Etymotic Isolator™ ER-6i Headphones

Etymotic Research ER-6i "isolator" earphones are in-canal, "earplug" type headphones. They are intended for the high-quality reproduction of music while blocking out background sounds in noisy environments. Without going any farther, I can say that they are effective on both accounts, but perhaps not the correct choice for everyone.

These are my second pair of Etymotic Research earphones, the first pair having been standard ER-6's, which I very much liked. Unfortunately, some rough usage finally destroyed the connection at one of the earpieces. More on this later. After first trying another product (also reviewed), I decided to replace them with an "upgrade."

The package for the ER-6i's contains the instructions, and a small, black, zippered case. Inside the case are the rather insubstantial-looking headphones with their four feet of wire and collar-clip, and a small plastic bag holding a pair of foam ear-tips, two replacement "filters," and a tool for filter replacement. It should be noted that the filters, which fit inside the earphones and keep earwax from fouling the drivers, are considered "consumables" and should be replaced occasionally.

Etymotic Research produces a number of other accessories and replacement parts for their earphones, including spare filters, replacement filter tools, various earpieces, and an airline adapter. They even make an earpiece adapter for fitting the earphones to custom, medical earpieces for musicians or others who might wear them frequently or for protracted periods. These can be found at their website, or purchased through distributors.

Proper fit for the ER-6i's requires that the earpiece be inserted rather deeply into the ear canal. If you're not accustomed to using earplugs, this can be a little tricky at first. A good suggestion is to use a small amount of contact-lens solution to lubricate the tips before inserting them. It is important to get the earpieces fully and properly inserted. This provides the mechanical seal necessary for the effective blocking of outside noises, and also creates the pocket of air needed to resonate with the drivers for good sound quality. After a bit of experimenting with both the foam and rubber earpieces, I decided to remove the smallest nub from the rubber earpieces (about all that visibly differentiates them from the standard ER-6). For me, this seemed to produce the best combination of both sound and comfort.

Once properly inserted, outside sounds become a vague sensation. The effect is best described as "profound deafness." If you want to listen to Mozart while using a metal grinder, search no further. In this respect, the ER-6i's (and the ER-6's) performance is excellent. In fact, sound isolation is so good that you will notice the rustling of the earpieces' wires, and hear your footsteps resonating through your body when there is no music playing. This allows significant reductions in loudness in locations such as an aircraft cabin. I also appreciate that I can simply fall asleep in these during long flights.

I am not an audiophile, but the ER-6i's sound quality strikes me as "very good," but perhaps not "excellent." According to Etymotic Research, the ER-6i's have "enhanced bass response" compared to the standard ER-6. Unfortunately, I can only make a sound comparison with my old ER-6's in one ear, so I can't really say if this is the case. Subjectively, my impression is that mid to upper-mid ranges may be noticeably better than the ER-6s. The sound is impressive for something so small, although they are not going to astound any DJ-wannabes with massive, eye-rattling, sub-woofer bass. With regard to voices, such as in audio-books or movie soundtracks, they are clear and un-muffled.

One observation is that these earphones seem to require a great deal of power. As with my old ER-6's, I find that I must actually run my Zen Nano at a higher volume-setting to get the same loudness as the Zen's stock earphones. And I suspect this may tend to drain batteries more rapidly.

Another item that requires consideration is the ER-6i's thin wires. You should absolutely resist any temptation to "yank the plug out by the cord." As demonstrated by the eventual demise of my ER-6's while pulling on a motorcycle crash helmet that snagged a wire, they are far from indestructible. And since the earplugs tend to seat fairly solidly into the ear canal and leave little exposed to grab onto for removal, you will likely feel some temptation to use the wires as a shortcut.

As for possible "negatives" regarding the ER-6i's, earplugs are just not for everyone. If you can't tolerate having something inside your ear, you probably won't like these. Earplugs can also become uncomfortable after a long period of time if you are unaccustomed to wearing them. And if you are simply revolted by the thought of earwax, you probably won't enjoy cleaning these after a few days' use.

Nor are they for social environments. Unless you are an expert lip-reader, you won't be holding conversations with the person next to you. And repeatedly removing and re-inserting them will quickly become tiresome.

Summarizing, the ER-6i is excellent for blocking out unwanted noise, has very good sound quality, and comes in a small package that is great for traveling light. But if you don't like wearing an "earplug" design, or want to socialize while you listen to music, these might not be for you.