-to-nrb-mod
 
As far as aftermarket cables go, here are some additional possibilities:
 
http://www.null-audio.com/products/lune-series-mkiii-premium-upgrade-cable-for-earphones
 
http://forzaaudioworks.com/en/product.php?id_product=71
 
 
(graphs by Rin Choi)

Interesting, it would be nice to attach a potentiometer between the 0 impedance amp and the ER4P to adjust the response to your liking.  That's the nice thing about it's impedance response, you can EQ with variations of the resistance in the path.

 

[shotgunshane]

Yes, the resistor is in the Y split of the cables.