Short answer: a tie on sound quality, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.0/5 (#432 and #430 of 450 in-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($149.99 vs $149.99), so choose on features and fit. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 450 in-ear headphones, and the Truthear Nova, ranked #2 at $169.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Why pick the Etymotic ER2SE: Listeners who want a flat, diffuse field style sound get midrange that stays within about 1 dB of target from 200 Hz to 3 kHz, with no peak larger than 2.1 dB across the upper range. The tradeoff: In oratory1990’s measurement sub-bass is about 10 dB below target and falls 6 dB short by 71 Hz, so pop, hip hop and electronic music sound thin.
Why pick the Etymotic ER3SE: A single balanced armature at 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW reaches comfortable volume from any phone or laptop without an amp. The catch: In oratory1990’s measurement sub-bass sits 9.9 dB below target and falls 6 dB short as high as 67 Hz, so bass lines sound thin and lack weight.
Buy the Etymotic ER2SE or the Etymotic ER3SE on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic ER2SE | Etymotic ER3SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #432 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #430 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.93 dB standard deviation | 4.18 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 71 Hz (-9.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 67 Hz (-9.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Balanced armature |
| Impedance | 15 ohms | 22 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x balanced armature |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/mW | 102 dB/mW |
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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
Etymotic ER2SE: $149.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Listeners who want a flat, diffuse field style sound get midrange that stays within about 1 dB of target from 200 Hz to 3 kHz, with no peak larger than 2.1 dB across the upper range. That keeps voices and acoustic instruments uncolored and free of harshness. The 15 ohm dynamic driver is an easy load for a phone.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement sub-bass is about 10 dB below target and falls 6 dB short by 71 Hz, so pop, hip hop and electronic music sound thin. Treble also runs about 6 dB low from 6 to 10 kHz with a 9.5 dB dip near 11.8 kHz, which dulls air and sparkle.
Full Etymotic ER2SE review and specifications →
| Released | 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.93 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 71 Hz (-9.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
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 | +6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,641 Hz | +7.2 dB | 0.59 |
| Peak | 1,757 Hz | -6.3 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 803 Hz | +5.2 dB | 0.92 |
| Peak | 3,742 Hz | +1.8 dB | 2.11 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 74 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.33 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.52 |
| Peak | 1,404 Hz | -0.4 dB | 3.73 |
| Peak | 399 Hz | +0.3 dB | 2.15 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Etymotic ER3SE: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A single balanced armature at 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW reaches comfortable volume from any phone or laptop without an amp. Its tuning lines up best with listeners who lean toward a neutral or warm taste rather than a bass-heavy one. It carries a higher rating than the pricier Westone W10.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement sub-bass sits 9.9 dB below target and falls 6 dB short as high as 67 Hz, so bass lines sound thin and lack weight. The treble drops 9.5 dB under target from 6 to 10 kHz with a 13.8 dB dip near 11.8 kHz, leaving cymbals and detail dull, and a preference score of 49 with 4.18 dB of deviation means most listeners hear it as colored. There is no built-in microphone for calls.
Full Etymotic ER3SE review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.18 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 | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 67 Hz (-9.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 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 | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,528 Hz | +7.4 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 1,942 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 206 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 837 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.72 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,498 Hz | -1.8 dB | 2.74 |
| Peak | 1,388 Hz | -0.3 dB | 3.82 |
| Peak | 6,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,933 Hz | -0.6 dB | 3.44 |
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