With deep insertion you’re as good as deaf. But even with my relatively shallow insertion, we get very good isolation. And there is no leakage. Good day! After 5 days of casual and critical listening, here’s my written review for the Etymotic ER2SE. Speedy realist!​ Finally, the most important comparison. Against the ER4XR. I believe the dynamic bass of Studio Edition would be closer to the BA bass of 4XR, which is why i chose to buy this instead of the 2XR. Designed to further improve the OH1, the OH10 comes with a dynamically superior driver from higher quality materials, with better performance overall. With a polished and slightly more accurate presentation, the OH10 brings a pleasantly warm sound, better defined, and impeccable sound quality overall. Custom IEMs (CIEMS) and universals are a night and day difference when it comes to comfort. If they fit right, once they’re warmed up they disappear and you can wear them 8+ hours a day without problems. With better seal and isolation, you’ll perceive a greater sound stage as well, but comfort is really where it’s at. Are expensive IEMs worth it?

In a direct A/B comparison, the ER4 (XR, because it’s closer to the EVO in terms of tonality) actually comes off as slightly cleaner with better clarity around the notes. In terms of resolving ability I’d be splitting hairs, but considering that the EVO is nearly double the current street price of an ER4 it’s not exactly a good look. If you enjoyed BLON but disliked the fit, or just want a step up, then HBB Mele might be an excellent choice for you. This is a great set that plays many genres well, especially drums and guitars, and is perfect for those looking for a warm-sounding set with a great timbre. The soundstage is where some may argue that the Etymotic IEMs are somewhat challenged. It’s not that the imaging doesn’t feel accurate. In fact, you’ll hear ample dimension and accuracy in terms of instrument placement, making it a fun listen. However, in terms of size, it just conveys very intimate feel rather particularly vast or grand stage. Total harmonic distortion is on the higher side of average THD from all the IEMs that I’ve measured.If you want an IEM for swimming, you need to be looking at an IEM that’s IPX8 rated, because nothing else will protect them with full-on swimming. Are custom IEMs more comfortable? For those venturing into the world of IEMs for the first time, KZ DQ6 provides a reliable entry point without the anxiety of overspending. Its performance per dollar spent truly stands out. Highlights: The ER2XR offers Etymotic’s renowned passive isolation, providing 35-42 dB attenuation. You will hear all the details in the music with lower volume levels that are safer for your hearing. The flat mids and highs, along with the emphasized bass of the ER2XR, will appeal to consumers and audiophiles who like a little more presence of bass. The ER2XR shells are made of anodized aluminum, CNC machined with extremely tight tolerances. Using a single dynamic driver allows for a very accurate IEM without the added complexity of crossovers, and helps keep the aluminum body small and slim. Included is a user-replaceable cable. Moving to the ER2SE, i see a great drain in bass as if a tap was suddenly open. It takes a couple of seconds to adjust to the missing bass thumps. As a result, the bass and midrange clarity increases tremendously. Voices come up front, and more vocal details pop up front. We see a lot of hidden details come to light. The new ER2 series serves to streamline all of these lower-end models into two signatures, just like the new ER4 and ER3 series. No more confusing jumbles of letters and numbers, just the use of “SE” or “XR” to denote the reference or bass-boosted tuning respectively.

Bass: It is really tight, and the sub bass impact is on the softer side. The sub-bass is touched as opposed to punched/hit. But it does reach deep, and we hear the rumble adequately. The rumbles stay low at the foundation and are perceived as song details instead of adding to the fun factor. They still sound very natural, and carry enough warmth to save them from sounding bright. ER2XR is favored by those who enjoy the extra bass presence and body when listening to their music. The extra bass is done tastefully without turning the ER2XR into a bass heavy IEM. A nice recommendation, from a trusted source, and they are a great second pair for tonal accuracy and a pleasant easy listening sound. Potential long life with the replaceable cable and driver simplicity, just need to keep the ears super clean because the bore is so tiny. Mids: The ER2SEs are neutral and detailed with just enough warmth in the mids. Voices are perfect, and carry the right amount of warmth and detail. The notes also have enough body to them and do not sound thin. They sound very true and correct. There is a tint of organic quality to them that is missing in the BA modelsThe ER2SE is ideal for sound engineers, audiophiles, and consumers on a budget, who are looking for in-ear monitors that are easy to drive while offering accurate audio reproduction.

