Etymotic Research ER2SE Studio Edition High Performance In-Ear Earphones (Detachable Dynamic Drivers, Noise Isolating, High Accuracy, Studio Grade Accuracy)

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emphasis that really stuck out when coming from my full sized headphones, even those with a 3k bump like my modded HD580.

You can expect these headphones and devices to connect seamlessly without any hassle and even offer OS-specific functionality depending on the device. When having the ER2XR and ER2SE in for loan, I also had the Moondrop Blessing 2 and the Thieaudio Legacy 3. The ER2’s carry forward Etymotic’s traditional deep-insertion ear tip and earpiece design motif (more on this later), but they introduce slightly revised (and nominally more comfortable) versions of the firm’s signature triple-flange ear tips. The birdsong at the beginning of TSwift+Bon Iver's exile was pushed way back to the point where I had to strain to hear them even at somewhat higher than typical-of-me SPLs.The result is the need for higher SPL in the 2-5k region (lower treble) for compensating said resonance. When I am, I’m usually looking for something a little crazy like the awful-on-paper, magical-in-practice colorations of some Audio-Technica headphones. Just try a pair of ER2SE’s or ER2XR’s (we’ll leave the voicing choice to you) and see if you don’t agree. The early ER•4p earphones were marvels of miniaturisation and were among the first commercial earphones to be based upon purpose-built, precision-matched and custom-tuned balanced armature-type drivers (then more uncommon than they are now).

For a while, this target was the gold standard for neutrality – but these days, many people prefer the Harman target, which is a little bit warmer and plays into listener preferences a bit more. With the Etymotic foam tips it’s more comfortable but you don’t get the comfort of Comply tips or a custom monitor of course.We can see the 8-9kHz resonance peak might be slightly different in frequency between different couplers. While I do think the bass quantity was not where I wanted it, the overall presentation felt more crisp and precise with the SE. The ER2’s also feature detachable and user replaceable signal cables—a feature the venerable ER•4p’s did not have. This mode adds a touch of body and warmth, improves imaging body, and opens the headstage up a bit at the expense of slightly more aggressive upper mids and some treble unrefinement relative to UHQ disabled. They were not hot or sibilant in any way, and would be good for long listening sessions without being fatigued.

The ER2XR is favoured by those who enjoy the extra bass presence and body when listening to their music. In my experience, this discomfort goes away over time – it’s something you just learn to get used to, and should only take a couple days. Skip ahead to part of the chorus at 1:54; when Maeson sing’s “I said I saw you in the water,” most earbuds amplify the piano too much right as he says “water. It has taken me awhile to get this impressions out due to work and business travel, but I have been able to sit down finally and get this impressions out. Neither is going to be at all appropriate for bassheads – generally speaking, I’d say true bassheads should probably steer clear of Etymotic.I started with 3300 Ohms and that created a warmer sound but somewhat diminished the monitoring qualities of the IEMs. To equalize the headset for mobile use, we recommend amplifying the sub-bass around 10dB and cutting the 1-5kHz range to about 8dB. Well, I'd say the bass and treble on the 2XR are strikingly similar to the FDX1, but that 4khz bump from the JVC is now shifted down to 2. push and extra sub of the 2XR is clear in direct comparison, making them sound a bit more fun but also more fatiguing in the long term.

The three-flange tips should be replaced every two to three months, and the foam ear tips should be replaced even more frequently: they collect earwax and oils more than their silicone counterparts. I was never able to get a fit I felt comfortable with, and always felt awkward and discomfort from having them so deep in.From ER4XR to ER2SE – To get similar output i had to push the ER2SE’s volume one notch higher in my HTC10. This is an area that really separates the higher end IEMs from the more "budget" ones in my opinion. This contains a netted pocket for securing any of the ear tips or whatever else you want to toss in there.