[AnyDave]

There was a poll on what people wanted termination-wise, way back that way <----. I seem to remember that the balanced option wasn't being considered initially at least, for multiple plug terminations. Can't remember if @EtyDave indicated what the most likely termination will be, but I don't think 4.4mm figured.

Yeah, the balanced cable is going to be 2.5mm four-conductor. Basically, the A&K type.

 

[soundstige]

Just wanted to drop in and say hi to everybody. I haven't been around as much lately, which seems to happen from time to time when I get bogged down. Hope everybody has been doing well.

Hi Dave! Long time (8+ year) Ety diehard here. I'm shocked and extremely excited to see the ER3 series come out! Can you give us the inside scoop of how they compare to your recently re-envisioned ER4SR and ER4XR? Is it a take on the HF series of yore, or a completely new concept? Thanks!

 

[AnyDave]

Hi Dave! Long time (8+ year) Ety diehard here. I'm shocked and extremely excited to see the ER3 series come out! Can you give us the inside scoop of how they compare to your recently re-envisioned ER4SR and ER4XR? Is it a take on the HF series of yore, or a completely new concept? Thanks!

Hey Soundstige,

I'm glad you're excited about the ER3 series. After working on them for a while, I'm pretty excited about getting them out as well.

The new ER3s are intended to build off of the new ER4 series at a more affordable price point. Basically, the same family, but with a different response, less strict channel matching and made in Asia. They still use balanced armatures, precision machined aluminum bodies and detachable cables with MMCX connectors.

Basically, they are meant to be part of a new family of earphones. While the cables on the ER3 and ER4 series are different, they are both functionally interchangeable. This will be a bigger deal in the future when we introduce other cable options. For example, we are going to bring the balanced cable out as an ER4 accessory, but it will work on the ER3. Likewise, we are working on a microphone cable for the ER3 but it will work fine on an ER4 if one was interested in that.

As far as sonics (which is of course, the most important), the ER3SE is a bit more accurate than the HF5. In some ways, it's a middle ground between that and the ER4P, but the 4P had some other advantages (again, matching, etc). The difference this time around is that we've introduced an ER3XR along with it for those that want a bit of a low end kick.

I don't think it's going to make most folks sell their ER4SR/XRs but I think it's cool in it's own right and hope folks dig it. I'm assuming we'll all know soon enough.

 

[Dougr33]

Hey Soundstige,

I'm glad you're excited about the ER3 series. After working on them for a while, I'm pretty excited about getting them out as well.

The new ER3s are intended to build off of the new ER4 series at a more affordable price point. Basically, the same family, but with a different response, less strict channel matching and made in Asia. They still use balanced armatures, precision machined aluminum bodies and detachable cables with MMCX connectors.

Basically, they are meant to be part of a new family of earphones. While the cables on the ER3 and ER4 series are different, they are both functionally interchangeable. This will be a bigger deal in the future when we introduce other cable options. For example, we are going to bring the balanced cable out as an ER4 accessory, but it will work on the ER3. Likewise, we are working on a microphone cable for the ER3 but it will work fine on an ER4 if one was interested in that.

As far as sonics (which is of course, the most important), the ER3SE is a bit more accurate than the HF5. In some ways, it's a middle ground between that and the ER4P, but the 4P had some other advantages (again, matching, etc). The difference this time around is that we've introduced an ER3XR along with it for those that want a bit of a low end kick.

I don't think it's going to make most folks sell their ER4SR/XRs but I think it's cool in it's own right and hope folks dig it. I'm assuming we'll all know soon enough.

"I don't think it's going to make most folks sell their ER4SR/XRs but I think it's cool in it's own right and hope folks dig it. I'm assuming we'll all know soon enough."
Yeah, they better not be better, I just bought mine!!

 

[AnyDave]

"I don't think it's going to make most folks sell their ER4SR/XRs but I think it's cool in it's own right and hope folks dig it. I'm assuming we'll all know soon enough."
Yeah, they better not be better, I just bought mine!!

Better is in the ear of the beholder, but the ER4 is still our flagship.


On a side note: the headphone emojis all look happy while the IEM emoji looks like something out of Clockwork Orange.

 

[Dougr33]

Better is in the ear of the beholder, but the ER4 is still our flagship.


On a side note: the headphone emojis all look happy while the IEM emoji looks like something out of Clockwork Orange.

Yeah, that emoji is pretty frightening!

 

[liquidrats]

Hey Soundstige,
Basically, they are meant to be part of a new family of earphones. While the cables on the ER3 and ER4 series are different, they are both functionally interchangeable. This will be a bigger deal in the future when we introduce other cable options. For example, we are going to bring the balanced cable out as an ER4 accessory, but it will work on the ER3. Likewise, we are working on a microphone cable for the ER3 but it will work fine on an ER4 if one was interested in that.

Fresh convert here (from a month ago), excited to find out about the cable options coming out. I'll put my purchase for third party off until you guys release a 2.5mm balance cable for our beloved ER4.

