Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black)
by Etymotic Research
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Etymotic ResearchFormat: CD
Platform: Windows
Model: ER6I-BLK-C
Color: Black
Product features:
- Balanced armature transducer for full-range sound
- Frequency range of 50 Hz - 16 kHz
- Up to 36dB noise isolation
- Choose between included flanges and foam eartips for best fit
- Replacement filters, changing tool, shirt clip and pouch included
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black)
Customer Review: Etymotic ER6i - A Complete Review
Summary: 5 Stars
I typically don't write product reviews. Most of the time, I'm content with free-riding off the contributions of others in order to gather the information I need about a product. However, after the gargantuan amounts of happiness these earphones have brought me, I feel compelled to share my impressions with those who may be interested in Etymotic earbuds, but are still on the fence.
First, a list of my biases as a reviewer:
- I am not an audiophile (sound quality to me is either "good" or "bad")
- I use my ER6is primarily at the gym or while running/exercising
- ER6is are used with an iPod
- I like loud music
- I listen to various genres of music, e.g., rock, punk, classic rock
80s, rap, techno, etc.
- Before deciding to purchase the ER6is, I researched thoroughly by reading
reviews on Amazon.com, CNET, Epinions, and other user review sources.
- My final decision came down to the Etymotic ER6is and the Shure E2c
earbuds.
For years, my all purpose, go-to in-ear headphones of choice were the Sony MDR-J10 earbuds (with the no slip ear wrap-around design) which cost around [...]. I used them at school, during roadtrips, on the airplane, and at the gym. For over 5 years I had zero complaints with these earphones. Then something happened. Out of nowhere, I went from perspiring a normal amount while exercising, to pouring sweat like Kevin Garnett during a post-game interview. Next thing I knew, my sweat had conquered Sony's no slip ear wrap-around design and I was left with an earphone that would not stay put while exercising. The search was on for an in-ear headphone that would hold position during a treadmill session.
A couple friends had recommended the Skullcandy Chops Hanger earbuds, so I picked some up. I tried with all my might to like these things. Although they did stay put a little better than my old Sony earphones, I found them to be ridiculously uncomfortable. Furthermore, I would describe the sound quality as pure garbage. And that is compared to the [...] Sonys I used to wear. The search continues...
In July 2009 I purchased the Etymotic ER6i in-ear headphones from Amazon. I have not had to look for another earphone since. In the 10 months that I've owned the ER6is, I can say without hesitation that these phones have satisfied my expectations and delivered exactly what I sought for in a multi-purpose earphone. I recall reading several reviews that recommended against using the ER6is at the gym or while exercising. I can tell you right now that these phones are great for regular gym use and can handle a little abuse. They fit perfectly in my ears and stay in place even after I start to sweat. And the sound quality is much better than the earphones I used to wear. One reviewer described the sound from these earphones as "big," which I think is an accurate description. The music just sounds "bigger" out of these phones. Bottom line: After using the ER6is I will never be able to go back to [...] headphones.
Before making the decision to purchase the ER6is, I did, however, have some concerns regarding this product. When reading reviews for the ER6is, the following criticisms/issues seemed to appear regularly:
1. Comfort and Fit
2. Durability
3. Quality (i.e., left, right, or both earphones dying)
4. Requires Maintenance
5. Cord Noise & Sensation of Hearing Footsteps
6. Amount of Bass / Sound Quality
7. Dangerous in Public Places
Based on my experience with the product, I will discuss each of these topics to the best of my abilities:
1. Comfort and Fit - A lot of reviews I read made it seem like these in-ear headphones need to be drilled into the deepest darkest caverns of your ear canal and take a bit of getting used to. Maybe this is the sensation you'll get if you've never used earbuds before, but to me, the ER6is did not feel like they needed to be imbedded any deeper than the earbuds that originally came with my iPod. If you've used any sort of earbud in the past, the depth of insertion shouldn't feel much different than anything you've already experienced. In terms of comfort, to me, these phones are definitely more comfortable than any earbud I've used in the past. Obviously, over-the-ear headphones are going to be more comfortable than in-ear phones, but I can't run with over-the-ear phones. Next issue - some reviews mentioned it taking some practice to get a perfect fit for the noise isolation to kick in. I would compare it to putting in ear plugs - you know they're in right when you can't hear noise around you. When you purchase the ER6is, Etymotic sends you several different shaped foam tips. After some experimenting, you should be able to find the right one for you. Personally, I prefer the triple flanged tip. It is super comfortable and really stays in place. Also, it is ok to expose your foam tips to sweat and moisture (trust me).
