Short answer: the Etymotic ER4SR, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 1.7/5 for sound quality (#440 and #439 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Etymotic ER4SR costs $299.99 against $419.99 for the Mackie MP-360, 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.
What the Etymotic ER4SR does well: 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.
Why pick the Mackie MP-360: Three balanced armatures with 15 ohm impedance and 117 dB/mW sensitivity make it effortless to drive from a phone or a stage belt pack. The tradeoff: oratory1990’s measurement shows presence averaging 9.1 dB below target with an 11.2 dB dip near 2.8 kHz, so vocals and snare lose clarity and sound muffled.
Buy the Etymotic ER4SR. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $120 less than the Mackie MP-360.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic ER4SR | Mackie MP-360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $419.99 |
| Ranked | #440 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #439 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.26 dB standard deviation | 4.37 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-10.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature | 3 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 45 ohms | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | 117 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Mackie MP-360:
- Shure SE425 vs Mackie MP-360
- Audio-Technica ATH-E70 vs Mackie MP-360
- Audio-Technica ATH-E70 vs Etymotic ER4SR
- 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
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
Mackie MP-360: $419.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Three balanced armatures with 15 ohm impedance and 117 dB/mW sensitivity make it effortless to drive from a phone or a stage belt pack. The closed in-ear design isolates well from outside noise, and the low mids sit about 2.3 dB above target for listeners who favor a thick, warm midrange.
Cons: oratory1990’s measurement shows presence averaging 9.1 dB below target with an 11.2 dB dip near 2.8 kHz, so vocals and snare lose clarity and sound muffled. Sub-bass falls 6 dB below target by 47 Hz, leaving kick drums and bass guitar thin at the bottom. A preference score of 45 places it far from what most listeners prefer.
Full Mackie MP-360 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.37 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 117 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 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 | +3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 221 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.39 |
| Peak | 2,560 Hz | +7.1 dB | 1.07 |
| Peak | 1,435 Hz | -3.1 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 4,853 Hz | +4.2 dB | 2.17 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,637 Hz | -2.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,624 Hz | +2.2 dB | 5.97 |
| Peak | 3,933 Hz | +0.9 dB | 4.38 |
| Peak | 4,727 Hz | -1.4 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons