D
Deleted member 15865
Guest
Hi guys,
I am looking at buying new IEMs and based on my net research I have narrowed upon two IEMs:
- Etymotic ER4SR, and
- Grado GR10e
Both are armature based. And as you can guess, I am looking for detailed but natural (and hopefully linear) presentation. I am undecided between these and could benefit from those of you who are users/knowledgeable. Remember I am going to be using them mostly outside, during my walks and free times at work. At home I have a desktop system with Beyerdynamic T1 cans and my living room stereo system. So it‘d only be rare that I’d listen to IEMs with a full blown DAC and headphone amplifier. There’s a possibility that I may buy a DAP to run the IEMs on the move, but don’t want that to be a governing factor in making this decision.
My reasons to consider Etymotic is that they are the ultimate reference in sound, almost studio level. And I can imagine how pristine and detailed it can sound. But my concerns are the following:
1. Would they be underpowered with an iPhone 11Pro max? Would I be able to sample the richness of the Etys stll? At 45 ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity, what do you think?
2. There‘s concern over safety during walks due to its absolute noise isolation.
Etymotic also has the ER4 microPro model which is the more mobile version of the ER4SR and seems more drivable (27 ohm and 102 dB) and Etymotic says that with the included adaptor you get the 4S signature, but the microPro are in plastic, without detachable cable and I dont feel confident they’d sound as well as the 4SR. Can any ER4PT or ER4microPro user confirm this?
As for the Grado, they too boast of linearity, but with a bit of Grado mids magic. I know they sound better off with 60s and 70s music which constitutes half my listening (the other half is eclectic). Also I feel the iPhone 11 should be able to drive these at 32 ohms and 113 dB sensitivity. I know I’d enjoy their sound, but will they be true to the recording like the Etys? If not totally, with only slight alteration to the frequency curve? Will I have a feeling of missing on the Etys (reference) if I go for Grado? Or will the Grado fun more than compensate?
Both these cost around the same. While Etys would need to be bought from Amazon US (do you know of any official channel here in India? I couldn’t find any), the Grados are on preorder from Headphonezone.
Thanks.
I am looking at buying new IEMs and based on my net research I have narrowed upon two IEMs:
- Etymotic ER4SR, and
- Grado GR10e
Both are armature based. And as you can guess, I am looking for detailed but natural (and hopefully linear) presentation. I am undecided between these and could benefit from those of you who are users/knowledgeable. Remember I am going to be using them mostly outside, during my walks and free times at work. At home I have a desktop system with Beyerdynamic T1 cans and my living room stereo system. So it‘d only be rare that I’d listen to IEMs with a full blown DAC and headphone amplifier. There’s a possibility that I may buy a DAP to run the IEMs on the move, but don’t want that to be a governing factor in making this decision.
My reasons to consider Etymotic is that they are the ultimate reference in sound, almost studio level. And I can imagine how pristine and detailed it can sound. But my concerns are the following:
1. Would they be underpowered with an iPhone 11Pro max? Would I be able to sample the richness of the Etys stll? At 45 ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity, what do you think?
2. There‘s concern over safety during walks due to its absolute noise isolation.
Etymotic also has the ER4 microPro model which is the more mobile version of the ER4SR and seems more drivable (27 ohm and 102 dB) and Etymotic says that with the included adaptor you get the 4S signature, but the microPro are in plastic, without detachable cable and I dont feel confident they’d sound as well as the 4SR. Can any ER4PT or ER4microPro user confirm this?
As for the Grado, they too boast of linearity, but with a bit of Grado mids magic. I know they sound better off with 60s and 70s music which constitutes half my listening (the other half is eclectic). Also I feel the iPhone 11 should be able to drive these at 32 ohms and 113 dB sensitivity. I know I’d enjoy their sound, but will they be true to the recording like the Etys? If not totally, with only slight alteration to the frequency curve? Will I have a feeling of missing on the Etys (reference) if I go for Grado? Or will the Grado fun more than compensate?
Both these cost around the same. While Etys would need to be bought from Amazon US (do you know of any official channel here in India? I couldn’t find any), the Grados are on preorder from Headphonezone.
Thanks.
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