AN EMOTIONAL REVIEW OF E3Cs /ER6is

[stevenfollett]

hi guys bought er6is to be honest from a cosmetic point of view!!, not the wisest reason but reviews were ok. bass , clarity is there but something missing??? will the shures give me that warmth, if thats the emotional quality im looking for with the clarity and bass .if you could give me your opinions based on emotion as opposed to technically it would be more helpfull .also so i can relate, what you found missing in the etys compared to e3cs again an emmotional response!! cheers

[natelam]

Well, I'm not sure exactly how to answer your question. I believe that your problem is that you are looking for "warmth" but "warmth" isn't what audiophile or monitoring headphones like the E3C are made for. Accurate representation, clarity, balanced sound are what they shine in. If you don't fit them properly to some they might sound like tin cans, fitted properly they sound amazingly clear, with good midrange and appropriate (not boomy, or "big") bass response. These headphones are for the studio worker or stage performer, not for the everyday listener. For listening to jazz, classical, vocal, or live music these headphones are as clear as it gets under $300 and have a great WOW factor. But if you're looking for something to "enhance" your pop, rock, and rap tracks, look elsewhere, these will dissapoint.

[stevenfollett]

yer i think you've got it right what im looking for is something that will 'enhance' my music choice by that i mean make it sound good to me . this could be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow could also be a costly journey have ordered the e3cs anyway the curiousity difference between the two main rivals ,ety/shure sound signatures is overwhelming cheers

[yinyang]

well i've gone the other way and ordered the er-6i's...! funny thing is that the only 'phone i have to benchmark them will be my sony 71s, which most 'audiophiles' hate with a passion.

it'll be fun though, i hope ;)

at the end of the day it's your ears that will decide, not mine or natelam's or some whizz bang super reviewer on head-fi.org. if you like 'em then good for you (my ears had better like these etys....! ;))

[stevenfollett]

hi i do have the er6is already but everybody seems to mention the stark contrast in sound between the two. although not dissatisfied with the etys i just feel i might be missing something by not giving the shures a try. cosmetically the etys are the business though you wont be dissappointed

[natelam]

2 things to keep in mind with the shures -

1. MAKE SURE you choose the right ear pieces, that will fit snugly into the canal, otherwise you'll lose bass and a bit of midrange.
2. There is a break in period, so don't expect it to sound great out of the box. There is clarity, but not depth until about 10-20 hours of listening, then they REALLY start to open up.

Good luck, I love mine, the only thing that annoys me is that I'm so careful with them, keeping them in the case, that it's a hassle to get them out and put them away quickly.

[stevenfollett]

natelam thanks for that advice i'll bear it in mind ,ordered the triflange tips also to try. know what you mean about being careful, one thing they look a lot more robust than the etys they look so fragile im sure one wrong move/tug would render them useless making me almost paranoid where the cable is instead of just enjoying the music / whatever cheers

[perplex]

stevenfollett make sure you write an indept review comparing er6i and E3 once you get the E3 :] because i got the er6i myself

[stevenfollett]

i'll give it go, it won't be anything technical but i'll compare both on an emotional level giving what I FEEL!! are the differences in the two, the good and the bad. It would be nice if the shures give me the sound im looking for the warmth/passion not sure what it is , but im sure its out there and as competant as the etys are technically its not the listening pleasure im after ultimately!!!!

[natelam]

not as sturdy as you might think. while changing the sleeves, the right canal arm came unscrewed, I had to krazy glue it back but it's fine now. -nate

[stevenfollett]

natelam wot you mean by came unscrewed? i usually twist and pull on the etys to remove/replace eartips, but the canal is moulded one piece, are you saying on the shures it can become unscrewed or it snapped cheers steve

[yinyang]

well i've had the etys for all of 12 hours now and have been listening to tunes on the pBook since the iPod is in with apple, but i did try to do an initial comparison with my sony ex71s, but got too narked off with the swapping phones etc, so i'm just going to use the ety's for the next day or so and then go back to the sonys. i have noticed that the bass on dance tracks is not as 'oomphy' on the etys, but at the moment that isn't bothering me too much. mids and highs don't seem so harsh, but it's early days yet.

btw steven, did you use the flanges or the foam tips? i don't really like the flanges that much, even after getting a pretty good fit - they seem much more noticeable.

