Shure E3C vs Etymotic ER-6i

[PzyMazter]

This is for an unamped Rio Karma DAP.

I know this topic has been rehashed 10 billion times, but mine is not so much about the unanswerable question of which is better as it is which is better for my situation. I am no audiophile, and this will be my first venture into the world of expensive headphones above $50, and my first IEM. I was going to get the Shure E3 because I've heard they have more bass, and I listen to a lot of electronica/alternative rock, but the problem is that the E3s can't be had for much less than $120. The 6Ri's, on the other hand, can be had for $40 cheaper from buy.com, and probably other sites as well. Since I have no experience in the world of nice headphones, would it be better for me to save some money and get the 6Ri? I don't really know which one I would like better, and the reasons I would be getting the E3 are #1 it's not white (E3 over E3C, that is), #2, more bass, #3 I've heard it's more comfortable (subjective I know, but generally speaking this is the impression I get), and #4, I've heard it has better microphonics.

Unfortunately, I don't really have any way of trying before I buy, so I'm limited to the internet. These forums aren't so great for a non-audiophile (unless I wanted to spend over $300) in terms of user friendliness, so I'm really just looking for a straight answer. I don't want to be disappointed in a perceived lack of bass, but if I won't tell the difference, maybe it would be better to save myself 1/3rd the cost. I've also heard 6Ri are more balanced and have better mid ranges/treble, but that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot to someone still using stock buds and random $50 headphones I bought solely because of the volume control (one on each ear!) for my "high end" home use. I want noise cancelling in order to mow my lawn and for airplane use, and I want to get something that will be worth the money. I've heard the Shure E2Cs aren't worth the money, and I've also heard that the lower end competitors (Sony EX71) aren't anywhere near even as good as that. So yeah...


Tips, suggestions, hints, or comments of any other sort are greatly appreciated.

 

[JWFokker]

I personally like the ER6i's better than the Shure's. They do have a more balanced response. That's important. If it had a poorly balanced response, it would be less accurate. Shure's are known to have inflated bass response. Some people like it. Don't ask me why. The ER6i is the more accurate phone.

If you think the ER6i's don't have quite enough bass for whatever reason, the Karma does have an equalizer on it, doesn't it? Better to start with accurate sound and change it if you want that to start with something that isn't representative of what's really supposed to be there.

 

[TenaciousO]

Save your $40, and get the er6i. I actually prefer the warmer sound of the e3c, but there isn't a $40 difference in bass output b/n the two to justify picking the e3c on that reason alone. If you really want bass for less than $100 from an earphone, go ahead and get the e2c despite what you've heard about them. Just make sure to buy from a vendor that allows returns in case you don't like them. The e2c was my first good headphone purchase, and I thought they sounded awful so I sold them. Then I purchased them again about a year later, and they sounded like completely different earphones. I'm not sure if my first pair were faulty or if my ears simply adjusted over time, but I love my E2s now. Very good bass for an earphone with a smooth, unfatiguing sound.

 

[Spiritboxer]

While I'm quite happy with my Shure's, I've been thinking of adding the er6i just to see what there was to hear. Wondering why the price has dropped so has me proceeding with caution.

 

[warpdriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiritboxer Wondering why the price has dropped so has me proceeding with caution.

Buy.com is the only one selling the ER6i for such a cheap price thanks to available coupons, most other (more reputable) vendors are in the $100-110+ range.

As the demand picks up, the price is destined to fall.

 

[JeffS]

I'm currently using the er-6i unamped with a Karma, and can tell you that
you will NOT be disappointed with them.

There is a thread going around right now about inserting etys the right way, read it. There have been a fair number of posters, who have discovered that
their phones sound much better after getting some advice and pointers on
how to stick things in their ears

I don't think you will have a problem with bass on the etys at all. It's
definitely there, but it's not a booming over the top bass. For the type
of music I listen to, as well as my over all preference, I think it sounds great.
A lot of people who claimed they didn't have any bass with etys, also had problems getting a good seal. Any canal phone, if not sealed into your ear
properly, will not sound as good as it could.

Microphonics on the etys, aren't that bad. I wear the wires behind my head
and I hardly notice any additional noise.

As for your comfort concerns, try all the differnt tips. Etys come with foam tips as well as tri-flanges. I had issues with mine when I first got them, and called Etymotic on the phone. They sent me some sample tips of oher sizes for free so I could find the right fit. Their customer service is very helpful. So
don't worry about comfort.

I can't speak about the Shures, as I haven't owned any yet. Though I'm
thinking about trying the new e4 since it's been getting pretty good reviews.

goodl luck

-Jeff

 

[greyt_autumn]

Starngely enough I'm in the same boat... I was typing this up for this very purpose: (First Post warning!)

