CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 03/05/2004
- Updated on: 03/19/2009
The name Etymotic means "true to the ear" and is pronounced "et-im-oh-tik." Established in 1983, the company's initial mission was to design products to measure, improve, and protect hearing. The Etymotic ER-4P headphones were designed for use with portable CD and MP3 players and retail for a whopping $330.
Yes, they're expensive, but if you've already shelled out big bucks for an iPod, the ER-4P will deliver your MP3 player's full sound potential. The Etymotic headphones employ advanced technology originally developed for hearing aids. Another reason for the high price: ER-4P headphones are hand-built by a skilled technician working with stereo microscope, then measured and tested at Etymotic's factory in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. (Etymotic also makes the ER-4S and the ER-4B, which are not designed for portable use.)
Like the other in-ear headphones we recently tested, Shure's $179 E3c, you have to cram the ER-4P's eartips deep into your ear canals, which might be a deal breaker for some buyers. (Also, the rubber eartips in particular have a tendency to attract ear wax and must be cleaned regularly.) Rest assured, Etymotic Research is dedicated to hearing protection, and the ER-4P 'phones are very safe. In fact, because of their impressive noise-isolation abilities, equal to or better than those of battery-powered noise-canceling models, you won't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. The Etymotic ER-4P is the ultimate travel aid for frequent flyers or train commuters, and we found these headphones more comfortable than the Shure E3c, though those with smaller ear canals may prefer the latter.
With some earbuds, it can be hard to distinguish between the right and left bud, but the ER-4P keeps things simple: the earpieces are color coded--red for right and blue for left. The ER-4P has a 5-foot cord that ends with a 1/8-inch stereo miniplug, along with a 1/4-inch adapter plug. You can use the provided shirt clip to tack the dangling headphone wire to your shirt or jacket. Filling out the package is a travel pouch and a larger home storage box, along with three pairs of interchangeable rubber eartips and five pairs of foam ones.
Sound quality is astonishingly good; it's hyperdetailed but never harsh or irritating. You can even hear reverberation and the acoustics of the studio where the musicians recorded the music. Bass response, never a strong suit for earbuds, is nicely balanced and deeper than average. No, it's not as warm as that from the full-size Grado SR60 headphones, but the overall quality of the ER-4P leaves the Grado and every other portable headphone set we've ever tested for CNET in the dust.
The Etymotic Research ER-4P is a true reference-quality design and is highly recommended. But because of the exorbitantly high price tag, we're giving the Editors' Choice nod to the ER-4P's step-down sibling, the Etymotic ER-6 Isolator. At just $130--and cheaper online--it offers much of the ER-4P's performance and features at a significantly more affordable price.
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