Binaural - MPN: ER6IP
Strengths: Excellent treble and mids. Good solid bass when properly inserted. Very portable, light, and comfortable.
Weakness: Could have more bass presence (when compared to shure e5c which costs around 5x as much).
These are fantastic little ear buds. I use them everyday with my mp3 player, on flights, and even with my computer at home. They are extremely comfortable and I can wear them for hours at a time without discomfort. They have replaced many of my more expensive headphones/earbuds simply for comfort and ease of use. The sound quality is solid and build construction is top notch. Many will complain about the thin cord, but I have used earphones with thicker ones and can honestly tell you that they get in the way more when they are thicker and cause pressure on your ear when the earbud is inserted because of the added weight of the cord. Excellent little product, and highly recommended for someone looking for a well build, small, great sounding earphone.
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nineteen9
- Apr 14, 2005
Strengths: Sound quality is superb. Offers very crisp trebles and a very mature bass (great for any contemporary music). I would strongly suggest the ER6-I over the ER6, simply for the enhanced bass.
Weakness: Fanged earpieces can be a bit difficult to get used to. You really have to stick those babies in there to hear the full bass (otherwise it's just tinny treble you're hearing).
UPDATE: After nearly 2 years of use - almost daily for 4-5 hrs/day - the right ear bud blew out. Still a very good product... just don't think it will be the last set of earphones you'll ever buy.
Got these a month ago and have been listening to my entire MP3 collection over and over again. Rediscovering notes and musical effects which I never noticed before from even my 5.1 THX certified Altec Lansing computer speakers.
Also, BE CAREFUL of where you're walking/driving when wearing these. They will block out ALL other sounds. This is a double edged blade. You get untainted music but complete detachment from the surroundings. I no longer hear cars graze past me just inches away while I'm jogging. That experience can be startling to say the least.
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TopStrengths: Quality of sound reproduction. Noise isolation.
Weakness: A little pricey (ca. $100 on sale). You have to stick these a ways into your ear to get their full benefits. If your ears don't fit the plastic inserts, then you have to use disposable foam ear plugs.
I got these as noise isolating earphones and to replace the earplugs that came with my MP3 player. Note that my MP3 player was not an IPOD -- you can use these with any MP3 player as replacement earphones. The one disconcerting about these ear plugs is that you have to insert them a little ways into your ear canal to get their full benefits. This isn't a major problem -- you get used to after a few times. Once you do, you get fabulous sound from them -- and great noise cancellation. They really sound superb -- and do a tremendous job of noise cancellation. In short, as long as you don't mind "sticking it in your ear", these are great earphones for portable MP3 players.
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TopI completely agree. I found you get alot more sound out of them by just putting them a bit deeper. The foam seem to also help bring out the bass which the flanged sleeves don't give you.
Strengths: Size, Comfort, Quality of Sound, Price
Weakness: Could use more and better sleeves, Cord tangles easily
I have been using a pair of these (coupled to an IAudio 5) for a few months on my motorcycle journey through South America (www.groovydomain.com) and definately recommend them.
My motorcycle is pretty loud and with these I have no problem getting good sound. They could use slightly more bass but for their size and price you can't really complain.
I found that the pink foam sleeves they provide give a deeper sound and a better fit then the rubber flange sleeves, but need to be squeezed before insertion which is tough with gloves on, they get dirty quickly by my mechanic oiled hands, and are hard to clean. Would have been nice if they included a few sets of the foam sleeves instead of only one and made them out of something more resistent. Ofcourse, I am on a motorbike...
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TopStrengths: The best isolation of any I've used, great sound quality and bass when positioned right, easy to maintain, forces you to keep those ears clean!
Weakness: Forces you to keep those ears clean, don't come in black like their ER6 brother, gotta fit them just right to get the full sound quality and isolation.
I've been on the hunt for a while for good sounding headphones that isolate well. "Active" noise-canceling cans just don't cut it for me, since they don't block the upper sound ranges and sometimes distort their sound quality while the circuitry is active. These babies, however, deliver both great sound and TRUE isolation across all ranges, as long as they fit right. Think of them as really good earplugs with really good speakers. They go deep in the ear canal for best isolation/sound, but no deeper than standard earplugs that industrial workers wear on the job. At first they can be a little uncomfortable, like earplugs, but you quickly get used to them. If they don't fit properly, Etymotic can provide smaller or larger flanges/tips. All-in-all, definitely worth the money, especially now that they are dropping below the hundred dollar mark.
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TopStrengths: The sound derived from these earphones are wonderful. The basses are true, which is usually the rap on most earbud phones. When properly put in your ears, the sound insulation is outstanding.
Weakness: So far I haven't encountered any glaring weaknesses. The earbud cables might be construed as a bit too long, but It hasn't been a major a problem to me yet.
I would highly recommend these earbud phones to anyone who really enjoys good sound and doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on more expensive earbuds. I found a price of $97.00 for the ones I bought on-line from Page Computers. Other than having to wait eight days to receive them, which I think is generally longer than what I've waited on other on-line purchases, the experience was worth it considering that I've seen the same earbuds at other on-line sites for anywhere up to $149.00 plus shipping and state taxes. I saved quite a bit of money on this deal. I would say that if you are a normal person, who can hear normal ranges of sound versus a true audiophile, these earbuds should suit the vast majority of people seeking better sound than the earbuds that come with your Ipod.
