HP Pavilion dv5t, $649.99
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
5.0 stars
"The ultimate in-ear headphones"
Pros: Incredible sound quality, accessories, noise isolation
Cons: Price may be steep for some
Summary: I'm not the type to write reviews often, but since I really appreciated the other reviews and CNET's, which directly led to my decision to buy these headphones, I figured I'd try to help others as well.
First of all, I'll address the negatives some have attributed to the ER-4s. Those who seem to have a problem with these headphones state that the bass is somewhat lacking. I absolutely disagree. As long as they are properly inserted into your ears, this is not a problem. I find the bass to be perfectly clear and strong, and not overpowering unless I choose to turn it up in my mp3 player equalizer. I'm guessing that those who have complained either aren't putting the headphones in their ears far enough, as others have suggested, or they have a misunderstanding of how bass should sound. If you're the kind of person whose car is basically a rolling subwoofer, then yeah, you're probably going to be disappointed in the bass output of any headphones.
The second negative, for many, is the price. Well, as the old adage says, you get what you pay for. For something this high quality and since I love music so much, I had no problem paying what I did, which was under $200 after shopping around.
Third, the sound of the cord rubbing against your shirt- very minor. If you're not moving, this isn't an issue. If you are, use the included shirt clip and problem solved.
And now the positives. First and foremost, the sound quality. It's true what others have said: use these headphones and you will hear things in your music that you never heard before. The clarity is absolutely incredible. I could barely hear the keyboards during the chorus in Smashing Pumpkins' "1979" with other headphones. They were very obvious with the ER-4's. Acoustic guitars in rock songs, usually very hard to differentiate, are easy to hear as well. You'll be amazed by all the new things you can pick up listening to all your favorite songs, across all genres.
The sound isolation is, of course, a very big reason why everything sounds so good. I have limited experience with noise-cancelling models, but I can't imagine them being better at blocking out noise than the ER-4. I had my eyes closed while listening a few days ago and didn't even notice my wife had come home from work ten minutes earlier- I couldn't hear the door opening or her saying hi. The seal formed with the earplugs is tight, and won't be a problem getting used to either.
You'll get a nice plastic case which includes a small bag to carry them in, as well as replacement parts. In addition, you'll get a one year warranty, but if you register online, and there's no reason you shouldn't, Etymotic will extend the warranty another year. Pretty cool.
Bottom line- if you love music and it's important for you to hear all the details, while blocking out outside noise, look no further. I hope this helps you prospective buyers out there, but no need to take my word for it. Just read all the other positive reviews.
