As described.

None significant.

The Etymotic 4S is a fantastic bargain in an earphone - some say better than the Sennheiser 650. Certainly clearer sounding with better inner detail. Much of their appeal is that they fit into the ears and isolate you from ambient noise - reducing background noise by about 24 DB. Ancillary equipment is most important as always. I use a Lehmann Black Cube Linear headphone amp to use with my iRiver IMP 400 portable CD player and the Etymotic 4S earphones, in a car. I also use the Etymotic 4S earphones and Lehmann amp it with my home CD player (a Nad 240). This is a very good CD player - best for the money, though the newer 242 offers better capacitors with some slight sound improvement. With this combo of Etymotic/Lehmann/NAD I heard inner detail, lightening fast transients, clearness of tones, and a natural timbre that was magical on a well recorded CD. The Lehman is the best headphone amp for under $1000 and competes favorably with any headphone amp regardles of price. The car set up requires the use of an inverter that puts out 1 amp or more of 110 Voltage on a continuous basis - I paid $20 for mine. The Etymotic 4S earphones reduce ambient noise by about 24 DB and thus are perfect for cars. They are small and can't be readily seen from outside the car in case it is illegal to use them. Using earphones is no more danger relative to listening to a good car system turned up to a satisfying sound level - you drive by sight and not sound in either case. The car system is really great - the best sound possible in a car. The homw system is even better though the sound quality of the iRiver is not far behind that of the NAD. The Lehmann is the heart of the system and is a truly remarkable discrete zero global feedback Class A output amp that serves also as a single input pre-amp. You could use the sytem above without the Lehmann amp if you use the Etymotic 4P instead of 4S earphones, since the 4Ps are more efficient and the external amp is less necessary. The sound will be fine though not as good as with the Lehmann.

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Grado HP-1, Stax electrostatic, Sony 70 and 71 ear buds (good for the money), AKG, Headroom Cosmic Amp, Hafler 110 pre-amp as a headphone amp, Panasonic and Technics portable CD players with line outputs.

Extremely accurate low-end Mid-range is excellent High quality manufacturing One-year warranty (from authorized dealers)

High-end is a little teeny bit loud, but that's just to my ears.

I have to say, these earbuds are absolutely awesome. I am a mobile computer musician and I produce and engineer techno music and these earbuds are like a blessing. My soundcard that I'm using is a Echo Indigo on my Sony laptop. The Echo's pre-amp can drive these earbuds quite well. I wanted to get a pair of headphones that would deliver the most accurate reference for the mixes that I work with on with my laptop. They get the job done for producing music. After mixing with these and listening to the mixes I've made on Mackie HR824 studio monitors, the mixes are pretty close to what I was listening to when I originally mixed the music on my laptop. For my mobile studio, these headphones are great. I still use my HD600s occassionally. But, in my opinion, the low-end frequencies are more accurate and responsive with the ER4-S than the HD600s. It maybe because I am not using a good pre for my HD600s with my laptop, but I don't want to carry an extra pre-amp with me wherever I go. I've also own the ER6's which aren't bad. But, they can't compare to the ER4s. The ER4-S perform way more accurately than the ER6s in all frequency ranges. But the ER-6s are still very good in my opinion for listening to portable CD players. I give them 4 stars because they're still too expensive. Two hundred bucks is worth it to me, but it's still steep for earbuds.

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Sennheiser HD600 Etymotic Research ER-6

Perfect sound you can master an album to. Makes flying something I can endure. Costs as much or less than the Stax and Sennheisers they are compared to.

Difficult for a lot of you misfits to insert correctly. Once you do, you'll hear how bad your other gear is. THIS IS NOT A SPORTS EARBUD YOU WANT TO RUN WITH.

These are capable of near flawless audio reproduction. If they've been inserted correctly, there should be a significant, cohesive audio space within and around your head, with depth and width. There will most definitely be air. People who say they lack bass or space are not using them correctly. If you have doubts as to whether you're doing it right, then you most definitely are not. For me, they insert best when I pull down on the spot connecting my earlob to my head...right below the earcanal...that little corner. Pushing the ER4S in should encounter a little bit of resistence, but then will kind of pop into place. There will be no feeling of it being too deep inside or any sort of pressure or conjestion. If both sides have been inserted like this to the same depth, the sound from both sides will coalesce in volume and frequency response. Perfect neutrality. Beyond that, you will most definitely hear the sound of the headphone amp and the CD player. My Denon DCM-370 with modification has never sounded so smooth as it does with this earphone. However, the gray scrim associated with the HDCD model 1 decoder/filter chip definitely becomes apparent, even on certain HDCD's. It's never been noticable on other equipment with peaks in the highs. I can also hear that the Denon adds a certain odd weight to the upper bass, a conjested quality that no other CD player I own exhibits. The ER4S is perceptably flat with the average CD. And I am well aware what most of you are getting. If you have no seal, then it's all highs and upper mids. If it's sealed with only average depth and no pressure, it sounds actually pretty good with a clear sound close to the HD600 headphone, but sort of lacking in dynamics...more quality high-fi. Then there's the way deep in the ear...you know they're in there...it's not comfortable...a little plugged up feeling...lots of bass, but it's not airy. NONE OF THESE ARE CORRECT. I can get sound at near the level of a THX auditorium with an SDDS film soundtrack from a crappy modded Denon player and a $50 Redsound Micro Amp. Pop a Silva Recordings HDCD (one of the few the Denon has an easy time with) and you can hear the Nyquist theorum being proven correct right there. And for those of you crying about it not being portable enough, I have a $40 Radioshack portable that does just fine, though I can hear the portable has a bump in the midbass and treble.

