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Etymotic Research HF5 Portable In-Ear Earphones (Cobalt) | 
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| Brand: Etymotic Research
Category: CE
Buy New: $149.00
Rating:  5 reviews
Color: Cobalt
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 1.5 x 7.3 x 6
MPN: HF5-Blue
Model: HF5-Blue
UPC: 898234000268
EAN: 0898234000268
ASIN: B000XP8DJC
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Highest response accuracy available | | • | Industry leading noise isolation | | • | Shiny blue finish | | • | For audiophiles, musicians, recording engineers | | • | Lightweight and portable |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Etymotic's 5th Generation of high-fidelity in-ear earphones has finally arrived. The hf5 delivers a near-perfect music experience, even in high surrounding noise conditions. Like Etymotic's earlier generations of in-ear earphones, the hf5 is built on superior noise isolation, so you experience total sound immersion when listening to your music. The hf5 is compatible with all iPod models and music players that accept a 3.5 mm plug. Included in the package: In-ear earphones; assorted eartips for your comfort; filter changing tool with filters; carrying pouch.
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| Customer Reviews:
Not an ER4, but close, and very good for portable use November 12, 2008
Otello1901 (Boston, MA USA)
For some time, I've owned an ER4p with the adapter that made it into an ER4s. Strictly from a sound viewpoint, these are super IEMs. But the physical design left much to be desired for carrying around with my IPODs, especially the Nano. The HF5 addresses the design issues. Samller, with a flexible 4 foot cable that, unlike the 6i, does not get tangled up. Easily wraps around my new Classic for easy transport. I use it with the Comply foam tips which are super comfortable and provide great isolation.
OK, you are saying, but how do they sound? To my ears, not at the level of the ER4p, but pretty damn close. Not for bass heads, but for people who want accurate presentation with minimal coloration. Much better than the ER6 and especially the 6i. I listen primarily to jazz, classical, vocals, classic rock.
As a comparison, I've also listened to the Shure SE310 which lists on Amazon for a $100 more than the HF5. The HF5 wins for clarity and impact. For $100 less, no contest.
Very Good November 3, 2008
dave (New York, NY)
I recently came into the market for an upscale set of canalphones. The market is now flooded with options most notably from Shure and Ultimate Ear. Sennheiser just came out with three new models and then you've got Etymotic's offerings. Plenty of other brands as well: Westone, Vmoda, Sony, and more...
I chose the Hf5 because they offer really high levels of sound isolation at this price point. In practice, I find that the isolation they provide is excellent. I've had them about a week (about 20 hours of use) and on NYC streets, with music playing, I can't hear anything. On the subway I can feel the vibration of the train through my body but I don't hear any vibration through my ears. Finally, sitting in my living room, about 6 feet from the TV playing at a normal volume, I can't hear whats on the television. 5 stars in this department.
The sound quality is very good, but not amazing. I used to own Sennheiser cx300's (my cat chewed the cable) and they list at a substantially lower price point. (About 60 bucks nowadays, although I paid about 80 over a year ago) I don't feel that these etymotics sound $80 - $100 dollars better.
That being said - they sound very accurate. Acoustic music sounds excellent through these. I'm also really impressed with how percussion instruments sound. Take Guster for example, the bongos/conga percussion sounds really good here. Also I've found that on Jazz tracks, these sound excellent. They are also strong in the Classical department, I don't have a large classical library to evaluate them on, but I enjoy listening to Holst's Planets Symphony through these. Rock & Roll tracks sound good on these, but since the headphones are so accurate, I feel like you loose a little on the bass end. Howver, guitar heavy music is great. The same can be said for hip-hop and rap. I don't tend to listen to really heavy bass music, so for me this isn't a problem. For example, Jurrasic 5 doesn't tend to overload the bass end and I find these headphones excellent for listening to them. Finally, listening to electronica type tracks (daftpunk, zero 7, underworld) is enjoyable as well. The bass is tight but not overwhelming.
In the end, I like these because they perform well across a variety of musical types, being extremely strong in the Jazz department. They isolate the sound well and are comfortable to wear. They come with three different tip options as well as a carrying case. Incidentally, this case holds the headphones and my third generation ipod nano perfectly together. I feel that they are a little overpriced, which is partially a product of the fact that they are only available on amazon so there is no price competition. I'd also consider looking at the Shure se210 and they the lower priced Ultimate Ear Super.fi 3 and the more expensive Super.fi 5/Super.fi 5 Pro.
In the end I bought these because this was about the amount of money I was looking to spend, wanted sound isolation, and they looked cool. I'm happy with them.
 Brilliant Sound - Even better than the ER-4 October 16, 2008
Eric Monse (New York City)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I've been using the Etymotic ER-4 for years and recently just bought the HF5. When I first got the ER-4's years ago, my friends first thought I was crazy for paying $275. But I listen to all my music while commuting on the train. If you loved music as much as I do, would you spend that much on a pair of speakers for your home stereo, or skimp and spend $50?
