Etymotic Research HF2 Hands-Free Earphones / Headset (iPhone Compatible)
- Headset and earphones for iPod, iPhone and other mobile phones
- For music phones and music players that take 3.5 mm/4-contact phone plus stereo plug
- Highest noise isolation of all competing headsets
- Exceptional sound quality
- 20Hz-16kHz frequency response accuracy, 16 Ohms impedance
Product Description
PRODUCT FEATURES:Compatible with iPhone and other mobile phonesResponse accuracy of Etymotic's ER-4 earphonesHighest noise isolation of all competing headsets3.5mm stereo plug makes the hf2 compatible with any music player
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Etymotic Research HF2 Hands-Free Earphones / Headset (iPhone Compatible)
- Electronics: 0 pages
- Publisher: Etymotic Research
- Label: Etymotic Research
- Studio: Etymotic Research
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 43 reviews
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Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not satisfied 2008-10-06
Comment: The sound quality is no where near my expectations. I would have expected this item to be shipped through a courier and not regular post.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Company offers wonderful service 2008-10-05
Comment: These are very good. On first try they did not sound good. The ear-tips did not fit my ears. Called the company, they sent me 3 more larger size ear-tips for free. Found the right size and now I am a very happy listener.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent noise blocking headphones 2008-09-18
Comment: These do a great job of blocking exterior noise as well as sounding good. I do find them less comfortable than ear buds for extended periods, but not too bad.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best in-ears I've used. 2008-09-02
Comment: I've used in-ear headphones and monitors almost exclusively for just over two-years now, both for use on-stage music monitoring, and for day-to-day ipod listening. Obviously, comparing in-ear monitors to in-ear headphones isn't quite fair -- they don't do the same thing. But, judging each pair for how well they succeed at their given task, i would definitely say the ER HF2s are hands-down the best pair of headphones I own.
(I currently use a pair of EarPeace LiveWires for on-stage music monitoring, and have used Shure E2s and E3s... And, having just started using an iphone, I decided to upgrade a little from the Ultimate Ear super-fi 3s I was previously using for my ipod.)
The HF2s are clean and transparent -- I won't go too far into detail about that here, given the glut of other reviewers saying the same thing. I will say, though, that the HF2s are really very impressive across the volume board -- they seem to provide the same punch for low-volume listening as they do at higher volumes; unlike my UEs, there's no "sweet spot" that they need to be set at in order to reproduce well. And unlike any other pair of in-ears I've owned, I truly can forget that I'm listening through headphones with this pair; unlike so many others that constantly make you aware of exactly how much they're coloring the tone (for better or worse), the HF2s really just step back and let the pure tones come right through. Highly impressive.
(Of course, the casual headphone buyer is probably not willing to spend this much dough for headphones -- so I won't spend too much time pointing out that if you're used to having your home or car EQ goose your bass way up, or if you use a pair of phones that have super-jacked-up bass drivers, you'll be disappointed with these.)
Cable noise was a concern for me based on the other reviews, but I decided to take the plunge anyway -- and let me just say, the reviews are right. If the HF2s have any drawback whatsoever, that's it right there. The provided clip does very little to help -- and, as previously noted in another review, wearing the cables "over-the-ear" (which would greatly minimize the amount of noise generated by the cable rubbing against a collar or lapel) is almost impossible with the HF2s -- the microphone would be too far away from one's mouth if worn that way. And, despite the fact that the dB isolation is really incredible with the HF2s (up to 42dB!!), the rubber on the cables -- AND the rubber on the driver housing itself -- picks up TONS of sound, most noticeably wind noise. (Even my relatively-cheapo UE super-fi in-ears didn't do that!) So a lot of what gets blocked out winds up getting re-introduced via transduction, at least at low-volume listening levels. (I was quite shocked when I first heard the sound of the wind hitting the driver-housing being reproduced in my ears. Now I don't mind it -- I actually sort of like it; it makes it seem as though you're not QUITE so isolated from the world around you. But if you're used to other in-ears, this might take some getting used to.) Be warned -- if cable-noise is a deal-breaker for you, you might want to look elsewhere.
That said, I wouldn't trade these in for anything. I'm even planning on getting a pair of fitted Sensaphonics sleeves to replace the drivers -- an expense on TOP of already expensive in-ears. But that's how great I think they are. As for the cable noise -- I'm planning on using a little piece of tape, to affix the cables to the top of my shirt, instead of the clip -- that should cut the noise to almost nothing, making these PERFECT. I highly, highly recommend them to any iphone user -- it will change your mp3 player from a toy to a audiophile-worthy piece of gear.
(P.S. -- I'd take these down to 4 1/2 stars if I could, because of the cable noise, but since I can't give it a "half" star, I'd place it closer to a "5" than a "4".)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Big thumbs up 2008-08-29
Comment: I have been using ER6i for almost 4 years. When I started using its like a dream come true when you wish you dont want all the noise around you. This perfectly isolates everything and makes your own world. It makes a huge difference to your listening experience. I couldnt believe how I was listening before using the regular earphones and people still are. We crank up the volume to overcome the noise around with regular earbuds, which damages our ear slowly. But these ones just gives what you want to go in to your ears. These are of good quality and durable too. This is my second 6i now. The first one I handled so roughly... it got stuck in my backpack and pulled it so hardly. Now my second pair still doing a great job even after going in and out of a washing machine and dryer. Sadly my ipod is dead in the machine! Now got my new iphone and will buy HF2 soon. I have tried other cheap in-ear earphones, they are not even close to what these are.
Well as cons, there isn't much to say. The wires in 6i may be stiff get curled between ears and shoulder over time. I sometimes useit for hours pushing it too hard in my ear. I get a little pain after few hours sometimes, guess its better than listening at high volumes with regular ones for hours. I hate someone disturbing me when with earphones on, not easy to remove and back on very often. Not easy to talk to someone even with music paused. Must be very careful when walking in streets and crossing roads. You hear the wind passing over the wires on a windy weather. They say bass not enough, but I hear all the delicate sounds which are usually not heard with other earphones. For me the bass is ok and I hear what is meant to be heard.
Well these are the best of the best and they are well worth the premium price. No doubt the additional mic in HF2 is of same quality. Will buy this one soon. Nothing else.
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Etymotic Research HF2 Hands-Free Earphones / Headset (iPhone Compatible)
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