 There
is no doubt that the iPod™ has created a whole new category of value-added
electronics and accessories from a variety of manufacturers. Etymotic Research
has entered this market with their latest ER-6i earphones designed to complement
the iPod™ and other portable audio devices. As with many of the in-ear designs,
the 6i offers superb noise reduction while providing impressive audio quality
compared to many of the less expensive headphone solutions. The lightweight design
and comfortable fit are attractive features. The
white color of the ER-6i matches the décor of the iPod™ exterior.
The 3.5mm stereo plug and 5 foot cable offers plenty of length for portable audio
devices. Our only concern was the thin cable appears to be fragile and was more
prone to tangling than some of the other designs we have reviewed. A clip on the
cord is designed to attach to the user's shirt to help prevent the cord from being
pulled while in use. Also included is a soft case with a Velcro flap, foam ear
sleeves and multi-tapered silicon plug and an earwax remover. The silicon plugs
are designed to fit a wide range of users by having varying diameter sizes the
deeper they are inserted into the ear. Personally, I prefer the sonic quality
when using the foam sleeves since they contour the ear canal better, which results
in noticeably better bass response. However, the silicon plugs are more comfortable
for extended periods of time.
Performance
Our tests were conducted with both portable MP3 music players such as the Neuros
Digital Audio Player, JVC XA-MP101B and Lexar LDP-200 as well as high quality
sources from SACD using HeadRoom's Little (Premium Module) amplifier unit.
The good news is our high quality sources did reveal significant improvements
in sound quality. MP3 sources did not have the subtle detail and transparency
found on the better SACD sources. This does not mean that MP3 source sounded bad
on the ER-6i's, but rather the earphones had the ability to reveal sonic differences
between good and excellent source material. We used the earphones connected to
our Neuros MP3 player on many business trips, aboard several lengthy flights and
the performance was excellent. The foam sleeves produced the best bass. The ER-6i
offers an 8 dB increase in sound level over the original ER-6 from the lowest
frequencies to just over 2 kHz, improving bass and midrange output levels.
Conclusion
The Etymotic Research 6i earphones offer portable audio users better sonic quality
than many of the commonly found headphones or ear buds. The stylish look and lightweight
design make them a perfect match for iPods as well as other portable music players.
The durability of these earphones do concern us especially for those on the go.
However, we did not experience any problems with them during our review period.
If you are looking at an in-ear earphone for reduced background noise, you'll
be pleasantly surprised with the sound quality offered by the Etymotic ER-6i design.
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Kevin Nakano
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