Super silent in-the-ear earphone upgrade

Bob Russell · 05-21-2006, 03:57 PM

If you are like me, you like to use your mobile device to listen to music. If you don't need a huge 40gig library of mp3s with you, an SD card works fine. But at times it would be nice to have the music without all the ambient background noise of people talking around you. There are headphones built for that purpose, like the Etymotic ER6 Isolator earphones. I picked those only because they were the first Google item returned, but ironically it turns out that they are sold by Palm as a LifeDrive accessory also!

Well, you can make your own set from swimming earplugs. Instructables has the information you need. But don't drive or ride your bike with these things in, and don't blame me if you blow your ears out. You've been warned!

Via Make.

paulkbiba · 05-21-2006, 05:01 PM

I have a pair of Etymotic ER4 phones and the sound is incredible. Once you listen to them you can't put anything else in your ears. The dynamic range, liquid midrange, clear highs and tight bass is wonderful.

They have some other benefits, also. The sound isolation is extreme. They completely block out all engine noise in an airplane. They have an advantage over electronic sound-reducing headphones in that they block the complete spectrum of sound, not just low frequencies. If you compare them to the Bose, for example, the Bose will let you hear spoken conversations near you, the Etymotics (or any other phone that uses this type of plug) won't. I actually use them with my lawnmower, lawn tractor, belt sander and chain saw instead of hearing protectors. I sometimes don't even play music, just use them to block the noise.

One disadvantage is that they are so good at blocking sound that you really do feel isolated from your environment. Also, you can't hear someone if they come up to talk to you. You better not put them in tightly if you want to hear your flight announcements!

05-21-2006, 03:57 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Super silent in-the-ear earphone upgrade If you are like me, you like to use your mobile device to listen to music. If you don't need a huge 40gig library of mp3s with you, an SD card works fine. But at times it would be nice to have the music without all the ambient background noise of people talking around you. There are headphones built for that purpose, like the Etymotic ER6 Isolator earphones. I picked those only because they were the first Google item returned, but ironically it turns out that they are sold by Palm as a LifeDrive accessory also! Well, you can make your own set from swimming earplugs. Instructables has the information you need. But don't drive or ride your bike with these things in, and don't blame me if you blow your ears out. You've been warned! Via Make.

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05-21-2006, 05:01 PM	#2
paulkbiba Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 45 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: United States Device: Nokia e61i, iPhone	I have a pair of Etymotic ER4 phones and the sound is incredible. Once you listen to them you can't put anything else in your ears. The dynamic range, liquid midrange, clear highs and tight bass is wonderful. They have some other benefits, also. The sound isolation is extreme. They completely block out all engine noise in an airplane. They have an advantage over electronic sound-reducing headphones in that they block the complete spectrum of sound, not just low frequencies. If you compare them to the Bose, for example, the Bose will let you hear spoken conversations near you, the Etymotics (or any other phone that uses this type of plug) won't. I actually use them with my lawnmower, lawn tractor, belt sander and chain saw instead of hearing protectors. I sometimes don't even play music, just use them to block the noise. One disadvantage is that they are so good at blocking sound that you really do feel isolated from your environment. Also, you can't hear someone if they come up to talk to you. You better not put them in tightly if you want to hear your flight announcements!

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