[F1Turbo]

I need to replace the cable on my Etys. The jack is going bad, and the cables are fraying at a couple of points. I want a shorter (3 foot) cable than the stock one. I'm happy with the stock performance. As far as I know, these are my options:

1. Stock cable from Etymotic, $50. I'm assuming that they don't have the shorter length I want, but have emailed them to ask this question.

2. APureSound replacement cable, $180. I can get the length I want, but at a much higher cost. I also don't think I like the angle of the connection to the ear piece as much as the stock one.

Have I missed any other options?

Thanks

 

[intoflatlines]

I assume that for $180, APureSound can terminate the cable to something more to your liking. Is this wrong?

 

[F1Turbo]

I don't see any options (other than color) for the plug that goes into the IEM/transducer itself, just for the jack at the amp end.

 

[F1Turbo]

Got my answer from Etymotic. Their cable comes in five foot length only. Looks like my only option is APureSound.

 

[Pangaea]

I'd be interested in this too as I have always felt the standard Ety (5ft) cable is way too long for an IEM. 3 and 1/2, to 4 ft would be much nicer.

 

[hd650]

I heard that er4 series of earphones have the same drivers. the only reason for different sounding is cause by using different cable.

 

[antonyfirst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1Turbo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Got my answer from Etymotic. Their cable comes in five foot length only. Looks like my only option is APureSound.

You might also go with Etymotic cable and ask Apuresound to reterminate it at the length you want. Ask him if he can do that before committing.

 

[xnothingpoetic]

Why not get the equally as good ETY cable and shorten it/have someone shorten it?

I believe my ETY stock cable is around 3-3.5 feet and I didn't pay $180 for it..

Of course if you believe it will give you sonic improvements- then that is another story (not saying it will or wont, but if you believe it will then it might be worth the extra $$)

 

[Andrew_WOT]

ER-4 cable is actually of a very high quality. If I am not mistaken it's silver plated copper, thus this extra stiffness. Not sure that going aftermarket will gain you anything SQ wise. You can always shorten and re-terminate it or just get cable management gadget to wrap extra cable.

Here's the thread on ER-4 cable
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/mod...32/index2.html

 

[nc8000]

The APureSound cable does gain some sq but not $180 worth of sq however as I love the Ety every improvement to it is worth it for me as I can afford to be a bit silly.

As far as I am aware the termination with the barrel only comes in the one version. The jack end on the other hand can be had in a lot of different ways.

 

[xnothingpoetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc8000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The APureSound cable does gain some sq but not $180 worth of sq however as I love the Ety every improvement to it is worth it for me as I can afford to be a bit silly. As far as I am aware the termination with the barrel only comes in the one version. The jack end on the other hand can be had in a lot of different ways.

If i'm not mistaken, you only had the P version, right? So any sonic improvements would come from the 100ohm+/- resistor he put in there.

 

[F1Turbo]

Thanks for all the replies!

I was thinking about shortening (more likely paying someone to shorten) a stock cable. I seem to remember reading a thread earlier, though, about the Etymotic cables being very difficult to work with, hence little third party support for custom cables.

Another concern here is I seem to have problems with the Etymotic jacks (miniplug). In fact, the first jack I had was bad when I bought it. At that time (I think summer of 1999) I was only using them for airline travel, which I did maybe once every couple of months. It took me a while to figure out that it was the Etymotic cable causing the sound to completely drop, in 1 or both channels, anytime I moved my head. By the time I got around to checking with Ety, they were out of warranty. To their credit, they recabled them free for me. The current one I'm using now was good for a while (actually, probably for 3 or 4 years), but is also now losing connection with my player. I estimate I use them once or twice a week now, typically at the gym (lifting only, not during any aerobic work). I have no idea if the durability would be any better with the APureSound cable or not.

Has anyone else had problems like this with the Etymotic jacks?

I'm not in a quest to find better sound, I just want a 3 foot long cable that will work reliably. I do have the P to S adapter already, too.

I guess another way to go would be a new IEM (other than Etymotic) that comes with a 3 foot cable.

 

[nc8000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnothingpoetic /img/forum/go_quote.gif If i'm not mistaken, you only had the P version, right? So any sonic improvements would come from the 100ohm+/- resistor he put in there.

Originally it was a P version I got the APS S cable for but I have also got a standard S version as backup phone and my statement goes for both, I just don't think there is $180 worth of pure sq improvement. ON the other hand a second hand ER4 + an APS cable still comes in round the same price as a Tripple.fi 10 and I clearly think that they are compareable in sq but at the same time quit different so I actually think you get at very good phone for your money if you love the ER4 sound.