Etymotic ER2XR Review (IEM)

[adelaidestevens]

Very much agree though after a few years of ownership I've settled on 1 EQ filter as I finally decided the mids are a touch too forward for me:

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1700Hz -3dB Q=1.4

I'd go further and say I think they actually sound better than my HD6XX. I just can't wear the Etys all the time as I actually need to hear stuff sometimes

I just wish there was a triple flange size in between the small and large. I've resorted to buying the small frosted tips with long stem and cutting it down a little, but I can't find where to buy them anymore.

do the double flange fit you? since it comes in 4 sizes. I find them to be a bit more comfortable than the triple flange, aside from isolation they sound pretty similar to the triple given the correct fit.

Also regarding the mids, they only sound shouty to me with vocal forwards recordings like Norah Jones for example, otherwise they're pretty bang on with 6XX/650. Then again I only listen at around 60 dB, so it might sound different to peeps who listens at 70 or 80 dB

 

[isostasy]

do the double flange fit you? since it comes in 4 sizes. I find them to be a bit more comfortable than the triple flange, aside from isolation they sound pretty similar to the triple given the correct fit.

Also regarding the mids, they only sound shouty to me with vocal forwards recordings like Norah Jones for example, otherwise they're pretty bang on with 6XX/650. Then again I only listen at around 60 dB, so it might sound different to peeps who listens at 70 or 80 dB

I bought mine before they introduced the selection of double flange tips (unless they were just missing from the package) so I don't know. I would try them if you could buy them as a pack of mixed sizes but you don't seem to be able to.

I've tried making double flange tips of various sizes out of the big triple flanges and Shure triple flanges but none of them sealed in my ear.

 

[isostasy]

Has anyone tried the double flanged Spinfit CP240 tips, and if so what size do you find closest to the standard/small Ety frosted tips? I've read on head-fi that they're really good but even the smallest one is wider than the standard Ety frosted tip.

I tried some Etymotic double flange tips and they really don't agree with me. There are little struts under the largest flange which I assume are to support the shape to help seal but I still don't find them comfortable or to isolate as well as triple flange.

As Westone and Etymotic have been bought by the same parent company I've now found the long stem small frosted tips from Westone's websites but they are more expensive than I remember. Might have to just suck it up.

n.b. doubt anyone is interested but I'm no longer using my previous EQ of just reducing 1.4kHz, I use a couple of filters to bring the midrange closer to Sennheiser IE200 now.

 

[KosherButcher]

Has anyone tried the double flanged Spinfit CP240 tips, and if so what size do you find closest to the standard/small Ety frosted tips? I've read on head-fi that they're really good but even the smallest one is wider than the standard Ety frosted tip.

I tried some Etymotic double flange tips and they really don't agree with me. There are little struts under the largest flange which I assume are to support the shape to help seal but I still don't find them comfortable or to isolate as well as triple flange.

As Westone and Etymotic have been bought by the same parent company I've now found the long stem small frosted tips from Westone's websites but they are more expensive than I remember. Might have to just suck it up.

n.b. doubt anyone is interested but I'm no longer using my previous EQ of just reducing 1.4kHz, I use a couple of filters to bring the midrange closer to Sennheiser IE200 now.

I like the Westone tips on my Etys. But I prefer the FutureSonics double flange Earfills. I don’t believe they have those “struts” that the Ety tips have

 

[isostasy]

I recently received a pack of ER38-15S Frost 3-flanged eartips from Westone (I believe they're now the parent company of Etymotic Research).

They are different to the old ones, not frosted at all. More like the large clear eartips but even less opaque material.

I will update after some use if anyone is interested. Just like the old ones they're a bit hard and uncomfortable when new.

(duplicate post in ER4XR review)

 

[isostasy]

Update on the new ER38-15S Frost 3-flanged eartips, not good so far, they don't seal in my ears. Not sure if this is because they're not the same size or due to the material.

