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DetailsER4SR is Etymotic’s reference hi-fidelity in-ear monitor, for those who demand nothing less than the highest reproduction accuracy. The ER4SR right and left channels are matched within an industry-leading 1dB across frequencies from 100 Hz to 10 kHz.
ER4SR is the highest-performing single driver in-ear monitor. The IEM shells are made of anodized aluminum, CNC machined with extremely tight tolerances. Using a single Balanced Armature (BA) driver allows for extremely accurate IEM without the added complexity of crossovers, and helps keep the aluminum body small and slim. The included high-quality user-replaceable cable is reinforced and twisted, to improve longevity and durability. Etymotic IEMs are world renowned for their class-leading passive isolation, providing 35-42 dB attenuation (depending on eartips used and the depth of insertion). For comparison, most custom IEMs provide approx. 25-28dB attenuation and foam ear plugs attenuate up to 32 dB. The ER4SR is a must-have for discerning sound engineers, audiophiles, and consumers wanting the most accurate in-ear monitors available.
Which ER4 is right for you?
Both ER4 models, the ER4SR and ER4XR, use the same Balanced Armature (BA) drivers. The only difference is the tuning of the lower (bass) frequencies. The ER4SR, being the “reference” model, is tuned to be as precise and flat as possible. The ER4XR, being the “fun” model, is tuned with added bass. As you can see from the frequency response graphs below, ER4XR adds 1-2dB to the mid-bass frequencies (below 200Hz) and 3-4dB to the lower-bass and sub-bass (below 100Hz). The rest of the frequencies are practically identical. ER4SR is ideal for sound engineers and mixing technicians who must have a precise and accurate sound reproduction across all frequencies. ER4SR is the IEM of choice for audiophiles and consumers who like to listen to their music exactly the way it was recorded. ER4XR with its tastefully added bass is favored by audiophiles and consumers who prefer a little extra bass presence when enjoying their music. This model is not bass heavy by any means.
Frequency response graphs and Etymotic’s target:
Etymotic’s target frequency response graph represents a “perceptibly flat” frequency response. Our goal is to have a flat frequency response curve when the music notes hit your eardrums. To achieve that, we need to account for the resonance inside the average ear canal, since IEMs bypass the outer ear structure. The result is the need for higher SPL in the 2-5k region (lower treble) for compensating said resonance. That is the reason for the “hump” in that region. The target curve that Etymotic is using for tuning our IEMs differs slightly from the Harmon preference curve. It was developed in-house more than 20 years ago, leveraging on our human hearing expertise and acoustics research.
Accurate Earphone reproduction
When tuning in-ear monitors to accurately reproduce a recording of a live performance, our goal is for the sound hitting the eardrums to be identical to that at the original performance. To achieve this, the acoustic properties of the ear must be factored in. The acoustic resonance and horn effects of the ear change a flat audio signal entering the open ear into sound with a (2700 Hz) high-frequency boost, which is the same response heard at the eardrum in a typical ear. That is the reason for the “hump” in the frequency response graph below, which assures the eardrums perceive a perfectly flat frequency response for all frequencies.
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Nahkwon Joo (verified owner) –
Most accurate IEM in the world
I have traveled with many expense hifi headphones and earphones for many years. Always desired to hear the true and accurate sound it was meant to be. ER4SR just satisfied me perfectly. Having more bass with ER4XR gives you more warmer filled sound, but the ER4SR’s bass is just right enough to listen whole dynamic range balanced to my ear.
Steven Tovian (verified owner) –
ER4SR – very satisfied
Very pleased with my purchase of the ER4SR. The performance with my favorite music – classical, new age, jazz (no rock) has been excellent. No complaints or disappointments. Really debated about getting the ER4XR v ER4SR. Wish I could have listened to the ER4XR to make my choice. Will never know the audio difference. No regrets but just wonder what heightened bass on ER4XR actually sounds like.
duncan shepherd (verified owner) –
ER4 SR. The Best.
I’m not really an audiophile, but I am professional video editor so I’m familiar with the requirements accuracy when I’m mixing audio for TV or other delivery systems.
That being said, these are quite simply the most delicately accurate and enjoyable way to enjoy my favorite music that I’ve discovered yet in my 57 years on this planet. They isolate exterior noise so well, so that that you don’t have to play them at full blast, and can enjoy the nuance and flavor of a recording as it was intended in the studio.
To be honest that’s enough for me.
