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Product Description

The ER-4P MicroPro noise-blocking earphones from Etymotic Research offer realistic sound reproduction and noise isolation that far surpasses that of active noise-canceling earphones. The ER-4P earphones--which require no batteries--can be plugged into any audio source. They can be used with portable CD, MP3, DVD, and other players without an additional amplifier.

The ER-4P earphones were designed to match the response of the ear, creating nearly perfect sound reproduction. They reduce external sound naturally by sealing your ear canals, without the added weight, bulk, or external power supply required for active noise-canceling. Their external noise exclusion (up to 33 dB using the supplied 3-flange eartips and 41 dB with foam eartips) lets you hear the full dynamic range of recordings without your having to play them at unnaturally high and unsafe levels.

What's in the Box
ER-4P MicroPro earphones, a 5-foot cord with 3.5 mm stereo phone plug, a .25-inch stereo phone adapter plug, six 3-flange eartips, 10 foam eartips, a filter-changing tool, 4 replacement filters, a shirt clip, a zippered pouch, a storage box, a user's manual, and warranty information.

Customer Reviews:

• Not for me
  This is the first IEM, and for some it's still the best. While Etymotic has since come out with a dual driver model with improved sound, for me it's a matter of fit. Finding the proper ear-piece is crucial with this; otherwise, the sound will be either too tinny, or imbalanced. My ear canals are too large, making this uncomfortable and ultimately unlistenable.
  
  Of worse comes to worse, the expensive foam ear-pieces are extremely forgiving, at least aurally....more info
• Crystal clear but sensitive
  Wow. I have had several ear phones and ear buds. Given that the ear buds are small, it is unbelievable how clear the sound is and how strong the base is. Ok, you can't get deep driving base with ear buds like you can with big headphones. Anyone who says you can is in my opinion having themselves out or lying. However, with these headphones, you get as good a sound as you could possibly expect from such a small devise.
  
  The clarity of the sound is unbelievable. You can hear the tiniest sounds in a large orchestra, the twanging of an 12 string guitar, the snap of a tight rim shot, and the lingering clang of a symbol. In addition, the ER4P is substantial right out of the box. As soon as you look at it and touch it, you know it is solid. It feels expensive and well build. No cheap looking plastic and thin wires. The wires and strong and quality.
  
  Now for the draw back. As the previous author, you can hear a lot of sound of the cables when they rub together or against your shirt. To help prevent this, the cable does have a little clip. I use my ER4P when I'm sitting or going for a walk. However, when I run or do other exercise, I prefer a cheaper ear bud like the Sony Fontopia or other similar head phones I also own. Although the sound quality is not as good, you don't get the wire rubbing problem and the shorter cord (the ER4P has a rather long cord 6 or 7') of these earbuds makes it easier to use when working out. Besides, when you're running or biking, you don't care as much about the sound quality. You're not going to be able to enjoy the small sounds while working out anyway.
  
  Bottom line. For high quality listening while sitting or just walking, you won't be disappointed with the ER4P. For working out, get something else. ...more info
• Will never go back to normal headphones
  These Etymotic Er-4ps are awesome. My husband and I both own a pair and we can't live without them. The sound quality is excellent for the price and the noise isolation is divine. I can't tell you how many times these headphones have saved my sanity from crying kids on airplanes.
  
  Sure you can get better sounding headphones, but it will cost you $$$. I don't think there's a better sound isolating headphone out there. It works too well because you really can't hear anything other than your music. Don't use it while riding a bike or you might get smushed.
  
  I don't find the bass to be lacking. I think headphones have become obsessed with bass and that you can't even hear details becasue of the bass. The er-4ps are a well balanced headphone that can be improved even more with a headphone amp. These headphones reintroduced music to me. I spent hours listening to the fine details I missed with my good crappy headphones (sony ex-71ps). I can never go back to regular headphones. I'm spoiled.
  
  To those with sound qulaity issues, make sure you're inserting the headphones all the way in and that your filters are clean. Also, I hope you broke in your headphones before complaining about the lack of base of crappy sound quality. Those drivers need to be loosened up a little to sound good. All headphones are like that.
  
