The Etymotic ER3XR ranks #74 out of 115 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Etymotic
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#74 Etymotic ER3XR: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: At 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and its single balanced armature design keeps things simple. The warm, treble-shy balance fits listeners who are sensitive to sharp highs and want nothing glaring up top. It rates above the Jabra Elite Active 65t and Master & Dynamic MW07 at a similar price.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement treble falls about 8.5 dB below target from 6 to 16 kHz, with a 13.1 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals sound dull and fine detail fades. Sub-bass drops 6 dB below target by 30 Hz, and both the Shure SE215 and FiiO FH3 rate higher for less money.
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.48 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 | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (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 | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,475 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.67 |
| Peak | 1,644 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.62 |
| Peak | 167 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 877 Hz | +2.4 dB | 1.64 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,614 Hz | -1.8 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 5,600 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -0.2 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 4,774 Hz | -0.5 dB | 3.58 |
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