Etymotic Research ER2-XR Extended Response - In Ear Noise Isolating IEM Earphones with Detachable Cable

Product Information

I have the ER3XR but haven't heard the ER2XR. I've had balanced armature IEMs I came to dislike, but ER3XR has very natural timbre and great clarity. Designed to further improve the OH1, the OH10 comes with a dynamically superior driver from higher quality materials, with better performance overall. With a polished and slightly more accurate presentation, the OH10 brings a pleasantly warm sound, better defined, and impeccable sound quality overall. Woah that EQ bit freaky, The ER2SE sounds like the ER4XR detail wise in mids/treble with bit more meat in bass from It being DD based.

Disclaimer: The measurement results of the engineering quality measurement in this review represent only the pair of IEM that was measured for this review. It doesn’t represent the overall quality control of the factory.

Custom IEMs (CIEMS) and universals are a night and day difference when it comes to comfort. If they fit right, once they’re warmed up they disappear and you can wear them 8+ hours a day without problems. With better seal and isolation, you’ll perceive a greater sound stage as well, but comfort is really where it’s at. Are expensive IEMs worth it? The bass is there (XR set) and pleasingly solid, although a bit light for my personal taste – my primary set is the Sony XBA N3 – but the tonality is excellent. I can put up with having to Eq a bit to get the best sound, but I can’t stand sets like the 1More Triple Driver that just sound “off” tonally and need major work to get sounding close to accurate. Build: full-metal build. The faceplate is flatter than the KXXS/Starfield but the shells seem to be made from the same mould. Feels sturdy, durable, and a bit on the heavy side. INTRODUCTION For crinacle’s short impressions and non-audio opinions, refer to his unboxing post. Empire Ears is a brand name that

In my experience, the Starfields are a warmer and slower version while the Aria has controlled bass, faster transients, and more analytical details? Sometimes vocals are invasive in the Aria, and the Starfield recessed for certain male singers. The main correction is actually on the 4-5kHz treble peak which is already present in ER4XR but absent on ER2XR and ER2SE. So I guess it will make more sense to try it on the ER2SE instead. Thanks! Total harmonic distortion is on the higher side of average THD from all the IEMs that I’ve measured. Arguably the brand when it comes to neutral tunings, Etymotic had always been characterised by their insistence on the single-driver formula. For the longest time, every single model from Etymotic had a singular driver unit, the ER series, the MC series, the HF series, every single one. With deep insertion you’re as good as deaf. But even with my relatively shallow insertion, we get very good isolation. And there is no leakage.

ER2SE is a great choice for audio creators and musicians on a budget, who require a precise and neutral sound reproduction. ER2SE is also the IEM of choice for consumers who prefer to listen to their music exactly the way it was recorded. Head-fi: Shanling M0, Hiby FC3, Headstage Arrow, Moondrop Aria, HD580, HD590, HD25-1 II, HM5, HD668b, HD662, Aureol Real The ER2 takes a significant departure from the ER3 and ER4 in that the ER2 utilises a proprietary dynamic driver, but do note that they are not the first dynamic driver IEM from Etymotic (that honour goes to the original MC lineup). And of course, the significant price cuts compared to the ER3 and ER4 makes the ER2 a much more enticing offer for the masses. Very high passive noise isolation (35-42dB) from the deep insertion design. Essential as hearing protection for an on-stage performer.

I’m not a fan of the deep insertion silicone tips, but find the foam tips a perfectly acceptable alternative with no compromise in fidelity ( albeit somewhat less external noise isolation ). Etymotic’s gift to the sensible, value driven audiophile!Of course the big question now remains: how different is the ER2 from their bigger, more expensive brothers? You can find opinions on both sides about which one is better. You should just try one (from a place with a return policy).

Do they protrude too far from the ear to be comfortable to wear underneath noise cancelling headphones?Drivability – Not the easiest. I’m around 60-70% volume in my HTC 10. Similar to ER4XR plus 1 notch volume. I have been using the Westone Star-Fit (silicone) and True-Fit (foam) tips for my Etymotics on a near-daily basis for over 3 years now. It just so happened that my ER4XR developed a problem on one side, so I had to return it. Since I wasn't getting any more listening time for now, I figured I might as well write this post as it is.