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DPetrillo
28
Mar 16, 2016
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KidJedi - all other headphones do not cover their stated frequency range with 100% accuracy, usually quite a bit less in fact. For the full explanation, read it here: http://www.etymotic.com/technology/hwmra but basically, even though an earphone driver may be able to generate a specific range of frequencies, some parts of that range will be attenuated more than others, and will not re-create a fully accurate sound profile. These headphones use one balanced armature driver, like what you would find in expensive hearing aides. These types of drivers generally have excellent accuracy over a particular range. I have owned and used this model of etymotic for many years and find them to be excellent. If you get a good seal in the ear canal, you get a very flat and accurate sound profile. If you are used to beats, or something with a ton of bass, these will definitely sound different. One caveat to these headphones is achieving good seal that is also comfortable. I've forked over an extra $80 to have custom molded silicone tips made for mine at ACScustom in new york. I also find that I have to replace the actual monitors themselves every 2-3 years from cord degradation. Now that I have this set up, it makes all other listening experiences seem much lower fidelity, because they are.
Packdemon
15
Mar 18, 2016
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DPetrilloDoesn't matter, when they were actually measured, their frequency response curve didn't hold up to most other headphones: http://www.headphone.com/pages/build-a-graph
DPetrillo
28
Mar 18, 2016
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PackdemonCouple things. I'm not an audiophile. If you want to compare different high end drivers, I guess these would be entry level. There are clearly other drivers that are higher end. If you looking for a way to make an enormous step change in your listening fidelity, using these clean looking, small, single balanced armature IEM's with comfortable and good sealing eartips represents a value that is very hard to beat.
Regarding the testing site and the frequency response graph there are a few things to take into consideration. It's difficult to compare the response of IEM's using balanced armatures to other drivers because of the way the sound is transmitted from the driver to your eardrum. The etymotic site explains that they need to attenuate higher frequencies on purpose to compensate for high frequency boost that is added to most recordings, which is clearly shown on that graph. The rest of the frequency response is flat as hell, right down to the very bottom, which is pretty good. You need to take the results of a graph like that with a grain of salt because getting accurate and comparable information from just a graph can be tricky.
That site seems to think that these monitors are a pretty good deal if you look at their actual review: http://www.headphone.com/collections/in-ear/products/etymotic-hf5
Also worth pointing out that there is a voucher available from etymotic for custom ear tips, which is the one that I used. It's totally worth it, having custom silicone in your ear is so comfortable and nice.
Regarding the testing site and the frequency response graph there are a few things to take into consideration. It's difficult to compare the response of IEM's using balanced armatures to other drivers because of the way the sound is transmitted from the driver to your eardrum. The etymotic site explains that they need to attenuate higher frequencies on purpose to compensate for high frequency boost that is added to most recordings, which is clearly shown on that graph. The rest of the frequency response is flat as hell, right down to the very bottom, which is pretty good. You need to take the results of a graph like that with a grain of salt because getting accurate and comparable information from just a graph can be tricky.
That site seems to think that these monitors are a pretty good deal if you look at their actual review: http://www.headphone.com/collections/in-ear/products/etymotic-hf5
Also worth pointing out that there is a voucher available from etymotic for custom ear tips, which is the one that I used. It's totally worth it, having custom silicone in your ear is so comfortable and nice.
Packdemon
15
Mar 18, 2016
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DPetrilloDon't get me wrong, I'm still going to get me a pair of these iems. I actually like the fact that it has less treble, because it make long listening hours less fatiguing and won't damage your hearing as much at higher volumes. I just don't like the whole 85% accuracy thing, and "no one else advertises it." They are just cutting themself a new market since the do "advertise it." They should still do their campaign, but they should stick to the main point of the headphones being pni and less listening fatigue, not accuracy score.
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