Only slightly more expensive than Aria, ER2XR blows most other budget IEMs out of the water through their focus on detail. With superb balanced tuning and isolation, the sound quality is incredible compared to other competing IEMs at a similar price. Highlights: The ER2SE offers Etymotic’s renowned passive isolation, providing 35-42 dB attenuation. You will hear all the details in the music with lower volume levels that are safer for your hearing. The flat frequency response of the ER2SE will appeal to sound professionals and audiophiles alike. The ER2SE shells are made of anodized aluminum, CNC machined with extremely tight tolerances. Using a single dynamic driver allows for a very accurate IEM without the added complexity of crossovers, and helps keep the aluminum body small and slim. Included is a user-replaceable cable. Both ER2 models, the ER2SE and ER2XR, use the same low-impedance dynamic drivers. That means they are easy to drive, and no amplifier is required. The only difference between the 2 models is the tuning of the lower (bass) frequencies. The “Studio Edition” ER2SE is tuned to have a flat frequency response. The “eXtended Response” ER2XR is tuned to have an emphasized bass, adding 1-2dB to the mid-bass and 3-4dB to the sub-bass. The rest of the frequencies are practically identical to the ER2SE. ER2SE is a great choice for audio creators and musicians on a budget, who require a precise and neutral sound reproduction. ER2SE is also the IEM of choice for consumers who prefer to listen to their music exactly the way it was recorded. ER2XR is favored by those who enjoy the extra bass presence and body when listening to their music. The extra bass is done tastefully without turning the ER2XR into a bass heavy IEM.

Engineering Quality​

Here's a comparison graph, pretty easy to envision. It looks like the ER2XR has both a little more bass and a little more high treble. Drivability – Not the easiest. I’m around 60-70% volume in my HTC 10. Similar to ER4XR plus 1 notch volume. Etymotic IEMs need no introduction. The Etymotic ER2SE follows the Etymotic’s Diffuse Field (DF) Target. As a result, the sound will be flat, uncolored, and unforgiving. This also reflects to the technical performance as well. But the ER2… the ER2 is an anomaly. There is absolutely no point in benchmarking similarly-priced IEMs against it because of how unreasonably highit would set the bar. Now, this doesn’t mean that the ER2 becomes the automatic, default option in its price range because there are absolutely reasons why you would not like it. It is not the perfect, do-everything IEM and there may be others that suit your own personal tastes better than it ever could. Let's get one thing out of the way first: the modded ER3XR sounds the same as the ER4XR. I already knew the FR was identical, but there might have been some difference in detail since they use the same type of driver but to a different tolerance. I didn't notice any difference at all, honestly. So the 4's advantages over the 3 are: nicer cable and more accessories, no need to mess around with bulky adapters.

Overall, it sounds quite natural and balanced but frequency extensions at both ends, sub-bass and upper-treble, sound a bit too soft. That’s the main reason I rate it 7/10. If ER2XR has a better-perceived frequency extension at both ends I will rate it higher on tonality.

These are Etymotics and they sound like it. However, the dynamic drivers have a rather strong character and differs quite a bit from the BA delivery of the ER4s. I will compare them to my ER4XR in depth in due time. With a better bass than the original, the Tin T2 Plus is a bit more broadly appealing and controlled. Easy to drive and a good set, with their pleasant tone they offer an outstanding value for the money. Super comfortable, with clear treble and strong but controlled bass. Highlights: For users constantly on the move, the Moondrop Aria 2021 is particularly suitable, given its comfort and durability — ensuring both longevity and an enjoyable listening experience. Highlights: IEMs generally have better isolation and sound in general because they are transmitting directly into your ear canal, rather than diffusing. This means that the bass response will be tighter with less sibilance. The soundstage can be better with some earbuds, but they also have worse imaging. Comfort is subjective, some people prefer IEMs, others prefer earbuds. Are Headphones better than IEMs? Now I've been in the possession of a real ER4XR for a while, now it's time for some impressions on the whole family.