So whats out there lately..

[Grimloki]

They are and were marketed as a stage monitor. The isolation was developed as a serious benefit to musicians needing to protect their hearing while monitoring at safe volume. In 1991 there were no portable mp3 players. Etymotic research sold hearing aids, the etymotic ear insert monitors, and high end earplugs, with custom earplugs for musicians on stage. That was their market.



Audiophiles started buying them, but they were made for musicians.



They were $500... And they weren't the best then, as customs existed already. Just really really good, and at 1/5 the price they are still really really good.


Their claims for accuracy are valid only to a point. The perceived loudness curve has been updated two or three times since 1991... As testing methodologies change. Also people all hear differently... All have different expectations, and a flat frequency response is only flat at a particular SPL anyway.

 

[ClieOS]

Quote:

They are and were marketed as a stage monitor. The isolation was developed as a serious benefit to musicians needing to protect their hearing while monitoring at safe volume. In 1991 there were no portable mp3 players. Etymotic research sold hearing aids, the etymotic ear insert monitors, and high end earplugs, with custom earplugs for musicians on stage. That was their market.
 

Allow me to quote the first part of the ER4 patent, originally filed in 1992 and has been reissued in as recent as 2003:
 
 
Quote:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to earphones and methods of making the same to obtain earphones and earphone assemblies which reproduce sounds with very high fidelity and with minimum noise and which are suitable for use by the most discriminating listeners. The earphones and assemblies of the invention are very compact and light in weight, are highly reliable and are readily and economically manufacturable.

2. Background of the Prior Art

"Audiophile" earphones have been marketed for use by audiophiles or discriminating listeners interested in the highest possible sound reproduction. Such audiophile earphones have been ostensibly capable of effecting high fidelity sound reproduction although it has been recognized by many users as well as the makers of such earphones that they have left much to be desired with respect to fidelity of reproduction. It has apparently been assumed by such users and makers that deficiencies in quality of sound reproduction are an unavoidable result of the use of earphones.

.......

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention was evolved after learning of the deficiencies of earphones marketed for use by audiophiles and with the general object of providing earphones which have improved high fidelity response characteristics and which are readily and economically manufacturable.

.........

 
Well, you get the picture.

 

[stevenswall]

@Grimloki:

Are you of the opinion that custom earphones are inherently better than universals? Just because something is custom doesn't mean it's the best... Etymotics are the best at reported natural frequency response and isolation, which is what I am arguing. Customs may be better for comfort, but to say that Etymotics aren't the best just because they aren't custom molded is ridiculous. By the way, Etymotic now has the option of purchasing custom eartips for their earphones, yet I still wouldn't say that makes them the 'best' or even better, except for comfort and isolation, the two things an eartip is most likely to change.
Quote:

"...And they weren't the best then, as customs existed already..."
 

 

[Grimloki]

 

@Clieos - wow. You are completely right. I was under the (mistaken) impression that all of the universal IEMs were derived from pro-audio custom IEMs, or made to compete with pro-audio IEMs, and audiophiles as an afterthought. Ety's lineage is from research ear insert phones, to phones for audiophiles and musicians. I thought IEM technology went from CrystalSound to Future Sonics with Etymotic entering the market along with Ultimate Ears and their 2 BA per ear customs, which I thought came into existence at the same time as the Etymotic ER4s.. but I am wrong there too. The UE5 came 4 years later, in 1995. They were twice the cost of the ER4s if I remember correctly. Those were the customs was referring to above. I don't know if the Future Sonics Customs of 1991 were better than the Ety ER4s with custom molds 
 
@stevenswall - I thought the customs at the time were better than the Ety ER4s when the ER4s were released... but I thought those customs included the Ultimate Ears line... which didn't come out until later. On the topic of customs... custom molds for the Ety ER4s made a huge difference in their sound, as well as comfort and isolation, because the seal is so much better, and the bass ended up being better because of it. It was possible for me to get a seal comparable to my custom molds using triple flanges, and the same sound, but it hurt. 
 
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