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| Brand: Etymotic Research
Category: CE
List Price: $299.99
Buy New: $169.99
You Save: $130.00 (43%)
New (55) Used (3) from $135.00
Rating:  116 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 6.3 x 6.3 x 1.5
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: ER4P
Model: ER4P
UPC: 898234000411
EAN: 0898234000817
ASIN: B0007WZLDC
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Audiophiles look no further March 8, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I recently bought these and the Shure SE210s, so consider this a side by side comparison. I have had both for about a month. Bought one for me, and one for my wife. These are both in the same price range, so I suspect people looking at these would also be looking at the Shures.
Comparison
- overall sound......Etymotic (hands down)
- overall sound......Etymotic (hands down)
- overall sound......Etymotic (hands down)
- midranges..........Etymotic (hands down)
- highs................Etymotic (hands down)
- styling..............Shure
- comfort/fit........Shure
- use during jogging...Shure (with foam tips)
Ok, to be honest, the Shures do sound good and score well in all the intangibles. If you compare them both using the foam tips, the Shures are more comfortable. The Etymotics because of their thin wiring at the earplugs transmit more vibration sound during activities like jogging. The Shures have that dumb extension cord to deal with though.
If your priority is to get top quality sound, there's really no comparison. The Etymotics have a tight, crisp, vibrant sound across the spectrum from low midrange to highs. Both of them lack booming bass, but I find the Etymotics to have a more accurate reproduction of bass. It's as you are listening through a tissue when you have the Shures on. Keep in mind, if you compared the Shures to the stock earbuds, you'd associate the tissue with your earbuds.
Check out the Shures here: Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphones (White)
 ER 4 review March 7, 2008
1 out of 17 found this review helpful
These are among the worst sounding earphones I've heard. There's absolutely no bass. I listen to audiophile recordings which usually have good bass. When I listen to these earphones they sound like I'm listening to an old transister radio from the 60's. I bought these based on the rave reviews. Either people have no critical hearing or I have a defective pair. The cheap headphones that came with my ipod sound better.
Superior for drowning out work distractions March 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am by no means an audiophile or even a particularly auditory person, but I found the range of auditory distractions at work too much, particularly a close-by radio tuned to vocal-centric music. Nothing was working to block it out, so in desperation I invested in these earphones.
They are very very good. In combination with just a very quiet pink or brown noise or some music, they block out loud machinery behind a wall, and singers two steps or the width of two desks away. Yet, I can hear enough to carry on a conversation with my coworkers. My only concern was that I would have to take them out constantly when I was being spoken to, but fortunately that turned out not to be the case. When I turn down the sound or unplug them, I can hear through them,
The foam inserts offer better sound blocking than the plastic. Both are comfortable for extended wear of around 6 hours. I would consider myself to have a small ear canal, but both types fit comfortably (the grey plastic is very soft). The entire length of the earphone probably is meant to go deeper into the ear, but I still find the sound acceptable. To my small fingers, there is plenty to grasp so I don't have to yank on the cord for removal.
I chose these over the ER6 because they have a sturdier cord and a slightly higher sound isolation ranking. Movement sound conducted through the cord was not a concern for me as I didn't plan to use them while exercising or walking -- they wouldn't be right for that.
Also I discovered that my computer adds a fair amount of hiss to iTunes, while the iPod is perfectly quiet. In music, the percussion comes through distinctly when using these earphones.
Great sound, good isolation, maybe a little uncomfortable February 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The sound reproduction is very good. There is good bass response with proper insertion into the ear canal. The sound isolation is excellent -- much better than low end active noise cancellation products and there is no battery to replace. Some people may find it less comfortable than ear buds that aren't inserted into the canal.
ER-4P: You Get What You Pay For February 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've had my ER-4Ps for a month now and I love them! I use them with my iPod, my computer headphone jack, and sometimes with my receiver headphone jack at home. Mostly, though, it's the iPod that I use them with as I commute by train to work every day. I spend about an hour and 15 min in subway trains and stations every work day, so not only is quality sound important to me, but noise cancellation is nice to have as well. I mostly listen to podcasts, acoustic, jazz, and some classical music. When I need extra bass I make use of the iPod's built-in equalizer.
What I like about these in-ear headphones is that they fit well in my small ear canals, the sound is crisp and clean, and the noise cancellation is spectacular. I don't hear people talking next to me on the subway train, I don't hear the train operator making announcements, and when I transfer trains and walk along the platforms and escalators I don't hear any of the station noises! I also walk about two blocks from the subway station to my office. I don't hear outside noises there either. It's great! I do have to be careful and pay attention to what I'm doing. I take them out to cross the street so I can hear, but otherwise I keep them in my ears.
Some reviewers have faulted these for not being compatible with the iPhone. Well, duh!!!! No plugs are compatible with the iPhone because Apple uses a recessed plug outlet. You have to order specific types of earphones for the iPhone. There is an easy and very inexpensive solution, though. Belkin and others have made adapters that solve this problem. Some are less than $10 and work just fine (I have an iPhone and bought an adapter for just this purpose).
Other reviewers have said these ER-4Ps stick out of the ear making you look idiotic so they're no good. Unless you get custom-made ear canal headphones, there's going to be something sticking out! 'Nuff said there.
Still other reviewers fault the ER-4Ps for poor bass. If these reviewers had done their research before buying they would have known that these in-ear headphones are more for high- and mid-range levels, not deep and loud bass. If you're going to listen to bassy rock and electronica, then these aren't for you unless you are prepared to use your player's built-in equalizer to compensate. But, don't fault the ER-4P for doing what it advertises it's going to do!
I read a lot of reviews of this model before I got it. Some musician friends of mine recommended it after I had purchased another type of in-ear headphone. I had gotten the Ultimate Ears Super-Fi 3 in-ear headphones and found that they didn't fit particularly well since I have really small ear canals. I thought the UEs sounded very good until I got the ER-4Ps and popped them in my ears. Whoa! Big difference in quality.
Bottom line: they fit well, they perform well, and the quality of the sound for the money is unsurpassed! They also come with a nice little carrying case, adapters, extra ear tips and filters, and cleaning gear.
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