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All iPads Which Etymotic earphone do you recommend?

H

hajime

macrumors G3
Original poster
Jul 23, 2007
8,173
1,414
Hello, I have been using the Shure SE115 for a few years. It is quite good in sound isolation but sometimes I can still hear people when they are talking loudly. I heard that Etymotic earphone has excellent sound isolation. Which one do you recommend HF3, HF5 or ER-4PT? I have tried the Bose QC20i in several stores. It is not good at blocking human voice.
 
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I have the Bose Q20i (and also the Q15), and both are great in canceling the roar of the plane engine (I travel a lot) but not conversations. I prefer to use my Bowers & Wilkins C5 for noise isolation and superb clarity of the sound--try listening to Doug MacLeod's "There's a Time" album. See the ranking and review of the B&W C5 in Forbes Magazine. I hope this helps.
 
They all use the same basic plug design, so isolation is effectively the same. The 4PT is considerably more expensive because the armatures are closely matched and it's overall a higher-end IEM. I am not exactly clear on what the difference between the HF3 and HF5 is other than obviously the microphone on the HF3. I would expect they are otherwise fairly similar.

Ety's have great isolation if you can take the insertion they require to get a good seal. I've been using them for 10 years, and on even loud airplanes I can barely hear anything at all above the sound of the music, which remains at the same volume as if I were in a quiet room. They do get uncomfortable after some time though.

Custom molds are a good option if you want good isolation and all-day comfort.
 
The HF3 and HF5 are the exact same other than the former's addition of a built-in mic and player control buttons.

I have the HF5 and noise isolation is pretty good (mind you, I have nothing else to compare it to). However, I can still hear others' voices if they talk loudly enough. You have to get a good seal with the provided eartips, which might be uncomfortable initially.

If you understand these caveats, then I recommend the HF-series. It's your decision if you want the extra functionality of the HF3.
 
Thanks. From the company website, the sound isolation is the same.

Not sure if it is true but somebody mentioned that the build quality for the ER-4PT is better than those HFs.

As far as I know, HF3 and HF5 are the same except that the former has a mic with a controller. Does the mic and volumn control work on Android phone?

When you move, does it produce annoying sound when the wire or controller hits your cloths?

Some mentioned that even without music, they can't hear the conversation but SJism23 mentioned that he/she could hear the conversation. What about the rest of you?
 
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How about these:
MEElectronics Sport-Fi M6P Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphone with Microphone, Remote and Universal Volume Control, Black
http://amzn.com/B00DDPZ4FA
 
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hajime said:
Thanks. From the company website, the sound isolation is the same.

Not sure if it is true but somebody mentioned that the build quality for the ER-4PT is better than those HFs.

As far as I know, HF3 and HF5 are the same except that the former has a mic with a controller. Does the mic and volumn control work on Android phone?

When you move, does it produce annoying sound when the wire or controller hits your cloths?

Some mentioned that even without music, they can't hear the conversation but SJism23 mentioned that he/she could hear the conversation. What about the rest of you?
Click to expand...

I think you will find that any in ear monitor will have some micro phonics so won't be great for activity. You will hear some noise from movement of the wires.

If you get a good seal, you will not hear much. For example I can barely hear cabin announcements, babies crying, etc on the plane.
 
Has anybody used the HF-3, HF-5 or ER-4PT on the MBP? Do they work?
 
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I have Shure 535, and it is awesome. Personally, don't really feel any difference between this and my older 435.
 
Haven't used the ER-4PT but I have used the ER-4P's with my MBP and they work. What are you specifically asking?

zhenya said:
If you get a good seal, you will not hear much. For example I can barely hear cabin announcements, babies crying, etc on the plane.
Click to expand...
+1. I only notice those sounds if there's nothing playing or a quiet point in the music/audio. I can hear the cabin announcements but I can't make out what they're saying with the ER-4P's inserted.
 
Another vote for the ER-4P. I've been using mine for a dozen years (had the cables replaced this past summer), and see (or hear!) no reason to try anything else. The isolation is superb, and the sound quality equally so.
 
I inquired with etymotic about getting my ER-4p's re-plugged with a smaller jack to fit more modern devices, but they said they don't do it. Where did you get yours done?
 
For playing music from devices like the MBP and phone, does it matter much on whether I use the highest end ER-4PT or the HF2/5 model?
 
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