Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black)
by Etymotic Research
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Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: Etymotic ResearchFormat: CD
Platform: Windows
Model: ER6I-BLK-C
Color: Black
Product features:
- Balanced armature transducer for full-range sound
- Frequency range of 50 Hz - 16 kHz
- Up to 36dB noise isolation
- Choose between included flanges and foam eartips for best fit
- Replacement filters, changing tool, shirt clip and pouch included
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Digital camera reviews of Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black)
Digital camera Review: !Bang for your buck == quite for your $. Sound A-Okay.
Summary: 4 Stars
I am not an audiophile.
My motivation for purchasing these was to block out ambient sound. That is, i was not trying to improve sound quality, but rather to make things quite so I could concentrate on work. If I could get some classical music in there as well this is a bonus.
These work well for blocking out sound. I wear them correctly. My ear canals are apparently really small so I cannot get the foam tips in my ear all the way. Therefore, I use the flange tips (not as isolating as foam). The flange tips slide in easily (especially with the layers of wax built up). The sound isolation is not "perfect". Without music I can still hear chickens, cars, lawn mowers, deep-bass-footstep-thuds from other rooms, etc... However, it does lower the decibels of these sounds drastically. If put in a little classical music at very low volume (VLC media player registers at 0% when i play the music) I can barely hear the chickens and cars. That is, I have to concentrate to hear the chickens and cars, whereas before it was the other way around. When the music is on I can still hear the deep-bass-footstep-thuds and lawn mowers but I can tolerate it now, where as before it would drive me insane.
I study/read/program, and I need to concentrate; sounds distract me easily. These earphones help me go from being irate from sound distractions to actually losing myself in my work.
I was going to pay double the amount for some other earphones, but some people on a forum recommended the Er6i so I trusted them. They were correct. The sound isolation seems to be top of the line. The sound is absolutely fine for me, i don't hear the 'tiny' sounds that many people complain about. I suspect these people do not have them deep in their ears. When I say the sound is fine, this is not to say the sound is not excellent. I don't know what excellent sound sounds like. To me, these earphones produce quality sound and most importantly block out ambient noise superbly. I suspect the isolation would be even better if i could get some foam tips to fit.
I sleep with these things in. I even sleep on my side, on my ear. Moreover, I don't use a pillow. Frankly, I forget they are in. I have walked away from the computer with the cord still plugged-in to the computer. The 'thin' capable didn't break. I also fall asleep while watching [...]shows, so it is not always a conscious decision to leave them in. I have tossed and turned in the middle of the night and 'ripped' at the cable accedintally - the 'thin' cable is still in tact.
The cables are thin, but they are still intact (3 months of almost 24/7 use). The sound of the cables rubbing against beard, clothes, etc...does propagate to the ears, but wrapping the cable once over the ear helps absorb and reduce this nuisance noise considerably. I am not jogging when i use them, i am working at a computer or sleeping, so this is not an issue for me.
They help suppress the noise of the barking dogs next door. Even without music, I have to do the ear equivalent of "squinting" to hear the dogs. If I had even the faintest of music playing I would not be able to hear the dogs.
Also, there is enough of a plastic to grab the earphone when it is deep in your ear. I am not worried about them being in my ear 'forever'. Etymotic recommends that one twist the earphone while removing it to slowly break the vacuum seal. I notice when i do this the flange ear tip comes off in my ear. I can even get this flange out when this happens without an ounce of panic. Instead of twisting, i push the earphone to the side to slowly release the vacuum. This works fine.
I can pop them in and take them out relatively quickly. If i was using the foam tips i don't think it would be as quick, but I don't have to perform a 'ritual' to put them in and take them out.
I was disappointed that I could not use the foam ear tips. Etymotic did not originally send me a full set of ear tips and I was missing the small foam tips. I emailed customer support they sent me out a full set of ear tips right away for free without many questions other than my mailing address. Even the small foam tips were too big for my ears. I am satisfied with the flange for now. If move into a cubicle office environment i might want to find a set of foam tips that fit, but then i might not be able to hear the phone ring or a coworker asking a question (boss might not like that).
In summary, the earphones are not "sound proof". Without music they do a great job of reducing the decibels of ambient noise, and with a very low volume setting they do an excellent job of reducing ambient noise. The quality of the music is perfectly acceptable for my standards. I watch movies, make phone calls, listen to classical, rock, and world music. It is not tiny, and the bass is certainly present. I would like smaller foam tips for my ears, but I am certainly a satisfied customer. I am glad I did not pay more money for audiophile perfection, which i wouldn't have even noticed with no further sound isolation. If you want sound isolation, and consider music a bonus, this is certainly !bang for your buck. In programming, ! is the 'bang' operator which means "not", so "!Bang"=="bang Bang"=="not bang" is a pun in itself, but also means "quite". So Er6i is quite for your buck.
Summary of Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black)
6i Isolator Earphones are designed specifically for use with the Apple iPod and other small portable players, providing greater sound output and enhanced bass.Headphones
Cameras and Photo
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