MDR-SA5000 vs. Etymotic ER-4S

[Catharsis]

THanks to your generous assistance on head-fi, I've been able to get a good grip on which headphones are generally sought after when pursuing the world of electronic music. Among those dubbed "best" headphone, was the famous SA5000, noted for its analytic, fast and detailed sound (along with other great cans such as the DT880, Pl750, AKG701 etc)

In researching the SA5000, it has come to my attention that the Etymotic ER-4S/P gets nearly as much praise as being a very fast, detailed and nearly electrostatic, very similar to the SA5000 but at a fraction of the cost.

I guess the interesting part would be is that in all the threads I have meandered, there hasn't been a single recommendation for using the ER-4S/P as an IEM for electronica. You would think that the shared similarities with the SA5000 would make it a great contender.

Would anyone care to share their thoughts regarding the effectiveness of the Ety ER-4S in the realm of electronica (aphex twin, autechre, plaid, BOC etc)

Many thanks!

 

[Catharsis]

WOW!

Could it be that this is terrain unexplored? Surely I can't be the first n00b to suggest that the ER-4S/P is similar in strength to the SA5000?

 

[Skin]

Im not a big proponent of recabling but both need to be recabled in my opinion to be fully realized. In the case of the SA5000 its notorious for having a weak soldering link leading to a connection failure at some point in its life cycle so a recable also fixes that.

Also as far as im aware the ER4P and S are the same save the cable.

I'd be more comfortable wearing the SA5000 for extended periods myself. IEMs arent bad and do sound great, but after an hour they get to me. An investment to solve that would be custom tips.

You may want to research into Stax. Especially if you havent already bought an Amp.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Yeah. It's pretty much guaranteed one of the channels go out due to the shoddy wiring. 6month. 1 yr. 3 yrs. Eventually it will happen. Recabled mine in 07.

 

[nnotis]

When people talk about detail retrieval in IEMs, it's on a different scale from the one for full sized headphones. As much as I love my Ultimate Ears 10-Pros, they're not going to give me the resolution that the SA5000s do. That said, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the ER-4S are more detailed than the Sennheiser HD6XX series.

I tell you this as someone who is, first and foremost, an electronic music person. And since you mentioned them by name, listening to the newest Autechre album on sufficiently fast headphones or speakers is an immense pleasure. The same goes for the Tekkon Kinkreet soundtrack.

 

[Catharsis]

So are we all in agreeance that IEM's (specifically ER-4P/S) are not a worthy competitor to the SA5000 for electronic music?

The shoddy cable on the Sony doesn't surprise me. I haven't purchased a sony product that wasn't a piece of physical crap in a LONG time.

I'm not kidding when I say EVERY Sony item I've ever owned (about 5-6 gadgets), survived for less than a couple of years.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catharsis /img/forum/go_quote.gif So are we all in agreeance that IEM's (specifically ER-4P/S) are not a worthy competitor to the SA5000 for electronic music?

No, this is not what everyone says. IEM (ER4S in particular) and full size can, they both can take you there, but sharing similar qualities like speed, FQ response, details, they provide vastly different experience (bike versus car comes to mind). If your environment is stationary and allows usage of open cans, go for SA5000. On the go or in need of high isolation, properly amped ER4S will serve you just as nice, it's truly amazing what they are capable of for their size.

 

[Drumonron]

Comparing an IEM to an open circumaural HP is like comparing a Boxer to an Ultimate Fighter.

 

[Mercuttio]

I personally feel the texture and timbre of the ER4 s/p totally spanks the SA5000. The SA5000 seems more detailed in theory, but somehow I can't help but feel it's a forced detail with little texture.

 

[Alex_O Rules]

The ER-4S/P are phenomenal earphones, and I would gladly put them up against any full size (including the big-O) for detail, transients, and accuracy. (When properly placed in the ear of course!)

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio /img/forum/go_quote.gif I personally feel the texture and timbre of the ER4 s/p totally spanks the SA5000. The SA5000 seems more detailed in theory, but somehow I can't help but feel it's a forced detail with little texture.

Yes, it's forced. It makes you notice the detail.

 

[Ishcabible]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex_O Rules /img/forum/go_quote.gif The ER-4S/P are phenomenal earphones, and I would gladly put them up against any full size (including the big-O) for detail, transients, and accuracy. (When properly placed in the ear of course!)

Really!?

 

[AmanGeorge]

I agree with Alex O, although I will say that of all the HPs I've tried, the SA5000 comes closest to my Ety's sound signature. I don't think the Etys are as good for electronica as the Sonys, though, because the bass is just not there (relative to a full size HP). The strengths of the Sonys (fast, detailed, aggressive) are definitely there in full force with the Etys, but the lack of bass makes it a tougher sell.

 

[Liver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio /img/forum/go_quote.gif I personally feel the texture and timbre of the ER4 s/p totally spanks the SA5000. The SA5000 seems more detailed in theory, but somehow I can't help but feel it's a forced detail with little texture.

I can most often tell when someone is forcing a smile, but a headphone forcing detail? What in the hell does that mean? How does a headphone go about to "force detail?"

But I have both headphones and love them! They are quite similar. At home I have the Sonys and on the move I have the ER4s. Simple.

 

[CDBacklash]

feeling damn good about my win right now!