 

[Bubblejuice]

Does Etymotics ever have discounts on their flagships? Like any special promotions or deals?

 

[HiFiChris]

Better is in the ear of the beholder, but the ER4 is still our flagship.


On a side note: the headphone emojis all look happy while the IEM emoji looks like something out of Clockwork Orange.

Haha, Dave, if you're referring to this one [], it's the Koss KSC75 Emoji. There even used to be an Etymotic Emoji, but it seems like it's gone since the major (but necessary since the old one closed its doors forever) Head-Fi relocation to the new forum platform software.

 

[episiarch]

Re closed headphones
Speaking as an Ety lover and a K702 lover, I like the AKG K550 and use it quite often. I think isolation is sufficient to block out a little furnace and fridge noise, but it depends on your appliances and how sensitive you are.

My main K550 pair is fitted with Brainwavz angled pads, which do improve isolation, and also don't overheat my ears the way the stock pads do. They are listed as "oval" but will fit on the K550. I have also tried their flat pads and I don't recommend them on the K550 as they changed the sonics very undesirably in my opinion. But the angled ones sound just great.

Re the new ER3 series
I'm really excited to see these and also the price drop on the HF5/HF3 series, which I think puts them more in line with competitors' pricing. I hope you sell a whole lot of all of them.

@EtyDave I'm curious, where do you see the ER3SR's sound in comparison to the ER-4S? Aside from the closer channel matching of the latter of course.

I'm also delighted that cables can be swapped across the ER3/ER4 lines. When ER3 cables show up on the website I'll be ordering one so that I can have a 4-foot cable for my ER4 for portable use.

 

[LarryNYC]

1) like to keep them packed in my bag, 2) would need a long extension for my room, 3) almost too noise-reducing for the house.
Just ordered the AKG K550 mkIII's. I'll have in 2 days, so let y'all know.
THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR TIME AND SUGGESTIONS!

Fair enough. Let us know how you like them.

Every once in a while I think I need to get a STAX setup just so I experience that but then the prices get me down and I give up, LOL.

 

[AnyDave]

"I don't think it's going to make most folks sell their ER4SR/XRs but I think it's cool in it's own right and hope folks dig it. I'm assuming we'll all know soon enough."
Yeah, they better not be better, I just bought mine!!

Better is in the ear of the beholder, but the ER4 is still our flagship.


On a side note: the headphone emojis all look happy while the IEM emoji looks like something out of Clockwork Orange.

Does Etymotics ever have discounts on their flagships? Like any special promotions or deals?

We did run a $299 promotion earlier this year on the ER4SR/XR. I'm not sure if/when that's going to happen again, though.

 

[AnyDave]

Haha, Dave, if you're referring to this one [], it's the Koss KSC75 Emoji. There even used to be an Etymotic Emoji, but it seems like it's gone since the major (but necessary since the old one closed its doors forever) Head-Fi relocation to the new forum platform software.

It is indeed a frightening emoji. Every time I see it, I automatically start humming Beethoven's 9th without thinking about it.

 

[AnyDave]

Re closed headphones
Speaking as an Ety lover and a K702 lover, I like the AKG K550 and use it quite often. I think isolation is sufficient to block out a little furnace and fridge noise, but it depends on your appliances and how sensitive you are.

My main K550 pair is fitted with Brainwavz angled pads, which do improve isolation, and also don't overheat my ears the way the stock pads do. They are listed as "oval" but will fit on the K550. I have also tried their flat pads and I don't recommend them on the K550 as they changed the sonics very undesirably in my opinion. But the angled ones sound just great.

Re the new ER3 series
I'm really excited to see these and also the price drop on the HF5/HF3 series, which I think puts them more in line with competitors' pricing. I hope you sell a whole lot of all of them.

@EtyDave I'm curious, where do you see the ER3SR's sound in comparison to the ER-4S? Aside from the closer channel matching of the latter of course.

I'm also delighted that cables can be swapped across the ER3/ER4 lines. When ER3 cables show up on the website I'll be ordering one so that I can have a 4-foot cable for my ER4 for portable use.

I'm not prone to hyperbole (at least I don't think I am), so I'll leave the massively detailed flowery descriptions to folks more skilled than I. Boiled down to the primary differences, the ER3 isn't quite as detailed as the ER4 and will have a warmer shift to it. This is not unlike the HF series, although the ER3 is a bit clearer and more detailed than that. IMHO, of course. The ER3 is also a bit more sensitive than the ER4. I think this is less of an issue than in the past with the ER4S, but for some folks it could be a consideration.

 

[Voyageur]

Haven't taken part in this thread (or any other HF thread for that matter) for more than a year, I believe. Just enjoying the music, leaving aside the "materialistic audiophile" part of me. The ER4SR probably has a 99% market share in my listening session these days, with an average listening time of 4hrs a day... I don't even think about it anymore.

Happy to see this thread well alive (as it's always been anyways), now I'm enjoying reading the replies I've missed since then!