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Sennheiser 580, Sony 7506, Denon 950, Ixos 1001

noise reduction and audiophile sound

need amp to reach full potential; the "bud" style might not be your thing

Listen, these babies will keep out the bad noise and pump nice tunes into your head. Definitely a must for anyone in a loud environment that can apreciate hi-quality sound. The only minus is that they are a little pricey, especially when you include the cost of a decent headphone amp (the Headroom Airhead is as cheap as you should go for around $100). Still, it is the best at what it does so if you have the extra cash, check out http://www.headphone.com and put down the $400 for the cans and amp combo.

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ears

Extraordinarily detailed sound. Isolation... They'll let you preview a track in the middle of mixing a show, and you can actually hear it! Unlike any AKG/Beyer I've tried.

Perhaps a little quiet on the bass, Cord noise, although with the clip this is minimal

These were purchased to test before I went ahead and bought a pair of HD-600's. Felt the need for a bit of an upgrade from a 20-or-so year old set of Sennheiser 400-series that were basically outclassed by a set of sony earbuds i bought for 10 bucks. I wanted to try the etymotics mostly for airplane use but also for drowning out noise while studying or just listening in general. I've used plenty of closed-ear monitor phones and never really liked the sound or comfort of any of them. As other people have mentioned they need to be burnt in, I had to order a replacement pair, which I'll explain later, but comparing the brand new set with the 4 week old was eye-opening. Sound overall is _amazing_. Ignoring the quality of sound, the isolation brings detail's you've never heard before out of anything. Everything is crystal clear, sub is amazing, sometimes a little weak, but if you stick in some good techno you'll definitally hear it. You can rarely describe anything <100hz as clean and bright, but thats what these headphones produce. Haven't heard a cleaner bass reproduction out of anything besides 18" subs from EAW. Above that there's no real need to distinguish range characteristics, anything from 100 to the 16khz spec (i don't think i can call anything beyond that anyways) is beautiful, even, smooth... They have absolutely no problems reproducing anything, even full orchestral tracks, and single sources, be it piano, violin, voice, synth, have astounding clarity. I had a slight problem with buzzing in the left headphone, called up headroom, and they overnighted a new pair to me with return label for the old pair, can't say good enough things about my experience with them.

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HD-580's, HD-600's, AKG and Beyer monitor phones,

Compact and inconspicuous. A God sent to anyone looking for Hi-Fi that would fit into your shirt pockets. Highly Versatile.

The ER/4S isn't a new. It's been around for around 10 years and yet the price is still pretty high. In terms of sheer sound quality, the Sennheiser 580 - which is now selling for $199- is a better buy. Also, a better clip please!

When my Sennheiser 580 finally succumbed to the repeated abuse of being tossed around on long intercontinental flights, I decided that my next headphones would have to be much, much smaller. In came the ER/4S. My initial comment upon putting the ER/4S on was, 'boy are these things uncomfortable.' Hooking up the phones to my Headroom Supreme amp, I was slightly disappointed at the sound quality. The ER/4S are good, but not quite as good as the 580. After a few days, the situation improved. My ears got accustomed to the feel of the white rubber plugs and the ER/4S seems to fit better. Like leather shoes, the ER/4S takes some time to break in. And like good leather shoes, the ER/4S gets better over time. Treble sounds became smoother and less grainy. The soundstage expanded and the bass became tighter. Although the Sennheiser 580 edges over the ER/4S in terms of smoothness and wide soundstage, the 580's superior performance was limited to quiet listening environments. The ER/4S on the other hand, is more versatile thanks to its sealed design; versatility that I've come to appreciate over the past two years. Compact and efficient enough for a portable CD player to drive, the ER/4S gave me high quality sounds on the move. Plug it into a good quality headphone amp and the ER/4S will give you Hi-Fi quality sounds to satisfy all but the most esoteric audio geek. My only qualm with the ER/4S is that the plastic clip that attaches to the cable is a bit flimsy. At $270, a firmer clip should be provided. Trust me, you do not want to lose the clip. With the foam tips inserted deep into your ear canal, every time the ER/4S's wires bounce or rub against something, your ears will pick up the sound amplified many times over. Try pressing your ear against a table while lightly tapping the table with your fingertips. You'll see what I mean. I would recommend the ER/4S for anyone a high quality headphone/earphone small enough for transport ease. You'll need a dedicated headphone amp to get the most of the tiny phones though.

