Short answer: the Etymotic ER4SR, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1200 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.7/5, at $299.99; the Sennheiser IE 400 Pro ranks #1212, rated 1.5/5, and costs $399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Truthear Nova instead, ranked #2 at $169.99.
The case for 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. Watch for: 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 Sennheiser IE 400 Pro: Bass is lifted about 3.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. The catch: Presence sits about 7.3 dB low with a 9.1 dB dip near 3.2 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Etymotic ER4SR. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser IE 400 Pro and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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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.
B&H Photo Video $299.99 eBay
Bass is lifted about 3.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Amazon $399.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic ER4SR | Sennheiser IE 400 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #1200 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1212 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 43 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.26 dB standard deviation | 4.11 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-10.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature | 1 x 7mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 45 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | 123 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 19kHz |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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