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Ear Factor

When I recently purchased an Apple iPod, I knew within one day I was going to need new headphones. After using the standard Apple ear buds for 20 minutes straight, not only did they fall out 3 times, I was actually in pain! I'm sorry, but the only time listening to music should cause pain is when Clay Aiken is involved.

Anywho, it just so happened I had a pair of over-the-ear headphones from my Discman laying around, so I tried those. But these also failed to satisfy. It was now time to get something that made me happy.

The selection of low, middle, and high-end headphones and earphones available nowadays is staggering. You may be asking yourself, "How much should I spend?" "Do I want noise isolation?" "Do I want buds or something for over the ear?" "Who invented liquid soap, and why?" Read on to find out everything you need to know about one of the best values in the earphone market.

Music, The Way It's Meant To Be Heard

The most important thing to me when listening to music on the go - more than the comfort, style, price, etc. of the headphones - is the sound quality. Let me tell you something: the Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator Earphones produce the purest sound I have ever heard from any set of headphones, with the only exception being the Etymotic ER-4 MicroPro™, which retail for more than twice the price of the ER6is.

I listen to a wide spectrum of music on a daily basis, with tunes ranging from Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Beatles, to TuPac, Beastie Boys, Radiohead and Outkast, to Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Elvis. With these headphones, an artist's strengths shine through, allowing me to hear each song in a way I've never been able to before. I had been so used to the 'standard' sound of sub-par headphones that I never realized how much clearer music on the go could be.

Previously, I would just listen to a recording of a song and enjoy the feeling it gave me, whereas now, I am immersed in the intricacies of each recording. I hear a singer take a breath between words. I hear the echo of the snare in the bass drum. I hear individual notes that make up a chord.

One of the more beautiful things I've noticed, is that in two or three part vocal harmonies, I can now clearly hear each voice as one, while also hearing the resulting harmony. Take a listen to any Beatles recording, or a sweeping Jimi Hendrix solo, and you will know what I mean. Combined, all of these sounds make up beautiful symphonies of music, heard by me for the first time the way the artist meant for them to be heard. The only negative I can come up with regarding the sound quality of these headphones is that they are a little lacking in the bass department. I'm not a fan of overwhelming bass response, but a smidgen more here wouldn't hurt.

Every time I put on the ER6is, I get excited to enter a world where the music is in my brain. Yes, I know what you are thinking: I done smoked myself silly. Either that or I am a major dork for getting excited every time I put these earphones in. But seriously folks, because these headphones isolate outside noise, and are placed in the ear, the music sounds as if it is originating in my head.

Regular over-the-ear headsets give you the feeling that the sound is coming from an object placed over your ear, because that's exactly what is happening. But with the ER6is, I forget where the music is coming from. I can't feel the buds in my ear, and the music becomes an extension of my thoughts and of every step I take.

[begin-cheesycomment] I am literately able to create the soundtrack to my life. [/end-cheesycomment}

Comfortably Numb

Before trying the Etymotic 6i Isolator Earphones, my only previous experience with in-the-ear earphones had been the dreaded pair that comes standard with the iPod (painful), and the ones I used with my Nintendo Game Boy 15 years ago (I don't remember what I had for breakfast, don't ask me to remember these!). For as long as I can remember though, I had been using standard headphones as pictured on the right.

Certain things that always bothered me about these headphones were the fact that outside noise could easily get in, they are awkward to carry around (as they are 3 times the size of my iPod), and lastly, the sound quality leaves a great deal to be desired. I was ready to give a pair of high quality in-the-ear, earphones a fair shot. Enter Etymotic.

I must admit that at first, I found the Etymotic 6i Isolator Earphones to be a tad uncomfortable. To make a complete seal, and thus get the highest sound quality and isolation, you need to really shove these things in far. Since I wasn't used to this, it bothered me at first. But do not despair! After a day of listening on and off, I forgot that they were even in my ear. It takes a little getting used to, but they are definitely worth the effort.

The ER6is come standard with one set of 3-flange eartips and one set of foam eartips, allowing you to choose what is most comfortable, and what makes the tightest seal, for your ears. I personally liked the 3-flange eartips, and now have no problem putting them in and getting a nice, tight seal, isolating the majority of outside noise and enhancing my listening pleasure. I have also found the foam plugs to be comfortable, but they do need to be replaced from time to time, which can add a bit to the real cost of ownership over time.

It is imperative that you put these earphones in tightly and ensure a proper seal, otherwise you will not isolate outside noise. In fact, I was a little concerned about just how far I had to insert the Etymotics in my ear in order to get a proper seal so I asked Gail Gudmundsen, Etymotic's Director of Sales and Marketing about that.

"The typical ear canal is about 25 mm long," said Gail. "Insertion of the 3-flange eartip fully in the ear (well past the third flange) is only about 18 mm, so you've got a comfortable margin of error there. Of course, if the insertion of the Etymotic 'phone causes you any discomfort, then you may want to remove them and try some of the alternate tips. We offer a variety of foam and thermoplastic tips so that pretty much anyone will be able to find a comfortable fit for their ears and still get the ideal sound afforded by a proper seal."

After allowing my ears to get used to having earphones in them and not over them, I really do enjoy the ER6is. One thing I find a little annoying however, but is in no way a deal-breaker, is removal of the earphones. They are very tiny, and since I have them fairly deep into my ear, it can be hard for me to grasp them sometimes for removal. This isn't too big of a problem though, so I have gotten used to it. I was also a little concerned about yanking the sealed plugs out too quickly. Gail says, "the ETYPlugs do seal tightly in your ears, when properly inserted, so suction can be created if they are removed too quickly. Be sure to remove the plugs with a slow twisting motion, which will prevent any discomfort."

Inserting the ER6is into my ear serves multiple purposes including increased sound quality, outside noise isolation and overall stability, to name a few. Along with a nice long cord that comes with a shirt clip, and a pouch to carry them around in (which I don't use), the Etymotic ER6i earphones are lightweight, practical, and most importantly - comfortable.

Isolating The City That Never Shuts Up

The way I see it, I am a prime candidate for noise isolating earphones. I live in downtown Manhattan, and work in midtown. On a day to day basis, I have to deal with subway noise, car horns, construction, people screaming "FREE CELL PHONE!" on every single corner, people asking me for change, police sirens, garbage trucks, union picketers, and people who feel the need to tell me all about their religion - and this is all just on the way to work.

It got to the point where I was strung out before I even got to work, all because I was soaking in the chaos that surrounded me. Listening to my iPod wasn't enough in and of itself, because the headphones they supply, and the ones I've used as replacements (as above) weren't doing enough to cancel or isolate the noise around me, and I found myself putting my volume as high as it goes, and still being distracted.

Once I switched to the ER6is, I was finally able to relax. When they are inserted properly, making a good seal, they really do isolate the majority of outside noise, while delivering superb sound quality. I first received my pair of Etymotic's in the middle of a weekday. I decided right then and there to put them to the test.

See, our office is right near Madison Square Garden, and there are always musical promotions going on. On this particular day, Brooks and Dunn were playing live right outside my office to promote the Country Music Awards. Great! How cool! A live band right outside your office! Not! I don't really like Brooks and Dunn. With the ER6is, I didn't need to like Brooks and Dunn, because I was standing right by them, listening to Norah Jones with my iPod on half volume, and I couldn't hear a single note they were playing. It was pure bliss.

The second test came on my way home from work. Let's just say when the current fleet of subway cars used by the Metro Transit Agency were built, noise control wasn't really on the "To Do" list. If you've ever waited for an oncoming subway car, you know how loud they can get. Imagine metal scraping metal at 40mph for a good 20 seconds. Twice a day. Every day. Well - not an issue for me anymore because I couldn't hear this devil's cry once my ER6is were in, again, with the volume only half-way up. Score: Etymotic: 2; Sounds of the City: 0!

For What It's Worth...

Despite a retail price of $149, if you do your research, you can pick up a pair of ER6i's for appreciably less. The white version is more common, but they were also released in black in December, 2005 (er6i in black on Amazon.com). In any case, you are getting a great deal and a lot of bang for your buck.

Of course, you can spend less on a pair of headphones. For around $30 you can get a standard pair of headphones or earbuds just about anywhere. However, you will be getting what you pay for, as they wont make a great seal and the sound quality really wont be all that great. Or you could spend more. For around $300, you can get a top-notch pair of professional earbuds that really have little competition. But then again, you may end up spending more on your headphones than you did on your player.

The Etymotic er6i Isolator Earphones fit right in the middle, at a very reasonable price, especially considering the quality they provide. If I was an editor, these would get my "Editors' Pick!", but I'm not, so you'll just have to take my word on it. I'm a normal guy who lives a normal everyday routine and all I really want is some good tunes to help pass the time. The Etymotic 6i Isolator Earphones do more then just help pass the time, they let my music make my day. Do yourself a favor and go pick up a pair, I promise you'll never look back (at the car about to hit you because you can't hear it coming with your noise isolating headphones on!).

Specifications:

• Noise Isolation: 34-36 dB
• Frequency response: 50 Hz to 16 kHz
• Tolerance: ±3 dB to 6 kHz, ±6 dB to 16 kHz re nominal
• Transducer type: Balanced armature
• 1 kHz sensitivity: 108 dB @ 0.1V
• Impedance: 16 Ohms
• Maximum output: 120 dB SPL
• Maximum continuous input: 2.5 Vrms
• Weight: less than 1 oz.
• Cord Supplied: White 5 ft.

Package Contains:

• 6i Isolator Earphones
• 5 ft. cord with 3.5 mm stereo plug
• Flanged and foam eartips
• 2 replacement filters
• Filter changing tool and filters
• Shirt clip
• Pouch

Retail Price: $99/pr (originally $149/pr)

Where to Buy:

• Etymotic er6i (black) on Amazon.com
• Etymotic er6i (white) on Amazon.com

Company Contact Information:

Etymotic Research, Inc.
61 Martin Lane
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 USA

Customer Service & Information:
1-888-Etymotic (1.800.389.6684)
847.228.0006 (outside North America)
847.228.6836 (fax)

Web site: www.Etymotic.com
Email: customer-service@etymotic.com
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST, Monday - Friday