labrat
Headphoneus Supremus
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- Jan 14, 2005
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Well I just received my E5, but without the rest of the gear (LOD, ER-4P>S converter).
I'm not entirely certain whether it has made a difference to the sound response yet. When switching over and testing between bare and amped, it is hard to know if there is a real difference or a psychological difference, so I have tried to bare that in mind.
Intuitively, there seems to be a little more brightness, or perhaps tightness, in certain bass tones and treble tones. However, the psychological side of things is putting me off of my intuitive perception. When I listen with that in mind, I perceive little or no difference.
I would be interested to know what I think at the end of the day and would also like to hear the difference with an LOD and no converter, then finally a converter and the LOD.
I will relay the information back and really try to be as objective and fair as possible. If anything, I've found the money well spent simply for the experiment, even if it concludes negatively!
They're different drivers. Impedance and effeciencies between the 4p and HF5 are quite different. The 4p is crisper more etched while the 5 is more balanced but not as fast sounding. You're definitely correct about them being a great company.
It's been a while since I've heard the ER4, but I would basically describe the UM3X as an ER4 with bass
In fact, I think it's a little more than that.
The Westone UM3X, using a Cowon J3, for example, will run in 85% of its total capacity. The ER4S, with the same source, will run in 50% of its total capacity.
One major difference between the two headphones concerns the construction of the sound stage/musical image. The UM3X, in this regard, is like the Westone 3, where the sound seems to come from two speakers placed close to the head. This creates a very natural sound presentation, but suffers in the construction of the musical image. Although you can "point" all the instruments and identify where it comes from the sound, the positioning of the whole sound is diffuse. The sound floats from the headphones to your brain.
The ER4S, even using the J3, is a monster in the construction of the sound image. With this headphone, it is almost possible to identify the size of the environment where the music was recorded and the positioning of the band members is perfectly rendered.
I say once again that if the intention is to use a portable DAP, without external amplification, the right choice is the Westone UM3X. It's hard not to fall in love with this setup. However, if usage is more serious and you will use a high-end source and headphone amplifier, the Etymotic ER4S will operate near its maximum capacity, virtually destroying the Westone UM3X. With this setup, you will be virtually interacting with the band in the studio or on stage at a live show.
Ultimately, the choice between the two headphones will depend more on the setup you have at the moment, because both are spectacular.
I like to keep both right next to me... )
Cheers,
Peter