Review: Etymotic – ER3 SE and ER3 XR – Buyers Guide!

Sound ER3SE

A detailed comparison between the ER3 and the ER4-series can be found in the next chapter.

The “reference” version of the ER3 sounds exactly as you would expect from a reference unit: balanced (linear) neutral, precise and fast. Etymotic is known for their superior clarity and cleanness, and you of course find this as well in the ER3 version. The ER3 has a good sound stage, it extends wide and deep but it’s not as impressive as with the ER4. The same goes for the level of detail, layering and separation: they’re good but there’s better with the ER4. If you’ve never listened to an Etymotic or TOTL IEM from another brand before, I assure you the ER3 will impress you a lot and there’s a good chance you’ll be blown away by its level of detail, clarity, separation and its sound stage. Feedback I often get when I let people demo the ER4 is: Why can’t other brands perform at this level? And for such a low price! And that’s exactly what this new ER3 will do: impress and question the competition.

Bass in the SE version is lighter in body and impact. You get a fast, precise, tight, deep but neutrally tuned bass and that means bass is present and punchy but it won’t really draw all your attention to it. If you like a neutral sound, you will love it, if you prefer a joyful bass with big impact and body, you’ll have to look at the XR version. But even then it won’t be enough if you’re really into bass. It’s bass quality over quantity, especially in the SE version.

The mids, like the bass, don’t have the biggest of body and you get a lighter presentation. Mids are rich, fast and precise though and they flow perfectly from the bass. Separation is good, just like the spaciousness and depth. Transparency is a key word here and you get your sound without any flavor or color being added to it. Voices sound natural, they’re not forward or in the back but they’re right there.

The treble region is extremely good and it’s one of the things Etymotic is so well known for. Some might find the treble a bit too extended or lively but I really love it. You get a fast pace, good detail good dynamics and great precision. Treble is never harsh if you ask me, it’s neutral and very clear but because of the lighter body in bass in bass and mids, you hear the treble how it is, and some people just aren’t used to that or simply don’t prefer that.

If you’re looking for neutrality and precise, clear and fast sound, the Etymotic ER3 Studio Edition is the IEM you want.

Sound ER3XR

The XR version is the version that, according to Etymotic, has the modest bass boost. I wouldn’t call it a modest boost however as it’s easily noticeable and there’s quite the difference in body. This is both the case for the bass and the mids, making it a fuller sounding IEM.

The ER3XR still has a neutral tuning but it’s not like the really neutral SE version. You get the same sound quality with the same characteristics, but you get more body and impact. The sound stage, separation, extension, etc are unchanged.

Bass here has both the quality and quantity but don’t forget we’re still talking about neutral bass. Compared to the ER3SE, bass has more impact and body most of all, but it goes just as deep and plays just as fast as in the Studio Edition. If you’re really in to bass, then you probably still feel the bass body and impact to be lacking from this XR version. Bass heads better look elsewhere. Again you get quality over quantity, even though the quantity is a bigger here.

The same goes for the mids where especially the lower mids profit from the extra body. As a result you also get a perfect flow from bass to mids in this version.

The treble section to me is identical to that of the ER3SE but because of the additional weight of the bass and lower mids, treble doesn’t stand out as much. For a lot of people this will be easier on the ear, especially if you prefer a softer kind of treble.

The XR-version of the ER3 probably is easier to like for the majority of people that aren’t looking for pure neutrality. In that regard the XR version, with the foot tapping bass, is the more engaging, fun one.

Vs ER4-Series

The ER3 really is the little brother of the Etymotic ER4 in all aspects of sound. The ER4 goes for about $349, and that’s just under double the ER3’s price. Do check out our review of the ER4-series right here: https://www.headfonia.com/review-etymotic-er4-xr-er4-sr-impressive/

With the ER4 you get even more extension, more wide/depth with an even higher level of richness and precision. The ER4 also has a more spacious presentation and it sounds more open and less intimate/inside your head than the ER3 does. To me the ER4 also sounds more natural than the ER3 edition. Both ER3 and ER4 versions share the same characteristics, including the difference in bass and mid body. The ER4-series is just better in, well, everything. And that’s exactly why there’s a difference in price of course.

If you don’t have the budget to buy one of the Etymotic ER4-series (it is double after all), than the ER3-series are an excellent IEM to start with. Sure the ER4 is better in every possible way, but the quality you get with the ER3 for such a low price, is unseen.

Driveability & Sources

With their 22ohm Impedance and 102 dB sensitivity, the ER3-series is fairly easy to drive. You might have to turn up the volume level of your smart phone a bit, but none of the modern DAPs will have any issue driving these IEMs at low gain. An extra dedicated amplifier really isn’t needed for these IEMs but if you have one already, that will of course bring out the best of these IEMs.

If you want to have more bass or a warmer sound you could use an external amp or warmer sounding, bass-heavy DAP to alter the sound, but in all honesty it wouldn’t be the logic thing to do. The Etymotic IEMs are world famous for their precise, clear and clear tuning. So if you really want to alter the sound, than these IEMs probably aren’t the ones you are looking for.

Conclusion

The ER4-series IEMs already were in our Buyers Guide for universal inear monitors, and I have added this ER3-series to that list. The ER3 IEMs really are the ER4’s little brother and they share the exact same characteristics, yet they perform at a lower level, which is only normal with the price difference between them.

For only $179 (ex VAT) you get a set of wonderfully tuned, neutral, very impressive IEMs. If you like a little bit more bass, the XR-versions for sure is the one to go for. All in all, I am convinced these will seriously impress you if you haven’t heard the ER4-series yet. And it will make you wonder about the price/quality relationship of a whole lot of other brands.

With the ER3, Etymotic has delivered a very accessible and great sounding, typically Etymotic house sound tuned IEM. Another well done IEM, congrats!