Here is the Etymotic ER2XR review. Every hardcore audiophile have/needs this fundamental IEM in their backpack, you will understand why after reading this review. Since it’s 35-year old ancestor ER4-P is still relevant nowadays, this will give insights that ER2XR is good investment.
ER2XR: Unboxing: Box, IEM, Cable
As seen on the pictures below, box is deep and visually bright colored. Technicalities written on beside, on front there’s huge ER2XR with its cable. Inside the box there are: 2 pairs of triflange tips (M and S), pair of foampad, carrying case, cable clamp, pair of nozzle filters with filter removal tool, and ER2XR with its cable. Housing is aluminum shaped in slender cylinder. Model and serial numbers written over dark blue paint, cable is removable (mmcx). There’s a tiny notch on ER2XR’s cable that makes unable to connect them to other mmcx plugs, luckily you can connect other mmcx cables to ER2XR. However the tiny notch on the cable prevents rotation on the mmcx which helps safer deep inserts.
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 16 kHz |
| Transducers | High performance moving coil driver |
| Noise Isolation | 35-42 dB |
| Impedance (@1kHz) | 15 Ohms |
| Sensitivity (@1 kHz) SPL at 0.1v | 96 dB |
| Maximum Output (SPL) | 120 dB |
| Cable | Detachable, 4 ft |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
| Custom-Fit Option | Yes |
Sound
XR stands for eXtended Response. Don’t fooled by the name tho, these IEMs are truly accurate. Timbre is neutral, textures are life-like, everything in the mix is audible. There’s no exxageration in instruments. You can hear some new details you’ve never heard in lower / upper frequencies. Actually tuning-wise ER2XR is consumer-type approach for professional studio monitors like ER4P-T. Thanks to its natural presentation and it’s isolation there’s nothing between you and music you are listening to. We are not talking about mid-bassy warm neutral nor bright neutral, we are talking about real neutral. There are no treble spikes, sibilance etc. Sound is overall gray colored. It’s not totally black or totally white.
Bass, Mid, Treble
Bass is well-tempered, subbass is not eardrum shaker but it’s fairly existent. Enough to make sound fuller. It would be quite a neat benchmark in lower frequencies.
Mid is instrument and vocals, if you supply XR with enough power you will be pulled into rapture. Sound also keeps it’s well temper in this region. No audible mid-bass bloat, instruments sounds stable.
Treble is the high frequency region, we can clearly say there’s no sibilance. Also keeps it’s well temper in this region. It’s really balanced that it neither brighten the sound nor makes sound tinny. Air is sufficient, does not sound claustrophobic.
Etymotic ER2XR – Conclusion
It’s a must IEM/Gear for every audiophiles. Whether if you’re doing producing, mixing or monitoring music tracks. Aside it’s weird fit style, ER2XR’s isolation and tonal accuracy is top notch. This is perfect for its price. If you are looking for ultimate professional gear go for ER4SR, if not go for ER2.
