View Full Version : Etymotic ER-6i?
cubs233425
11-27-2006, 10:49 PM
Are these headphones compatible w/ the 5g video iPod?
Can anyone provide me w/ some good insight on these headphones compared w/ the Shure e3c's?
Thanks
super7668
11-29-2006, 07:01 PM
I believe most people here don't like ER-6i since they have bass head. maybe UM1 or Vmoda Vibe will be recommended.
Jackonicko
11-30-2006, 10:59 AM
The ER6is are compatible with the iPod.
They are, however, very, very lacking in bass, but are accurate, clean and clinical. I find the sound cold and tiring to listen to, and prefer a warmer, more fun sound, and so do many others.
Even if you want recessed bass, you can do better than the ER6i more cheaply. (Eg the Audio Technica ATH CK7).
The E3Cs are better, in my view, but you can do better more cheaply.
If you're a bass head you'd hate the ER6i and wouldn't like the E3C much better - you'd go for the V-Moda Bass Freq or the SuperFi 5EB.
If you like a balanced sound with good (not overpowering bass) the best of the bunch today are the Sennheiser CX300 at the $50 point, the Panasonic HJE70 at $88, and the V-Moda Vibe at $100. If you wont feel happy unless you spend much more, than the SuperFi 5 Pro are pretty good - but not that much better than the Vibe.
If comfort and 'staying in the ear' is vital, the Sony EX90 is a good option.
cubs233425
11-30-2006, 06:03 PM
Thanks for the replies.
I was thinking about picking up some e3cs instead
Anyone else have any input on the e3cs
Jackonicko
11-30-2006, 07:24 PM
People who have them will doubtless praise them - unless they've sampled something newer and better. I remember when they came out the E3Cs were among the best phones you could get for half way reasonable money. But time has gone on, and you can do much better.
It's a bit like buying a Gen 1 iPod for $450 instead of a Gen 5 for $350.......
Trager
12-01-2006, 05:56 PM
On the other hand, I'm listening to a set of V-moda Vibe phones right now, and I'd have to say that I don't consider them to be 'balanced' sonically in any way. Perhaps they will mellow after a while, but after an hour of listening, I'm noticing the depressed mids on some songs and a definite tendency towards sibilance on other recordings. I'll post a more detailed review after I've lived with them for the weekend. (assuming I can make it that long... at the moment, my ER-6i phones are awfully tempting, let alone my ER-4P)
Jackonicko
12-01-2006, 06:06 PM
If you are indeed listening to Vibes, and your description of them leads me to doubt it, then you need to send them back, because you clearly have a faulty set. Whatever else they are, the Vibes are certainly not sibilant (and certainly not by comparison with the ER-6i), nor are the mids particularly recessed.
Trager
12-01-2006, 06:23 PM
Yes, they're Vibes. (http://flickr.com/photos/trager/311451300/)
Maybe they are defective, because there's no question that the mids (particularly the upper-midrange) are weak relative to the bass and some parts of the upper end.
Jokieman
12-01-2006, 06:54 PM
Yes, they're Vibes. (http://flickr.com/photos/trager/311451300/)
Maybe they are defective, because there's no question that the mids (particularly the upper-midrange) are weak relative to the bass and some parts of the upper end.
They're not defective, others have found them to be harsh in the upper ranges, myself included. Sonically speaking they weren't designed to be natural or balanced. They were designed specifically to mimic the "club" experience, so the frequency response has been sculpted to provide a bit more ommph on the low end.
The E3C's are an ok choice, they lack in the bass department but have decent mids and highs.
It's difficult to advise you without knowing your taste in music though.
Trager
12-01-2006, 07:14 PM
I'm working on a detailed review of the Vibes at the moment, logging my impression song by song as I go through a test playlist on my 5.5 iPod. Maybe if I'm really inspired, I'll go through the same list later with my beat up old ER-6i phones, just for contrast.
Jackonicko
12-01-2006, 08:56 PM
What leads me to suspect that you have a problem is the word sibilance - my two pairs have extremely accurate performance with vocal S's, cymbals, etc, with no sssswoosh or hissss.
The mids are a little recessed, but the published curves seem pretty accurate, as far as I can see.