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Etymotic ER-4 microPro Sound Isolating Earphones
Introduction
When I was first introduced to the world of audiophile equipment, I was searching for a solid, entry-level set of in-ear headphones. I had scoured my local brick-and-mortars for something worth my while. I searched numerous websites for a pair that would suit my needs. I finally came across the holy grail of resources - an audiophile forum. One of the first pairs that I found generally respected by this community was the Etymotic ER-4P. They were way out of my price range at the time, so I put them on a wish-list for sometime down the road. As mentioned in my last headphone review, I bought several low- to mid-range sets of headphones soon after this. Now I have the pleasure of checking out one of the top items on my list. Etymotic Research's track record with professional-grade hearing products is pretty impressive. The company was founded in 1983 by Dr. Mead Killion with the goal of developing high-fidelity earphones and hearing aids. Etymotic met these goals and continued to push for innovation and quality from that point forward. Since 1991, the ER-4 MicroPro has been a well-respected player in the IEM category.    First Impressions There's not really an extensive unboxing process to go through with the ER-4P's since they shipped in their own hard case. The top of this handgun safe-esque container is embossed with "Etymotic Research" in red foil lettering. It's a great indication of quality from the get-go. Inside, you'll find a bunch of accessories: three sets of triple-flange eartips (one attached), 5 sets of disposable foam tips, a 1/4 inch stereo adapter plug, a removable shirt clip, a smaller soft carrying case, 4 filters (for the earphone tips should they become ear-waxy), and a filter changing tool.     The headphones themselves are a slightly different design than I have seen before. They're very plain and utilitarian looking, with a thick black cord that splits into two sets of thinner twisted cable that lead to each earpiece. The earpieces themselves are almost awkwardly long, with a 45 degree bend at the end of the cylinder that holds each driver. I was confused at first as to which earpiece went in which ear because the labeling was a little schizophrenic - a red circle indicates "Right" on one side, but an embossed "L" indicates "Left" on the other.     The earphones are hand-built Build quality seems to be excellent so far, and you are covered by a two year warranty. Overall, it's a great package that you would expect from a set of earphones at this price.
Page 1: Introduction & First Impressions
Page 2: Specifications & Usability Page 3: Sound Quality Page 4: Conclusion 
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Add Comment
1 User Comment 1 - Posted by
georgeryder9
on September 13, 2009 - 10:01 am I find this earphone awesome and the quality of sound is great, it is comparable to the new nokia bluetooth headset, its great experience
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