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

Product Information

The ER2SE is ideal for sound engineers, audiophiles, and consumers on a budget, who are looking for in-ear monitors that are easy to drive while offering accurate audio reproduction. Three balanced armature drivers are running the EVO, and while most may expect this to be a bass-mids-treble triple crossover setup, the EVO instead utilises a a far simpler 2-way setup with a double-woofer stack handling the low frequencies. Separation is top notch, and even old Nick Drake recordings revealed meticulously clean guitar strums in the lower mids. I think so, but their exact treble response is not necessarily identical, so some of it may just be FR-related.

Overall, it sounds quite natural and balanced but frequency extensions at both ends, sub-bass and upper-treble, sound a bit too soft. The bass boost alone makes me prefer the 2 over the 4, but there was also an unexpected difference in soundstage. Unless IEMs/tips are cleaned regularly, any moisture and debris buildup on your IEMs for extensive periods can be potential contamination that can irritate your ears. With an impedance of 15 ohms and a sensitivity of 96dBm these buds are reasonably easy to drive, and you should get more than plenty of volume from even your mobile device. area and above 10KHz seems to be lacking despite FR charts saying the ER2SE should be brighter than the ER4XR?Even with the Er2se and Er4sr if I turn up the sound just below too loud, with proper insertion depth, the lows seem a litttle north of neutral. Based on what I'm reading both sound detailed and both have a reasonable - but not obnoxious - bass bump over the SE versions. A nice recommendation, from a trusted source, and they are a great second pair for tonal accuracy and a pleasant easy listening sound. If you’re looking for a great sub-bassy sound, without too much mid-bass bloat, then FiiO FH3 is your best choice.

With better seal and isolation, you’ll perceive a greater sound stage as well, but comfort is really where it’s at. Arguably the brand when it comes to neutral tunings, Etymotic had always been characterised by their insistence on the single-driver formula. Vastly prefer the ER2SE and of course, the ER4SR (which has been my main wired IEM for the last year, even though the fit tolerance is an acquired "sin"). Disclaimer: The measurement results of the engineering quality measurement in this review represent only the pair of IEM that was measured for this review.The ER2XR is ideal for musicians, audiophiles, and consumers on a budget, who are looking for in-ear monitors that are easy to drive, and prefer the added warmth in the bass frequencies.

Etymotic continues its legacy with the ER4SR and ER4XR, which are updates to their legacy ER4 lineup with slight tweaks to their target curve to accomodate for more mainstream tastes. The ER4XR, in contrast, provides one extra pair of silicon tri-flage, one extra foam tips, one extra set of spare filters, and a 1/4 inch stereo adapter. Frankly, I can't even use the Etymotic branded ones anymore as they become uncomfortable after only 5-10 minutes. That is the reason for the “hump” in the frequency response graph, which assures the eardrums perceive a perfectly flat frequency response for all frequencies.You can get more air in the treble with the right insertion depth than most IEMs but you can't fix the lack of lower treble amount unfortunately.