Etymotic · Updated July 2026
Etymotic ER4XR: price, specs & release date
- Best for Reference-grade, near-perfect tuning with excellent midrange detail and clarity; Tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR without bloat or losing accuracy.
- Skip if No in-line mic or remote; wired-only connection is a dealbreaker.
Etymotic ER4XR, released 2016. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: etymotic.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the Etymotic ER4XR a good buy?
At $349, the Etymotic ER4XR is #4 cheapest of the 10 in ear monitors we track, where the median is $529. On the spec sheet, its sensitivity db mw of 98 is the lowest of the 6, its impedance ohms of 45 is above the median of the 10, and its plug termination of 3.5mm is at the median of the 8. By release date, it is the oldest of the 5 we date.
Evidence of Record
Our dataNo independent lab has measured this product yet. 3 outlets have it on record by mention only, with no hands-on measurements published to weigh its claims against — a gap in the evidence, not a verdict on the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Etymotic ER4XR
Three whitelisted testers (What Hi-Fi, TechHive, TechRadar) reviewed the ER4XR; TechRadar's is a joint ER4SR/ER4XR piece that discusses the XR trim explicitly. All three praise reference-grade midrange clarity, and two single out a tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR, but none ran lab measurements. Fit divides them: two call the deep insertion invasive or strange, one finds the flanges very comfortable.
Tested by What Hi-Fi?, TechHive, TechRadar
Consistently praised
- Reference-grade, near-perfect tuning with excellent midrange detail and clarity · 3 sources
- Tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR without bloat or losing accuracy · 2 sources
- Class-leading passive noise isolation from the sealed, non-ported design · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- No in-line mic or remote; wired-only connection · 3 sources
- Deep-insertion, triple-flange fit feels invasive or strange for some · 2 sources
- Analytical, sibilant sound that punishes low-quality sources · 2 sources
- Expensive for the average user · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Comfort splits the panel: What Hi-Fi and TechRadar find the deep-insertion, triple-flange design invasive or strange and not something to wear out and about, while TechHive found the same flanges very comfortable for long sessions and easier on the ear canal than memory foam.
The sources (3)
The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening.
As these earphones are non-ported, the foam tips provide fantastic isolation, all-but unbeatable among universal earphones.
The slim cylinders work their way deep into the ear canal, which feels invasive.
the $350 Etymotics ER4XR (Extended Range) in-ear headphone is tuned to near perfection, with just a smidgen more bass than their equally good-sounding and like-priced ER4SR (Studio Reference) cousins
I also found the three-flange design spreads the pressure on my ear canal more comfortably than a single piece of memory foam
If I had to be picky, I'd say I'd like a wee bit more high-end sparkle, but that's just a matter of taste, and sparkle can get tiring over the long run.
the Etymotic ER4 are reference-grade in-ears for folks who want the best sound quality on the planet
the upper mids and highs become sharp, sibilant and generally dominate the sound when listening to a less than pristine source like Spotify
Should you want something a bit heavier in the low-end, you can always opt for the XR version of the headphones, which put more emphasis on bass and sub-bass frequencies.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $349 US launch MSRP $349. Sourced from Headfonics review (Jan 4, 2017), verbatim: "In 2016, Etymotic decided to relaunch the ER4 and offers two new products for consumers: The new SR ... and the XR ... at 349 $ each." Note: the current Etymotic manufacturer store page lists the price as "$ 309.99". |
|---|---|
| Brand | Etymotic |
| Released | 2016 |
| Driver type | balanced-armature |
| Driver config | 1BA |
| Impedance ohms | 45 |
| Sensitivity db mw | 98 |
| Frequency response (Hz) | 20-16000 |
| Connector type | mmcx |
| Cable detachable | Yes |
| Plug termination | 3.5mm |
| Shell material | aluminum |
| Weight grams | — |
Source: etymotic.com (verified 2026-07-11) · corroborated by headfonics.com. The Etymotic manufacturer product page (etymotic.com/product/er4xr-earphones) confirms this exact ER4XR model via its Technical Specs block: single high-performance balanced-armature driver per channel, 45 Ohms @ 1kHz impedance, 98 dB @ 1kHz/1mW sensitivity, 20 Hz–16 kHz frequency response, a detachable 5 ft cable with MMCX connectors terminating in a 3.5mm gold-plated stereo plug, and CNC-machined anodized-aluminum shells; the page shows a current store price of "$ 309.99". The Headfonics review (Jan 4, 2017) corroborates the identical spec table and states the ER4 was relaunched in 2016 with the SR and XR "at 349 $ each," establishing the $349 US launch MSRP. Both pages unambiguously identify the ER4XR (eXtended Response, added bass) variant as distinct from the flat-tuned ER4SR sibling that shares the cable and body but differs in bass tuning.
Is the Etymotic ER4XR worth it vs cheaper in ear monitors?
Etymotic ER4XR against its closest cheaper and pricier in ear monitors on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 10 ranked →
| Product | Price | Driver type | Driver config | Impedance ohms | Sensitivity db mw | Frequency response (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etymotic ER4XR this | $349 | balanced-armature | 1BA | 45 | 98 | 20-16000 |
| 7Hz Timeless II | $229 | planar-magnetic | single planar | 15.2 | — | — |
| Moondrop Blessing 3 | $359.99 | hybrid | 2DD+4BA | 14.8 | — | 10-30000 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Etymotic ER4XR?
Three whitelisted testers (What Hi-Fi, TechHive, TechRadar) reviewed the ER4XR; TechRadar's is a joint ER4SR/ER4XR piece that discusses the XR trim explicitly. All three praise reference-grade midrange clarity, and two single out a tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR, but none ran lab measurements. Fit divides them: two call the deep insertion invasive or strange, one finds the flanges very comfortable. Praised: Reference-grade, near-perfect tuning with excellent midrange detail and clarity; Tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR without bloat or losing accuracy; Class-leading passive noise isolation from the sealed, non-ported design. Flagged: No in-line mic or remote; wired-only connection; Deep-insertion, triple-flange fit feels invasive or strange for some; Analytical, sibilant sound that punishes low-quality sources; Expensive for the average user. (From 3 tester reviews.)
How much does the Etymotic ER4XR cost?
The Etymotic ER4XR has a US price of $349 (US launch MSRP $349. Sourced from Headfonics review (Jan 4, 2017), verbatim: "In 2016, Etymotic decided to relaunch the ER4 and offers two new products for consumers: The new SR ... and the XR ... at 349 $ each." Note: the current Etymotic manufacturer store page lists the price as "$ 309.99".), as of 2026-07-11.
How does the Etymotic ER4XR compare on price?
At $349, the Etymotic ER4XR is #4 cheapest of the 10 in ear monitors we track, where the median is $529.
When was the Etymotic ER4XR released?
The Etymotic ER4XR was released 2016.
What are the Etymotic ER4XR's key specs?
Etymotic ER4XR (Etymotic): driverType balanced-armature, driverConfig 1BA, impedanceOhms 45, sensitivityDbMw 98, frequencyResponseHz 20-16000. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-07-11.
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