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View Full Version : ER 4p review by someone who loves bass


AZav
01-19-2005, 04:45 PM
Background:

My musical preference is house, breaks and progressive trance/house. Current house system is as follows:
2 Technic 1200 M3d turntables
Concord Ortophon needles
1 Pioneer DJM 600 Mixer
1 Mackie 8 channel mixer
1 MacIntosh preamp
1 Rotel 700 watt amp
2 self amped Canton speakers
2 Canton Ergo RC speakers
1 iPod Mini

Based on reviews of the Etymotic 6i and the Ety ER-4p earphones, I chose to pick up a pair of the 4p's well in mind of the insertion procedure required to get responsive bass. Though it takes some getting used to having them really in your ear, the sound is crisp and clear and they do block out the world. However, these may not be for everyone. If you really like crisp full bass with impact that you can feel, you might not be able to get that with these earphones. I had worked hard to get the proper ear seal and even read instructions online and dealt with Ety's customer support who graciously mailed me alternate silicon ear inserts and foam cushions to try. It was remarkably frustrating for me to "try and find" respectable bass. The bass was there but the effort to get it even up to par with a pair of 40+ dollar Sony MDR-V6 was ridiculous. And it didn't get there. After a week of effort trying to get full, punchy bass with impact and guts, I gave up. $250.00 dollar earphones should NOT be this difficult to get rich bass from (250-500 Hz). Saddly, a pair of 15 dollar EarJams blasted out more bass on a pair of stock iPod earbuds.

Very disappointing. I had placed high hopes on these.

If you don't mind lacking bass and value crispness of mids and treble while sealing out the world, these may be for you. If lack of bass renders your music lifeless, try before you buy because these may not be for you.

Ety was gracious to allow a return but for the money, I want a set of earphones that has bass that you can feel along with the clarity and crispness and brightness that comes in the mid to high end.

Caveat Emptor.

- Alex Zavatone

SlowBye
01-19-2005, 05:01 PM
Latin is a dead language, don't use it.:rolleyes: :D

At least you got a refund, then caveat emptor would've really come into play.

AndyH
01-19-2005, 05:03 PM
Originally posted by AZav
I want a set of earphones that has bass that you can feel along with the clarity and crispness and brightness that comes in the mid to high end.
Look into the Shure E5's [$360] (I own them as well as the Ety ER-4P's) or the Westone UM2's [$329] as both are dual-driver setups which provides plenty of bass compared with the ER-4P's. Want to spend more? ... take a look at the Ultimate Ears UE-5c's [$550 or UE-10 Pro's [$900]