[stevenfollett]

yingyang hi, try cutting off smallest tip the comfort increase is amazing they no longer feel like there rammed in your ears!! but you still get the seal, least thats what i found , in fact i was able to get a better seal because i was able to seat them further in the ear canal without the discomfort , give it a try honestly . no doubt due to the better seal hence bass improvement my dance tracks for the first time on the pod sounded great. no eq hence no distortion

[tcristy]

One or two folks have had the filter element in the arm come out when removing the tip. Hopefully natelam did not just krazy-glue that in, because they are supposed to be replaced periodically.

[Martin D28]

Hi everybody,

I am new to this forum and I would like to share my thoughts about ER6i vs E3c.

I would like to emphasize that this short review is based on actual owning and using rather than just readings on the web...

I have the Ipod Mini and mainly listen to acoustic and electric blues (SRV, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo,...), folk and old-timies (Norman Blake, Tony Rice, recent Mark Knopfler,...), jazz (Miles Davis, John Mc Laughlin,...) and classical (19th century violin concertos,...).

I listen to my Ipod in airplanes, trains, car and at home. Hence I really need isolator phones, no question.

Shure E3c
-------------
These were the first isolator phones that I bought. No comfort problem. My favourite tip is the yellow foam, both for isolation and comfort.

Build quality :Sturdy, very well finished, excellent case... but a bit obstrusive due to the long thick wires + huge case (especially if used with the Mini).

Sound quality : objectively, these phones really suffer from an unbalanced frequency spectrum. Too much mediums and upper bass. Gives me a headache in 15 minutes.
This does not mean that the sound is not good. It means that you nead a customizable eq (to balance bass, mediums and highs) with these, which the Ipod doesn't have !
This unbalanced sound is what many call "warm". Bull####.

I noticed that when using the Shure I was always changing the Eq on the Ipod, for each tune, and I was never satisfied.

After reading a lot on this forum and on Head-Fi, I ordered a pair of ER6i (online, on Macway.com, for european customers, at 91 euros).

Etymotic ER6i
-----------------
Witht the Etys, my favourite tip is the 3 flange, after having cut the smallest one. I read this tip on this forum. It helps comfort and isolation a LOT. Now comfort is excellent and isolation perfect.

Build quality : seem fragile,but if you have a close look to the connexion between the wire and the earphone, you notice that there is a kind of nut isolating the electrical connexion from mechanical constraints on the wire. Nice detail. And reassuring.
The advantage of this build style is that they are the tiniest phones I ever saw. I love that !
The finish is nice and the case is soft but very nice. It is smaller than the one I saw on the review on Ipodlounge.

Sound quality : I have to confirm that people who say that they dlack bass either don't get a proper seal or are bass-maniac (in the latter case, this review is not for them and they probably don't like the same music as me).
Bass is here, but, like on the Shure, lacks some dynamics. It is a problem which is common to this single driver canal phone. However, in field conditions, you will quickly forget this minor weakness.
The sound is CLEAN, BALANCED, the sound stage is WIDER than on the Shure ,... AND it is much more adapted to the Ipod output and Eq.
With the Etys, I don't have to play with eq everytime I change tune, and I really manage to get the sound I like.

Some people hrer complain about the etys and say that they don't provide "fun". What does it mean ? Music sounds like it IS with these phones. Still you have the opportunity to add some salt and pepper with the Ipod's eq.

No headache anymore.

CONCLUSION
-----------------
I clearly prefer the Etys and have sent the Shure back. I am extremely happy with the ER6i and just hope that they won't fall appart too quickly...

