 "extremely detailed and will destroy your poor mp3's" | 2008-06-17 |
| - Reviewed By jniehenk |
| These are amazing earbuds. I have listened to some high end sennheiser's and beyerdynamic full headphones and the high end details these bring out rivals them. Be prepared to be very disapointed with your low quality mp3 files or crappy player as these earbuds will bring out all the details you may not want to hear. The bass response is fine on these and when seated properly in your ear is more than adequate. I can't understand those who review these and say they have no bass response (turn down your headphones morons and you wouldnt have ruined ears!!). The noise isolation on these is incredible, completely drown out airplane rumble on very low volume, ditch the noise isolation tech and go with in ear plugs, better isolation and cleaner sound. |
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 "Great if you can find a bargain" | 2008-06-01 |
| - Reviewed By dh19440113 |
This bud doesn't sound as good as er-4p, doesn't look as cool as er-6i, but it deserve my recommandation if it is cheaper than etymotic as a substitute. Audio quality sound simular to er-6.
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| "SIGNIFICANT Enhancement of Listening Experience!" | 2008-03-22 |
| - Reviewed By misterflak |
A great pair of headphones is the poor man's version of a high-end speaker system since you get all of the quality and signal purity but with a much friendlier price tag. After using these extensively for the last three months or so, I thought I'd share my thoughts:
Noise-cancelling: Those fancy active noise-cancelling models (i.e; Bose) get all the press but they are actually pretty inferior to these in terms of how much outside sound they block out. The high end Bose ones block up to 20 db for $300; these can block up to 35 db. This is like the difference in the sound of your TV when you have the dishwasher/laundry running. Basically, the less outside noise, the purer the sound you're hearing. These are top-notch in that regard.
Sound Quality: One thing that jumped out at me was how clear you could hear individual instruments. I'm a sucker for lush, complex arrangements (think Radiohead) and with these headphones, each instrument has it's own distinct place in the mix. I regularly discover harmonies/riffs/effects in songs that I had never been able to hear before. The bass is tight and the treble is very clear. Subjectively, I would compare the improvement in sound/experience over a $20-30 pair to be like going from a standard-def TV to HD.
Style: You can pretty much throw away the included case because of its morbid obesity. Beyond that, the headphones themselves are distinct and attractive.
Functionality: I have sworn off my factory Honda sound system and use my Zune and these for car travel and general errands. They're perfect for this because a.) They block out most engine/road noise and b.) they're inconspicuous if you're worried about being pulled over for wearing headphones. Also, just as they can block sound out, they can keep sound in making them library-friendly.
Cost/Benefit Analysis: $50-75 Range. I would say that with this purchase, I didn't just upgrade my headphones, I upgraded all the things that I use my headphones with. My Zune with factory headphones was nice and functional, but these phones make it sound like a high-end system. I've rediscovered alot of my back catalog just to hear how it sounds with these and what new things I can find. Again, the closest comparison I can make is stepping up from a CRT TV to HD; the former was pleasant enough but the latter is what gets your jaw dropping.
Notes/Tips:
*The sound quality of in-ear phones is greatly affected by how well they are inserted into the ear. FOLLOW THE MANUAL'S INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSERT THEM. Essentially, you're looking to form a seal between the headphone and the outside world. Make sure to test both included earbuds to see what gives the better fit. While the winged earbud (as pictured) looks cool, I'd highly advise trying the included foam earplugs to see what's a better fit.
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| "Great sound, great value" | 2007-12-02 |
| - Reviewed By tomstarner |
For those rating these one star, you must be using them improperly. Admittedly, I got mine for $40 at a competitor site (I buy plenty at Amazon, but that deal was amazing and last all of one day). I had and sold my Ety ER4ps for a pair of Atrio M5s, but I missed the Ety sound sig, so these fit the bill. With the Futuresonic foamies, these sound simply awesome, and best of all, you don't need an amp to make them sparkle, through they do sound even better with a decent headphone amp.
They deliver clear, crisp mids and highs, and the bass can easily be maximized with a little EQing. Of course, as has been repeated here over and over, you need to get the proper seal for max SQ.
