Short answer: the Etymotic ER4SR, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 1.7/5 for sound quality (#440 and #436 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Etymotic ER4SR costs $299.99 against $429 for the Audio-Technica ATH-E70, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 450 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the Truthear Nova ranks #2 at $169.99.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-E70: Three balanced armature drivers per side with 109 dB/mW sensitivity and a 39 ohm impedance let a phone drive it to loud levels without an amp. The tradeoff: A preference score of 46 in crinacle’s measurement places it far from the response most listeners prefer, so expect a strongly colored sound.
Why pick the Etymotic ER4SR: For listeners who prefer a flat, studio style sound, the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz stays within about 1 dB of target and its largest upper range peak is only 1.6 dB, so vocals come through clear without any glare. The catch: Sub-bass sits about 11 dB below target and falls 6 dB short at 75 Hz, so bass heavy music sounds lean and lacks impact.
Buy the Etymotic ER4SR. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $129.01 less than the Audio-Technica ATH-E70.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-E70 | Etymotic ER4SR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $429.00 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #436 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #440 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 46 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.20 dB standard deviation | 4.26 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature | 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 39 ohms | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW | 98 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0 lbs (9 g) per earpiece | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-10.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Audio-Technica ATH-E70:
- Shure SE425 vs Audio-Technica ATH-E70
- Audio-Technica ATH-E70 vs Mackie MP-360
- Etymotic ER4SR vs Mackie MP-360
- Shure SE425 vs Etymotic ER4SR
- Etymotic ER4SR vs EarSonics ES2
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Audio-Technica ATH-E70: $429.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Three balanced armature drivers per side with 109 dB/mW sensitivity and a 39 ohm impedance let a phone drive it to loud levels without an amp. Each earpiece weighs 9 g, and its rating matches the Mackie MP-360.
Cons: A preference score of 46 in crinacle’s measurement places it far from the response most listeners prefer, so expect a strongly colored sound. Plenty of better tuned in-ears cost far less, which makes it hard to recommend on sound.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-E70 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.20 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 46 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 39 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (9 g) per earpiece |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 214 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 5,106 Hz | +6.4 dB | 0.99 |
| Peak | 2,872 Hz | +3.4 dB | 2.08 |
| Peak | 6,870 Hz | -5.3 dB | 3.97 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +5.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,099 Hz | -2.3 dB | 2.49 |
| Peak | 1,430 Hz | -1.5 dB | 2.52 |
| Peak | 912 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 442 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.96 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Etymotic ER4SR: $299.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: For listeners who prefer a flat, studio style sound, the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz stays within about 1 dB of target and its largest upper range peak is only 1.6 dB, so vocals come through clear without any glare. It is rated level with the Audio-Technica ATH-E70 and Mackie MP-360, which cost more.
Cons: Sub-bass sits about 11 dB below target and falls 6 dB short at 75 Hz, so bass heavy music sounds lean and lacks impact. Treble about 6 dB low from 6 to 10 kHz and a 9 dB dip near 11.7 kHz take away air and shimmer. Its 98 dB/mW sensitivity is on the low side for an in ear, so it needs more volume than most.
Full Etymotic ER4SR review and specifications →
| Released | 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.26 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-10.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,470 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 7,389 Hz | +6.4 dB | 1.15 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.20 |
| Peak | 1,450 Hz | -1.8 dB | 2.27 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 269 Hz | -0.5 dB | 1.17 |
| Peak | 745 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 7,552 Hz | -0.8 dB | 4.20 |
| Peak | 9,634 Hz | -1.0 dB | 5.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons