Etymotic Research ETY-Kids5 Safe-Listening Earphones, Pink

The ETY Kids ER5 is not just for kids. This review is strictly from an adult music listening point of view, as well as subjective---everyone hears differently (and everyone’s ears are physically unique), and a lot depends on your source (what you have them hooked up to) and how you use them.SOUND. All Etymotics are similar: accuracy, clarity, and neutrality are the keys. The neutral for most Etymotics is the Diffuse Field (DF) neutrality, not the bassier Harman version. Bass, midrange and treble are well represented, with no part of the frequency response emphasized or exaggerated. The bass is clear, but not huge, and not boomy---and (sorry for bassheads) not “fun”. The midrange and treble are clear but not harsh. Neutral, straightforward, uncolored.These deliver on clarity and detail, and the overall sound is lean, cool, accurate, and refreshingly no nonsense. I would expect that some ears not accustomed to a flat response would find them devoid of entertainment value. Etymotics are the diametric opposite of the pumped bass-heavy crudeness and glaring, peaky "V" signatures of most in-ears on the market.Interestingly, the ETY Kids and the Etymotic MK Isolator sound almost identical. I believe they are basically the same IEM. The only difference: the less expensive ETY Kids version has a higher impedence, a purposely lower volume as a safety measure (for kids use). What this means is that with the ETY Kids, you have to turn the volume up a little bit more.I do not find this to be an issue at all (as long as I remember to turn the volume back down when done listening, to prevent blowing out my ears or the speakers if I forget). In fact, I prefer the higher impedance because it gives me more control over the volume.Bottom line, the sound is great---if you get them to fit. Which brings us to the biggest question with these.FIT and COMFORT. Here is where you either love or hate Etymotics. Unlike most ear buds and other IEMs, Etymotics are long and “deep fitting”, and require you to insert them deeply into your ear canals. Even with a lot of uncomfortable experimentation, twisting, pushing, and angling, you still may not get it right.I must have unusual ear canals, because a good fit was almost impossible. These came with 3-flange silicone tips and the Glider tips (ER38-17), even though Etymotics has discontinued the Gliders.The 3-flanges didn't fit well at all, and there was also no seal and no isolation from outside noise with any of them. I did get an adequate fit and seal with the old Glider tips (ER38-17) with decent isolation.I also had some luck with ER38-14 foam ear tips (that came with my MK Isolators) but they were not perfect. They provided a better fit and seal, and better than average isolation, but they still didn't entirely block out, for instance, the hammering of construction workers a half a block away.I have since invested in a set of Earphones Plus replacement foam ear tips in small, medium and large sizes, so that I can further experiment. The best fit overall so far has been with the Etymotic foams and the replacement foams.Even with the best fit that I could manage, Etymotics still stick out more than I believe they should. I envy other Etymotic users who manage to get these things so far in that the “L” part of the ear phone is almost flush with the surface of their ears.Finally, like on many ear buds and IEMs, there is a microphonics issue with these. Anytime the wires are touched, there is noise. Not a huge problem, but it is there nevertheless.I find the marketing of this IEM to kids rather odd. Besides the pink color, there is nothing kid-oriented about these very adult-tuned IEMs. I especially advise caution regarding the fit. If I can’t get them far enough into the ear canals, how does a 4 year old kid?I recommend these and all Etymotics for the quality of the sound, for adults who seek a clear, neutral frequency response in an IEM. It is extremely difficult to find IEMs and ear buds under $100 with anything close to a neutral/flat sound signature. And--- given that it is essentially the MK Isolator with a minor volume limiter--- I certainly recommend the ETY Kids to adults as the entry level Etymotic.The sound, fit, and comfort are definitely not for everyone.

