Drop + Etymotic - ER4SR

I wouldn't use the ER2XR but I mixed an EP on the ER4SRs on a tour bus once. Obviously I checked it in the studio after the tour was done, but it came out great. In general, using IEMs with a Harman tuning will result in bass-light mixes if you are used to working on nearfield monitors that are anechoic-flat. You will want to use something with much more restrained low end.

No offense, but "soundstage" is a meaningless audiophile term. It's not like these IEMs have any crosstalk to speak of. The ER4SR is advantageous because it is actually accurate, like a good nearfield monitor. It has lower distortion and flatter frequency response than the ER2XR. Since it has no bass boost, you won't be tempted to mix the bass lower than you would otherwise. I suppose if you're used to massively bass-boosted sound, they might cause you to mix bass-heavy. In my case, I am used to working on Neumann KH120s for dialogue editing, and Genelec 8351Bs for mixing. Being used to those references, the ER4SRs gave me the information I needed to make good mix decisions.

It could be because the ER2XR has \*relatively\* recessed mids compared to the ER4s. It has the biggest bass boost of any of Etymotics' IEMs, and pretty sizzly treble too, so it could be that those boosts masked what you needed to hear in the mids (where flutter echo from small rooms typically causes the most problems). I have used the ER4S or 4SR for years as my monitors while working as a boom op or location recordist. They have always given me a very clear picture of what the room is doing to the recorded sound.

When traveling, Apple Airpods Max if I can spare the space, as they are very comfortable on a 12+ hour flight, otherwise Etymotic ER4-SR in-ear monitors. The Sony WH-1000XM series are pretty good, with the XM3 and XM4 folding down very compact, sadly the XM5 no longer does, but the imminent XM6 might go back on that regression. EDC, I can never get Airpods Pro to stick in my ears, so Noble Fokus Mystique true wireless in-ear monitors. Very good sound quality and sufficient isolation to not require active noise cancellation.

I would suggest getting a single DD IEM for stage, something like the Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Personally, I use the Etymotic ER4SR, but the Etymotic ER2XR would work just as well for $100. Insane isolation with their foam tips, great if you play an instrument where you don't need to move much i.e. keyboard. The reason is because the output impedance of random gear you plug in on stage might mess up the actual tuning of your IEMs. You can read the technical reason here if you want to learn more: https://headphones.com/blogs/features/the-most-important-spec-you-re-not-paying-attention-to-output-impedance-explained-11

Totally right about a lack of true neutral these days, everything has boosted subbass. People don’t even know what neutral actually sounds like unless they’ve heard old sets or… …Etymotic ER4SR are the most neutral around your price range, $225 on Drop. Or could get the ER3SE/XR or ER2 for even less. edit: my faves that would be considered neutral are the HiFiMan RE600. Only ~$70. https://i.imgur.com/PBeCdF3.png

Any of the the Etymotics (in order of cost): ER2SE, ER2XR, ER3SE, ER3XR, ER4SR, ER4XR. SE/SR models have less bass, XR models have a small bass lift (the ER2XR has a larger bass lift, but is close to Hexa for bass amount). These are extremely neutral, and all very detailed with fast (albeit not heavy) bass attack. Soundstage is tiny though. 

Etymotic ER4SR is your answer, it's objectively the most neutral iem in the market, it's the IEM used to calibrate the measurements rigs, yeah, it is the BASE, where everything revolves!

If you want to revisit Etymotic and their neutrality then the Er4SR is their most detailed sounding in ear monitor.

No. They are very soft and mid forward. Still a very good iem imo because their deep insertion moves the ear canal resonance higher up which is part of why they are so detailed. Ive had the er2se and er4sr and still love both but they don't really sound like flat speakers in a treated room to me

Genuine question. Have you ever actually heard anechoically flat speakers with a linear directivity index? What speakers in a treated room sound like the etymotics to you?

My at-home setup for headphones is a Schiit Vali 3 and Grado GH1. Detailed hifi with a punch. Straight out of my phono pre or CD player. That’s my grail sound. On the go, I am incredibly satisfied, thrilled, with the Etymotic ER4SR. Gives me the same sort of sound I seek out in a headphone, although less forward than the Grado sound. Balanced, enormously detailed, with a punch when the track asks for it. The bass is incredibly accurate. It kicks when the song wants it to kick, it’s always right where it should be. Pair it with a basic Apple dongle and lossless Apple Music and you have a serious hifi getup on the go. Comply ear tips for maximum comfort and isolation. They are truly unreal at $200. PS for your 325’s consider Beautiful Audio pads. They balanced out my GH1’s quite a bit and sounded similarly great on my 325’s before I sold them. Hated the stock pads they came with.

Apple Dongle $7 and Etymotic ER4SR $170 CAD. Ety is still the OG IEM experience and like Sennheiser is legend. I sold my ER4SR to a friend and now have the ER2XR and an old HF5 in its place. Both great in their own way but the ER4SR takes the prize for its detail and timbre. For dacs, the Apple Dongle does what it needs so no need to pay more.

I use my IEM (https://www.etymotic.com/product/er4sr-earphones/) for djing and plane trips, they allow replaceable internal filters for a differen freq response. Going on 10 years strong

I had both the ER4 SR and XR.... still have SR. For neutrality a natural sound of instruments, they are really unbeatable. But the longer I have them, the more I realize their limitations, too: 1) Necessary to insert really deep into your ear canal to get proper isolation and desired sound quality. Some people just find it unsurmountable problem, the others (incl. myself) can do it but it always gets uncomfortable/painful after some time... 2) SR sound more natural to me than XR... but the bass is simply never enough for me and I´m really not a bass head at all. Always use EQ with them, i.e. cca 31Hz/+8,5 64Hz/+3,2.... of course do not know the Q value but now the bass response is +/- OK for me. 3) Very narrow, flat soundstage, no imaging to talk about... they sound more like studio monitor. 4) With complex, loud passages (e.g., full orchestra), the sound kind of leaks together a bit, the instrument separation and transparency is limited Now why do I still have them? Because I want flat response and natural sound in a portable package.... And as there is practically no possibility to try earbuds without obligation, I have no option to try and find something better. Relying on reviews of the others is very, very tricky and believe me I know what I´m talking about, I have been in the review business for some time. So if you somebody find etymotic sound without the limitations mentioned above, please let me know :-)

As someone who mostly uses BA IEMs the multi-flange tips aren't even exactly a matter of isolation, they always provide the best possible bass response and it's very noticeable. I guess that's part of the reason why Etymotic keeps shipping them since the beginning (ER4). Not as noticeable with DDs though

Might be an unpopular opinion on this sub but Etymotics are better than anything for that. ER4 or ER3, either works. Though deep insertion might not be for everyone! But if you don't like it I imagine you can just return it.