Etymotic ER6I-B Isolator Earphone - ER6I-B
Etymotic Research ER6i-B Isolator Earphones - White

Pricey. Sound quality was great and the earbuds were comfortable once I fitted the correct size ear pieces but I found that the wiring was flimsy and broke easily shortly after the warranty expired. I would go with a different manufacturer like Sony. More bang and a sturdier product for your buck.
 
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These earbuds sound great and fit well in my ears. Perfect for zoning out for hours on end - especially at work when you want to ignore everyone around you and get in the zone.
 
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I recently had an opportunity to test three noise-canceling earbuds on a 9-hour flight. The ER-6i's were able to outperform their active-canceling counterparts by a decent margin. They do very good at knocking out the low frequency rumble of jets, and are don't have any "hiss" associated with most of the active-cancelers. With multiple replaceable tips, I was able to find a comfortable pair, and wore them the whole time on my return flight. I found the following, not necessarily flaws, but inconveniences. Number one: there is no "monitor mode". If you want to hear the stewardess and most of the cabin announcements, you have to listen hard, take out an earbud, or only insert one part-way. Number two: you have to be a little careful when removing the earbuds. They seal VERY well and will make a sizable POP if you pull them out too quickly (learned that the hard way, thanks to a seatmate's jacket catching one of the wires). I am pretty much sold on these for flying... no batteries to die, very good noise-reduction, comfortable fit, and completely passive (no bulky box with a battery and circuitry bouncing at your waist). As for the office environment, I bet they'd be great, unless you like a little warning before someone walks into your office).
 
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I recently had an opportunity to test three noise-canceling earbuds on a 9-hour flight. The ER-6i's were able to outperform their active-canceling counterparts by a decent margin. They do very good at knocking out the low frequency rumble of jets, and are don't have any "hiss" associated with most of the active-cancelers. With multiple replaceable tips, I was able to find a comfortable pair, and wore them the whole time on my return flight. I found the following, not necessarily flaws, but inconveniences. Number one: there is no "monitor mode". If you want to hear the stewardess and most of the cabin announcements, you have to listen hard, take out an earbud, or only insert one part-way. Number two: you have to be a little careful when removing the earbuds. They seal VERY well and will make a sizable POP if you pull them out too quickly (learned that the hard way, thanks to a seatmate's jacket catching one of the wires). I am pretty much sold on these for flying... no batteries to die, very good noise-reduction, comfortable fit, and completely passive (no bulky box with a battery and circuitry bouncing at your waist). As for the office environment, I bet they'd be great, unless you like a little warning before someone walks into your office).
 
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I used a set of these for over a year in construction. No discomfort while sweating all day at work and then using them to fall asleep at night. No need for added hearing protection while using grinders, chop saws, and all manner of deafening power tools. You will miss all your calls unless you notice the vibe mode. During quiet moments you will hear the vibrations of the wires as they rub on your shirt. Proper fitment is extremely important. I used the silicon plugs, and they never fell out on their own. Be prepared for some pain when you accidentally get the cord caught on a door-knob (or other fixed object) as you are walking by. Who needs noise canceling? These sound so good and are so quiet that you will actually save your hearing. Surprisingly, I am able to keep the volume levels very low. To hear ever note with ear buds, I usually end up cranking up the volume. Being able to clearly hear the music for extended periods of time at low volumes means less stress as well. Remember, I'm doing this while operating very loud power tools. I would actually caution anyone wishing to use these while riding or working out anywhere near traffic. You will not hear that car locking up it's brakes, truck horns, barking dogs, or gun shots... Sadly my first ER-6i set died when the wire at the plug shorted out. I then went with a set of Shure for about $100 more. Sound was about the same. The Shure used better materials and felt better made, but I kept missing my ER-6i. Since the Shure fell apart after about a year hard use, I'm going back to my beloved ER-6i's.
 
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I bought a set in 03(I think) and use them for motorcycle riding. Take the time to find the correct fitting ends for your ears and they will perform better than you could ever imagine. Be warned if you use the wrong tips, or don't fit them into your ear properly and they will sound bad or hurt. I use the small silicone tips, and have used them multiple times for 12+ hour rides from Va to Fla. This set is for my girlfriend, as my original set is a bit dirty but still perform as good as the new ones.
 
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I bought these items for use in the gym and while motorcycling and while they do fit snugly they are not designed with durability in mind. I have only had them for a short amount of time and they have already broken. I think I will stick with Sony or other brands in the future.
 
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excellent sound very comfortable
 
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best isolating earphones. i also have shure se 530 but this are more isolating... fast shipping, original package.
 
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Nothing unwanted - like environmental noise, gets in, nothing important - like the tunes your listening to, leaks out! The best, most comfortable listening experience ever! And No Bad Hair from big bulky headphones! This company knows how to produce BIG sound out of small packages. Experts in the field of miniature acoustic technology designed for devices for the hearing impaired, ER is at the top of the list producing high quality acoustic accessories. After the iPod, these earphones ought to be the Impulse purchase of choice for everyone seeking the BEST listening experience available.
 
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Earphone plug easier to fit into the ear. But the cable on the plug side without seal to enforce the wire pulling force. Easier to pull the wire to break it.
 
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Pros: I was simply blown away by the stellar sound of these headphones. Add the fantastic noise isolation and you have the perfect set of headphones for your mp3 player. Comes with a pouch and 2 replacement filters. Cons: The cord tends to get tangled. Loves ear wax, so requires cleaning after each use. Only comes with one set of head pieces (not counting the two disposable ones).
 
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I bought these to use on a motorcycle under my helmet. These are great since they fit IN the ear. They block as much ambient noise as my normal custom made earplugs, and the sound from my GPS through them is clear and audible at any speed. They're good enough I'm buying an MP3 player to use for tunes on the road when I'm not GPS'ing. 5 stars! And the company gets 5 stars also - I called about an offer they had for different size ends for the earplugs - within a few days a sample pack of all sizes was delivered to my house - no charge. Can't ask for better service.
 
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