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Sennheiser 580; assortment of mass market earbud-style earphones

Outstanding sound quality, isolation and portability

Not the best choice for portables without an amp; getting a good, comfortable seal takes some getting used to

Simply put, these are the best sealed headphones of any type that I've ever heard! After I heard these Etymotic ER-4S's at the Headroom World of Headphones tour, I was so impressed with them that I ordered a pair the day after the show. But when I received my ER-4S's, I had only a portable CD player to try them on. They sound okay, but a little thin and weak, directly from my portable sources (a Panasonic SL-CT470 and a Sony D-EJ1000). But two weeks later, I ordered a Headroom Total Airhead portable amp (which came two days after I ordered it), and then connected it to my Sony CD player. The difference between the ER-4S's sound amped and the same 'phones unamped is like night and day! Amped, the ER-4S delivers clear, rich and articulate sound - from the deepest bass to the highest audible treble, and everything in between. :-O No more of that boomy, muddy, honky, tinny, crappy sound that I've usually associated with larger headphones. But before you indulge yourself in this luxurious sound, your source must be up to the task of driving these 'phones. Most newer portable players can barely drive them to adequately loud levels - and then these headphones often reveal the true mediocrity of such portable jacks. Also, you may find that some of your favorite recordings sound crappy, as well! (Don't blame the ER-4S's; blame the way those "crappy" recordings had been mastered or re-mastered.) And getting a proper seal on these canalphones takes some getting used to: If you don't get a good seal with any Etymotic canalphones, they will sound as if they have all highs and no bass. But with a proper seal, they will certainly block out most external noises - useful when listening in a noisy plane, train or bus. But such extreme isolation may be hazardous when walking around outside. :-P And don't even try wearing these 'phones on a bike! :-X So, if you must have the best sealed headphones, and you have good equipment, then the Etymotic ER-4S is for you. Etymotic Research also makes a portable-friendly version of these canalphones, called the ER-4P. The ER-4P should be considered only if you want excellent sound directly from an unamped portable. Otherwise, the ER-4S is a better choice.

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Koss The Plug (crappy) Sony MDR-EX70LP (Hey! Where's the midrange?)

Noise cancelling ability, does not let the music escape, extremely small and light in weight, incredible bass with silky smooth highs.

These headphones are a bit pricy especially with the addition of a headphone amp which is a requirement. The piece that gets inserted into the ear canal must be cleaned and replaced periodically. Fortunity, Eytmotics provides you with replacements. As one moves while listening, you can will hear the cord physically brush against your clothing such as zippers and buttons. This is because the cord carries the vibrations to the earbuds.

These ear buds are extremely comfortable and great for portable as well as home use. I purchased them intending to use them for air travel because of their outstanding noise cancelling capabilities but found them to be simply the best sounding headphones period regardless of price or design.

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I've owned Sony MDR V6, Grado SR60, various Sennheiser's and auditioned both (580; 600)

I'm starting to second-guess my claims that most CD portables can run the 4S. On an early eighties classical CD I have there was a noticeable click/cracking distortion to a few very powerful bass sounds on some of the percussion. The CD itself is much lower in volume than most of my others I own and needed to be turned up to at least 8. There was absolutely no need for extra bass or less treble. The amp on my Panasonic sl-361 just seemed to have a lack of sufficient current for the er4s. This has only been noticeable on that one CD, since learning how to seal them properly in my ears, and having to compensate for the resulting drop in volume. I probably should have tested this out again before I posted the review on audioreview.com. I don't like the idea of worrying about batteries for an amp and the Airhead has that high noise floor to worry about. However, the 4s sounds so amazing out the headphone jack of my Denon, I don't want to move to the lower fidelity 4p just so I can play a few old CDs on my portable. I'm considering getting an Airhead when they fix the noise problem.

External noise cancellation,sound quality.

Cord can be quite microphonic if you move it too much.

I bought these headphones after years of trying anything to cut the backgrond noise at the plant where I work while still allowing me to listen to my tapes of my favourite radio shows. I even tried earplugs with headphones over them. Nothing worked very well until I discovered these little beauties on the internet. Fantastic is the only word for them,I had only hoped to be entertained in a relatively quiet enviroment but suddenly there was near silence with real Hi-Fi sound. I use Sennheiser HD600's at home like a lot of you other guys and this was just as enjoyable and from only a Sony tape Walkman! One last point concerning loudness, as one other owner said they don't need to be as loud because of the quietness but if your C.D./M.D. isn't loud enough try an oldfashioned tape Walkman. I love digital but with any headphone I have found tape to go louder.

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Sony NC-10's.