So that you know a little about me and this review, I will start by saying that I am a professional classical musician, and I have recently had a hearing test on which I did very well.I am also something of a headphone enthusiast, as I have some very expensive headphones, a high-end source and an expensive dedicated tube headphone amplifier.I am aware of a computer magazine review that recently rated the Etymotics higher in sound quality.
This is a comparison of the E4C and the Etymotic ER-4P, using the Gmini XS200 as a source, with mp3's encoded at either 192 or 256 kb/s.(By the way, the Gmini is a great little DAP!)Both of these earphones are quite good and will provide vastly better sound quality than the typical headphones and earbuds that fill the mass market.I like the included foam tips included by each manufacturer, so that is what I used to compare them.The Etymotic foam tips seal better and provide superior isolation from outside noise.I must note that the Shure's were bought new by me, and the Etymotics are a loaner from a friend.Please be aware that the Shure's require some "burn in", and will not sound their best new out of the package.Have patience at the beginning, and notice the improvement in performance over the first 20-40 hours.I do not know the break-in characteristics of the Etymotics.
I'll cut to the chase.The Shure's are sonically much more impressive than the the Etymotic's.Both are highly resolving and have no major faults.The Shure's however, sound as though they have even greater resolution of detail, and have a flatter frequency response.They represent the subtleties of instrumental timbre much more accurately, and include even more detail in their presentation. One can hear all the qualities of the recording environment, the position of instruments of the orchestra (soundstage), and seem to create a sound that is less bottled up within the ear (headstage).They do not have the least trace of sibilance.Somehow, in spite of all this resolution, they still sound smooth and convey all the beauty and warmth of tone one could want.They have slightly "rolled highs", as this is the practice of Shure in all their products, but this is a very small criticism since the treble region is nevertheless very clear, balanced and controlled.In comparison, the Etymotics have a sound that is a little "tipped up", and can become fatiguing.There is a comparative lack of depth to their sound, and there is much information in the midrange in particular that is lost.Bass is not as present, controlled, or quick.Beauty of tone is lacking.I do not have the same emotional response to the music with them.However, these are still not sibilant, and are still very fine.
The Shure's are also better built.I feel they are sturdier and less likely to be damaged from hard use.They are more microphonic than the Etymotics, though, which will be very annoying if you intend to use them while moving around.One should realize they are both very microphonic because of the nature of their isolating design, and therefore will transmit a lot of unwanted bumping and rustling to your ears if you move around with them.I recommend sitting still.
The Shure represents true high fidelity in a portable form.In many ways, they outperform my expensive home headphone rig.What is more, they sound this good without the need of a separate headphone amplifier.In fact, I recommend you skip the amp, as I felt that mine added too much energy to the treble.I am very impressed with them, and I strongly recommend them.
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Shure E4c Sound Isolating EarphonesProduct Description: Digital edge technologies used for creating, transferring, and listening to digital music has made the iPod and various other Digital Media Players the most popular portable listening devices around the world. Shure recognized that at the start. Highly demanding and critical listeners have appreciated Shure earphones. Shure's E4c extends that enjoyment even further. The cutting-edge industrial design of the E4c is a breakthrough in sound isolating earphone technology. Ideal for the business traveler and on-the-go audiophile, the High-Definition Driver with Tuned Port Technology delivers brilliant highs and extended bass that enhance your listening experience with your portable DVD, MP3 and CD players as well as all other audio sources. The E4c's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes-even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. 60 inch cable length 3.5 mm (1/8) gold-plated stereo plugAlthough the E4c comes with an assortment of sleeves to ensure a comfortable fit, some users may want something even more personalized. In this case, we recommend contacting a hearing professional, such as an audiologist, to make custom-fit ear molds for your E4c Color -WHITE
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this is great item if you need an fm transmitter in your car.as anyone who owns an archos 5 knows, the built in fm-transmitter is garbage and requires something better for most uses.