Again, if you hate something stuck in your ears, then stay away (get a pair of Yuin PK2 or PK3 ear buds instead). But if you don't mind the isolation and ear closure, these babies are a tremendous value, even at double the price I paid.
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| "Good headphones." | 2007-11-26 |
| - Reviewed By ktran3 |
In general, these headphones are very clear. If you aren't looking for pounding bass these are fine.
The only problem is...the bass. It's not very appearent at all.
They will be uncomfortable at first but you will eventually get used to these.
The sound isolation is excellent. Nobody could hear anything coming out of these....now could i hear anyone around me.
These will not suit everyone.
I grabbed these for around $30 so I'm pretty satisfied with what i got for the price.
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 "Seriously, NO BASS" | 2007-10-20 |
| - Reviewed By quietjet2 |
| These headphones are of high quality, and would be fine for use on the airplane--or for audio books. If you are an audiophile, you WILL be dissapointed. |
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| "Best In Ear Headphones I've Ever Used" | 2007-09-28 |
| - Reviewed By daniels@jump.net |
| Comfortable, noise reducing and great sounding. The filters need to be changed occasionally and they are too expensive, but I think the advantages make it worthwhile. I would buy these again, or the im716s which have an inline bass boost and volume control for ~$30 more. |
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| "Excellent passive noise isolation" | 2007-07-16 |
| - Reviewed By snakebert |
| You have to get used to a very deep insertion into your ear canal, but when you get it right the isolation and sound are worth the trouble. The connectors and cables have stood up to hundreds of tugs and pulls (very durable). The 3 flange plastic tips are replaceable and I replaced mine after about 6-9 months of everyday usage. Cable movement noise and inside your head noise (chewing, breathing, etc.) are noticable, but this is the nature of most in ear canal phones. Due to good isolation, you can often use a lower volume which helps with protecting your hearing and extending your battery life. |
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| "Beware, these are addictive phones!" | 2007-01-04 |
| - Reviewed By ivansfchan |
These phones are simply addictive. I am a user of various audiophile equipment. I have used B&W 802s, Dynaudio Contours, Grado 80s etc... and I must say these phones provide probably if not the best, very top quality details. There's even more monitor quality details than my speakers or larger phones, which at first surprised me. But don't get me wrong, they have their weaknesses compared with these much expensive equipment, for example, they don't provide the oomph on the lower-end (which could be a good thing if neutrality is important to you, like me) They are also microphonic, but you simply get used to it in no time, that you mentally filter out your thumping/walking noise. Good thing they included a nice little clip, so at least the microphonic effect from rubbing the cable against your shirt won't occur.
In terms of sound quality, lots of detail (after all, these are improved/modified version of the Etymotics 6s), very neutral response, open and airy, great channel seperation, extends effortlessly into the high and low ends. Just has a sense of elegance and control. For bass freaks, avoid at all costs, coz you'll definitely end up returning them. But beware, even bass freaks may easily be charmed simply by the qualities mentioned above which makes you think twice whether your approach was right.
The package comes very nicely in black color, great for matching my Black Ipod nano 8GB version. I was subconsciously looking for something NOT white, coz they just look cheap these days when everyone is wearing white phones. Quality and build is top notch, seems like it'll last at least a few years with good care, unlike the Ety's 6.
About the in-ear canal aspect, great for commuting on subways. In fact I think it's the best isolation out there. Because you will notice a significant lack of detail, distorted uppers and lowers with active noise-cancellation phones, simply can't perform at full potential. Also, experts (check CNET article as well) also recommend in-ear, as these blocks out outside/environmental noise and allows you to listen purely to your music at lower volumes, thus protecting your ear from fatique and long-term damage (avoid phones if you can at all for damage-free listening though). For joggers, not advised, since the thumping noise in microphonics; for cyclers/motorists, not advised, there is wind noise in microphonics. But if you're like me, commuting everyday, wants peace and purity within your listening world, values details and neutrality over massive bass, these are for you, my friend! |
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| "these are not for everyone" | 2007-01-04 |
| - Reviewed By sweetbottom4u |
| first thing you need to know is these headphones need to be wiped every couple of days with alcohol swabs.this helps with the seal in your ears which is very important to get good bass and keep noise out.I hear things I didn't hear with my sony 71's.the price is right too on amazon. |
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