Topic: so i got some etymotics

[scb]

went to get the er6i's for 129, but for some reason the 4p's were 179 so i said screw it and got them. 

it'll take some time to get used to having these things so deep in my ear, but anyway:  they sound pretty damn nice.  but a bit too nice.  in my 15 years of taking the train to and from NYC, today was the first time i've missed my stop.  i couldn't hear a damn thing except my music

[macdaddy]

are these different than the earplugs they make, or are the same, with the music plugged in (kinda like what the musicians wear onstage)...

i understand their earplugs are the sh*t - i am looking to upgrade in that department (always putting safety first, quality later - that's why i tape )

+t for the new toys...

[bhtoque]

Hey Scott, what retailer??

The 4's are usually around 300.

Thanks,

JAson

[scb]

this was at j&r music world in nyc.  the web site says 249.  maybe they were mismarked?  i wasn't going to argue

[ducati]

Very cool!  Are they comfortable?  I was considering a pair of etymotics until I read a review of the kind you have fitted by a hearing specialist...  They reviewer stated his atymotics always irritated him, and he completely forgets the other ones are in.

[scb]

it's going to take some getting used to, but even today going to work, using them for only the second time, it was less irritating.  i just really have to pay attention because i can't hear a thing with them in except the music

[bhtoque]

Very cool!  Are they comfortable?  I was considering a pair of etymotics until I read a review of the kind you have fitted by a hearing specialist...  They reviewer stated his atymotics always irritated him, and he completely forgets the other ones are in.

I've got the er-6's, which imo have much more weight/bulk to them than the 4's, and as long as you put them in right, they are quite comfortable after a week of use. Like anything else you have to get used to it. Even if they bother you, it's a lot better than hearing damage.

JAson

[ducati]

What do you mean by "even if they bother you it's better than hearing damage" ?  Are you speaking of monitoring while taping?

I was considering the Etys for home listening when my wife is watching bad TV.  I am using my Grado SR80s now, which I quite like...  But I can still hear the TV sometimes 

Scott, keep us posted as to whether they become more comfy as they break in, and how you feel about them.

[scb]

well i love the sound so far.  at first listen, i was like "ok, what's so special about these?"

but this morning i listened to all sorts of things, and was hearing little things that I don't usually hear.  since everything is blocked out except the music, you really hear everything.  it's also very nice to be able to hear a full range of dynamics without having to crank the volume

[MattD]

My fluffing finally got you to get a pair?

Are you using the foam or the rubber/plastic tips? The foam generally gives a better seal and is pretty comfortable, but you'll wear it out faster. If Etymotic wanted to sell a ton of these, they could easily cross-market with the iPod. Wait until you fly with these; it's nice to make the rest of the people on the plane just disappear.

Ducati, I posted a ER-6 vs. Sennheiser HD-600 comparison a while back. I'll link it here if I can find it.

Edit: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=28955.msg382513#msg382513

[Brian Skalinder]

well i love the sound so far. at first listen, i was like "ok, what's so special about these?"

but this morning i listened to all sorts of things, and was hearing little things that I don't usually hear. since everything is blocked out except the music, you really hear everything. it's also very nice to be able to hear a full range of dynamics without having to crank the volume

Ditto.  As for breaking in, the in-ear placement definitely takes some getting used to, but after a week or so of use I don't even notice 'em anymore. The ER-6s come with two different inserts:  a rubbery flanged pair, and a foamy / spongy pair.  After using the rubbery ones for a looooong time with total satisfaction - but then remembering the others after someone (probably MattD) mentioned them here at TS - I tried the foamy ones and prefer them. 

[scb]

My fluffing finally got you to get a pair?

Are you using the foam or the rubber/plastic tips? The foam generally gives a better seal and is pretty comfortable, but you'll wear it out faster. If Etymotic wanted to sell a ton of these, they could easily cross-market with the iPod. Wait until you fly with these; it's nice to make the rest of the people on the plane just disappear.

Ducati, I posted a ER-6 vs. Sennheiser HD-600 comparison a while back. I'll link it here if I can find it.

Edit: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=28955.msg382513#msg382513

a $125 american express gift card got me a pair. 

[bhtoque]

What do you mean by "even if they bother you it's better than hearing damage" ?  Are you speaking of monitoring while taping?

I was considering the Etys for home listening when my wife is watching bad TV.  I am using my Grado SR80s now, which I quite like...  But I can still hear the TV sometimes 

Scott, keep us posted as to whether they become more comfy as they break in, and how you feel about them.

Not just monitoring at shows.  I wear mine at shows even when not monitoring. I'm always suprised how many people don't wear hearing protection. Having the feeling of something stuffed in your ear might be annoying to some people, but hands down it is better to deal with the mild discomfort than have ringing ears and hearing loss.

When listening day to day you still get the benefit to your ears because you are not cranking the volume to drown out the noise around you. With the er-6's even the crappy headphone amp in my md deck is more than enough.

They are perfect for both uses. A few years back, a bunch of us were at a garaj mahal show, all stage lip. By Carl's meter spl was something like 115-125. With Nick's er-4's I could hear the recording coming through his soundfield over the pa less than 5 ft from my head. I'm sure they will have no problem blocking out the tv.

