Etymotic Research ER2-XR Extended Response - In Ear Noise Isolating IEM Earphones with Detachable Cable

Product Information

They have the typical diffuse field target response you come to expect from Etymotic, but with an added bit of low end power and impact. These are by no means a bass oriented earphone, but they will probably appeal to more people than the ER2SE Studio Edition version. Both ER2 models, the ER2SE and ER2XR, use the same low-impedance dynamic drivers. That means they are easy to drive, and no amplifier is required. The only difference between the 2 models is the tuning of the lower (bass) frequencies. The “Studio Edition” ER2SE is tuned to have a flat frequency response. The “eXtended Response” ER2XR is tuned to have an emphasized bass, adding 1-2dB to the mid-bass and 3-4dB to the sub-bass. The rest of the frequencies are practically identical to the ER2SE. ER2SE is a great choice for audio creators and musicians on a budget, who require a precise and neutral sound reproduction. ER2SE is also the IEM of choice for consumers who prefer to listen to their music exactly the way it was recorded. ER2XR is favored by those who enjoy the extra bass presence and body when listening to their music. The extra bass is done tastefully without turning the ER2XR into a bass heavy IEM. The soundstaging on the ER2XR isn’t excellent, their diffuse field tuning limits this slightly. However the stereo imaging more than makes up for this, with pinpoint accuracy as to instrument placement, along with great coherency across the frequency range. Last but least, the fit. Follow the instructions in the manual (no, don't throw it right away, you animals ) and the fit should be perfect with a large majority of ears. The IEM is so small that a deep insertion should be possible for almost everyone. It might feel invasive at the beginning, but for me it was a matter of some hours. Then, the IEM disappears into your ears and you are isolated from the outside. Music is playing so naturally and so clear, without harshness.

My Starfield sound somewhat bassier and warmer to me but are generally heading into a highly comparable direction when it comes to tuning. A few years ago, they released the latest ER4 series, the ER4SR (Studio Reference) and ER4XR (Extended Response), using their latest balanced armature driver. This was soon followed by ER3 series, which reduced the impedance and moved its production from the USA to China and reduced the price by half while providing similar sound profiles in both the SR and XR versions, named ER3SE (Studio Edition) and ER3XR (Extended Response). Note: When there is no obvious treble peak (T1p) around the 4-5kHz area, SPL at 4400Hz is used as T1p value.The treble offers a natural extension with premium level of detail retrieval, never hurting your precious ears, if the recording doesn't call for it, as always. I am quite treble sensitive, if it can be of any help. If we look at the frequency response as a whole, we can see that the response of the ER2XR is also the closest to the ‘Harman curve’ of any of the other Etymotic models. The ER2XR would not serve me as some of my main in-ears for stationary music listening anyway (in-ears such as the Etymotic ER4SR, my ER-4SR, InEar ProPhile 8, Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors and few others take this spot), as I prefer a flatter, more neutral presentation for that. On the rear of the main housing is a slightly recessed MMCX connector, and we can also see a little cutout which is intended to keep the cable from rotating. The overall design and construction is identical to the ER3 and flagship ER4-series, but the ER2-series offers 2 very distinct differences.

Whereas my Sound Tier is based entirely on, well, sound, I wanted a way to indicate how much I like an earphone overall, taking into account things like price, competition, comfort, design, build quality and accessories. This rating is on one hand more subjective, but on the other, aimed towards you. Where the Tier tells you how much I enjoyed something, the Stars tell you if I recommend it to you. It's also quite simple. Took a while to get used to the fit, although I have used deep fit tips before so I was prepared for the feeling. When the notion of value comes up in the IEM world, the word “Chi-fi” is generally what follows – but screw that. Instead, let me introduce to you Etymotic, a renowned hearing-aid and IEM company based out of the good ‘ol USA. I’ve avoided the Etymotic lineup for some time because of their, let’s just say, unique form factor. They insert deep into your ear canals, and I mean real deep. People even joke about losing their ear’s virginity to Etymotic’s infamous triple-flange tips; frankly, the thought revolted me. But I have zero regrets having taken the plunge with the ER2XR – let’s discuss why.I wanted to touch base with a few other IEMs in this price range that I really like a lot. Namely, the Moondrop Kanas Pro and the BGVP DMS. They are considerably different than the ER2 but worth looking at. You can find opinions on both sides about which one is better. You should just try one (from a place with a return policy). The first advantage is that it creates a lot of isolation, between 35 and 42dB according to Etymotic. That’s way more passive isolation than you would get from any other type of in-ear headphones, and it can rival even some headphones out there that have active noise-cancellation. Etymotic ER2XR (Extended Response) is one of my favorite IEM from Etymotic that doesn't need any introduction. I bought this pair from a local shop around 2 years ago. It is a deep insertion micro dynamic driver design with almost ruler flat impedance across the audio band. And the most important feature is, it sounds pretty good. Well, it's been a long while since then, my collection grew to include over 20 IEMs, and I've managed to try some "legendary" pairs like the ThieAudio Monarch and the holy grail of the IEM world - the Sony IER-Z1R, as well as a few other pairs in the same price range as the Etymotic. So why did I wait so long to review these? I'll tell you in a while, but since it's my first review here, I'm going to introduce myself. (You can skip that part if you're only interested in the earphone, but I'd encourage you to read it if you want some perspective on how I rate things.