  Etymotic customer service is great. You get a real person answering the phone and the two times I had my headphones sent in, it was a good experience....more info
• Nice earphones that stay in my ears and block sound
  I always had a problem with the round earbuds falling out of my ears. These earphones stay in my ears. They will stay in anyone's ears because they don't depend on the shape of your ears to stay in place. If you have a hole in the side of your head, these earphones will stay in that hole.
  
  These earphones block sound. Ive always had a problem with headphones because you have to keep the volume too high when there is noise around you like at the gym or on the street. These completely solve that problem.
  
  You can't lay on your side with these in your ears because they stick out of your ears and they don't touch the earlobe to distribute the force of the weight of your head.
  When the cords touch something, the sound transmits to your ears so you hear the brushing....more info
• waste of money
  these headphones are not as good as the er6 do not buy do not buy you will be sorry these headphones do not sound good or stay in your ears ...more info
• Go with the Shure headphones, you'll be sure glad you did!
  These headphones do an excellent job of cancelling out background noise and its nice that they come with a box full of optional earplugs. The headphones came out in 2004, which i'm sure at that time were amazing headphones. But it is 2009 and I believe that Etymotic should redesign their headphones. These headphones are no match for the Shure SE420's. When you wear these headphones you will feel like Frankenstein because they stick out from your ears so awkwardly. I sent mine back and am now using the Shures....more info
• Doesn't Get Much Better Than These...
  Just when I thought my "Chris Botti in Boston" Blu-ray DVD couldn't get any better, it just did! Received my pair of ER-4Ps this morning (replacing a pair of Shure SE210s that had developed a brittle, broken cable where it loops over the ears). After about 3 hours of "burn in" time, I put on my "Chris Botti in Boston" Blu-ray DVD. The level instrumental detail is simply amazing! Better than my Grado SR-80s. Better, too, than my Shure SE530s (seriously)! Along with that you also get the "breathing" noises, orchestral page turning, unintended chatter, sour notes, etc. All wonderful! Just like you were sitting in the front row. And what's all this about lack of bass?? Having used Shure IEMs for over 3 years now, I know the importance of getting a good seal in your ear canal. Earpiece placement is a 2 handed process: one to pull your earlobe forward to open your ear canal and the other to place the earpiece (just like the referenced video indicates). Takes all of 10 seconds. From "Herbie Hancock" to "Outkast" to "Return To Forever", nothing but rich, realistic bass that's as detailed as I've ever heard. Makes everything from TV programs to streaming audio to my Itunes library (256 and better) sound sooo much better.
  
  The ER-4Ps are quite comfortable and perfectly suited long listening sessions. Hardly notice them after placement. Be sure to turn the volume down before listening as it doesn't take much to drive these. As reported in earlier posts, cord noise can be quite noticeable but is significantly minimized by use of the shirt clip. Just not an issue for me.
  
  Debated between purchase of the brand new UE 700s (gettin' good reviews) and the ER-4Ps. Decided on the "tried and true" ER-4Ps and could not be happier with my purchase at this point (it's early though).
  