I'm testing both the Etymotic ER6i's and the Shure E3c's. Both are awesome!
I don't consider myself an audiophile (really, listening to MP3's by definition rules that out!)

Clearly this is not a striaght apples/apples discussion as the price points are very different.

I'm coming from Sony EX71's. The Sony sound is adequate. Good, if a little bass heavy. However, they break. Easily. I've never had any visible damage, but I've been through 4 pairs since December with dead channels. Every time at the phone end and it has been both the right and left. I don't abuse my stuff. My H320 still looks like new (no scratches) and even my broken phones look new. They are not true isolating phones like the Ety's or Shure. Wannabe's but good enough for most daily environments. I would not rely on them as hearing protection as apparantly both the Ety Shure can be. Having worn the Ety's to mow the lawn, they're as good as any earplugs that I've used.

Initially the Ety's were much more comfortable with the 3 flange seals- just like the earplugs I'm used to. The Shure's took much more work to fit. Not a big deal is you really fit them once, and changing the sleeves is a simple affair.
I went through the flex sleeves and settled on the harder (clear) mediums- I refuse to go with the foam as those will need replacement regularly and I wear these phones for at least 3 hours a day for my commute.

Physically, the Shure's look much more durable. Much heavier wire, beefy strain relief and physically larger 'plugs' that are still extremely lightweight. Very wearable and minimal fatigue. They are also worn behind the head with the cord running behind your neck for both ears.

The ER6i's are much more deilcate looking and feeling. Much finer wiring that admittedly makes me a litte nervous. However there is some good looking braiding within the plugs themselves (the plugs are clear.) that looks like their version of strain relief as opposed to cast plastic. THe actual earpieces fit really deep within the ear canal- just like good silicone earplugs. To the point where I feel a tickle in the ear canal. These are worn in front, with a lapel clip for the cord.

Both come in the oh so fashionable iPod White, with 5 foot cords. Perfect length for a DAP with out being too long or short. The Sony's 2 pice cord is too short without the extension (and wired remote) and too long with the extension.)

They come with storage cases- the Shure is semi rigid, and the Ety with a pouch, plus additional tips to customize the fit.

Sound - now this is purely subjective, but the Ety's sound more lively than the Shure's. The E3c is extemely neutral, whereas the ER6i just has more life (or more appropraitely, it colors the sound instead of giving a pure expereince). That does not mean that the E3c is flat- far from it. On material that has been properly mastered (or remastered to take advantage of modern equipment and reproduction capabilities) Both have really great sound, just a litetl different.

The detail is remarkable (far better thatn the Sony's). You can hear the pick on Eddie Van Halen's guitar in Finish What Ya Started. Horns and woodwinds come alive in Rhapsody in Blue (the version used here is very stark in order to highlight Andre Previn's piano playing). Ferddie Mercury's voice in The Invisible Man sounds like he's sitting next to you. They did not engineer his vocal track very much at all. You can practically hear him spit at times! There's almost no filtering of the vocals that I can hear.

The Shures are more efficient as well. More noise for a given volume setting, but not by a huge margin (again, highly subjective).

My inital feeling was that I like the sound of the Ety's a bit better- because they color the sound. Horns are brassy, percussion has snap. The lows have punch without distraction. The Shure's neutral expereince is stunning in its own right, but it almost feels like there is something missing even thouugh the sound is richer overall. However over time I'm finding that the neutrailty is drawing me in. Cymbals sound more natural and a touch lower in pitch (Listen to the intro to the Shaft Theme to see what I mean) The Ety's are by no means tinny or harsh. The soundstage of the Shure's seems to be shifted a touch lower than the Ety's and more expansive. The Ety's seem to have more punch without being boomy or distorting. Low to mid bass is a bit louder- to the point that I can feel it (above simply hearing) at low listening levels in my ears, and not simply the low end. My body is expecting to feel the kick of the sound, but there is none.

I keep my H320 no higher than 12, usually 10 for listening (Korean firmaware 1.27).

All of this would be easliy forgotten if I could not go back and forth between headphones (listen to a song, switch phones, repeat as desired)

After about 4 hours of listening my nod goes to the E3c. The soundstage just feels more complete with better depth. Considering the pricepoint, it should!
However, I would also not hesitate to reccomend the Er6i's. I'll be playing with these for a week before I decide though.

Comparing the ER6i to the Shure E2c, things might be different as they are a similar pricepoint. However the E2c requires that a filter be replaced regularly, where he Ety's require only cleaning at the same pricepoint.

Below I've listed some of the songs used to judge these phones, so you get an idea of my tastes in music and the types of excersise that these phones are getting. This is by no means a complete list. I've built a folder of test tunes that I'm playing with.

