[tigas]

Hi! I've owned a pair of ER4-P for a long time, until the cable broke at the Y. I completely failed to find replacement cables with the 2-pin plug they used (and didn't think to come here then, because I've been here less than a week and already found several).

I sent them to Etymotic for repair, and they found one of the drivers had developed some distortion and the pair was mismatched. Their best guess was that I may have let them drop and one of them got damaged. I decided then to upgrade to ER4XR, thinking that their MMCX plug would make it easier to get cable replacements (and aftermarket options for headset/mic, inline remote and over-ear memory wire) and then I find that Etymotic engineered some changes to the MMCX connector that solve some of its problems but nobody else uses, and is barely compatible with the regular MMCX cables. I got a headset cable for public transport, and the damn plugs are always breaking contact and dropping out (when I'm lucky), or one the drivers falls off when I'm taking the phones out of their pouch. I already dropped one of the drivers on the sidewalk and it took me several minutes to find it afterwards...

Where can I get plug converters from Ety-MMCX to MMCX, or headset/inline remote with Ety-MMCX plugs?

I'd like to have posted this on the "If you still like Etymotics..." thread (I've started reading it from page 700 after the SR/XR line was released and people started discussing the plug), but it's a lot of thread.

Thank you for the help.

 

[gemNeye]

Get in touch with @ClieOS since he custom builds Ety cables for the ER3 and ER4 lines.

See this link below:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sold-remote-mic-cable-for-er4sr-xr-and-er3se-xr.888421/

 

[tigas]

Really? I had noticed him in the "If you like Etymotics" thread, but he's the only source? For real? What would we do without ClieOS?

Being an Etymotic owner continues to be a world of hurt, even with "universal" MMCX plugs. If only they didn't sound so well...

Thank you.

 

[gemNeye]

Really? I had noticed him in the "If you like Etymotics" thread, but he's the only source? For real? What would we do without ClieOS?

Being an Etymotic owner continues to be a world of hurt, even with "universal" MMCX plugs. If only they didn't sound so well...

Thank you.

There are several online stores that can build custom Etymotic cables such as PlusSound, Lunashop, Forza Audio Works among a few others. A quick google search using keywords "Etymotic custom cable" should yield such results for you to research.

http://www.plussoundaudio.com/
https://forzaaudioworks.com/en/
http://www.lunashops.com/index.php

 

[tigas]

Ahhh!! Thank you very much! I'll investigate.

edit:
So far, only Lunashops seem to even remotely be what I'm looking for. I've found the cable I needed six months ago when my ER-4P's cable broke. I even found one that has an inline remote that works on both Android and Apple, just what I need for public transport.

But now I have an ER-4XR. The closest thing I can find that would help me are the L-shaped Ety-MMCX unwired plugs, for which I'd have to get regular MMCX plugs for the other side, but I'm useless at soldering and don't have the gear.

So, my only source for L-shaped adapters between Ety-MMCX and MMCX seems to be @ClieOS. Oh well, I hope he's not too busy...

 

[tigas]

What I'd like to find is something like this adapter between UE 2-pin and MMCX, but as Ety-MMCX to MMCX. That would solve the compatibility issues with the whole MMCX ecosystem and I'd never have to feverishly look for someone who has Ety-MMCX options for their cables.
As far as I can see, @ClieOS built some units, and even provides a bit of how-to, but I can't solder...

 

[Pro-Jules]

I think they come from aisian country and ordering them can bit a little confusing.

 

[tigas]

In the end, I did ask @ClieOS and he generously offered his services for building the L-shaped adapters that I desired. But really, he's the only one, otherwise, I'd have to learn how to solder - it wouldn't hurt me, but I'd rather not.

Thank you, everybody, for your help.

 

[lwws]

Hey folks - I got in the same situation of breaking my stock ER4XR cable and found it tricky to find a replacement... did the obvious thing and tried a Shure MMCX cable but it wouldn't stay attached.