  Folks, it just doesn't get much better that these!!...more info
• Etymotic 4P Kicks!
  The 4Ps produce outstanding sound clarity and are far better than the other Etymotic headphones. To the contrary of some of the other reviews, I love them in the gym which is where I have the most opportunity to use my headphones. Occansionally, I would use my Boise Quietcomfort 2 headphones on the ellipitical because I found the sound to be superior to the 6 and 6i headphones from Etymotic. Now, I find myself using the 4Ps all the time in the gym. The sound to me is just amazing. I am hearing nusances in the music better and the sound separation is more distinct in the right and left channels. I was concerned about the noise from the cord based on other reviews and found the 4Ps to be similar to the other Etymotics. Of course, if you block outside sounds from your ear, you will start to hear more sounds traveling from your jaw bone, mouth, etc. but I did not find the cord a big source of sound distraction. The cord is heavy duty compared to the 6 and 6i. The noise comes from the cord above the Y split. For runners, I can see the cord noise would be a bigger issue. Others have complained about the bass because it does require a tight fit in the ear. I did find this to be a problem especially when lifting with my previous Etymotics. I found myself re-inserting the earplugs after lifts to get the seal back. After doing this for 6 months, I broke down and invested in custom ear molds that are fitted to the Etymotics. A great investment that I do not regret. If decide to do this, you might want to call around since I found some price variation from hearing aid dealers or audiologists. I also learned the hard way to store my Etymotics and ear molds in a case after using them and not let them hang from the shirt clip since I lost one this way. The bass is great with a good seal and comfort is outstanding since guess what -- the mold is customized to your ear canel and in my case, I have small ear canels. A side benefit of ear molds that I found is that I went thru fewer filters since there is a gap between the tip of the ear mold and the filter so ear wax gets trapped in this space before it clogs the filter if you clean and squeeze the ear mold to get the wax out. Another issue in previous reviews was that the Etymotics were black which is true but the pair that I got had a red dot on the right channel. The Etymotics web site has been great for ordering extra filters. The other Etymotics I have have worked well for several years so I am looking forward to years of good use with the 4Ps....more info
• Incredible Clarity
  I purchased these earphones several months ago and couldn't be more satisfied. The clarity and definition is unsurpassed. I recently purchased a headphone amp, and a cable adaptor to render the ER-4P into the ER-4S. The result - Amazing sound!! Very detailed and accurate. Unlike others who state these have no bass, I find the bass to be very tight, giving perfect support to the music. The key is to achieve a good seal with the buds. I use the triple flanges and am able to obtain a great seal. This makes all the difference in sound quality. For the money you can't go wrong with these excellent phones. Well done, Etymotic....more info
• Sounds great, no weight
  These earbuds are wonderful. They are tiny, but powerful. I travel a great deal and they make long plane flights wonderful. They have a superb dynamic range and make my iPod or the airplane entertainment systems sound wonderful. The design effectively blocks the airplane drone and the other noises in the cabin. The fit is so good that you can sleep with them in (a real advantage for us tired travelers). The cord is wonderfully designed so that it never tangles. The whole package weighs nothing, needs no power and seems to make every source sound great. I lost my first set (the downside of the small size) but after trying two other types, went back and bought the Etymotic again....more info
• Great headphones but not for everyone.
  These are remarkable reference grade headphones. The sound is very neutral and response is very quick. These are not bass heavy headphones. They are accurate headphones. The limitations of the 4p and 4s are purely with the quality of sound source. With proper (clean highly dynamic) amplification they produce excellent results. The limitations are in the amp or headphone out, not the phones themselves.
  
  That said they are not for everyone. You must stick them deep deep deep into your ear and create a very firm seal. These are like ear plugs - they will reduce background noise just lake ear protectors - even better than some. Getting a good seal is often aided by licking the ear plug before careful insertion into the ear canal. Warning keep your ears clean!
  
  I use the silicon deep ear adapters. Others use the foam inserts. The silicon adapters take some getting used to. Over time they will break-in. They change from a round profile, to an oval profile. The oval is the actual shape of the ear canal. At that point they will be really comfortable. But you may go through a little discomfort as they break-in.
  
  There are microphonics. that means if you walk around, if you eat things, chew gum, rub the ear phone cable, there will be noise that you will hear in your ears from these sources. It will seem amplified. I simply tie up and position the cables so they don't get knocked about. Most ear sealed plugs have this problem. The only ones I'm aware of that are free from this are the little Sony MDR-EX71SLA (very comfortable, great for workouts or sleep - $30), but the sound quality is no where near these etympotics.
  
  There are probably other slightly less quirky ear phones out there, but these are remarkable and rewarding to listen to. If you want neutral accurate and rich sounding phones, these are a great choice. I use these a lot during travel. At home I mostly listen to over the ear phones (AKG701, DT801, Sen 650s) because of the comfort afforded by these larger cans.
  
