gnarlsagan
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2011
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Hi all, have been reading this thread for a while and now decided to jump in. I've had my ER4P for more than 10 years. Didn't use it much until I bought a DX90 a couple of months ago and as a portable setup they sound really good! About a mont ago bought the P to S converter and I really enjoy the subtle change in sound (cleaner, more airy, better definition). A few days ago I added a RSA SR71a to the setup and wow, the extra definition is amazing, together with an expanded soundstage. I'm very happy.
Now two questions. I prefer the old black foam tips much more than the silicon 3-flange in terms of both sound and comfort. However they cannot last for more than 2 weeks (I use them a lot, several hours everyday). Is there other more durable option that is comparable to the old black foam? The glider tips? Or those from other companies?
Second question is my upgrade bug is here again, and I wonder what is the next step up from the ER4. I did a bit of research and a lot of the top tier iems are not that neutral, very often they are tuned to be bassy with rolled of treble. I can live with a warmer a little more bassy sound but a dark rolled off treble is a definite no. Based on this do you guys have any recommendations on a possible upgrade? Needs to be quite neutral (I don't expect there will be many other as neutral as the ER4). Universal or custom are both ok.
Cheers, Phil
Hey Phil,
I use the Shure Olive tips. They are similar to foam but different. You might consider those. But others will probably have a flood of options as well.
Regarding an upgrade. I just bought the AKG K3003i for this very reason. I haven't received or heard them yet, but from everything that I've read, they seem to be very neutral and clean sounding with a very extended treble. We'll see. The UERM comes up often as well, but I haven't heard those either.
The K3003 is close to neutral, but some might experience a little brightness in the upper-mids/lower-treble. Overall I wouldn't consider it an ER4S upgrade as much as alternative.
The UERM is closer to the ER4S, with a little more treble and bass to my ears, but sources I trust have told me that the custom version has very neutral treble.
I enjoy the Aurisonics Rockets as something that sounds close to the ER4S to me, but the required shallow fit has varying effects on different ears.
I recently heard the Noble Audio Savant, and thought it sounded close to the ER4S with slightly more bass and treble, but treble quantity (as with most shallow fit iems) varies per ear.
Other than those, I'm not aware of anything close enough to the ER4S sound signature to be called an "upgrade" as opposed to a side-grade or complimentary pair. And we've been looking, believe me. I may shortly make the jump to full-size cans, because nothing in the iem world seems to be able to replace my current set-up.