Freddie Mercury - Living on My Own
Sugar Hill Gang - Rappers Delight
Maroon5 - This Love
Depeche Mode - Policy of Truth
Dire Straits - So Far Away
U2 - Bad
Queen - Invisible Man
Isaac Hayes - Shaft Theme
Seal - Crazy
The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Soul 2 Soul - Back To Life
Toto - Africa
Young MC - Bust A Move
Simple Minds - Alive and Kicking
George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Van Halen - Cabo Wabo
Van Halen - Finish What Ya Started
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
The Who - 5:15


It's a day later and I've had my head in the Ety's some more. Based simply on price, I'd go with the Ety's in a hearbeat. Under $100 online, these are a bargain for the sound that they produce. I'm used to canalphones and earplugs so the style does not bother me. I have seen thh E3c's for not too much more.

The other thing I'm noticing with the Ety's is that the are light- weightless and extremely comfortable. I might need to try the E2c's to see what they offer. I'm also interested in the ER6P's too. Choices, choices...

I do have concerns about durability of the ER6i. They just seem awfully flimsy, but better designed than the Sony's. The Shures are the most substaintial, but the thicker wires make it a little more difficult to loop the cords over your ears. Being that I wear glasses, I've got enough stuff there already. Having a history of killing headphones too, It's important to me.

 

[Ttvetjanu]

I have nothing to complaing about the ER-6i's. I find their bass very 'tight' and accurate. Not overblowing, but certanly good enough. I dont see why so many people want a booming bass.

I had no comfort problems with ER-6i's.

I think that the ER-6i's will be good for you because they offer excellent clarity. They will seem like "fast" 'phones and the highs sound wonderful.

Great headphones.

 

[bubbagump]

Quote:

Starngely enough I'm in the same boat... I was typing this up for this very purpose: (First Post warning!)

welcome to headfi. (don't like the wallet greeting much).

 

[bubbagump]

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyt_autumn I'm coming from Sony EX71's. The Sony sound is adequate. Good, if a little bass heavy. However, they break. Easily. I've never had any visible damage but I've been through 4 pairs since December with dead channels. <snip> The Shures are more efficient as well. More noise for a given volume setting, but not by a huge margin (again, highly subjective). <snip> I do have concerns about durability of the ER6i. They just seem awfully flimsy, but better designed than the Sony's. The Shures are the most substaintial, but the thicker wires make it a little more difficult to loop the cords over your ears. Being that I wear glasses, I've got enough stuff there already. Having a history of killing headphones too, It's important to me.

Yup similar story for me. Wanted serious isolation, lower impedance than the ksc75. It came down to the same cans- budget etys vs shure e3. After hearing about the build quality of the shure versus the ety it was a no contest decision, as I'm admittedly very rough on my gear (already dropped the zen micro 3x etc). The shure doesnt dissapoint, as it comes with very durable plastic enclosures, very rugged cable. For me there isnt a better phone out there for 100 bucks (bought from another head-fier, newish).

 

