Ety ER-6i problems (long, but please read fully)

[iamamaster]

Heya, I suppose I haven't posted here in a while, but I'm an avid reader. Long post, I know, but a good read nonetheless.

I got a pair of Etymotic ER-6is in July of 2005, and loved them to pieces. They were an amazing step up from my MDR-EX81s, and they deserve every adulation they get, sound-wise at least. However, that pair developed a problem with the connection where the driver meets the cable on the right bud. It required extensie jostling every time I put it on, or when it got jiggled just a bit (eg. while walking) in order to get sound. In other words, the connection in the right earbud became loose. So I phoned them up, and their amazing customer service sent me an RMA and offered to cover shipping if it turned out to be my fault. The service, by the by, was impecable to a T: you call up, a person answers, you tell them you want service and support, and they conect you to an experienced, knowledgable rep without any delay whatsoever. Anywho, they sent me a new pair of phones, and I was happy as a clam. That is, until I moved to a town atop a mountain in India (I'm not joking, I go to an international school there). Again, the right earbud crapped out. Now I'm stranded atop a mountain, as far away from Elk Grove Village, Illinois (ER's offices) as possible, and I have a defective pair of 'phones. Worse still, they can only send me an RMA, and tell me that since I'm out of warranty, I might have to pay for the replacement and shipping costs! Has anyone else experienced this problem with the ER-6is? I pull my 'phones out by the cord, a possible source of the issue, but that's because I have deep canals, and the phones are inextractable otherwise. I feel it has something to do with the 6is' lack of protection of the bud-cable connector. The 4Ps have the same kind of shield you'd find on a normal pair of crapass phones, a feature the 6is lack.

What can I do? Should I persist in hassling Ety until they replace my phones? Or should I give up and go for an upgrade to the 4Ps? Or, should I wait for a review of the Ety8s? Advice? Opinions? Things?

(PS. What about the AKG K701s?)

[camille]

in the time i had ER-6is, i had no such problems, but Ety dont recommend you pulling them outta your ear by the cable. build quality is highly suspect especially with the thin cords. an upgrade to the ER-4P would be nice, i think; the "housing" is longer than the ER-6i so you would have a firm grab when pulling them out instead of pulling the wires.

as for the K701s, not the best for portable use, because they require a headphone amp to drive them properly. also isolation from outside noise is next to none and they easily leak out the music (since they are open-type 'phones) so other people would hear what you're hearing.

[iamamaster]

Hmmm... I know I should probably go up to the 4Ps, but I'm just not sure how fond I am of canalphones. I love the sound quality and noise-isolation, but they can be uncomfortable (like, really uncomfortable) and often cause my ears to hurt. The constant need to get new eartips and filters is also a considerable letdown. Do you have any idea as to how much the custom eartips cost for the 4Ps? I know you can get their custom-made earplugs, then buy an adapter for use as eartips for the 4Ps, but they're hoplessly vague about cost. Apparently, though, they're insanely comfy. What about the Ety8? I know I'd look like a dork, but they're just... sooooo cool!

[Macromedia]

You could try the Westone UM1 or UM2 IEMs. Far more comfortable and the cable isn't that microphonic. All though the sound is different. The UM1/2 are warmer than the Ety series. Worth a try however.

[Cakbar]

I would say, without a doubt, that pulling the cord is the source of your problems. One solution, if you still want to use the 6i's, and if you use the bi/tri flange eartips, would be a set of tips that have extended stem length. I have not used these, so don't know if they would really help, but they may be worth checking out.

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/roauprtrflti.html

Also, at some point I think you have to stop holding Etymotic responsible, if you are breaking them by pulling at the cord. Occasionally, my ER6's will go so far into my ear, that I can't pull them out. When that happens, I just grab a set of tweezers and pull them out enough so that I can get my fingers around them.

[yinyang]

i've never had any issues with my ER6i's whilst they were in regular use for about 12 months - i've gone to the UE super.fi 5 Pros since, and keep the etys as a backup. i always found the Etys quite comfortable to wear for extended periods and with the UEs i can also keep them on for hours at a stretch, though i find the Etys easier to get in.

i've also heard good things about the Westone UM2's but right now i don't need any more earphones, so i can't vouch for them myself! :)