  But the etyomtics great and they are always with me. The current prices that place them below $200 are great. I recommend that you consider a really good headphone amp. The Ray Samuels Hornet is a superb amp - it is tiny and travels really well....more info
• Like a tin can, no bass...
  These have amazingly clear highs. But the lowend gets distorted at only half volume on a non-bassy song. I turned the bass down and fixed the problem but was left with only the high-end. I ended up buying e5c's which have a much fuller sound to them but lack the clarity of the ety's. I thought I would mind the lack of clarity, but in the end I enjoyed the e5c's more. ...more info
• Superior for drowning out work distractions
  I am by no means an audiophile or even a particularly auditory person, but I found the range of auditory distractions at work too much, particularly a close-by radio tuned to vocal-centric music. Nothing was working to block it out, so in desperation I invested in these earphones.
  They are very very good. In combination with just a very quiet pink or brown noise or some music, they block out loud machinery behind a wall, and singers two steps or the width of two desks away. Yet, I can hear enough to carry on a conversation with my coworkers. My only concern was that I would have to take them out constantly when I was being spoken to, but fortunately that turned out not to be the case. When I turn down the sound or unplug them, I can hear through them,
  The foam inserts offer better sound blocking than the plastic. Both are comfortable for extended wear of around 6 hours. I would consider myself to have a small ear canal, but both types fit comfortably (the grey plastic is very soft). The entire length of the earphone probably is meant to go deeper into the ear, but I still find the sound acceptable. To my small fingers, there is plenty to grasp so I don't have to yank on the cord for removal.
  I chose these over the ER6 because they have a sturdier cord and a slightly higher sound isolation ranking. Movement sound conducted through the cord was not a concern for me as I didn't plan to use them while exercising or walking -- they wouldn't be right for that.
  Also I discovered that my computer adds a fair amount of hiss to iTunes, while the iPod is perfectly quiet. In music, the percussion comes through distinctly when using these earphones....more info
• Great!
  I work in a very noisy Jr. High school and I needed something that was portable, sound good, and could cut out most of the external noise around me. I tried several top noise reduction headphones , (except the Bose), and none worked well in that environment. Some gave me headaches, most were too bulky and clumsy with external battery cases dangling everywhere and, I could still hear the noise drowning out the music. But the Etymotic ER-4P were great. They are very portable, sound is clear and balanced, though if you like ear defining, brain damaging bass, these are not the ear buds for you, also if you are not comfortable with things in your ear you may want to choose something else. But, if you like great sound and a noisy environment turned off, these are for you. They sound great on my ipod touch and nano, I also us them in the studio when I record. ...more info
• AMAZING!
  These buds are the best...I like clean (distrubingly clean to some) sound in my ears. These bad boys deliver. I can hear incredible things. Fingers on guitar strings, breath and in some cases pages turning. I really like it this way..I now have my second pair of ETYS (dog, homework..you know) the only thing I miss is the red/blue for left/right color coding that was on my first set. The quality is amazing, but I wonder; why did they get rid of an intuitive channel marker?...more info
• ER 4 review
  These are among the worst sounding earphones I've heard. There's absolutely no bass. I listen to audiophile recordings which usually have good bass. When I listen to these earphones they sound like I'm listening to an old transister radio from the 60's. I bought these based on the rave reviews. Either people have no critical hearing or I have a defective pair. The cheap headphones that came with my ipod sound better....more info
• Amazing noise isolation!
  I got these because I have an office mate that types very loudly is always on the phone and is constantly eating.
  
  I haven't heard her at all today.
  
  I'm an audiophile so my standard for audio quality is high. These phones have amongst the best I've ever heard from a headphone. Their sensitivity is extreme I have my volume on about 3% and can hear clearly. So much so that if you put them in a normal computer headphone jack you will hear interference. I highly suggest an external sound card or a highly shielded extension cable. The cable will make noise when you rub it against something so give yourself plenty of slack with the shirt clip.
  
  They take some time to adjust to as far as comfort goes. The longer they are in my ears the more comfortable they get. Make sure you watch the videos for insertion and removal on the Etymotic website and follow it explicitly. You may notice complaints about a weak cord. Those people didn't follow the instructions which tell you exactly how to unseal these headphones.
  
  If you have poor bass response you need to make sure your ears are sealing properly and that you have a high quality player.
  
