Exceptional earphones - ER-6i's provide the best sound for mid-priced Canalphones

I've had many earphones over the years, from the humble Sennheiser MX400's and Sony EX71's to the more expensive Etymotics.

But I've been wanting a pair of earphones I can travel with - not a $400 pair but something a little bit cheaper but still sounds exceptional. That's where the Etymotics come in. I'll stick to layman's language for this review.

Many people have compared the Etymotic ER-6i to the Shure E3c or Shure E2c. To summarise -
1. The build quality of the Shure E3c is superior to the Etymotic ER-6i. The cable seems more sturdy and more importantly, the Shure has a 2 year warranty over the Ety's 1 year.
2. The sound quality and fidelity of the Etymotic is better than the Shure E3c. But possibly not as good as the Shure E4c.
3. These earphones don't compare to the E2c - this Shure canalphone has it's place in the lower-end price-range and would compare to the Sony EX81 but isn't quite in the same league as the ER-6i. Similarly there is no comparison between the Etymotic ER-6i and the Ety 4S - the latter is superior and costs twice as much for a reason.

General impressions:
My pair of Etymotics were purchased from Headphonic for A$219 - the only authorised Etymotic reseller in Australia. This is equivalent to roughly RRP in the US and is substantially more expensive that what one could buy them for. (less than US$100)

The packaging was neat yet refined - similar to iPod packaging. My pair of Etymotic ER-6i's came with:
1. Zippered black case (some countries come with a velcro pouch instead)
2. Shirt clip
3. One pair of foam earbuds and one pair of tri-flanges
4. One pair of replacement filters and tool
5. Instructions; Advert for Audible ebooks (which just invites you to sign up for a free month / ebook after which you may choose to cancel).

Build quality:
I haven't had these canalphones long enough to break them but there are certain prudent steps to promote longevity.
The cables are similar to the thin cables found on the Sony EX71 and EX81's... and although they have visibly been knotted/garotted inside the earpiece - one would recommend that people avoid tugging on the cables at all costs.

That means removing the earpieces from by the body - not the cable. And yes, the cord does tangle easily. I use the shirt clip to hold the cable (similar to a wind-up metal tie) in the pouch to prevent tangling.

There is a 90 day warranty - extended to 1 year after a simple online registration process at Etymotics homepage. Otherwise there isn't anything remarkable to comment on the build quality of these earbuds.

Fitting:
This is THE MOST IMPORTANT section of this review.

Canalphones have exceptional sound quality. They also require a good seal inside the ear canal, which results in a full sound and isolation from the outside world. 30dB of isolation in fact. I could tap my desk fairly hard with my fingers and barely hear them.

Without a good seal - you will read countless reviews from disgruntled, disappointed (IMO - these people require patience) users who complain of a lack of bass and a tinny treble sound. Inserted correctly, the Ety 6i's have a slight 8dB bass boost that would compare to the Sony EX71SL's - too much bass IMO. I prefer a flat response but that's what a pair of ER-4S's are for. The sound is full, rich and well ... you have to listen to experience it. If the Sony EX81's score 6/10 for sound, the Ety 6i's score 8/10 and the Ety 4-S 9.5/10.

To get a good seal:
1. The foam eartips are recommended and are more comfortable plus easier to insert / get a good seal than the tri-flanges. The disadvantage is that they're non-cleanable and need to be replaced every so often. $25 Australian or $15US for 3 pairs. Expensive. You simply roll them in your fingers, insert them like earplugs and hold them in place with your finger till they expand (about 10 seconds). I prefer the foam earbuds and if you don't get a good sound with the default triflanges, switch to these before complaining.

2. The tri-flanges are cleanable. You simply twist and pull them off to clean them.

The trick to getting a good seal with these is moistening them first. They slide in easier and are a lot more comfortable to put in. And you have to put them a fair way in. There's no magic trick but experience.

Please don't use spit - it's unhygenic. Water works reasonably well. Other people have tried ear-drops but they're more expensive and some have an offensive odour. I avoid any oil-based lubricants because of the potential of damaging the eartips (also replaceable).

However, my recommendation - especially if you're a contact lens user is:
CONTACT LENS SOLUTION. Opti-Free Express or The all-in-one solutions from Ciba-Vision; anything goes. They lubricate and moisten. It's cheap, effective and the small bottles last forever. You only need 1-2 drops on a finger.

Medico's can also use KY-jelly.

Always give your canalphones a week of use before evaluating them - newbies can take this long just to figure out how to insert them well.

To insert the eartips/foam earbuds:
1. Pull your ear slightly back and out. Ever had your ear examined at the doctor's (or examined a patient) with an otoscope? Exactly the same principle - straightens your ear canal.

2. With the cord facing pointing downwards, simply push the earbuds in until you feel you get a good seal. Experience and experimentation will tell you exactly how deep - sorry.... It's a PERSONAL preference and everybody's anatomy/technique is different.

I have a one-handed unorthodox technique where I pull back on my ear with my thumb and index finger then push the canalphones in with my ring finger.

*update: If if you are still unhappy with the included eartips, you can contact Etymotic via email or phone (see their homepage) and they will offer to send you some alternative "sample" eartips at no extra cost. Other people have suggested cutting either the largest or the smallest of the "tri-flange" tips off. I am yet to receive the sample tips so can't comment on them further*.

Sound quality:
Clear trebles and detail... I agree with the reviewer on head-fi that the high trebles are slightly rolled off compared to say the sony e888's - known for it's treble reproduction. Though not enough to complain about. Rich mids (though as I mentioned earlier - I notice the slight bass/low mid boost) though other people will like it. This is in contrast with other audiophiles who have commented that the mids are quite balanced and neutral. Although I will mention that inserting the Ety's too deep will also emphasise the bass. Adjust the fit until you're happy with the sound. Detail and soundstage are exceptional and far better than the Sony EX71's I had and broke. Obviously sound quality is not as good as the Etymotic ER-4's or a Sennheiser HD-650 - but is still very satisfactory for the price-range and a noticeable notch above lower-tier canalphones.

Everybody's experience will be different - again give yourself a week to get used to the sound. No bass and tinny trebles or if it sounds "thin" you have a poor fit. Muddy sounds means you should twist and pull them out a tiny fraction.

I will refer you to Head-fi if you want an audiophile description of the sound. The full link is http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121808

Overall:
I listen to these with either no-EQ or flat EQ on an iPod mini 2nd gen. A good seal is essential and once this is achieved - these are exceptional canalphones, superior in sound quality to the Shure e3c costing 25% more.

Definitely recommended.