A Review of The Etymotic ER-6i

A User’s Honest Thoughts On This Popular In-Ear Headphone Set

Summary: In-ear headphones has been making waves among those who take music seriously and do not want the outside world interfering with their audio experience. One user takes us through his personal experience and expresses his honest views.

The Etymotic Er-6i earphones are considered a great and more affordable choice for an in-ear set of headphones today. Though sound detail is not as good compared to its more expensive counterparts, these earphones are still able to deliver the subtle differences that your music has to offer. Using the Etymotic ER-6i is a relaxing, peaceful experience with its passive sound isolation technology. When it comes to delivering bass tones, however, these in-ear phones fall short, even in ideal situation. This is most probably due to a fit issue.

Reviews of the ER-6i that have appeared on CNet, GoodGearGuide.com and iLounge.com details worthwhile information on its comfort and performance. PCMag also offers a review, but falls short of the details presented by those formerly mentioned. I find that checking the user reviews on Amazon.com also offer good insight with any product, most often touching on issues that involve durability and comfort level.

I’ve personally used several Etymotic ER-6i pairs. I’ve had them sent in for repairs involving damage of the right channel. Etymotic sends me a new pair, but the same problem happens again and again. My latest accident with the pair is an accidental snag because of the long wire, resulting yet in another right channel damage. These earphones also have filters that need to be replaced often, and at $15 for a pack of 6, doesn’t come cheap at all. There’s not telling what causes the filters to wear down. I’ve had filters that lasted months and I’ve had some that only took days to wear down. There’s no definite reason that I can pinpoint that causes the damage. Don’t lose the three-cone earpieces either, because they cost quite a penny as well. Even with all these issues, I keep using the ER-6is because they sound good, if but lacking in bass, and does a great job of blocking out noise from the outside. I can wear them on the train and still get lost in the sound of the music in my ears, and not the noise pollution outside.

Compared to the Sennheiser PX100, the lack of bass tones in the Etymotic Er-6i’s is jarring. Granted, the PX100 and the ER-6is are distances apart in terms of design, but you would expect that the ER-6is would beat the PX100 by a long shot, just banking on its price alone. There may be a slight advantage in terms of sound quality, but by no means a runaway victory.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx

http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/etymotic-er-6i-isolator/4505-7877_7-31077372.html