I knoq that many people here hesitate between E3c and ER6i. Hope this helps, but please consider the kind of music I like. If you like the same kind of music, you may think like me.
If you prefer Rap, Electro, Dance,etc... that's another story and completely different needs.

Kindly,

Martin D28

Now I am an happy camper.

[Cold Romance]

Would any of you mind posting pics of the smallest flange cut off? Because i do not like the feeling of them in my ears either and im not going to cut anything off before i know what i am doing. Can you also state what you use to cut the flange off.

[stevenfollett]

hi cut the smallest of the the cones off, envisage a xmas tree, cut the top off, i used a scalple but anything sharp or scissors should do, cut the top tip off so it would leave it looking like before ie cut the tip also the stem bit so its flush with the second tier flange. honestly i know they cost a lot but the tips are cheap i found a sharp scalpel did the neatest job enjoy the comfort and sound im also using these on my new shures the comfort is great!!

[Cold Romance]

i see...thanks

[JeffNNJ]

wow.....I just licked my fingers and wetted the flange slightly before putting them in my ears. What a difference!! Just try it.

[Next4]

Originally posted by Martin D28
Hi everybody,

I am new to this forum and I would like to share my thoughts about ER6i vs E3c.

I would like to emphasize that this short review is based on actual owning and using rather than just readings on the web...

I have the iPod Mini and mainly listen to acoustic and electric blues (SRV, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo,...), folk and old-timies (Norman Blake, Tony Rice, recent Mark Knopfler,...), jazz (Miles Davis, John Mc Laughlin,...) and classical (19th century violin concertos,...).

I listen to my iPod in airplanes, trains, car and at home. Hence I really need isolator phones, no question.

Shure E3c
-------------
These were the first isolator phones that I bought. No comfort problem. My favourite tip is the yellow foam, both for isolation and comfort.

Build quality :Sturdy, very well finished, excellent case... but a bit obstrusive due to the long thick wires + huge case (especially if used with the Mini).

Sound quality : objectively, these phones really suffer from an unbalanced frequency spectrum. Too much mediums and upper bass. Gives me a headache in 15 minutes.
This does not mean that the sound is not good. It means that you nead a customizable eq (to balance bass, mediums and highs) with these, which the iPod doesn't have !
This unbalanced sound is what many call "warm". Bull####.

I noticed that when using the Shure I was always changing the Eq on the iPod, for each tune, and I was never satisfied.

After reading a lot on this forum and on Head-Fi, I ordered a pair of ER6i (online, on Macway.com, for european customers, at 91 euros).

Etymotic ER6i
-----------------
Witht the Etys, my favourite tip is the 3 flange, after having cut the smallest one. I read this tip on this forum. It helps comfort and isolation a LOT. Now comfort is excellent and isolation perfect.

Build quality : seem fragile,but if you have a close look to the connexion between the wire and the earphone, you notice that there is a kind of nut isolating the electrical connexion from mechanical constraints on the wire. Nice detail. And reassuring.
The advantage of this build style is that they are the tiniest phones I ever saw. I love that !
The finish is nice and the case is soft but very nice. It is smaller than the one I saw on the review on iPodlounge.

Sound quality : I have to confirm that people who say that they dlack bass either don't get a proper seal or are bass-maniac (in the latter case, this review is not for them and they probably don't like the same music as me).
Bass is here, but, like on the Shure, lacks some dynamics. It is a problem which is common to this single driver canal phone. However, in field conditions, you will quickly forget this minor weakness.
The sound is CLEAN, BALANCED, the sound stage is WIDER than on the Shure ,... AND it is much more adapted to the iPod output and Eq.
With the Etys, I don't have to play with eq everytime I change tune, and I really manage to get the sound I like.

Some people hrer complain about the etys and say that they don't provide "fun". What does it mean ? Music sounds like it IS with these phones. Still you have the opportunity to add some salt and pepper with the iPod's eq.