  These phones are a really good deal and really do the job of isolating while having great response. ...more info
• I was 100% satisfied.
  I love my ER-4P when I'm on the train or bus. Those people who take the tranportation instead of own vehicles, I recommend this item for its ability to block all the junk sounds, except for the annoying sound that comes from its cable rubbing against cloth(It didn't annoy me that much, but people who wants 100% pure music sound would disappoint a bit when they walk or run and hearing those sounds) and when I try to eat something o_Oa...But who cares? I at least enjoy my music 100% great on the noisy train or bus. ...more info
• OK...not worth the cost
  Not certain insertion of the earpieces is 'healthy' for the middle ear canal without cleaning after each use. Certain most users will not do this. Also, certain that earplugs costing 1/4 would boast same quality. Money not an issue with me...quality is although. Had to alter equalizer settings on both ends to get a semi audiophile output. OK for an IPod I guess... TT...more info
• The best headphones for... ANYTHING.
  These are the best headphones I ever heard, purchased or even could dream about. Seriously. These inner-ear headphones sound better than most people's home theater systems. And this is coming from someone who knows the difference between 60Hz, 170Hz, 310Hz and 600Hz frequencies. And if you're still with me, you should know that what I really mean is to refute the most predominate criticism for the particular IEP's: bass levels.
  For the bass to be any "better" I'm pretty sure you would have a brain tumor or at least an inner-ear/eardrum explosion. I listen to a lot of electronic, bass-heavy music and for these to have a higher response rating would defeat the purpose behind the engineering of the ER-4P; which, I believe, is to create as "real" replication of the sound source as is (literally) humanly possible. Higher bass response (in my most humble of opinions) would skew the perception of any given musical piece.
  I wonder if the people who complain about the lack of bass from these IEP are the people who have the vibrating car-trunk. You know, the people who have stuffed the back of their car with more subwoofers than musical genres packed inside their head.
  To say these IEM's produce a *rich* sound quality doesn't really do the ER-4P's justice. Then again, the most attractive quality about these headphones is the subtle, exquisite musicality and brilliant soundscapes they allow you to experience. Maybe superfluous wording is not what should be used in description.
  If you are going to spend over $100 on headphones, spend enought to buy these, even if its $200. Believe me, when you put these in your ears, you will know why, I've had mine for about 2 years now and couldn't be more impressed. I've had no problems, and have only had to change out the filters (yeah I was new to that whole concept as well) once. ...more info
• Accurate audio reproduction, low end is not for everyone.
  I picked these up because my Shure SE530 earphones met the wrath of my dog's teeth, and I wanted to try something different, because as sweet as they were, it was sorely lacking on the high-end. For tracks with a hard bass line, nothing could beat the Shure SE530 while maintaining acceptable quality overall. I use Cowon players which have a feature called Mach3Bass, which significantly enhances the low end response, maxing this feature out with good earphones is the equivalent of having two 12" subwoofers in your ear. I have also used the Klipsch Custom-3s, Image X10, Sennheiser CX300/500, V-Moda Vibe 1 and 2, Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10, Super.fi 5 EB extensively. I like a relatively flat sound response with a bump on the lows for more modern music.
  
  My audio sources are half FLAC files, and the other half are 192kbit+ MP3s.
  
  In terms of clarity, I don't think I've heard music this precise from an in-ear module. You WILL hear imperfections in the recording, layers of music you didn't know existed, and price not withstanding, these are the CLEAREST earphones you will hear.
  
  Now for the general population of listeners, you WILL be disappointed, especially if you are using a bad source (iPod). I noticed I had to put these even deeper in my ear than the Shures, as I was also extremely disappointed in the lack of bass and was ready to sell them at a loss after an hour of listening. After getting them really deep in my ear canal, the low end finally came alive, albeit nowhere as deep or boomy as the Shure SE530s I was using for 18 months. I had to adjust the EQ on my player in order to bump the low end a bit, as it sounded a bit thin, even with a proper seal in my ear. The low end can be described as tight and accurate, but not head-rattling by any means. With a few tweaks though, these can sound very lively, with the legendary Etymotic clarity to boot.
  
  So, if your portable player is NOT an iPod and want the most accurate reproduction from an in-ear module, these are for you....more info
• Sweet Highs, light on the base
  I damaged my Shure E3's with some moisture and decided to try this brand. When it comes to mid and high range sounds the ER4P's are a lot more crisp than the Shure's. I think the Shure brand has a flatter sound, which when swapping between the 2 actually sounds more natural. But the clarity of the ER's is amazing and unsurpassed by anything else I've plugged into my ears.
  