2. Durability - Some reviews complained that the ER6i phones are fragile and break easily. I don't know what kind of situations these people are getting into with their earphones, but I have put my ER6is through some decent abuse and they have held up. On several occasions I've been careless and got the cord hung up on a workout machine and ripped the cord right out my iPod's headphone jack. No problem. I've been impressed with the cord's strength and the overall durability of the product. Not an issue for me.
3. Quality - Ok, this was the one complaint I read about that really made me nervous. More than one person had written that after a period of time their phones "died" on them (i.e., no sound came out). Let me say now that it is a VERY good possibility that these people failed to read the product manual, and that it really is their fault that they are not happy with the product's "quality." I too experienced this issue after about 4-5 months of regular use. I noticed that the sound in my left phone was trailing off, and eventually, no sound came out at all. At first I was furious. I thought the product was defective and I wanted my money back. I went home and read the product manual. YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE FILTERS EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR OPTIMAL SOUND QUALITY. Oh. Guess what, I replaced the filter in my left phone and the sound came right back sounding as good as ever. Which brings us to our next topic...
4. Requires Maintenance - It's true, these earphones require a tiny bit of maintenance. First, you need to clean your foam tips every month or so because they will accumulate ear wax. Second, you need to replace the filters every once and a while. Now, this is probably my only gripe with this product. You have to buy new filters from Etymotic. They aren't the cheapest things either. A pack of 6 filters costs like [...] with shipping. This may be a deal-breaker to some. It isn't for me. (Note: I have only had to replace my filters once so far in the 10 months I've owned the ER6is)
5. Cord Noise & Sensation of Hearing Footsteps - A couple reviews discussed an annoyance with hearing some feedback noise when the cord moved around. Other reviews mentioned that the noise isolation of the headphones caused the sensation of being able to "hear your footsteps," especially when running. These reviews worried me a little because I didn't want anything interfering with the music I was listening to. To be honest, I noticed a little bit of both when I first started using these earphones. I will say that neither issue is a big enough deal to count as a negative against this product. I no longer notice any cord noise, and I no longer notice the "sound of my own footsteps." All I hear is music.
6. Amount of Bass / Sound Quality - Some music listeners are very demanding when it comes to bass. For me, bass is important, but I would readily sacrifice clearer sounding music over the boom-boom. I'll admit, it's not the hardest hitting bass I've ever heard from an earbud, but it's a far cry from being inadequate. The sound quality, on the other hand, is phenomenal. I indeed heard instruments and background vocals that I had never heard before. A few reviews recommend that you first "break in" these phones by letting them play overnight. I totally agree. Fresh out of the box, the ER6is did not blow me away. Sound was still clear, but after breaking them in a bit, I noticed a big improvement in sound.
7. Dangerous in Public Places - The noise isolation from these earbuds blocks out the sound around you so you get a full dose of music pumped straight into your ear. Since you don't have noise around you interfering with your music, you can actually get away with using a lower volume, which is good for the health of your ears. And yes, the noise isolation works fantastically well. It's like you're in your own little world with these things in. Some reviewers warn against using these earbuds while running, biking, or being active in public places, like near busy streets. This is up to you. I've gone on runs through neighborhoods and down major roads with these earphones, and I don't feel like I'm increasing the risk of getting hit by a car. One guy posted that he bought these earphones to wear under his motorcycle helmet when he rides. That to me seems dangerous, and I actually think it's illegal in some states. However, if I get hit while jogging, it's probably going to be my fault and not the headphones'.
I mentioned earlier that my decision ultimately came down to the Etymotic ER6is and the Shure E2c earphones. Both phones seemed to be very comparable in terms of performance and I had a difficult time choosing which one to go with. It's tough when you can't physically touch the product and all your information comes from the internet. I chose the ER6is for two main reasons: (a) It was designed specifically for use with the iPod and (b) There seemed to be a lot more reviews for the E2c phones that complained about problems with the earphones falling out easily (which was the problem I was originally trying to solve). That's really it. The E2cs might be great earphones too, but I'm so happy with the ER6is that I don't really care.
Description of Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black)
6i Isolator Earphones are designed specifically for use with the Apple iPod and other small portable players, providing greater sound output and enhanced bass.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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