Love every Etymotic IEM models. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know how to use them properly. This is the best performing IEM without any fluff, just shear sonic bliss. If it hurts and feels numb, it wasn't inserted properly. It takes a while to "know" the exact insertion method through trial and error because everyone's ear canal shape and length is slightly different.

It's too bad many people don't realize what a bargain Etymotic with Balanced Armature drivers are. They spend hundreds, and in some cases over thousand on IEM's and then keep switching them out. I used to be that person. Now I only use Etymotic. No more Grado, Campfire Audio, Sennheiser, Bose or any other. They are all "meh" compared to my beloved Etymotic ER4's. Microphonics on the L+R wires. I basically do this. I cut a small gaffer tape, start wrapping it around both cable with sticky side facing you. Then, I use JB Weld putty and apply it around the sticky side of the tape like a small cylinder/sphere. Once it's cured, I just paint it with gloss black enamel. I use black brake caliper paint as it's hardens and never peels or rubs off. It works like a charm. I do this to all my headphones. Once you tighten it towards the bottom of the neck, most of the microphonics is gone. I currently own all variation. ER4S, ER4XR, ER3XR, ER2SE, and ER2XR. Right now, hands down, my favorite is the ER4XR. With regards to the debate about Balanced Armature vs Dynamic Drivers. My ears prefer the Balanced Armature. They provide better clarity and the live recordings just seem to "pop" off the stage. I never knew what that dongle did, thanks for explaining that. I recently picked up a ER4S (Blue/Red, Resistor) from eBay at the very good price. Can't wait to start using that model also. Thanks for the detailed review!

I have 4 pairs of Etymotics. Over the years, I probably had around 8 pairs. In the past, the HF series had mixed bag of cable with some microphone which I never liked nor worked properly as it contained only 1 element which made it very directional. But I'm glad that newer Ety's no longer have mic elements (good riddance). But, by far, my favorite is the ER4 series. Both the XR and SR. When listening to normal music, you don't notice the bass extension on the XR. XR and SR I find are about equal. But when you play tracks with more pronounced bass, this is where the XR shines. It also produces subtle rumbles in track like you're standing on front of a large 3 way speakers with active crossovers. I use my ER4XR most of the time both at home and when I am running errands to working out. I have a very dated FLAC player from Cowon called the iAudio 9+ which not many people knows about. I have both CD quality 44Khz and 320Kbp MPs loaded onto the built in 32GB memory which holds a quite of bit of albums. I use a small arm band that I devised and have it attached to it via industrial Velcro which are used on EZ Pass tags. Then I wrapped the excess cord from my arm to the ear buds using another Velcro. I enjoy audiophile grade sound every where I go. It literally surprises me every day when I listen to my favorite albums which I can hear subtle sounds that I have not heard before, or just missed it in the past. This has to do with the fine tuning of the Ety's frequency response is flat across the coverage area, and honestly, you could pay all the money in the world looking for that "perfect" set up but this I would not trade my current setup for devices that costs even thousands.

Hello, I want to buy this model but box is in Chinese letters, is there options to set it to English?

Can i use these for daily use... like.. music and movies? Are they good? Or is the se425 better? Hehe

I just picked up 2x ER4XR's direct from Etymotics at 50% off. Unbelievable, a vast improvement over the clunky and dated ER4P design. Really liking the sound and the ergonomics of the new design. I am now looking to give it a good workout using the balanced cable and do some filter rolling on these. I am a huge fan of Etymotics. The convenience, isolation, and the sound signature of these are what always makes me coming back to them over the last 10 years.

Nice! I wonder which hiby was you talking about?

The HD 600 gang!! We're all sittin' here with our much beloved HD600.

I have a set of these and they have 1x 10mm dynamic, 6x BA drivers, and 2x EST’s in each ear. Other than that slight misspeak, good review. Also the best IEM I have heard.

Anyone using this for gaming fps? Is it good in pinpointing location like gunfire or footsteps?

It's been 9 months since last comment Loving my Dunu SA6 With Astell & Kern sp1000m dap Nice match Thank you so much for your content Your channel is so helpful You rock 🤟🎧 Thank you

2024 here in

i just bought vr500

XR2 is definitely better overall

4:07 haha Definitely

Would you say that they're good for listening to ASMR?