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TopStrengths: Styling - matches the Ipod very well. Excellent sound - very good highs and well defined bass as long as you get a proper fit. Good sound isolation.
Weakness: Need to get used to this type of headphone as you have to really insert it deep into your ear canal. Comfortable though when you get used to it. Construction could use improvement - very tiny wires.
I owned several good headphones ( Grado SR60, Koss PortaPro, Senn PX100, Sony MDR V6) and this is my first one of that provides noise isolation - not noise cancellation. I was thinking of getting either the Shure E3C, Senn PX 250 or the Ety ER-6I for travelling on airplanes. I could not resist the price of $71 at Buy.com so I took the plunge on this ER-6I and I am quite happy with it. Never had the chance to try the Shure and the PXC250 so I cannot compare those. However, the ER-6I is as good as the Koss PortaPro and the PX100. Just make sure you have a good fit on your ear. The only thing though that I wish for is the construction could have been better. The wires are so tiny as compared to my other headphones and I am worried that a little tug from my Ipod could snap this thing.
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TopStrengths: Great sound, lightweight, blocks out outside noise.
Weakness: None
Never having purchased expensive head phones before I was quite hesitant. With a recomendation from a good friend who "knows audio" I decided to give them a shot. I was not disapointed at all with them. They have a great sound, are comfortable to wear, and block out outside noise. Glad I took a shot with them.
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TopStrengths: Clear sound Loud (really loud, no need for even a pre-amp).
Weakness: The foam things lose their shape pretty quickly. Also the white 3-tip flange inserts are usually itchy.
Buy this if you want an in-ear headphones. The cables are a little thin, but it is pretty stylish because you barely notice it. Also the carrying case is really nice and just makes even tangled headphones easy to store. I've had the Shure e3 before and they are just a pain to put in that rolly case.
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TopStrengths: Amazing sound quality. Great noise cancelation. Great bass.
Weakness: Tips can get waxy from them being in your ears for long periods of time.
I have been using these headphones for over a year now and the quality is terrific. Etmotic has done an amazing job with this earphones. I can hardly hear a thing when I have them in, and can hardly hear my lawn mower as well when the music is on. The earphones do a great job handling bass as well. And the treble is excellent. Peoples voices can be heard clear and crisp when listening to podcasts. This pair also goes will with my iPod as well. The only complaint I have is that wearing them for long periods will collect a lot of ear wax on the rubber ear tips (but that can be fixed with a little bit of soap). I highly recommend these earphones.
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TopStrengths: Great sound.
Weakness: Cable flimsy. They are typically priced to high.
These earphones sound great. I paid about $80 for them at Buy.com. They help block out external noise; given this fact, I do not recommend wearing them while doing certain activities, such as bicycling. The rich detail one is able to discern in music is quite amazing. I find them to be quite comfortable with the foam earplug type inserts; several inserts are included. These are highly recommended!
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TopStrengths: noise isolation and comfort
Weakness: cord tangles easily
I've been enjoying my ER-6Is for just over a month now. As someone who's easily distracted, I've found them to be very helpful when trying to concentrate in public places like the library or a computer lab full of college students. For example, I was in the computer lab, enjoying some music while drawing some CAD parts when the person next to me tapped on my shoulder. Apparently the lab instructor was behind me, talking to me but I had NO idea. These earphones will do that a lot to you if you're not careful, they allow you to escape to your own world filled with your favorite type of music very easily. But the best part is they sound awesome. Don't expect to hear big bass like the subwoofer you've got in your car, but there's enough that you'll be surprised such a small driver can produce such great big sound. On that note, I do not suggest wearing these while walking near, on, or across, busy streets without great caution. I literally did not know there was a huge Caterpillar front-end loader waiting behind me, ready to cross the street. Very scary.
In short, if you're looking for some nice earphones to replace the pieces of junk that Apple has chosen to package with such a wonderful piece of technology, then I'd suggest these. Deffinitely money well spent.
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TopStrengths: Inherent compactness; excellent sound clarity, response, and noise isolation
Weakness: Not maintenance free: must replace filters (frequency depends on individual)--$15 for 3 pairs...however, that is a small price to pay for quality sound on the go.
Noise isolation is way better than noise cancellation technology--more clarity without batteries. These canal phones probably output the best portable sound for the money. Well worth the money if you enjoy music.
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TopI never knew what that little metal screwdriver was that came with them... lost it... i think i still have the filters... any thoughts on changing them without the tool? how do you know when they need changed?
if u look closely it's not a screwdriver it's a fancy looking drill bit. if the filter gets stuck you basically drill that tool into the filter and yank it out. Once a year is supposedly recommended for filter change or when the sound starts to get muffled.
Strengths: Incredible sound clarity; the earbuds fit comfortably in ears and block outside noise really well.
Weakness: Good bass is only achieved by pressing the earbuds far into the ear canal.