I play them out of an old fashioned iPod (The black one with the front dial), which is wonderful in itself, and then if I really want to bathe in luxury I’ll add a good headphone amplifier, occasionally adding a little bass boost if I’m listening to music that seems to require it. But without the amp they are still wonderful.
Buy them, you will not regret it you appreciate accuracy.
If you need thumping bass added to your music like too much sugar, you’re going to need a good amp or a different version of these.
(I should add they take a little getting used to in the first week, as they go a long way into the ear canal, and you’re unused to having anything in there.)
Murat Cinar (verified owner) –
Epitome of headphones
It all started when I bought my first pair of Etymotic HF-5’s. Walking on the streets of Chicago on cold evenings, I used to listen all the classic rock best of through them discovering new details every time. For years I have always relied on them for my critical listening. I don’t even want to call myself an audiophile but it is painfully obvious to me when I can hear all these details so crisp and easy with a better pair of headphones or speakers. Then I bought the er4sr’s and my horizon blew up to another level. Close your eyes when you are listening to your favorite high quality recording through the er4sr’s and you just can see the band playing live right in front of you, hearing (and seeing through a sense I never knew existed) where each and every band member is and every little detail of sound in each of their instruments. Vocals are so detailed so that you can tell how many voices are there at any time and tell who is who. Listen Beatles, The Blues Brothers, Kansas, ELO, Dire Straits, Eagles, Chicago, America, Supertramp or anything else you like with these headphones and as long as the recording is above a certain level of quality, you will hear a difference!
Ryan Watson (verified owner) –
Very satisfied with the audio quality
I’m not entirely new to this brand. I had a pair of Etymotic MC3s years ago, and the audio quality and sound isolation on those were great. Those were my first high fidelity earphones. I could hear everything in the audio mix including the positioning of instruments. But, the dynamic drivers in those started to struggle a bit on fast paced music, especially rock. That changes with these ER4SRs, the bass is very tight and the vocals are so crisp. It makes music so much more enjoyable. I’m keeping these earphones until they die.
Andrew Nemeth (verified owner) –
Updating from 2016 ER4-PT
Have been a long time user of Etymotic earphones & earplugs. Bought my first transducer earphones more than 20 years ago – ER4-P. I lost these in 2016, so bought the replacement equivalent ER4-PT.
Fast forward to June 2023 and the ER4-PTs were still working fine, but in I decided to upgrade to the ER4-SR. The sound quality is better, but not night and day. What I do like is the metal body construction they use now (the older versions being polycarbonate) and – most importantly – that it is now easy to change cables. In the past I accidentally caught the cable of the ER4-P in the metal zipper of a recordist’s pouch and did a fair bit of damage. So had to send the whole earphone package in for replacement. Ouch.
Sound from the ER4-SR? As always with the ER4s – excellent. You get plenty of bass, so the boosted response offered by the alternative ER4-XR is – IMO – unnecessary.
So why not 5 stars?… The price. Ouch 2.
Mike Decelle (verified owner) –
Great earphones
I owned your ER4Ps for almost 20 years before one of the cables failed and then were replaced them with these units. Another great product.
Oh, and I think your sensitivity specs reported above are incorrect. Based on the measured response included in the box which indicates 104dB SPL of output @ 200mW, the sensitivity cannot be 98db/1mW; rather it is actually 98dB/100mW (or, alternatively, 78dB/1mW).
Michael Brown (verified owner) –
Sublime
I have searched for decades for the most accurate audio reproduction either via headset or IEM. At last…I found the perfect transducer. Fantastic accuracy
combined with absolutely amazing detail and coherence. They are amazing. I just wanted to say thank you for making them. They are exactly what I wanted
for testing audio equipment and sferic listening. They are just the truth when connected to the source. They are sublime on music as well!
Well done and thank you!
PS. Sferic listening as I do it uses ELF/VLF antennas in the audio range for listening to various lightning related phenomenon. I design and build my own antennas and
having a reference grade IEM to evaluate them is mandatory.
Angelo Lorenzoni (verified owner) –
Just the best.