[Mr Iriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyt_autumn Starngely enough I'm in the same boat... I was typing this up for this very purpose: (First Post warning!) I'm testing both the Etymotic ER6i's and the Shure E3c's. Both are awesome! I don't consider myself an audiophile (really, listening to MP3's by definition rules that out!) Clearly this is not a striaght apples/apples discussion as the price points are very different. I'm coming from Sony EX71's. The Sony sound is adequate. Good, if a little bass heavy. However, they break. Easily. I've never had any visible damage, but I've been through 4 pairs since December with dead channels. Every time at the phone end and it has been both the right and left. I don't abuse my stuff. My H320 still looks like new (no scratches) and even my broken phones look new. They are not true isolating phones like the Ety's or Shure. Wannabe's but good enough for most daily environments. I would not rely on them as hearing protection as apparantly both the Ety Shure can be. Having worn the Ety's to mow the lawn, they're as good as any earplugs that I've used. Initially the Ety's were much more comfortable with the 3 flange seals- just like the earplugs I'm used to. The Shure's took much more work to fit. Not a big deal is you really fit them once, and changing the sleeves is a simple affair. I went through the flex sleeves and settled on the harder (clear) mediums- I refuse to go with the foam as those will need replacement regularly and I wear these phones for at least 3 hours a day for my commute. Physically, the Shure's look much more durable. Much heavier wire, beefy strain relief and physically larger 'plugs' that are still extremely lightweight. Very wearable and minimal fatigue. They are also worn behind the head with the cord running behind your neck for both ears. The ER6i's are much more deilcate looking and feeling. Much finer wiring that admittedly makes me a litte nervous. However there is some good looking braiding within the plugs themselves (the plugs are clear.) that looks like their version of strain relief as opposed to cast plastic. THe actual earpieces fit really deep within the ear canal- just like good silicone earplugs. To the point where I feel a tickle in the ear canal. These are worn in front, with a lapel clip for the cord. Both come in the oh so fashionable iPod White, with 5 foot cords. Perfect length for a DAP with out being too long or short. The Sony's 2 pice cord is too short without the extension (and wired remote) and too long with the extension.) They come with storage cases- the Shure is semi rigid, and the Ety with a pouch, plus additional tips to customize the fit. Sound - now this is purely subjective, but the Ety's sound more lively than the Shure's. The E3c is extemely neutral, whereas the ER6i just has more life (or more appropraitely, it colors the sound instead of giving a pure expereince). That does not mean that the E3c is flat- far from it. On material that has been properly mastered (or remastered to take advantage of modern equipment and reproduction capabilities) Both have really great sound, just a litetl different. The detail is remarkable (far better thatn the Sony's). You can hear the pick on Eddie Van Halen's guitar in Finish What Ya Started. Horns and woodwinds come alive in Rhapsody in Blue (the version used here is very stark in order to highlight Andre Previn's piano playing). Ferddie Mercury's voice in The Invisible Man sounds like he's sitting next to you. They did not engineer his vocal track very much at all. You can practically hear him spit at times! There's almost no filtering of the vocals that I can hear. The Shures are more efficient as well. More noise for a given volume setting, but not by a huge margin (again, highly subjective). My inital feeling was that I like the sound of the Ety's a bit better- because they color the sound. Horns are brassy, percussion has snap. The lows have punch without distraction. The Shure's neutral expereince is stunning in its own right, but it almost feels like there is something missing even thouugh the sound is richer overall. However over time I'm finding that the neutrailty is drawing me in. Cymbals sound more natural and a touch lower in pitch (Listen to the intro to the Shaft Theme to see what I mean) The Ety's are by no means tinny or harsh. The soundstage of the Shure's seems to be shifted a touch lower than the Ety's and more expansive. The Ety's seem to have more punch without being boomy or distorting. Low to mid bass is a bit louder- to the point that I can feel it (above simply hearing) at low listening levels in my ears, and not simply the low end. My body is expecting to feel the kick of the sound, but there is none. I keep my H320 no higher than 12, usually 10 for listening (Korean firmaware 1.27). All of this would be easliy forgotten if I could not go back and forth between headphones (listen to a song, switch phones, repeat as desired) After about 4 hours of listening my nod goes to the E3c. The soundstage just feels more complete with better depth. Considering the pricepoint, it should! However, I would also not hesitate to reccomend the Er6i's. I'll be playing with these for a week before I decide though. Comparing the ER6i to the Shure E2c, things might be different as they are a similar pricepoint. However the E2c requires that a filter be replaced regularly, where he Ety's require only cleaning at the same pricepoint. Below I've listed some of the songs used to judge these phones, so you get an idea of my tastes in music and the types of excersise that these phones are getting. This is by no means a complete list. I've built a folder of test tunes that I'm playing with. Freddie Mercury - Living on My Own Sugar Hill Gang - Rappers Delight Maroon5 - This Love Depeche Mode - Policy of Truth Dire Straits - So Far Away U2 - Bad Queen - Invisible Man Isaac Hayes - Shaft Theme Seal - Crazy The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait Soul 2 Soul - Back To Life Toto - Africa Young MC - Bust A Move Simple Minds - Alive and Kicking George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue Van Halen - Cabo Wabo Van Halen - Finish What Ya Started Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer The Who - 5:15 It's a day later and I've had my head in the Ety's some more. Based simply on price, I'd go with the Ety's in a hearbeat. Under $100 online, these are a bargain for the sound that they produce. I'm used to canalphones and earplugs so the style does not bother me. I have seen thh E3c's for not too much more. The other thing I'm noticing with the Ety's is that the are light- weightless and extremely comfortable. I might need to try the E2c's to see what they offer. I'm also interested in the ER6P's too. Choices, choices... I do have concerns about durability of the ER6i. They just seem awfully flimsy, but better designed than the Sony's. The Shures are the most substaintial, but the thicker wires make it a little more difficult to loop the cords over your ears. Being that I wear glasses, I've got enough stuff there already. Having a history of killing headphones too, It's important to me.

Very similar to my experience comparing both the ER6i and E3. This is an old thread when I compared them for the first time. http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...91#post1037791.

I think the shures are a much better phone. After you get used to them, you'll get lost in the music, which has more presence and body to it. On the Er6i the sound is thin by comparison, but the sparkle gives more WOW factor at first listen. I have also tried the ER4, and these really have a WOW detail. They are extremely detail, and fast. Even compared to the ER4 however I found the warmth and musicality of the shures to give me more involvement in the music. That more musically accurate sound is what has had me loving these. While in my opinion the shures are great, the price at buy.com is just too good. For that price the ER6i are a great value.

 

[pretzelb]

As someone who knows they aren't close to being an audiophile I just wanted to say this post is very interesting. Some really good information in here.