If you travel frequently, chances are you’ve used earphones or ear plugs before, whether you’re trying to get some sleep from a snoring partner or keep out the noise from a busy street or bar below your hotel room.
We recently received some products from the folks at Etymotic Research to test out.
First up is their mk5 Isolator Earphones, which are part of the high-fidelity Isolator earphone series and feature Etymotic’s renowned sound quality and high noise isolation.
If you’re new to earphones, then you should know that there are countless options to choose from and you should select one that is best suited to your use case scenario, whether at home or on the road.
Isolator earphones are a great choice for people with an active lifestyle as they tune out the world around you, so you can hear every detail in your music.
Music lovers will love these earphones as you can really tune into the different layers of music you listen to using these low-profile, in-ear earphones which also fit comfortably with hats and helmets making them ideal for commuting, travel and sports activities.
Like other products in their Isolator series, the mk5 matches the ear’s response for natural sound reproduction over a broad frequency range. In addition to providing awesome sound, Isolator earphones promote hearing safety, which is so important if you travel a lot and/or are around noisy environments on a regular basis.
These earphones have sound-blocking capabilities that reduce the impulse to turn up the volume in order to drown out unwanted noise from the outside world. BRAVO!
The idea is that quiet passages and soft dynamics can actually come through clearly, and loud passages don’t hammer your eardrums.
The ER4 earphones from Etymotic are noise-isolating, high-fidelity, in-ear earphones. For those new to this space, Etymotic’s ER4 MicroPro series earphones were the first earphones commercialized using balanced armature technology and are recognized as the world leader in response accuracy.
After a little digging, I soon discovered that these are the go-to choice for more serious sound engineers, audiophiles and musicians.
They make a great choice for those who want a professional set of earphones that are highly ranked for both quality and reliability. They also include a selection of noise-isolating eartip options to ensure proper seal and comfort and offer what they refer to as CUSTOM FIT if you want an even more personalized fit for longer wear.
They are known to be the first earphones to completely seal the ear. If you’re not new to earphones or headsets, you’ll know about dB ratings and this gem of a set is up there at 98% (35 dB – 42 dB) noise isolation, which is the highest of any earphones or headsets on the market today.
These earphones make a great choice for those who are around noise on a regular basis, particularly noise which may be at unsafe levels, i.e, you work in a bar with live music, play in a band, ride noisy trains frequently or live in a loud urban area.
They also offer user-replaceable filters which protect the balanced-armature drivers from ear wax, a great feature if you plan on wearing them a lot. Isn’t your health worth it?
They come with a detachable 5 foot cord with a 3.5 mm gold plated stereo plug, a quarter inch stereo phone adapter, an assortment of eartips, a filter removal tool and replacement filters, a shirt clip, a zippered storage case, and a performance certificate.
The last set we’d like to mention from Etymotic are their ER•20XS High Fidelity Earplugs Universal Fit. Sure, it’s a mouthful but that’s because there’s a lot to them.
These high quality earplugs come three interchangeable pairs of eartips for more fitting options. The foam eartips on the ER•20XS Universal Fit earplugs have built in advanced technology which offers both protection and super clear communication.
They feature a stem-less design, with a low profile that conforms to the plane of the outerear, which makes them super comfy to wear under hats and other headgear. Think active lifestyles.
They also have a small, flexible pull tab so you can easily and quickly take them out as needed.
Features include 3 eartip options for best fit, comfort and seal, extra protection against noise-induced hearing loss, lowers sound evenly 20 dB, is easy to wear under hats and helmuts as noted above, reduces wind noise and noise fatigue. They also have interchangeable eartips.
In addition to the earplugs, you receive a pair of standard 3-Flange eartips, a pair of large 3-Flange eartips, a pair of foam eartips, a neck cord, and a case.
Be sure to read our reviews on Degauss Labs Headsets, Klipsche in-ear headphones and our technology reviews section. Lower end cheap earplug options are available from Mack. You may also be interested in our lifestyle products section as well.
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Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
