Headphone Product Library · Full specs
| Series | ER4 |
| Form | IEM |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 6 mm |
| Impedance | 45 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB |
| Frequency Range | 20-16000 |
| Weight | 6 g |
| ANC | No |
| Microphone | No |
| Waterproof | — |
| Released | 2015 |
Acoustic specs
Spec comparison · relative to this model
| Product DB | Etymotic ER4XR ★ | Sennheiser IE 300 | Meze ADVAR | Final Audio A5000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 45 Ω | 16 Ω↓-29 | 32 Ω↓-13 | 18 Ω↓-27 |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 119 dB↑+20 | 108 dB↑+9 | 100 dB↑+1 |
| Frequency | 20-16000 | 6-20000↑+4000 | 10-42000↑+26000 | 20-20000↑+4000 |
| Weight | 6 g | 4 g↓-2 | 15 g↑+9 | 4 g↓-2 |
| Battery | — | — | — | — |
| ANC | No | No | No | No |
| Year | 2015 | 2021↑+6 | 2024↑+9 | 2022↑+7 |
| Price | $299 | $299 | $299 | $299 |
↑↓ = difference vs the ★ model; lighter, longer battery and wider response are shown in green. “—” means the maker does not publish that figure.
Etymotic ER4XR is Etymotic’s wired in-ear, released in 2015 at $299. The spec sheet lists dynamic、6 mm、45 Ω、99 dB、6 g。Its value is not one dramatic number but where those specs land at this price.
1. Where it sits on the shelf
On this wired in-ear shelf its price ranks 12th (57 models with a price), and 1th most expensive of the 6 models in the $200–300 band. At 6 g it ranks 27th lightest of the 57 models with weight data. 45 Ω ranks 1th highest of the 57 models that publish impedance. 99 dB ranks 55th lowest of the 57 models that publish sensitivity.
2. What the numbers change in daily use
At 45 Ω and 99 dB sensitivity. A phone alone struggles, so a desktop amp or a decent dongle is effectively required.
The rated frequency response reaches 16 kHz.
3. Fit, isolation and use cases
At 6 g it is average for this form factor. In-ear tips give passive isolation, enough for commuting. No water-resistance rating is published, so sport and rain are out.
4. Head to head with its three closest rivals
The three closest rivals at this price are the Sennheiser IE 300, Meze ADVAR and Final Audio A5000. Sennheiser IE 300 ($299 (same price))：4 g、16 Ω、119 dB；Meze ADVAR ($299 (same price))：15 g、32 Ω、108 dB；Final Audio A5000 ($299 (same price))：4 g、18 Ω、100 dB。
5. Weaknesses worth stating
- No water-resistance rating is published: sweaty workouts and rainy commutes are out.
- It needs a front end: 45 Ω with 99 dB is a hard load for a phone.
- Price position: of the 6 models in the $200–300 band, 0 cost more and 2 cost less.
- It is an older release (2015); newer same-price models differ in sensitivity and weight.
6. What to buy instead at the same price
- The direct rivals are the three models from section 4 (Sennheiser IE 300、Meze ADVAR、Final Audio A5000) — which to pick depends on the spec you care about.
- Other checkable models in the $200–300 band: Sennheiser IE 300（$299、16 Ω、119 dB、4 g）、Meze ADVAR（$299、32 Ω、108 dB、15 g）、Final Audio A5000（$299、18 Ω、100 dB、4 g）.
7. Who it is for — and who it is not
- Anyone who already owns a desktop amp or a good dongle: its ceiling is the front end.
- Long sessions: 6 g is on the light side for this form factor.
- Straight out of a phone: 45 Ω with 99 dB is a real struggle.
- Sport or rain: no water-resistance rating is published.
Data note: every claim comes from maker-published specs in our own product database and same-price comparisons (price, weight, impedance, sensitivity, frequency response, codecs and battery are checkable fields). No unmeasured listening impressions are included; unpublished figures show as “—” in the table.