Overall Ratings
for the recording professional — 3.2/5.0
for the audio enthusiast — 4.3/5.0
Overall Impressions
Since the monitors are named ESR (Empire-ears Studio Reference), I first approached these iems from the standpoint of a recording engineer (which I was for several years). From this perspective, I found the frequency response to be inadequately uneven. There is just too much bass and treble at louder volumes. Once I cranked the volume down to low levels, the tonal balance smoothed out. But at those volumes, it was difficult to catch all the details needed to make a firm judgement on recording quality.
Still, the ESRs have many redeeming qualities that engineers require. The stereo field is quite wide, but neither too tall nor too deep (front/back). Some iems have a very tall signature, but it shrinks at the ends. This always sounds very artificial to me. The ESR isn’t the tallest, but its height is maintained across the full width. Same with the depth. The stereo field sounds just about perfect to me.
The ESR also boasts excellent dynamics and details. You can easily hear the exact nature of each instrument’s individual reverberation field through the very final decay.
However, the “v” shaped FR curve is a killer for me, from an engineer’s perspective.
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Once I took off my engineer’s hat, they became much more enjoyable! There is a lot of “fun” in these iems. They sound pretty much wonderful with most music genres. The ESR does great extension at both ends. Bass is very solid. I found the treble to be smooth and without any added sibilance.
Another nice thing about the ESRs is that they sound wonderful at low volumes. You can listen to them all day long without risking any hearing loss and still fully enjoy your music.
Of course, you really crank them up (but don’t try this at home, kids!). It is very easy to get lost in the music with them.
Would I buy them for use primary as a studio “reference”? No
Would I buy them for simply listening to music? Yes. The ESRs is a top contender if you are considering a quality iem in their price range.
for the recording professional — 3.2/5.0
for the audio enthusiast — 4.3/5.0
- I’m not a professional reviewer; in fact this is my very first head-fi review. (Please be gentle.) I was not paid anything for this. As a part of the ESR/Bravado tour, I had to pay shipping to the next head-fi’er.
- All impressions were made using SpinFit tips and an SP1000M (single-ended) playing lossless files.
- YMWV — Your Mileage WILL vary; get used to it.
- Objects in this review may be closer than they appear.
- There has been no collusion in this review.
- No animals were injured in the making this review.
- Intended for use under adult supervision.
- Opinions stated here are solely the author’s and do not represent this station nor its corporate overlords.
The searching for reference monitors is akin to hunting for a mono-horned horse that is explosively bloated with prismatic methane*.
Consider this from two perspectives: manufacturers and consumers.
I already own 2 iems that their manufacturers refer to as reference: UERR and ER4SR. Since these are both “reference”, you’d think they would sound almost identical. No, they don’t (but you probably already knew that). Same is true for “reference” speakers. Even manufacturers do not agree on what is “reference” sound.
From an individual side of things.
*unicorn powered by rainbows.
Consider this from two perspectives: manufacturers and consumers.
I already own 2 iems that their manufacturers refer to as reference: UERR and ER4SR. Since these are both “reference”, you’d think they would sound almost identical. No, they don’t (but you probably already knew that). Same is true for “reference” speakers. Even manufacturers do not agree on what is “reference” sound.
From an individual side of things.
- We all hear differently. We all lose sensitivity to high frequencies as we age, starting in our twenties.
- Our individual frequency response varies with volume (Fletcher-Munson et al.). An ideal FR for listening at 65 dB would be wrong if it listened to at 95 dB.
- Add in to this “brain-burn”. Yes, I believe in this phenomena. Each of our other senses is highly adaptive. Why would hearing be different? (btw, I also believe in equipment burn-in, having spent several years for professional speaker manufacturers.)
*unicorn powered by rainbows.
Sorry, I don’t do audio porn. You’ll just have to take your putrid proclivities elsewhere.
Overall Impressions
Since the monitors are named ESR (Empire-ears Studio Reference), I first approached these iems from the standpoint of a recording engineer (which I was for several years). From this perspective, I found the frequency response to be inadequately uneven. There is just too much bass and treble at louder volumes. Once I cranked the volume down to low levels, the tonal balance smoothed out. But at those volumes, it was difficult to catch all the details needed to make a firm judgement on recording quality.
Still, the ESRs have many redeeming qualities that engineers require. The stereo field is quite wide, but neither too tall nor too deep (front/back). Some iems have a very tall signature, but it shrinks at the ends. This always sounds very artificial to me. The ESR isn’t the tallest, but its height is maintained across the full width. Same with the depth. The stereo field sounds just about perfect to me.
The ESR also boasts excellent dynamics and details. You can easily hear the exact nature of each instrument’s individual reverberation field through the very final decay.
However, the “v” shaped FR curve is a killer for me, from an engineer’s perspective.
=============================================================
Once I took off my engineer’s hat, they became much more enjoyable! There is a lot of “fun” in these iems. They sound pretty much wonderful with most music genres. The ESR does great extension at both ends. Bass is very solid. I found the treble to be smooth and without any added sibilance.
Another nice thing about the ESRs is that they sound wonderful at low volumes. You can listen to them all day long without risking any hearing loss and still fully enjoy your music.
Of course, you really crank them up (but don’t try this at home, kids!). It is very easy to get lost in the music with them.
Would I buy them for use primary as a studio “reference”? No
Would I buy them for simply listening to music? Yes. The ESRs is a top contender if you are considering a quality iem in their price range.