What I did find and may be an option for others is a few models of extremely cheap IEMs that use replaceable cables with angled plugs - if you search Amazon for "BASN MMCX" you should find a bunch. I got the black non-braided cable with the inline mic/pause button, and cut off the metal wire/clear plastic sleeve that's supposed to loop around your ear. Added the circlips levered off the plugs of a Shure cable, the tiny metal washers with the serrated inner edge, which makes the contact properly secure. They don't have the locking tab so are free to rotate but that doesn't seem to make any difference to anything... have used them every day for a couple months with no problems. Far from a high quality cable but it's a £35 solution

The actual included IEMs are terrible and can go in the bin. The plugs are angled but not as much as the originals: http://lewissaunders.com/rubbish/er4xr-basn.jpg

 

[transmaster]

This is an old thread but has a
anyone come up with a source for Etymōtic MMCX Spec’ cable’s. I have both the ER3SE, and the ER4SR. I used the balanced feed 2.5mm cable on both. My 3rd Etymōtic cable just for the ER4SR developed a short at the driver MMCX end. The failure mode is always the same first the “L” shaped strain relief breakers, gluing it back in place only works for awhile finally it develops a sort, and than it goes into the stash of trashed cables. I don’t really fancy forking over a couple of $100 bucks for a cable. I have a couple of Shure SE-215’s that have cables that are over 5 years old. Surely somebody makes a robust set for my beloved Ety’s.

 

[Pro-Jules]

Ask @ClieOS he's the expert.

 

[rpopescu]

Has anyone tried filing down the extra tall plastic collar on the driver side? It seems without that, conventional cables would fit.
If someone has managed to wear these earphones with a curved over-ear cable would you please reply? Thanks!

 

[transmaster]

I have despaired of finding a useable cable for my ER3’s and ER4’s. I can see no point in purchasing a cable that costs twice much as the earphones. I have decided to set my Etymōtic aside and see about a set of FiiO FA9’s each of the earpieces has 6 Knowles drivers, a 4-way crossover, and as important use a conventional MMCX cable.

 

[ArnoG]

Has anyone tried filing down the extra tall plastic collar on the driver side? It seems without that, conventional cables would fit.
If someone has managed to wear these earphones with a curved over-ear cable would you please reply? Thanks!

Hi, yes, I just did and it’s working well. I made an account here just to inform y’all. Once I am off the new member restrictions, I might be able to post two pics before and after. Admin: If you’re reading this for approval, please let me upload the pics since they will be of help for all looking for an affordable replacement cable.

My story: Bought my ER4XS quite a while ago but needed a cable with mic, as well as controls, for calling and running. Ety doesn’t sell those and their cable is indeed sensitive to rubbing that creates acoustics that can be well heard. Enter Amazon for some nicely made silver plated fancy copper cables with mic and controls, but indeed the plugs don’t go in far enough due to the silly rotation lock on the drivers. The plugs had a red and black piece of plastic on them, which I cut off, allowing the plugs to go in deep enough to properly lock. I covered the little gap that remained with small o-rings to prevent rain and crud to enter. This worked for some years, until the mic died and I had to find a replacement since what I had bought was no longer available. They came without a resistance in-line btw but sounded fantastic with the white Ety filters in the drivers.

My second fancy cable from Amazon was around €18 so likely made in the Asian country, but seemed well done and with again silver plated fine-filamentary copper strands. So, great, but again the plugs didn’t go in deep enough while this time there was no plastic but only metal to remove, so then what. I finally gave the drivers a good look and decided to use some fine waterproof sandpaper to carefully grind off part of the plastic end with the notch that prevents regular plugs from going in deep enough. Job done. I can now use any plug. Ety probably makes a ton of cash selling their cables, so the notch might be there to prevent aftermarket cables (without resistor) to be used but I don’t care. They sound fantastic without the resistor (but seem to now be optimal with the white filters as opposed to the green ones). The latter might be also my hearing (getting somewhat older here lol). I did remain using the small rubber o-rings to seal the connection.

Anyway, I can post pics as soon as the admins allow me.

Hope this helps some folks struggling with the same issue.