The sound from these earbuds is outstanding. I can hear instruments in pieces of music that I never heard before.
This was one of the best investments I have made. I travel quite frequently and need to drown out the annoyances of flying (crying babies, engine noise, other's conversations, etc.) The Er-6isolator earbuds accomplish this better that my bulky SONY noise-cancelling headphones.
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TopStrengths: Listen to music at lower volume. Extending time between charges. Great on airplane. Unbelieveable clarity--Like getting new music. I can hear new instruments in songs that I never noticed before.
Weakness: Thin cord,feels fragile. Worry about getting them hung. Cords almost too long when using something like Apple remote. Don't like the white cables. Should come with extra earpieces for the price.
I felt guilty spending so much money on these. I thought I would take them back once or twice due to the price.
But you will never go back to the murky, muddy earphones that come with the ipod once you get used to the idea of inserting these into your ear. They are way more comfortable than the little hard rocks apple supplies with the ipod.
One other weakness:
Wish the silicon earbuds were more resistant to staining as they are going yellow (and i clean them frequently).
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TopWeakness: lack of bass
i bought a pair of these last xmas. i do not consider myself a "bass-fiend" but the depth and quality of the bass sound on the phones is very disappointing. if you care AT ALL about the bass sound of your music do not by these earphones. basically, 7 months after spending $150 on a pair of earphones i'm in the process of buying another pair! not good.
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TopStrengths: fit well/isolates noise
Weakness: poor bass response
I have always wanted a pair of "upscale" earphones but prices for these have been outrageous---some in the 300 dollar range. I saw a pair of these Etymotic earphones and the price was right. They fit well, come with optional tips and filter replacements.
Unfortunately, the bass response is nearly non existent. I was using a pair of "Ear Thumps" and had hoped for an improved sound quality. I'll be going back to the Thumps (which HAVE a great bass response) and keep the Etymotics for back up. Very disappointing.
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TopStrengths: Noise Isolation, sound quality
Weakness: Pricey
I purchased these last august and they are still perfect. I use them on the rapid transit trains in the San Francisco bay area and all I hear is music. No rails screeching, no train operator announcing stops, no loud people on their cell phones. I accidentally left them in my pockets and they went through the washer and dryer. Lucky for me they still work without problems. The ear buds go deep inside the ear, just like any ear plug. They take a couple days to get used to. I recommend them for anyone who wants to listen to their music clearly or even if you want to sleep during your commute.
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TestSeek.com has collected 17 expert reviews for Etymotic ER-6i and the average expert rating is 82 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use TestSeek.com to find all ratings, product awards and conclusions.
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Etymotic Research Isolator ER6I-P Portable Earphone
Strengths: superior isolation, comfort, sound stage, excellent sound for the buck
Weakness: wires too thin and often tange
I owned a pair of Shure e2c before I purchased the ER-6i. In my opinion, ER-6i is more superior in almost every aspect I can expect in a canal phone.
It's hard to get a good seal at the beginning with the ER-6i. I had less problem when I first got the E2C. However, after a short introduction period, I started to appreciate the effort required to put the ER-6i in, since it offers a much better isolation than the E2C does. On the other hand, using silicon sleeves coming with E2C, I start to develop pay in my ear, since the E2C's silicon sleeves are harder compaired to the ER-6i triple flange plugs. I can say that I can have the ER-6i in my ear all day without feeling any uncomfort. In fact, after a few minutes, I often forget that the ER-6i is still in my ear. I intended to use ER-6i mainly for the daily commute. However, it has even replaced my Sennheiser HD 280 as the headphone in the office. HD 280 puts some pressure on my head, which was not uncomfortable but noticeable. And it could get very hot and sweaty in the summer with the pleather ear pads of HD280. Fortunately, the in canal design of ER-6i eliminates the problem.
For the sound, ER-6i is quite different from that of the Sennheisers. Compared with both my HD280 and HD600, the sound of ER-6i at the low and high extremes of the frequency spectrum is slightly recessed. However, the ER-6i offers a sound with soft touch and is well suited for extended listening time. The sound image is more warm. The sound stage of ER-6i is much larger than that of the E2C's. It is comparable to that of the Sennheisers. Unlike the E2C, ER-6i gives out a lot of detail in the highs, which is nice since I mainly listen to Classical and Jazz music. The bass does not go as low as the Sennheisers but is well controlled. I'm not a base head so the bass has been pleasant for me. But I would say for those who love a lot of bass, they probably would have to do some EQ to bring up the bass or go with the Shures. In my personal opinion, it's more delightful and less stressful to hear music with more details than base.
The wires are a bit too thin. And therefore, extra caution have to be given since it feels like they could be torn apart by accident. It's also a bit annoying when the noice travels to the headphone when the wires are rubbing my shirts. Collar clip eliminates the problem to some certain extent. I never had such problem with the Shures and E2C has very sturdy wires.
Overall, ER-6i is an excellent pair of headphones.
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Aug 20, 2005
I agree that you do not even notice they are in your ears after a few minutes... very comfortable.
Really would be nice if the cord was of a bit higher quality and didn't tangle so much.