JAson

[ducati]

Thanks guys.  Would my iPod mini drive them as well as they drive the SR80s?  I am pretty shocked how good the iPod/SR80 combo sounds for they money.

I have started wearing hearing protection at shows, too.  It is definitely a good idea.  The only bummer is I have never found hearing protection that really keeps the full frequency range--they seem to affect the frequencies much more at some parts than others, many times muffling the highs which are already fairly muffled at many shows anyway.  Any suggestions?

[scb]

sound fine with my ipod mini

[Mic D]

Anyone got a link an actual size pic? I was thinking about getting a pair a while back but I figured they would be too big for my little-ass ears. I know they're small, but so are my ears.

[pfife]

The only bummer is I have never found hearing protection that really keeps the full frequency range--they seem to affect the frequencies much more at some parts than others, many times muffling the highs which are already fairly muffled at many shows anyway.  Any suggestions?

This is a sacrifice I've become happy with.  I'd rather have the highs muffled for a 3 hour show than muffled for my entire life.   

[Frank M]

Anyone got a link an actual size pic? I was thinking about getting a pair a while back but I figured they would be too big for my little-ass ears. I know they're small, but so are my ears.

If you can fit normal earplugs in your ears, these shouldn't be a problem, but if earplugs are a problem, you'll need custom inserts which can be fitted by an audiologist.


EXPERIMENT FOR TRUE AUDIO NERDS:

(1) Attach a pair of subminiatue mics to the body of the Etymotics
(2) Using a portable DAT, run the mic signal from the mics to the Ety's
(3) Insert the Ety's in your ears
(4) Start the deck, and put it in your pocket
(5) Walk around town like a jackass, enjoying the wonders of real-time binaural sound

It's an interesting experience worth hearing for one's self.  There's a small period of adaptation after which you aren't as conscious of the fact you're hearing the outside world though microphones and a pocketfull of electronics.

[MattD]

Ahh, the starting point for hearing aids. Shrink it all down to the size of the Etymotics themselves, add EQ in the digital domain, and have it able to run on a battery about half the size of the unit for a week, and you could be in the market!

[Nick's Picks]

Not just monitoring at shows.  I wear mine at shows even when not monitoring. I'm always suprised how many people don't wear hearing protection. Having the feeling of something stuffed in your ear might be annoying to some people, but hands down it is better to deal with the mild discomfort than have ringing ears and hearing loss.

When listening day to day you still get the benefit to your ears because you are not cranking the volume to drown out the noise around you. With the er-6's even the crappy headphone amp in my md deck is more than enough.

They are perfect for both uses. A few years back, a bunch of us were at a garaj mahal show, all stage lip. By Carl's meter spl was something like 115-125. With Nick's er-4's I could hear the recording coming through his soundfield over the pa less than 5 ft from my head. I'm sure they will have no problem blocking out the tv.

JAson

125db was the highest peak that night, I remember it well! 
Great recording to, one of my best Mid-Side jobs w/the ST-250.  Loved that thing...it was like a penis to me, only bigger.

Any way, yea, the Ety's are worth their salt.  Fucking awesome isoation.
The first time I used them was taping Kimock on 2-15-03 ....where I got to meet Scott Brown that night.

Any way, this was also my first outing w/the soundfield...and I had yet to learn that I needed to engage the -20db pad at all times.  So there I am at stage lip, and its fucking LOUD.  I've got the 4ps in my ears very deep and tight, as they should be...and I'm hearing this distortion...no matter how I adjust the gain on my V3 it was still present.  I could distinguish it easily.  It went away when I hit that pad on the mics controller, of course.  But not before I thrashed the first few minutes of "up to you".  Pissed me off !

Back on topic, the Ety's are *the* monitoring system for what we do.  You can hear the recording through them at a low volume.  No cranking the cans at all to hear over the ambient sound in the room.  Nice and easy listening.  In fact, if you wear ear-plugs normaly, using these and monitoring your recording a nice comfortable level is better sounding than using Ety plugs and letting some sound squeek in though those.
I'm sure the SURE version works just as well, i'd bet.

The 4 series is regarded as one of the top headphones on the planet, and i'd put them up agaistn anything else.

[George]

Anyone got a link an actual size pic? I was thinking about getting a pair a while back but I figured they would be too big for my little-ass ears. I know they're small, but so are my ears.

Maybe this will help:  http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=26&productID=0020100005

Even better:  http://www.etymotic.com/

Hmmm:  http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=31&productID=0050100000

I think i'm gonna check out jandr and see if they still have the ety's marked for $179   

[scb]

yeah i was amazed that nick could monitor with no problems from the stage lip.  that's when i knew i needed to get some of these one day

[Tim]

I was considering the Etys for home listening when my wife is watching bad TV. I am using my Grado SR80s now, which I quite like... But I can still hear the TV sometimes

goddamnit I need a listening room for this same reason

[ducati]

I was considering the Etys for home listening when my wife is watching bad TV. I am using my Grado SR80s now, which I quite like... But I can still hear the TV sometimes

goddamnit I need a listening room for this same reason

I used to have a separate listening room but I moved the hifi back into the main living room.  I was spending too much time locked away in a room, and didn't feel like a part of the family anymore.  I like it much better like this--even if I can't listen every night.  I use it more often, too, as our living room is attached to our kitchen.  Chances are, if I'm home, I'm in one of those two rooms.