Etymotic ER6i earbuds discontinued: now what??

[slowinfastout]

You may think ER6i's are THE ANSWER and they're OK, but once you try custom molded earbuds you will never go back to off-the-shelf. There is a reason people pay $ 350 and up for custom ones, because they are truely all-day comfortable under the helmet and made stronger as well. I've had great luck with these, its all I ride with now:

http://bigearinc.com/Products/BE-1C.aspx


FYI, I've never know anyone to regret spending the coin on these.

[tedder]

Originally Posted by slowinfastout

FYI, I've never know anyone to regret spending the coin on these.

My wife was unimpressed. But true, most people prefer them.

OTOH, for daily commuting? Even Etymotics are too much.

[John Smallberries]

Originally Posted by Wlfman

I sent an email to them asking why and if they were replacing them with a similar version.

Their reply

I got the same response, word for word!

[nytrashman]

You may think ER6i's are THE ANSWER and they're OK, but once you try custom molded earbuds you will never go back to off-the-shelf. There is a reason people pay $ 350 and up for custom ones, because they are truely all-day comfortable under the helmet and made stronger as well. I've had great luck with these, its all I ride with now:

http://bigearinc.com/Products/BE-1C.aspx


FYI, I've never know anyone to regret spending the coin on these.

BigEar are rebranded Westone earphones. since i have a Westone dealer 5 min from my house i went there instead of ordering from BigEar.

[levain]

Originally Posted by nytrashman

BigEar are rebranded Westone earphones. since i have a Westone dealer 5 min from my house i went there instead of ordering from BigEar.

Really? How do you know this? Which Westone are the BE-1C?

[nytrashman]

Really? How do you know this? Which Westone are the BE-1C?

i read someware that someone bought BigEar earphones and they came with a Westone case and something else as well. if you look at both earphones they are exactly the same. the Westone model is CR1 and they sell for $289 which includes the impressions made at an authorized Westone dealer.

[John Smallberries]

Originally Posted by slowinfastout

You may think ER6i's are THE ANSWER and they're OK, but once you try custom molded earbuds you will never go back to off-the-shelf. There is a reason people pay $ 350 and up for custom ones, because they are truely all-day comfortable under the helmet and made stronger as well. I've had great luck with these, its all I ride with now:

http://bigearinc.com/Products/BE-1C.aspx


FYI, I've never know anyone to regret spending the coin on these.

You are probably right. I'll likely take this big plunge when my current pair of ER6i's craps out.

[Superfish]

Fortunately I have a couple pair of ER6is.

Here is how to make them last longer:

Loop some dental floss around the place where the filter plugs in and let it hang out of your ear. Use this to pull the buds out of your ears. If you pull on the wires they usually break right where they enter the bud. Don't ask me how I know.

[motoreiter]

Originally Posted by slowinfastout

...once you try custom molded earbuds you will never go back to off-the-shelf. There is a reason people pay $ 350 and up for custom ones, because they are truely all-day comfortable under the helmet and made stronger as well.

Not really buying into your reasoning, when ER6is are also comfortable all day and very durable and yet cost only $75? I was going to stock up on some more pairs of ER6is on Amazon, but I see that they are all gone...

[psyco1]

There are a whole bunch out there that I think give you better sound for the same $, size and fit are even more subjective though. I found the Klipsch S2 for about $20 on amazon and it works well for under helmet use,comfortable and lays low on the ear so the helmet slides right over it, more bass than the ER-6 to over power the wind noise and even though the S2 isn't as detailed as the ER-6, that doesn't seem to matter when most low level details get drowned out by the ambient noise anyway.

Here are a couple links of reviews.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/mult...added-10-25-11

http://www.head-fi.org/t/541204/conc...1#post_7297558

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by motoreiter

Not really buying into your reasoning, when ER6is are also comfortable all day and very durable and yet cost only $75? I was going to stock up on some more pairs of ER6is on Amazon, but I see that they are all gone...

http://www.earinc.com/p2-iplugz.php

I have two sets of the ER6is. And yes, they're certainly not bad in the comfort category, my Ear.inc. (not the same place as the guy who goes by "Ear, Inc." at rallies) custom earbuds are even more comfortable and still isolate 29-30dB. I keep the ER6i's in my tankbag as a backup, but since getting my custom monitors, I haven't used the ER6is.

[John Smallberries]

Originally Posted by Superfish

Fortunately I have a couple pair of ER6is.

Here is how to make them last longer:

Loop some dental floss around the place where the filter plugs in and let it hang out of your ear. Use this to pull the buds out of your ears. If you pull on the wires they usually break right where they enter the bud. Don't ask me how I know.

Practical - yet slightly disgusting. My kind of idea. I'll give it a try.

[bomber60015]

Originally Posted by slowinfastout

You may think ER6i's are THE ANSWER and they're OK, but once you try custom molded earbuds you will never go back to off-the-shelf. There is a reason people pay $ 350 and up for custom ones, because they are truely all-day comfortable under the helmet and made stronger as well. I've had great luck with these, its all I ride with now:

http://bigearinc.com/Products/BE-1C.aspx


FYI, I've never know anyone to regret spending the coin on these.

I suggest that if you do go this route, bring your helmet with, and wear it as the casting agent sets up in your ears.

I didn't do this, and it seems my ear canals change shape a bit when my admittedly dumbo-like outer ears are pressed close to my noggin by the helmet.

While the customer speakers are so confotable I foget they are there with my head unencumbered with protective gear (like when I'm cutting the grass), after 20 minutes WITH the helmet on, I'm ready to admit to kidnapping the Lindberg baby, burying Jimmy Hoffa in a Gary slag heap, and digging the entire Cu Chi complex . . ..

[drsales]

http://www.earphonesolutions.com/

Great site for educational purposes. Plus I have purchased 3 sets over the years and have been very pleased.

Current phones are the Westone UM-2 well worth the money.

[CowboyKyle]

I switched to hf5's because I kept pulling out the wires on the er6i's. The er6i's would only last up to about a year before I had to replace them. The hf5's are great, as far as preventing that from happening, coming up on one year with the first pair. No issues with the longer stem under the lid either.

I think it is worthwhile to try a few different eartips. the grey, three level plugs are ok (ER5-18), but I really preferred the expansion foam pieces (ER5-17). I think all day comfort can be found with the right eartip.

Originally Posted by enduro0125

I sent in a pair of er6i's in early October for warranty replacement.
I was informed that they were being discontinued,the person I spoke with suggested the hf5 as a replacement.

She said they worked underneath helmets,and she was right.
No long days with them yet,but so far I'm very happy with them.