Etymotic ER6i Thread - ReBooted!

[Lawn Dart]

I have been having all sorts of problems trying to sort out listening to music while riding.  I tried helmet
mounted speakers (not loud enough, miserable sound quality.  I then tried some Koss Earbuds (way too bassy,
not enough sound deadening even with the earplug modification, also not comfortable enough at all).  I went
further and tried the Sony Fontopias (no joy here either.  simply nowhere near enough sound dampening).

I had no desire to spend $100 on a set of earbuds.  Hell, I freely admit it:  I am a cheap bastage.  I don't
like spending money frivolously.  I look for sales & coupons.  I internet shop like a madman.  $100 was too
much in my mind.

I broke down an said "fug it".  Others said they worked great.  I read no less than 25 online reviews about
them (all raves).  I was pretty much at my wits end.  I wanted excellent sound deadening coupled with very
good sound quality.  

Plain and simple:  the ER6's flat out blow away the Koss & Sony earbuds.  There is absolutely no comparison
in terms of sound quality.  The ER6's sound fantastic.  Treble notes are crystal clear.  Bass notes are
smooth.  From a sound quality perspective only, they simply are awesome.

From a sound deadening perspective - Well, I finally found what I was looking for.  The basic silicon bud
blocks out a solid 20-25  db's.  I had no issues whatsoever with helmet noise at all even up to 100mph.  The
music piped in perfectly cleanly and windnoise was held completely at bay.  

There are those who have written that sound quality isn't that important since you lose so much because of
windnoise.  Trust me, you needn't suffer anymore.  the sound quality is there, 100%, and the wind doesn't
seem to change that.

$100 is a lot of money.

They are most definitely worth it.

In a word:  wow.

In several words "This changes everything".

They get a BMW-K 9.5 out of 10 rating.  Seriously good stuff.

[Montyburns]

Etys SUCK!!  Anyone who would waste $100 on them is a moron!  
 
 
 
 
 
(Just thought I'd try to make the thread a little different this time).

[pyro_]

Where would you guys say the best/cheapest place to buy new filters would be?
 
pyro_

[Lawn Dart]

For filters and/or replacement foams I just go straight to the manufacturer.  It's not worth my time to futz about with evaluating other internet vendors when all I might save is $2...

[wotblake]

I bought a pair when they came out. They've treated me great for the last few years.

[Squiggy]

Well...I bought them when I read all the pages of the original thread, now I'm still waiting for the "more sex" part    (was it more sex or great sex, I forgot).
 
Anyhoo, what I found out that they are not as wind noise reduction as the regular ear plugs. They still allow quite a bit of wind noise to pass through.
 
They're still great in the sound reproduction area, though.

[MuddDawg]

After reading on the old site how everyone loves these, I still did not want to spend a hundy on a set. Found a set for $83 ish shipped. I think they work awesome. I have only used them once on the bike due to Snowy/Flooding type weather. I would like to try them on a longer trip other than my 25 minute commute, but they block the noise very well. No wind noise with my (Loud) Scorpion EXO-700 helmet. They might work to well for the commute. I found it difficult to hear the cars around me.
 
My $.02

[Kamzilla]

I still love my pair.  Been using them for about a year for both commuting and long trips, and they work great.  I really like the fact that my volume never really has to go up past half way on the iPod.

[Scoop]

Boy, this topic gets a lot of mileage
I am tempted not to post any more, but can't resist.
 
Oh my, but those ER-6i's are the best.  My oh my, they sound good and are wonderful.  I love mine oh so much.
 
I really do.  Sorry if that sounded patronizing!

[SlakeMoth]

$80 at Amazon.  Definitely on the Christmas list

[basket]

How about a comparison of er-6 versus the er-6i's. Anyone tried both? The er-6 has a twin flanged silicone tip and I thought it may be more comfortable for people with smaller ear canals.
 
So any er6 owners out there?
 
Bill(pleased as punch with my er6i's.)

[Pursang]

I have both.
 
The i's have a little better bass response.Very little.
 
The tips are interchangeable.The three flange tips seem to go a little deep for me.
 
Here's a source for all the tips and/or filters.
 
http://www.discountheadphones.com/etymotica.html

[Flyer]

Santa left a box from the USA a few days ago.
That Santa  she's the best!

[Allan]

I just ordered a pair for $70 from amazon.com. But it looks like the price has gone up. These are my second pair after some shameless asshat stole them and my iPod from my girlfriends hospital room when she was sick. When I had them they rocked, even if they where double the price. I was going to wait until spring to get a new pair when I got a new bike. But im going on a long flight for vacation and decided to make them my christmass present to me.

[RBEmerson]

Er, what can I add?  Not much - ER-6i's sound good (much better than Koss "sparkplugs", for example) and do a nice job of reducing wind noise while riding.  I also use them while flying (PDA/MP3 player) where they do a very good job of filtering out crying babies, etc.  At the end of 7-9 hours of continuous use, I don't problems with aches or "hot spots".

[dinolee]

I just ordered some replacement filters and ear tips from the manufacturer site.  If someone doesn't want to pay the price for the quantity the accessories page offers (filters $15 for 6 individual filters, $14 for 5 pair of scalloped 3 flange ear tips), I'm willing to part with 2 individual filters and 1 pair of ear tips at cost:

2 filters = $5
1 pair 3 flanged scalloped ear tips = $2.80

Shipping : 39 cents via first class envelope.

First PM is the first served.  I'll respond with payment address.  Good deal, since I'm eating the manufacturers $6 shipping cost.

-damon

[quagmire]

Got mine earlier this year because of the original thread.  Love them, I wear them all the time now.  Best hundred I've spent in a long time.  

[FJWinNH]

Anyone have any direct comparison of these with Shure E2c's?  They are priced about the same and most reviews I see seem to prefer the frequency response of the Shures.  Do the Etymotics have better or worse noise attenuation?

[hobie1dog]

Tried them, sent them back.   No bass at all.  Gave them to both grown kids and wife and all of them passed them back to me and asked me "where's the bass?"   so it wasn't just the way they fit me.

[DogBoy]

Tried them, sent them back.   No bass at all.  Gave them to both grown kids and wife and all of them passed them back to me and asked me "where's the bass?"   so it wasn't just the way they fit me.

I had the same issue...until I put my helmet on. Once properly seated and enclosed inside my helmet they sounded great.