Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
almost two decades ago , Etymotic Research used the company ’s expertness in get wind aids to produce one of the first lines of in - ear - canal earphone ( also known ascanalphones ) , theER-4 series . The model in the ER-4 line — the ER-4S , ER-4P , and ER-4B — remain audiophile classic , and updated versions are still available today at a cost of $ 299 each . With the $ 149 hf5 ( ) canalphones , as well as the $ 179 hf2 ( ) andhf3canalphone headsets , the company sought to match the ER-4P ’s performance as close as potential at lower price , mostly by outsourcing some of the manufacturing process .
The $ 99mc3 Headset + Earphones(available sans remote and microphone as the $ 79mc5 Earphones ) is Etymotic ’s attempt to bring a likewise high degree of performance to the under-$100 canalphone market . This fourth dimension , the company rationalize cost further by replace thebalanced - armature driversof the hf and ER series with less - expensivemoving - coildrivers — thus the “ mc ” in the intersection name — and tune those drivers to closely mime the performance of the atomic number 72 and ER series .
In-ear on a budget
Some quick background information : Canalphones typically fit snugly — and fairly deep — in your ear duct , block most outside noise and creating a substantial acoustical seal to improve sea bass performance . ( Canalbudsare similar but do n’t sit as deep or block as much sound . See our in - capitulum - canal headphone primer for more info . ) The downsides of canalphones are that some people find it guileful to get a proper fit ; you may have the odd - voice articulation that comes from have your pinna plug while sing ; and you may hear some cable racket — jut and scrapes of the cable amplify by the canalphones ’ nasty conjugation with your auricle canals .
The four colouring of the mc3
The mc3 ’s earpieces are aluminum tubes available in four colors : black ( which I tested — it ’s actually a dark-skinned gray ) , red , green , and blue . The conception is sporty and attractive , but slightly plain . The rubbery , kevlar - reward cables sport a 45 - degree miniplug and , on the transmission line for the right - hand headphone , an Apple - dash three - clitoris ( Volume Up , Play / suspension / Call , and Volume Down ) remote with a build - in microphone . The remote is comparatively easy to operate , although the identically - shaped push button are distinguishable from each other principally by their relative positions . Etymotic include a nylon carry instance , replacement filter that protect the drivers and fine - melody high frequencies , a filter - exchange creature , a shirt time , and , commendably , a two year warranty .
The four colors of the mc3
Etymotic also provides an unusually diverse assortment of eartips : humble and gravid triple - flanged silicone tips , rough-cut foam tip , and mushroom-shaped cloud - shaped “ glider ” tip made of still foam . All three trend provide a good seal of approval and above - average isolation . Eartip predilection is personal , but I liked the triplex - rim versions , which sealed in my ears better than the easy glider , and were more well-fixed than the scratchy foam tips .
Etymotic ’s products have a reputation for producing frequency response that ’s as “ matt ” as possible — having the eminent , midrange , and small frequency in balance , rather than any one dominating . However , while I find the mc3 ’s balance of midrange and treble frequencies appropriate , bass frequencies voice a bit too tranquil for my tastes , particularly at lower volumes . This is peculiarly unmistakable for instruments such as freshwater bass guitar and recoil drums , which frequently lack the kind of wallop I carry . Many earphone greatly overdraw basso , so in principle I notice Etymotic ’s focus on neutrality admirable . But while I ca n’t say , objectively and definitively , whether the mc3 represent bass volume accurately , I suspect there wo n’t be “ enough ” sea bass for some listeners . Whether you ’re one of those will depend on your personal tastes and the type of euphony you heed to — I find that classical and jazz auditory sensation great , rock generally sounds good ( if a small thin on the low ending ) , while hip - hops and electronic music border on anemic ( relative to how I imagine the recording are intended to sound ) due to the lack of nonrational bass impact .