No headache anymore.

CONCLUSION
-----------------
I clearly prefer the Etys and have sent the Shure back. I am extremely happy with the ER6i and just hope that they won't fall appart too quickly...

I knoq that many people here hesitate between E3c and ER6i. Hope this helps, but please consider the kind of music I like. If you like the same kind of music, you may think like me.
If you prefer Rap, Electro, Dance,etc... that's another story and completely different needs.

Kindly,

Martin D28

Now I am an happy camper.

/\/\/\/\ THANK YOU!

I too got to test the 6i and E3 (at a party) and the ER 6i is simply better. The exaggerated mids and upper bass overpower overthing else. The e3 reminds me of the stock 'phones which exaggerates the mids A LOT!

-Next

[Benco]

I have a feeling you didn't give the Shure enough time. Right out of the box one needs sufficient time to absorb the sound and get accustomed to the "in your head" experience. I think the headache came from either too high a listening level, or them being inserted wrong. If you have that finely tuned a ear, I doubt whether someone as sophisticated as yourself would even bother with any earphone under $500.

[Next4]

Originally posted by Benco
I have a feeling you didn't give the Shure enough time. Right out of the box one needs sufficient time to absorb the sound and get accustomed to the "in your head" experience. I think the headache came from either too high a listening level, or them being inserted wrong. If you have that finely tuned a ear, I doubt whether someone as sophisticated as yourself would even bother with any earphone under $500.

What do you mean sophisticated? I'm only 18. If you remember (assuming your over 20) going to parties is a weekly thing.

Though I admit that you're right about not giving the Shure's enough time.

I'm having a hard time getting $100+ 'phones as it is with the parents. Trying them both out--> a no-no with the parents.

I really can't decide between the e3c and the 6i anymore.

w/e I'm off to play some Half-Life 2 know.....

-NeXt4

EDIT: Know of any place that has excellent return policy (no charges)??

[ninja95]

I have tried both sets and still have the er6i waiting for my custom set of Challenger Custom Molded High-Performance Isolation Earphones (Model "S") from the Ear Plug Store (http://store.yahoo.com/earplugstore/chmisearph.html).

After talking with one of the guys there and trying both pair of headsets and not being happy with either pair, this is the set they recommended for me. I am a jazz musician and love listening to my music in headphones as this is the way I hear it in the studio during recordings and on stage with the in ear monitors on.

My wife and I have done the custom molds and sent them back to the Ear Plug Store and are waiting to get this set back to start our review of them. Once I get a feel for them I will let you guys and girls know if they are worth the $213.00 and the time making the custom molds and sending them in.

I had a set of custom mold made for me at a motorcycle show to wear under my helmet while out to my Busa' and they sounded pretty good until I tore the molds putting my helmet on with a balaclava one morning it was cold outside. Tried them again back when I got my iPod and compared to the current set they required me to turn the sound all the way up to get the right bass. I put them back in the tube and have held on the er6i as they are the best ones I have still.

Can't wait to get the Challengers and give them a dance...

[audio101]

The Etymotic ER-6i's have NO bass at all, I wasn't very impressed with them..

[Next4]

I just ordered both pairs and a review will come soon.

[Smittysan89]

i am very eager to here the review!!! im not sure which pair to buy yet

[yinyang]

Originally posted by audio101
The Etymotic ER-6i's have NO bass at all, I wasn't very impressed with them..

the er-6is DO have bass, though it may not be enough for you or your music.

what they may lack in bass they more than make up for in the mids and highs.

[stevenfollett]

ety's now just sitting in a drawer not used, just too clinical for me the shures just sound nicer! wotever any of you audiophiles can read into that i don't know, the ety's seem harsh in comparision i can liken the shure listening pleasure to sitting in front of a log fire in the middle of winter cosy and warm isolated from all the woes of the outside world!

[rt297]

Here's a pic of the ER6i's with the tip removed.