  If you listen to a lot of rap and sport a set of 12inch subs in your trunk, you may want to go the Shure route. But if clean and crisp is what you seek, the ER4p is hard to beat. They have an adaptor for about $65 that turns them into the ER4s if you want the best of both worlds. (ER4S requires more power but is supposed to be even better sounding)...more info
• 10 year Etymotic user
  I got my first ER4S set 10 years ago and a second set a couple of years later to ensure that I would not be without some Etymotics. Both sets are fine after all this time and use but I want a 3rd set, but the next will be the ER-4P!
  
  IMO, the single best thing about the ER4S is their durability. I've literally owned dozens of earphone sets and all but the Etymotics that I continued to use eventually bit the dust. Usually it was a cord discontinuity most likely very near the plug. I've replaced countless cables and plugs, pulling out my soldering iron and rummaging through my collection of parts. Once I got the Etymotics I had put all that behind me. Not once have I had a problem with the ER4S cables or plugs. The only times I have experienced cutout of a channel was when a filter got clogged, which has happened a few times. It's pretty simple to replace a filter, and they give you extra filters and a tool to remove the old filter. I figure I can probably clean the old filters but haven't bothered trying because I have an ample supply of new ones.
  
  I bought the Etymotics because I needed some privacy at my new office job. It wasn't just that I wanted my space, I had a lot of thinking to do and needed to block out distracting noise and at times there was far too much of that. I did some research and determined that the Etymotics were a likely good choice. They were highly touted by audiophiles and had a reputation for being very effective in noisy environments. Of course, they still enjoy that reputation. I no longer have that office job and I mostly use the Etymotics in the gym, where their isolation is just as critical as at that office job.
  
  When I read the reviews before buying my first ER4S I quickly realized that people who used them with portable devices seemed to always use headphone amps, and I assumed that I too would need one and so I bought an Airhead "Headphone Amplifier and Audio Image Processor" at the same time. However, to my amazement and delight I found that I got adequate volume from my portable devices without having to use it. I did use the amp when listening to audio files at my computer, at least sometimes, but have ever since just set aside the Airhead. I have used the ER4S phones without an amplifier with satisfactory results with a Sony WM-FX465 cassette/TV/FM/AM portable, iRiver SlimX IMP-350 portables, iRiver H120 and H140 portables and Sansa Sandisk M250 MP3/FM portables (2 different firmware/chipset models).
  
  My hearing isn't the best, and I won't get into subtle discussions concerning performance in various frequency ranges. However, I recently acquired a set of Sennheiser CX300B earbud headphones and determined that the Etymotics sound far superior. I also don't expect that the Sennheisers are very durable. Also, they came with only one set of buds that fit my ears. The Etymotics came with several sets of both types of buds (the white plastic, which I always use and the foam). I bought extra white plastic tips, but have only had to replace a couple (they got a bit loose over time and would remain in my ear after pulling out the drivers).
  
  It is true that the sound from brushing the cable goes right to your ears and it's a major annoyance. I rarely notice that now, having developed strategies to avoid brushing the cables. I'll take the durability over other considerations!
  
  Lately, I use the ER4S with small Sandisk MP3 players, the M250's. There are 4 different types of M250's and 2 of mine aren't as loud as the 3rd at maximum volume and I've had problems achieving satisfactory listening levels with them at times when using the ER4S's so I anticipate getting the more efficient ER-4P for my 3rd set of Etymotics at some point. I've been reading reviews and considered getting another brand, but I think I'd probably regret that and plan to stick with Etymotic. Fortunately, the price has come down from the $269 + shipping I paid for my last set!...more info
• Way Better than BOSE!
  I have had a pair for 5 years and these are WAY better than noise canceling headphones like the Bose!
  
  1) Better fidelity
  2) Better sound isolation
  3) Do not give you that "stuffy headed" feeling that noise canceling headphones do from their inverse waveform.
  4) MUCH better for transient sounds - the Bose are OK (just OK) for continuous sound like engine or wind noise but do little good for transient noise like conversation, cell rings, or crying babies. These almost totally eliminate all external noise.
  5) Pocket Sized! No more carrying a big headphone case!
  
  The only caveat is that those who hate things in their ears will not like any (not just these) in ear items....more info
• !!OMG THESE R TEH AWESOMEST!!!
  Seriously, these are excellent. If you look around on forums you will find that the Etymotic ER4-P's (affectionately called 'Ety's') come up all the time among audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike, with for the same thing: pristine clarity. If you have richly layered music with lots of little bubblets of ambient sound, you'll find these earphones to be a dream come true. Even if you don't, give these headphones a shot, because you'll find that you do indeed have richly layered music with lots of little bubblets of ambient sound. These headphones can be addictive.
  
