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Are the Etymotic ER-4P and ER-4S a good choice for IEM headphones? If so, which would work best plugged into the Wavelength Proton USB DAC?
Is anyone clear on what the ER-4PT adds over the ER-4P? I've read the difference described as extra adapters but the description I've read of the ER-4P sounds like it comes with adapters too.
Follow Ups:
When I first started using the ER-4P they sounded surprisingly like my Stax Lambda Pro IIIs. I liked them well enough to recommend them to a friend of mine who is a professional musician who uses them as his on stage monitors. He enjoys them as much as I do. I even bought a pair for one of my nieces for Christmas and my sister told me they are still the most cherished present she has ever gotten.
The Ety's are great, I used to own them. When I bought them, there was very little competition in for IEM's, and they were the best available. Times have changed, and although they are excellent headphones, there are a lot of other companies making IEM's.
The Etys have an even frequency response, and are very revealing. However, I feel that their sound doesn't have the fullness of my current IEM, the Westone UM3X. I sold my Ety's some time ago, but I did enjoy my time with them. My friend has a pair, I should borrow them and compare them with my Westones to see if I am missing anything. I think that they both are fairly flat in terms of frequency response, but the Westones have a fuller sound.
Are you using these as portables, or listening in a fixed location? If you are concerned about being able to drive your headphones, the Objective 2 headphone amplifier is a great option for a headphone amplifier, and it is around $150 built, or can be made yourself for around $70-85. There is also a desktop version with a built in USB DAC being designed, but it could be some time before it becomes available. Here is a link for a site that sells built O2's followed by a link to the designers blog.
http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=O2Full
Best of luck in your search.
-Aaron.
...For what it's worth.... I have had my ER4P/S IEM's for 10 years. I travel extensively on business (200+ nights a year), and they are just about the perfect headphones to take along.
Yes, some call them "bright". I disagree. These are true in-ear Monitors. You get to hear all of the detail in a recording, good or bad. The P's are great with just an iPod - but they are somewhat rolled-off on the top end. Adding the S adapter gives you the highs, but you really should use an Amp.
Wearing my ER4's, I have heard nuances in music that my main rig at home doesn't convey.
OK, they are a bit light in the bass - but not objectionably so. A lot of this has to do with an inadequate seal of the IEM in your ear. I know that when the bass disappears, I should re-seat the IEM.
I broke the ER4's once. The folks at Etymotic replaced them for a small fee - even though they were out of warranty. I don't remember how much $$, it was years ago.
I like the ER4's enough that I also bought some MC3's and MC5's for times that I don't want to risk my ER4's (mowing, blowing snow, etc...)
On a whim, and in search of more bass, I recently bought some Westone 4R's. More bass, yes. But the overall sound is not as clean as the ER4's. I also can't get as good a seal to my ears, no matter which tips I try. I always feel like I am hearing outside noise (this is not the case with the ER4's). I won't wear the Westone's on an airplane (not enough isolation), but they are good for sitting in a hotel room or in an airport.
Just my $.02. YMMV
Thom T.
Rational Insanity and Controlled Chaos!
Music is life, and life is music.
Much better seal and therefore better sound. Also more comfortable.
I had some Ety's a few years ago, and liked them enough to get custom ear molds. The plastic housing that holds the filter eventually broke from the pressure of supporting the molds. Just thought I'd let you know what happened with mine. Perhaps there is a company that does the molds differently so this doesn't happen.
Ety replaced my headphones at no charge, even though they were outside of warranty and the molds weren't made by a company associated with them. They are a great company.
Now I have Westone UM3X's, and like them very much.
-Aaron.
The only thing I see in the "PT" over the "P" is the adapter to use on a plane.
The 4P (more efficient) and 4S (could use an amp) are stellar performers in the headphone/IEM world to this day for clear, pristine, somewhat analytical sound. If your idea of great sound is a pair of revealing monitors, Etys might be for you.
One thing you should consider, however, is that these are worn with the wires coming straight down (not wrapped around behind the ears like other IEMs) and they tend to pick up sound from the cables rubbing on your shirt and such. They're also one of the best in isolating you from the outside world so they'd be potentially dangerous if you're using them while walking/jogging.
As far as which would be best with your DAC, you can buy the "P" version and purchase an adapter which will turn your "P" into an "S" and see for yourself which you prefer. I think you can pick one of the adapters up on ebay for, like, $20. I personally wouldn't use the adapter sold by Ety, as I feel the cable is too long.
Good luck.
"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)
I have the Etymotic HF3 for iPhone/iPod but the are nothing like REAL headphones.
Not even close to HD600.
Even on an iPhone.
Thanks, I've emailed Gordon and I'll post here with what he says.
Here's what I got from Gordon:
"The 27 ohm units would be -3dB at 27Hz and the 100 would be flat to 7Hz."
Can anyone help me interpret this?
He also said he isn't a big fan of the Etymotic ER.
Not that I could afford to buy both in the same month, or perhaps year! =:-0
I doubt it, not alone. It's powered by the USB port + has a small battery. It will drive K-701s, though. I use the proton with a tube headphone amp. The sound is much better through the K-701s. My understanding is that yuo need a lot of current to drive the HiFiMan planar magnetics.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
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