I don't see the Tinhfi C2 in your IEM ranking list.

Looks like orchestra lite is not on your website. On Rankings....

Hold on.... you can get a CIEM of this??? I never would have known. I remember you enjoying the Orchestra Lite during the blind listening with Super*Review. Any plans to do more similar videos together? I found them entertaining.

Thanks Sean 🙏

No zero 2??? 😭....

I ain't paying 9$ more to get lower build quality. I can change the sound with EQ . But I can't change the build quality.

Thank you very much! In the past, I also really loved etymotic er4s and I have an Kiwi Orchestra Lite, and I almost ordered a 7th Supernova :)

I agree that $1K seems ridiculous for an IEM. And there are many in the $3K range now. It wasn’t that long ago that $1K was unheard of for earbuds.

I was really tempted by the Tyvek, but your review has shown that they're not particularly sustainable given the wear, so I'll go for softshell.

But Supernova was the chosen one!!!1

what about fit comparison of CHU 2 and the salnotes zero? The CHU 2 seems to have a deeper reach inside the ear due to the shape of the shell and the salnotes seems to be slightly bigger and my concern is that it won't fit in my ears

will they gonna sound good with my phone + cheap dongle (cx 31993 ) ?

I feel like youd love the 7hz sonus cable

What is your advice for me, to upgrade C2 mw? Letshuoer S12, Tri l3 (planar+dd+ba), Kefine Klanar, Fh3, Hidizs Ms3? I want more stage and imaging for gaming+maybe more subbass and seperation. I hate sibilance(on Kz zsn pro...)

why not getting third party cable like TRN, Tripown or JCally? much better than these stock cables

Got Zero 2's, I'm just blown away by how gooooood they are.... Worth it! Thanks for the recommendation! Looking forward to the full review video.

The leaves on the shell are bamboo leaves, apparently the name Chu comes from the Romanized pronounciation of 竹, which means bamboo. I definitely need to pick up ones of these for the cable. Im also attached to my PA Azul cable, but the 2 pins are oxidizing pretty badly and i need a backup. Thanks for the review!

They are all plastic, though. 😂

Cd is the better but a good vinyl can have better dynamic range sometimes. The master is more important than cd or vinyl

CDs are much worse. Gets the bathroom all wet every frickin' time.

CDs are also just way better storage-wise. 2 vinyls can take up half a cupboard.

Awesome to hear that you are a CD guy. I am as well ! 🤘

Thanks for this video Sean, very well done and much appreciated. In case anyone here is interested, I purchased a 512GB Samsung Pro Ultimate MicroSD card. It works flawlessly in my NWZ A17 This particular card is currently Sale priced on Amazon Canada at CDN$ 56.99. I wasn't sure the A17 would take to this card but it did and I was pleasantly surprised. I also have a Firefly Cobalt USB DAC which I intend to try with my A17. I will need to get a Female/Female USB-A adapter to cope with the A17's proprietary USB cable. Not sure if this will work or be useful with the A17 but will be finding out soon. Cheers

Long time owenr of the ER4SR here...picked up the 2SE recently and o camt put them down. Everything said in this video is spot on 100%. Prefer them to the ER4SR

Thanks for the review But there is something about chifi iems that I don’t like. The sound is very good but there design turns me off, always chunky Thats why I decided to own just two iems and thats it er4xr and ierm9 and the chifis alone

Thanks for the review! I hope you gonna do one for the Monarch MK2 as well.

How bad is the microponics on these compaired to the er2xr ?

I fucked up getting chu 2 + hola for the same price, at this rate I will give them to my sister :v and buy it, tho let's see how good May is

I regret selling mine already

You can also try putting a mesh "200 or 500 mesh" on it and try how it reacts instead of fully covering the bass holes. Thanks for the review. Also try Tanchjim zero if possible.

It's a great iem, very much underrated by several reviewers out there. I have mine here and don't plan to sell it.

🎉

I did experience all the Beatles songs new, and this one is finally the cherry on top chronologically.

Will you upload any IEMs frequency graphs? ER2XR white and green stock filters graphs would be interested to compare with browns you have already uploaded.