  They achieve what I feel is perfect balance across the audible range of my eardrum. The Ety's do not stress anything - even though they are supposed to boost the low end slightly compared to the ER4-S (I think), they really do not sound like they emphasize anything at all. These headphones respect your music enough to never assert themselves, allowing, to quote iLounge, your music to be "transparent" -- it sounds the way it was meant to sound when originally recorded.
  
  It is blissfully ironic then that, if you are moving up from cheaper earbuds like me, nothing in your library will sound the same.
  
  I cannot tell you how many small details I noticed that I never noticed before. These earphones flesh out the little details in your music just enough, so that a lilting strum-line way over on the left maintains its own against the concord of the entire symphony. It's a virtue especially prevalent in classical music, ambient music and electronica, as well as pop. They've got an incredible reach, all the way from tweeter-quality highs to deep lows, but I like them most for their pristine mid's which are really phenomenal.
  
  They have a clarity that is breathtaking, and at times even ruthless. These things pinpoint with deadly accuracy any imperfections in the waveform of your songs, meaning in some cases (like mine) you'll have to re-encode your songs in 320 kbps, or go Lossless. It becomes a little time-consuming, sure, but ultimately it's worth it. So, as a word of caution right now, please do not disrespect the ER-4P's by feeding them low quality, 96/128 kbps music. That's not what they were made for.
  
  I'd like to add that there are some people on forums and the like who complain about the bass on these guys. Here's the deal: these earphones can reach real deep, I promise. Listen to 'Angel' by Massive Attack and you'll see what I mean. Such unsavory comments often root from an inability to distinguish deep bass from loud bass, which are not the same. These earphones can produce real deep bass. I do acknowledge that they cannot provide big boomy bass like subwoofers, but that is a consequence of their miniscule nature (they are really tiny) preventing them from achieving bone-conductive base-tones. They cannot rattle you, but you will hear deeps that are smooth, substantive, and very very low.
  
  As a final tidbit, the warranty on these things is reputedly amazing. Etymotic gives you two years, and there are numerous stories of people breaking them and having them replaced at no additional cost.
  
  So, at $170-ish, there is really no reason to not give these earphones a shot. Crystal clear across all genres of music, they will faithfully produce sound just as the producer intended while revealing tons of detail that you the listener never even knew existed. A lot research went into making ER-4P's sonically perfect, and it is widely agreed that they provide one of the best aural experiences your money can buy. Listening to these things is a dream. It's almost sexual, really...
  
  P.S. - I'd mention that they are also really comfortable to me (and I've got tiny ear canals), but that's a moot point considering we all have different ears. Make sure you get a good seal, and if you're worried, buy them on Amazon or at B&H NY or something, and return them if they don't fit....more info
• Audiophiles look no further
  I recently bought these and the Shure SE210s, so consider this a side by side comparison. I have had both for about a month. Bought one for me, and one for my wife. These are both in the same price range, so I suspect people looking at these would also be looking at the Shures.
  
  Comparison
  - overall sound......Etymotic (hands down)
  - overall sound......Etymotic (hands down)
  - overall sound......Etymotic (hands down)
  - midranges..........Etymotic (hands down)
  - highs................Etymotic (hands down)
  - styling..............Shure
  - comfort/fit........Shure
  - use during jogging...Shure (with foam tips)
  
  Ok, to be honest, the Shures do sound good and score well in all the intangibles. If you compare them both using the foam tips, the Shures are more comfortable. The Etymotics because of their thin wiring at the earplugs transmit more vibration sound during activities like jogging. The Shures have that dumb extension cord to deal with though.
  
  If your priority is to get top quality sound, there's really no comparison. The Etymotics have a tight, crisp, vibrant sound across the spectrum from low midrange to highs. Both of them lack booming bass, but I find the Etymotics to have a more accurate reproduction of bass. It's as you are listening through a tissue when you have the Shures on. Keep in mind, if you compared the Shures to the stock earbuds, you'd associate the tissue with your earbuds.
  