Was the mc3 ’s overall detail and residuum telling enough that I preferred it to headphones with more bass part wallop ? My long - time best-loved sub-$100 canalbud headset , the $ 80 Maximo iP-595 ( ) , accentuates bass and high frequencies for a more immediately exciting speech sound , and while I like the iP-595 ’s basso impact , I opt the mc3 overall for its top - to - bottom contingent and less - fatiguing high - frequency balance . Ultimate Ears ’ $ 90 MetroFi 220vi ( ) is a second more balanced than the iP-595 , and I care the MetroFi ’s slight bass emphasis compared to the mc3 ’s guarded bass , but I still favor the mc3 overall due to its detail and accuracy . in the end , although the mc3 is very good , it ’s crucial to show out that it ’s not the net word in sound timbre . For example , higher - destruction canalphones — which also cost more , of course — offer better detail and sound more relaxed and born overall , and some may offer better bass encroachment , as well .
The mc3 with Custom-Fit eartips
The performance of the inline microphone is one of the mc3 ’s few weak spots . Voices reproduce by the mike are easy comprehensible , but deficiency bass voice and sound slight compared to the iPhone 4 ’s internal mike . I also notice a inclination for the mc3 ’s cable to curl — a vulgar issue with this eccentric of cartilaginous cable television service .
Custom-Fit tips
For $ 100 , you’re able to kick upstairs the mc3 with Etymotic’sCustom - set eartips . I ’ve covered the details of the Custom - Fit program in a separate article , but briefly , you face a coupon from Etymotic ’s Website to an audiologist , who takes impressions ( molding ) of your capitulum canal and send off them to Etymotic ’s partner , ACS . Four to eight workweek later on , you encounter a set of eartips design specifically for your ear canal . While you may get usance eartips for other brands of canalphones , they are usually considerably more expensive ( $ 150 plus audiologist fee , for example ) , and canalphones with usance earpieces(the entire headphone / eartip assembly is a single , custom - molded piece with the electronics indoors ) are much more expensive , starting around $ 400 .
The mc3 with Custom - Fit eartips
While reviewing the mc3 , I also screen the Custom - Fit program . ( Etymotic had me go through a process exchangeable to what an mc3 owner would have . ) Besides the bespoke appeal of eartips tailor to your ear , the Custom - Fit earpieces ameliorate the mc3 ’s comfortableness considerably . Because they considerably fit the out parts of my spike epithelial duct , they do n’t have to be inserted as deeply as the included “ oecumenical - fit ” tips , and since they do n’t have a uniformly round form , they do n’t wield special pressure in particular spot . Noise isolation is comparable to that of the included triple - flange confidential information — still among the good I ’ve hear . However , although I had hope the Custom - Fit earpieces would be easier to inclose — my curved ear canals tend to be fussy with universal tips — it still guide some work to angle the usance tips properly and induct them securely . Practice helps , as does moistening the Custom - Fit top slimly .
Is the difference between universal eartips and the Custom - Fit summit worth turning a $ 99 headset into a $ 199 headset ? That depend on how much you value comfort — and how much time you expend each Clarence Day with the mc3 . While the mc3 was stuffy to being a unexampled favourite with the stock eartips , the custom earpieces seal the batch . They ’re a luxury , but their comfort quickly spoiled me . However , even though the mc3 is a bargain at $ 99 , and would still be be good at $ 199 , keep in mind that same $ 199 could also buy more - expensive universal - fit canalphones that might surpass the mc3 in functioning ( if not ease ) . Plus , aftermarket worldwide - set eartips such as those from Comply Foam ( ) can do a circle for comfort and isolation for far less than $ 100 .
Macworld’s Buying Advice
The mc3 offer great detail that will immerse you in your music for 60 minutes — anyone grass in this price range should at least get word the mc3 to see if its impressive clarity is enough to countervail its relatively low basso encroachment . Bassheads should manifestly head clear , but even though I find the lack of bass part shock to be occasionally frustrative , overall I enjoy the mc3 , and it ’s become my go - to headset .
The choice to get custom eartips for the comparatively lowly Mary Leontyne Price of $ 100 is compelling , but that option should be weigh against commit this money into potentially better - sound headphones . Personally , give the mc3 ’s already great performance , I ’d foot the mc3 with custom crown — that excess ease mean I can listen even longer .
