Few have done as much for the development of in-band headphones, like Etymotic. Being pioneers of this form factor, they gave the world the legendary ER4, about which I already wrote. Traditionally, the developers of the company do not relax, and recently saw the light of the new budget model MK5, which, nevertheless, clearly shows the experience of Etymotic in creating similar solutions.
The younger models of Etymotic are somehow in the shade of their famous older brothers, and the attention of the public gets them undeservedly less. In fact, the company treats all its products with equal seriousness and spends a lot of man-hours on their development.
These headphones belong to the Isolator line and really do what they promised: their sound insulation is very, very good, first of all it is worth to thank the famous nozzles developed for ER4. Unlike the older MC5 model, the MK5 uses a reduced-size driver (only 6 mm), which makes the sound guides thinner and improved fit for owners of small ears.
Pleases and affordable price, set for these headphones. you can only for 3200 rubles, which makes them quite a budget solution.
Specifications
- Emitter: 6 mm, dynamic
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 15 KHz
- Sound insulation: 35 - 42 dB
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Sensitivity: 95 dB / mW @ 1 kHz
- Maximum sound pressure level: 120 dB
- Cable: non-replaceable, 1.2 m
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRS
Packing and delivery kit
The outer packaging of these headphones does not inspire much confidence, they are sold in a conventional plastic blister, like many budget models, supplemented by a simple liner polygraphy. Fortunately, the appearance is deceptive, and already complete nozzles make it clear that the developers are the "same" company.
In addition to the headphones, you will receive instructions in several languages, a good bag-case, a clothes clip for fixing the cable to clothing, three-flange nozzles-fir-trees of two sizes and a pair of flat cylindrical nozzles familiar to the delivery kit ER4.
In general, there is nothing superfluous, Etymotic simply tried to bring the price-quality ratio to the maximum level. Especially if you want to buy different attachments for these headphones will not be a problem.
Design and comfortable wearing
The company developed headphones, focused primarily on use in noisy conditions and with active rest. To do this, they tried to provide them, firstly, maximum sound insulation, and secondly - a deep landing, so that these headphones could be put on, for example, under a helmet. In general, the company did not especially invent and made a cylindrical body, similar to the one used in the MC5. Glossy gray plastic looks quite simple, but we must remember that the headphones are still budget. Despite this fact, the overall quality of the assembly at a good level, the only niggling is a very unobtrusive marking of the left and right channels.
The cable is good enough, it does not harden very hard in the cold, is not very inclined to tangling, but, due to the deep seating of the headphones, it has a rather pronounced microphone effect. Fight it with the help of a complete clothespin.
Headphones can be worn and wire down, and BTE, but they are more designed for the usual version of wearing. With MK5 it is necessary to use the standard "etimotikovskuyu" landing as deep as possible. On the channel Etymotic even posted a video, how to properly screw these headphones to yourself deeper. Using this advice, you can put the MK5 on the wire itself. Not all listeners can wear earphones so deeply, but this is a payment for excellent soundproofing. In general, I did not experience any special discomfort with MK5, but I do not rule out the possibility that for many it can be a problem.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening:
- Yulong DA8 as a DAC and amplifier
- CEntrance Mini-M8 as DAC and Amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Fiio X3-2 and QLS QA360 as portable players
- VSonic Gr01 and HiFiMan Re600 as headphones for comparison
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening to the headphones were warmed for 48 hours.
Of course, the elder brother in the face of ER4, these headphones are not a competitor, but the common parents in the face of Etymotic are clearly visible: very smooth frequency response, excellent speed and resolution. Naturally, before ER4 they do not hold out, but the price is less than 5 times.
The MK5's bass is very good, it's bigger than any other Etymotic model (although less than in most "traditional" dynamic models). The resolution and speed of the LF are very good, especially given the price. Nevertheless, it is worth considering that the MK5 is not suitable for those who are accustomed to hearing bass like a rumble and evaluate it by the number.
Average frequencies are pleased with good detail and elaboration. The beginning of the midrange is slightly emphasized, which gives most instruments a pleasant body. The upper part of the midrange is a little backward, but it also has an excellent resolution, so it has almost no effect on the sound. The level of emotion transfer and the separation of tools for this price range are simply excellent.
The high frequencies have a pronounced blockage after 15 KHz, which Etymotic is honestly reported in the headphones specifications. It could be said that this is a huge problem, but I will not. First, few tools fall into this range. Secondly, not all people hear these frequencies, because the perception of HF with age in humans is reduced. Thirdly, a lot of headphones have a blockage there, just not all manufacturers honestly report this. Fourthly, it is better to fill the RF with resonances and unexpected peaks. Fifthly, we still talk about budget headphones, and approaching them with the same set of requirements that for headphones for 200 or more dollars - an obvious bust.
Except for the collapse above 15 KHz, the HF in the MK5 is also good. They are detailed, they do not have an artificial plaque and sound very natural.
Compatibility
Despite not the highest sensitivity, MK5 is quite well revealed by the majority of portable sources, favorably standing out against the background of the "children's" model of EtyKids. This is facilitated by an impedance of 32Ω, just not much and not a little. Nevertheless, the MK5 has a margin for permission, allowing them to be used with a much more high-quality source.
Separately, I want to note their connection with iHiFi 800, an unusual set with an unusual sound, in which the emphasis is on speed and resolution.
To the quality of records, the headphones are very critical, the defects of the information will be shown very well. Genre, I would first of all recommend the MK5 to fans of instrumental music, vocals, classics, instrumental jazz. They, of course, are able to perfectly play out other styles, but there are already entering into the subjective taste preferences.
Several traditional tracks:
Iron Maiden - Stranger in a Strange Land The sound of bass Steve Harris is my old fetish, and the MK5 perfectly copes with the transfer of its characteristic clang.
Leïla Martial - Avant de sourire An album that has become for me one of the best discoveries in the genre of vocal jazz in the last year. The vocal style of this Frenchwoman is best reproduced by MK5.
Carcass - No Love Lost Strangely enough, but the most brutal metal genres I like to listen to on the roads prone to analytics. They are the ones who let the roar hear separate parties and understand the idea of the musicians instead of the wall. Of course, their submission requires addiction, as in the case of Carcass and MK5, but the number of new details opening in music will reward connoisseurs of brutal genres.
conclusions
Very very good model. In its drawbacks, you can record not the most comfortable landing and not the ideal high-frequency, in pluses there will be soundproofing, excellent resolution and speed, the budget price. In general, with their task headphones for noisy environments and active use of the MK5 cope perfectly well. If you take into account the affordable price and a very good study of LF and MF - headphones are quite interesting and simple lovers of quality music.
The article is based on materials .
Comments
Post a Comment