 

[Soandso]

l have etymotic ER2s and am very satisfied with my experiment utilizing the (sharp and cleanly) trimmed shorter inner core of stock etymotic foam ear tips (see first photo) placed over the ear pieces' end posts and then small size "wide bore" Tangzu Tang Sanchai ear tips are slid (no gluing needed) right over the adapted ear piece. To me the resultant (see 2nd photo) relatively wider bore diameter (and possibly this brand of soft ear tips' design feature; per 3rd picture) provides in my assessment "fuller" enveloping musical enjoyment than etymotic stock triple flange tips. Comfort, depth and position holding with these tips is very good for extended listening sessions - plus easy to remove when spoken to and/or (re-)insert.

 

[isostasy]

l have etymotic ER2s and am very satisfied with my experiment utilizing the (sharp and cleanly) trimmed shorter inner core of stock etymotic foam ear tips (see first photo) placed over the ear pieces' end posts and then small size "wide bore" Tangzu Tang Sanchai ear tips are slid (no gluing needed) right over the adapted ear piece. To me the resultant (see 2nd photo) relatively wider bore diameter (and possibly this brand of soft ear tips' design feature; per 3rd picture) provides in my assessment "fuller" enveloping musical enjoyment than etymotic stock triple flange tips. Comfort, depth and position holding with these tips is very good for extended listening sessions - plus easy to remove when spoken to and/or (re-)insert.

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Just slid on?! I would be a little worried about putting those in my ears at the depths needed for Etys

Looks like a good idea that works for you otherwise. I've seen similar things, some people use Shure Olives I think. I imagine the isolation surely can't be as good?

I'm not sure it would work for me, the reason I've stuck to Etymotic is triple flanges were the only tips that stayed in my ears without slipping out. Even double flanges don't stay.

 

[Soandso]

Just slid on?! I would be a little worried about putting those in my ears at the depths needed for Etys

Looks like a good idea that works for you otherwise. I've seen similar things, some people use Shure Olives I think. I imagine the isolation surely can't be as good?

I'm not sure it would work for me, the reason I've stuck to Etymotic is triple flanges were the only tips that stayed in my ears without slipping out. Even double flanges don't stay.

I am quite used to utilizing etymotic stock triple flange ear tips and switched those back on for an airplane flight for maximum sound isolation. Long sessions with the triple flanges frequently annoy my one ear with a quirky interior canal shape and I eventually end up externally trying to manipulate (squeeze/jiggle/push/pull) the tip area to relieve the "itch".

Tactically speaking the foam core segment seems to have enough friction grip of the T.T. Sanchai inner liner that they hold together during insertion and extraction from the ear. The T.T.s have an irregularly convoluted textured soft surface (see 1st picture below) that let's them get purchase on the ear canal wall and not slip lose while walking for miles.

I am unsure of the Shure Olives' end conformation however before I bought any T.T. Sanchai I tried to compare on-line photos of different makes of ear tips for the express purpose of trialing the one with the most finely tapering end point.

The synthetic material of the outer part of the T.T. Sanchai is different than the material in it's core chamber and is so flexible that it compacts the protruding tip portion similar in diameter to what the triple flange squeezes down to as it is being inserted. This small sized ear tip adaption goes surprisingly deep into my ear canal; just make sure the liner from the etymotic foam tip doesn't protrude beyond the short metal etymotic post.

My impression is this adaptation does get the tip past the fleshy interior ear canal into the location where bone underlies the interior canal space. With the T.T.Sanchai tip on and NO etymotic metal post or foam core reducer entending beyond the ear tip end I can insert it so far into my ear that the etymotic housing bend abuts my outer ear (tragus wedge). See 2nd picture below for side view measurement. I'm from USA so say I can insert this rig almost 1 inch [7/8 - 15/16ths) into the ear canal of my 6 foot tall body. [ By the way : TangzuTang Sanchai also make "small" bore ear tips that seem to taper even more and appear to be double flanged. Maybe their textured surface would not be a double flange that falls out on you.]