The ER-4 delivered like no other earphones, with not only the sound quality, but the noise reduction. As someone once said "It's the closest thing there is to injecting the music right into your brain." I completely agree. It took some getting used to 'listening' to the bass as opposed to feeling it, but now these are irreplaceable.
I have bought several pair of the ER-4's due to damage, losing them, etc. And it was time to replace my current pair. I decided to get Etymotics newest model, the HF5. I didn't expect a huge improvement over the ER-4's, but I was wrong.
At first I felt like the earphones didn't fit as well as the ER-4's. But then I realized that these actually go DEEPER into your ears than the ER-4's. And once I got them in there... WOW! The sound was actually so much bigger and brighter than the ER-4's. The ER-4's were great, but the HF5's is like watching High Definition Television compared to regular TV. The highs are brighter and the bass is bigger.
The only thing I wasn't happy with, at first, is the cord. They seem to have switched back to the more grabby rubbery style cord as opposed to the smoother plastic. While the rubbery feels nicer, I was worried it would grab onto my clothes too much. That hasn't been a problem so far.
They could have also included a few extra filters. The filters need to be changed every few months when they get gunked up with earwax. This model only includes one spare, and it would have been great to include more.
Other than that I would say these earphones are superb and worth every penny.
Eric Monse
Flat out incredible sound August 27, 2008
A. Simmons (San Francisco, CA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I can unequivocally recommend these earphones. I have used a broad variety of earphones, including the Shure se530's Ultimate Ears triple-fi 10's and several Sennheisers. For this price, I've never heard sound so balanced, and with such clarity, coming out of an iPod. I feel like I'm in a sealed sound chamber when I listen with these, even when I'm on the bus. It's almost too isolating - sometimes I really lose touch with what's going on around me. I am a musician, and when I've done studio recordings, we listen for nuances in the instrumentation and music that you typically do not hear when playing back an MP3 file or CD. With the Etymotic hf5's, I'm getting the kind of clarity I get in the studio. And for just $150! There's no over-exaggerated bass, and I can hear every instrument and every voice. There's nothing like listening to an a capella group like Take 6 with the hf5. Or to an unplugged session where all kinds of things can happen in the tracks - if you can hear them. Oh, and the blue and red ones are cool-looking. Pretty much everyone replaces the earphones that come with your MP3 player, and you can spend a lot more on earphones than this, but I recommend $150 spent on these earphones as the biggest bang for your buck.
 Good, Not Great August 16, 2008
TAFB (NY)
26 out of 30 found this review helpful
I have a number of different earphones/headphones, including Etymotic ER-4P, Jays Q-Jays, Ultimate Ears 5 Pro and 4vi. The ER-4Ps sound the best to me (but lack in the design category -- they stick out too far when inserted in your ear and the cable feels somewhat flimsy). The ER-4Ps have a level of clarity and detail (and treble) that the others do not match.
I bought these headphones thinking that I would now have the best of both worlds: the sound of the ER-4Ps with a better design. I was wrong. The design of the Hf5 headphone itself is better than the ER-4P, but the sound of the Hf5 does not match the ER-4P. To my ears, the ER-4P and Hf5 are very similar at the low end (neither is particularly strong in bass). However, at the mid-range and especially the high end, the ER-4Ps have more detail and clarity between different instruments and vocals. The Hf5 tends to sound more muddy IN COMPARISON to the ER-4Ps and the high end of the Hf5 has more roll off than the ER-4Ps (i.e., the highs on the Hf5 won't go as high as they do on the ER-4P). Vocals and mid-range on the ER-4P sound so much better than the Hf5 that I wonder whether I had a bad set of Hf5s.
Looking at Amazon's prices, the ER-4Ps are only $20 more than the Hf5. If you are spending that much money on headphones, the ER-4Ps are a better deal.
This is not to say that the Hf5s are a bad set of headphones. To the contrary, I found them to compare very favorably to the Q-Jays. The Q-Jays had better low end (bass) than the Hf5, but the Hf5 was better than the Q-Jays on the high end and the Hf5 seemed to have a better soundstage (more clarity and detail). The Q-Jays are smaller and fit better than the Hf5; HF5 are slightly better than the Q-Jays at blocking external noises.
The Ultimate Ears 4vi are a good set of headphones. With respect to sound, I would give a slight edge to the UE 4vi over the Hf5 (the UE 4vis have better low end and maybe slightly better soundstage than the Hf5...though not by much). The Hf5 fit better than the UE4vi and block more external noise.
The UE Super 5 Pros are muddy and pale in comparison to any of the other headphones.
So, the Hf5s are a good set of headphones...but they do not match the great sound quality of the ER-4Ps.
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