I got my pair in December 2021, I have 3 years with them now and I have to say these are the best In Ears that I will have in my life. I even tried another tuning IE’s but no one can go to the level of detail and realism in any way. After 2 years I only have replace the cable because I used everyday and the eartips. The earphone itself is in the best of the conditions and its build is totally the best. If I have the money I will try to get more to save it if something happends…
Loren Jones (verified owner) –
Look No Further
Transparent, right, correct, accurate. These give you the sound with no embellishment as it is on your source material. I’ve had them a couple years and nothing else is this good. I’ve compared with plenty of other IEM’s and earbuds and popular headphones like Sony WH1000XM4. The difference compared to something like that is astounding. Compared to a pair of Focal closed back earphones that retail for $900-1000 the ER4 is very similar. You don’t need anything else if you want to hear amazing audio as it was intended.
NIck Smith (verified owner) –
The inserts can remain stuck in your ear.
In order to get accurate bass response, you have to insert these things well into your ears. Twice, upon removing them, the rubber has remained in my ear, stuck fast. I have had to go get needle nose pliars, and grab it by feel, to get it out. They sound great. But I hesitate to use them, especially when I am at a venue tuning a system, with no one around to assist me, and no tweezers or pliars on hand.
Giovanni Elli (verified owner) –
Perfect
The headphones are perfect, they are what I was expecting and what I needed. Only thing that seems fagile is the cable that is a little bit rigid with some curves but maybe is just my impression, time will tell.
Unfortunetly they forgot the 6.3 jack adapter, not a big problem.
Art Antin (verified owner) –
USBc
I don’t know how it effects the sound quality, but the headphones should directly connect to a USBc port so iPhone/iPad users don’t have to use a dongle.
James H (verified owner) –
Perfect
I was looking for comfortable in-ear, wired headphones for long gaming sessions but I also wanted something high fidelity. I knew about Etymotic because I bought ear plugs from them that I use at live shows.
First of all these are extremely comfortable. The three flange inserts will feel weird at first but I don’t notice them at all now. I can wear these for multiple hours.
These sound as spot on as my studio monitors (Kali IN-8 v2, $1200) but with the benefit of many dB of passive noise reduction and not needing acoustic treatment. The bass on these is plenty without needing the extra bass version. The sound is very comfortable and not fatiguing. I wanted to put these to the test against a hifi over-ear headset with dedicated DAC. I bought the Hifiman XS open-back planar magnetic ($500). The Etymotic is much more comfortable and almost the same fidelity, which is insane.
I do get strange looks from my gear-head friends when I say that in-ear can compete with expensive gear but I’m not bothered, I can enjoy each for it’s own purpose.
Rolandwdrum (verified owner) –
Music as it is
I bought a pair of ER4XRs 6 years ago because I was looking for a little more bass than the ER4Ss I had been using for many years. These ER4XRs improved slightly on my experience with the ER4Ss in terms of fidelity, accuracy and clarity (the ER4Ss are still fantastic IEMs), but also with a little, just a little, more colour in the bass. I don’t like to equalise the IEMS, the way they sound with my IFI Gryphon I don’t need to look any further. You quickly get used to the way they work and they never get tired, either in sound or placement. If you like music as it is, the ER4 family is one of the best options available.
JVande (verified owner) –
Using in Balanced Mode
The bass was stronger in balanced mode than single ended, otherwise I might have gone with the XR. (Some 60s recordings need additional bass boost.)
Stephen (verified owner) –
Still the gold standard
I have used and enjoyed the original ER4 for decades. I didn’t need the ER4SR
but here I am . The newer Ety’s have a more solid feel. The cable is still microphonic, but less so than the original. Soundwise I haven’t really done a back and forth comparison. I’ve owned a handful of other iems over the years and i have always come back the Etymotics. Honest and real.
Alexander (verified owner) –
Best sound I’ve ever heard from earphones
Best sound I’ve ever heard from earphones.
Jonathan Doran (verified owner) –
The ER3s were my benchmark but the ER4s eclipse them.
I used the ER3s for years until I broke one, and got the ER4s expecting very little difference because the 3s were already so clear and detailed. The improvement in sound stage and aural space is a welcome surprise. I don’t know of any other brand that gets out of the way of the music like these. They add nothing and allow everything.
Wireless Mike (verified owner) –
_Still_ the best on the market.
My first set of ER4s ruined me for compressed audio. I downloaded an A/B test app and identified the compressed audio 80% of the time. I can’t perform like that with wireless headphones, no matter how much I love my Airpods. They immediately changed my studio practice for the better. And I ended up selling a ton of the musicians and engineers around me on them for the extreme isolation you can get. They’re perfection for side stage monitor mixing. I adore DJing with them. If you need critical listening headphones, get these.