  Check out the Shures here: Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphones (White)...more info
• Great sound, but you need to wear them right.
  Similar products used: (Not 100% the same) Senn HD-600, HD-580, Bose QC2.
  
  Used with: iPod nano, T60, whatever else I need to.
  
  Complaints:
  
  They are ruthless. You have badly encoded MP3s. They will not forgive you. You will hear the artifacts. They are more ruthless than the HD-600/HD-580s which are known for being ruthless in this regard.
  
  Taking in and out the plugs can be annoying, especially in an office. But then again, silence can be well worth it. (-20db, and ~60db of music, you can't hear anything, but the music.
  
  You'll hear yourself breathe and swallow, this may disconcert you.
  
  Compliments:
  
  Forget active noise cancellation. These phones will blow away the best I've listened to (Bose QC2). And they cancel more noise. For any really noisy environment they are a great choice. In addition the noise need not be low and repetitive like what the Bose cancel. These will cancel anything, just like earplugs.
  
  In an average office environment they will block about anything but a fire alarm. This is good, in general. You will need to train your co-workers that you can't hear them with them in.
  
  Sound quality is simply wonderful, if your material supports the honesty.
  
  They are EXTREMELY easy to drive, I have my nano volume limited to ~1/2 full volume. At that, they are plenty loud, I would probably go lower, if I listened to more modern music which is mixed louder.
  
  Comments:
  
  Microphonics/vibration is an issue if you mis-wear these. I thought it would drive me insane the first week. Then I looked on the net for ideas on how to solve it. The answer is very simple:
  
  Wrap the cords, down, then forward and up over your ears (they should go between your outer ear, and your head), and out by your earlobes, then clip the clip to your shirt somewhere. It should be at exactly the right height, which tends to make me think they meant them to be worn this way, but they didn't bother actually writing it anywhere.
  
  When worn this way, the microphonics go away largely, and you are left to enjoy some great sound....more info
• Headphone Heaven
  What a great product. I spent weeks agonizing over what IEM to buy. I thought about Westone 3's and UM2's, Shure 530's, the Ultimate Ear Triplefl.10 and Superfl.5's, and the Etymotic ER-4P's. I really wrestled with paying $400 for IEM's. I read so many positive reviews of the ER-4P's that I decided to risk it. After all for under $200, the price was definitely right. What a great purchase! Tight bass, brilliant highs, and a great sound stage. They are so comfortable, I couldn't be more pleased.
  
  At the same time I purchased the Monster Beat IEM's for my 16 year old son. He loves them. They do sound good; but, they do not remotely compare to my ER-4P's. I am contemplating a headphone amp for my next purchase to further enhance the listening experience of my Ipod. Although, after this purchase I am not sure it is really needed!
  
  Great job Etymotic!
  ...more info
• Incredible. Amazing isolation.
  Read any review and you'll see the unmatched quality of the sound reproduction, mids, lows, base.
  
  I was most interested in sound isolation. These don't disappoint! You will not believe what you can achieve with the foam tips. They're rated at 41 - the best earplugs I could find were 33s.
  
  I bought the bose QC3s to test them out: even if you could deal with the ear-drum sucking feeling you'll realize they don't cancel much at all, besides anything in the A/C or airplane frequency; and the sound quality is atrocious compared to these. A cheap pair of sony earbuds will do better than the QC3 or QC2s.
  
  I'm in Manhattan with sirens and horns everywhere. As I prepare for Step 2 (med school boards), I really wish I had these for Step 1. Did I mention they're $200 less than the QC3s?...more info
• Amazing Clarity
  Good:
  Sounds I haven't heard before, I am re-listening to all of my music because they are so clear and sharp. I love them, and I did a lot of research and don't know what else is much better.
  
  Bad:
  1. Sound when you rub on the coiled part of the headphones(Micro phonics). I wear the clip a lot.
  2. They do stick out of my ear a bit too far, can't lie down on my side with them on.
  3. The bass isn't all that powerful, the sound is incredible crisp, detailed, and amazing, but it isn't necessarily all that 'rich' or 'heavy'. I mean you can still hear the bass, just you might think, "I could do with a little more" if you listen to some certain genres.
  
  Conclusion: I was thinking about getting the SE530s but, I really like these now - really because of the details in the sound.
  ...more info