We were looking for a earbud or headphone which would block out external noise for our child. The use case would be in the car so he can tune out his brother and while doing home work (maybe with music or noise machine). My biggest worry was that he would not like putting these in his ears. Since this is a gift which has yet to be giving the jury is still out on that. This review is solely being given on my testing them to make sure they work. Edit: having now tried them he loves them (after playing around with the different ear pieces it comes with).I bought these since I have a pair of Etymotic HF3 which I love. Like the HF3 these are placed into the ear canal, like an ear plug. They are a little tricky to place in the ear and it takes practice but once in properly I have found them to be extremely comfortable. This seams to be a personal issue which others may have strong disagreement with. When music is not playing they work just like an ear plug in that they attenuate outside noise. You will still be able to hear a little bit of what is going on but not much. Once the music starts you will be in your own world and only loudest of noises will break you out of it. These kids ETYs only can be turn up to a moderate-low listening level on a iPod/iPhone. When testing on my iPhone at full volume they played at a normal listening level. In other words they will probably always be used with the volume up all the way up just to get to a reasonable listening level ... so Kid safety A+ ... but music enveloping enjoyment B- because you'll always wish for a little more volume. The frequency response is great for most music (so don't let the quoted 15khz top end dissuade you ... it's really quite good. I'd say as good as the HF3 at the same volume). Note for you spec people the frequency response reported by the speaker/earbud manufactures often means nothing as they don't quote where or how they are taking the measurements (i.e. 20-20kHz means nothing but 20-20k @-3db has some weight). A 2nd issue with frequency response is that in-ear buds need to take into account the frequency filtering your outer ear has on sound. This is why ety quotes % accuracy (to the frequency curve in ear) rather then the more traditional 20-20k flat curve we use outside the ear.The cord and plug seem to be the same as the HF3, very sturdy. The earbud body is plastic with a rubber strain relief (the HF3 has rubberized body (I assume over plastic)). I suspect that these are going to be as sturdy as my HF3's. (I have a few times now taken my HF3's out of my ears and forgot about them as I walked around dragging them behind me until I discovered the fact because I felt a tug from the cord plugged into my phone as they got caught up on something or I stepped on them. Each time I'm amazed that they were not damaged!). The other great thing about the cord is that it resists getting tangled (Unlike my Klipsch x-10 or apple ear buds).Overall for the price (around $35) these are a very good set of noise isolating ear buds.The only Con is it's strength ... they won't play loud!!

These IEM's are based on the fabulous Etymotic line and have a very good sound quality. They use a resistor to make sure the soundvolume can't be turned up too loud as to prevent ears from being damaged. They also insulate very good.Now the idea is good, the execution, in my opinion, lacked some though.The problem that I'm having is that, since they insulate very well, they don't require a loud volume. And with a lower volume the bass is totally lost. There is NO BASS whatsever; only high and a little of the midrange remains. You'd have to turn up the volume to max (>90%) to experience the lower end of the sound spectrum. And at 100% the volume is too loud for my taste.To use the headphonelist scoring:Accessoires: 4Isolation: 4.5Microphonics: 3Comfort: 3.5Sound: 7 (on max volume), 3 (on lower volumes)Price is acceptable.<edit 04-01-2016>One of the earphones broke off at the corner. Since I'm out of warranty I contacted Etymotic. They still replace the earphones free of charge! so thumbs up for their support department.The earphones still aren't the most comfortable, but they insulate brilliantly and I still like them for that.

With the excellent noise isolation these provide, you really do not need to push the volume as high, this is so much better for my ears. The sound quality is surprisingly good too. Would absolutely recommend to listen to music.Using it as a headset to take calls is a bit weird though, because as these seal your ears you can hear yourself talking quite loudly like when you block your ears with your fingers.

These earphones have excellent noise cancellation properties if you use them with the right soft tips, they come with a selection that fit a younger child to an adult with big ears.The bass sound is not so strong, but that is part of them protecting your ears and making sure you are not damaging them even when listening through them for hours I have used various pairs for past 9 years and my family is equipped with them as well.Play safe! Hear well! Keep well!

I brought these as a second cheap pair for the gym, they have great isolation with decent sound. Note that they seriously limit the volume played which obviously has some impact on the quality of the sound, but for £20 they are still better than 95% of the other headphones in that price range.

Great headphones. Couldn't live without them. They are not that durable though, I have been through 3 pairs in the last 2 years. Despite that, 5 stars.