Etymotic Research HF3 IEM $56 ($179 on Amazon)

A

Agenesis

[H]ard|Gawd
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Sep 24, 2011
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They aren't bad. Too bad I'm not a huge fan of IEM's. I hardly use my ultimate ears.
 
I have HF5 which I bought from Amazon for $100. Fantastic little IEM. I normally prefer headphones but these sound better than most "portable" cans anyway.

GREAT FIND!
 
Love my HF3s. I've had many stewardesses call out my name during a flight 2-3ft behind me and couldn't hear a thing. Picking up a second pair because of the price. :)

Watch out if you plan to use them in flight. They block enough noise out that most in flight entertainment consoles can't be turned down low enough to be comfortable. The foam eartips (similar to earplugs) are the most comfortable and provide best sound for me. If the bass seems low, its likely because they're not sealing well enough. The rubbery tips didn't seal as well as the foam ones for me.

If you want to use the microphone with a PC, pick up a "voip adapter" i.e. :
http://www.electotronics.com/ge26694voipphone-to-pcadapterforheadset.aspx
 
Back in stock. It seems to go in and out so check back if you want it. Mine just shipped a few hours ago.
 
Agenesis, thank you for that, good eye! Also for those wanting two sets of these, use code
B2S10
For $10 off any order over $100 like two of these.

Thanks guys, good thread
 
dwightschrute said:
Agenesis, thank you for that, good eye! Also for those wanting two sets of these, use code
B2S10
For $10 off any order over $100 like two of these.

Thanks guys, good thread
Click to expand...


Yeah, thanks for the heads up on that code as well. I noticed it says that the item is out of stock or invalid when adding to the cart as well. Just refresh the browser on the item page and it will sometimes allow you to add it to the cart. I got charged tax for NV. Is that usual for CowBoom?

I have a feeling these might be 4/5 stars on Amazon simply because of the price. For $180, they may fall a tad short. I did check Ebay and there's a lot of broken ones on there, so who knows if that is why these are being dumped so low (QC issue?).
 
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As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Damn, I really needed a deal like this to come along. Now that it's here, I am broke.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/mul...pared-jvc-ha-fx40-and-ha-fxd80-added-09-05-12

According to that thread (which has served me well in the past) it's right on par with three or four other IEM in the $100-150 price range... And the S4 have always had a rep for being overpriced at $100 (and also bass heavy which seems like the opposite of these). Look for the HF5, these are just the three button mic version of those.

I'm sold, been wanting to try a pair of balanced armature IEM for a while and that price seems too good to pass up. Slightly concerned about what some reviewers describe as deeper insertion, but I've never been fussy about IEM and I'm already used to triple flange tips so I dunno how much deeper these could go. Kinda wondering if the two extra buttons will work with Headset Control on Android too, but I guess it's no big deal if they don't.
 
MIC and GND is swapped for iPhone. HF2 is for android, so volume will not work and sound will pass through MIC, unless the button is held down. Damn shame. I don't own an ipod and don't want one. Wonder why these are so cheap?
 
WetMacula said:
MIC and GND is swapped for iPhone. HF2 is for android, so volume will not work and sound will pass through MIC, unless the button is held down. Damn shame. I don't own an ipod and don't want one. Wonder why these are so cheap?
Click to expand...

Well that's a bummer...
 
Thx OP. I've been meaning to listen to an ER4 since I started down the Headfi path many many years ago, seems like this comes close. Also FWIW I had to make a new account on a spare e-mail addy to use the coupon code.
 
Yeah tempted to buy the HF2's for the gym anyways, but at $150 that's what I paid for Sennheiser 595's which see everyday use....hard to justify the cost. Wonder if these fancy in-the-ear headphones are worth it?

edit: $130 at B&H.
 
Sound would pass thru mic? I've seen Headset Button Control makes provisions for three button remotes but I know nothing of the wiring involved... The mic wouldn't work at all then? I've used single button headsets with my Android phone and iPod touch...

Edit: Blah, I'm reading all sorts of conflicting info... Some people can't get it to work with their Android phone unless the mic button is permanently pressed or an adapter is used, others haven't had an issue. Read of one guy with a Vibrant and one with a Desire who said it worked, one with an SGS3 who had the problem described before.

Do different Android phones actually have different arrangements for the headset buttons? I thought they were all the same... Is it possible you can actually change that assignment in software? Headset Button Control seems to completely take over control of those functions when used... I currently se it to map double tap, triple tap, and tap and hold, which otherwise do nothing on my phone; but I can't imagine it would get around a different ground mapping...
 
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WetMacula said:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/570233/etymotic-hf3-compatibility
see this thread.

Not sure why the meelec adapter didn't work for that guy. Would help if everyone listed their phone. Still lose volume control either way. The physical TRSS connector is different as well.
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Heh, I was just reading that thread but it seems very inconclusive some people say it works and you just lose the volume buttons, others say it doesn't unless you press down on mic or use an adapter... Are different Android phones actually wired differently at the jack? I couldn't care less about losing the volume buttons and could probably deal with using an adapter too, I'd just like to know up front tho.
 
Impulse said:
Heh, I was just reading that thread but it seems very inconclusive some people say it works and you just lose the volume buttons, others say it doesn't unless you press down on mic or use an adapter... Are different Android phones actually wired differently at the jack? I couldn't care less about losing the volume buttons and could probably deal with using an adapter too, I'd just like to know up front tho.
Click to expand...

I've looked in to it as well. It looks like yes different phones are wired differently. One person on the internet mentioned that they had used their hf3s on about 3 different android phones, including a samsung one, but when they switched to the Samsung galaxy S3, problems.
 
darkangelamd said:
I've looked in to it as well. It looks like yes different phones are wired differently. One person on the internet mentioned that they had used their hf3s on about 3 different android phones, including a samsung one, but when they switched to the Samsung galaxy S3, problems.
Click to expand...

You mean this guy?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1862741

Yeah, it's definitely starting to look like Android phone headset jacks are not all wired the same... I guess maybe some mimic the iPhone even though they don't implement multiple button controls just so that headsets are compatible?

Dunno, that guy specifically mentions they worked with his One X so I think I'm gonna risk it (EVO 4G LTE here), at worst I'll just end up getting an adapter or selling them forward for the same $50 I'll pay now (or maybe a little profit).

What a mess though, does Samsung sell their own three button headset or something? Though joker (same one from the huge IEM thread) ran into similar issues with a cheap ZTE phone so it's hardly a Samsung or recent model thing.
 
Impulse said:
You mean this guy?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1862741

Yeah, it's definitely starting to look like Android phone headset jacks are not all wired the same... I guess maybe some mimic the iPhone even though they don't implement multiple button controls just so that headsets are compatible?

Dunno, that guy specifically mentions they worked with his One X so I think I'm gonna risk it (EVO 4G LTE here), at worst I'll just end up getting an adapter or selling them forward for the same $50 I'll pay now (or maybe a little profit).

What a mess though, does Samsung sell their own three button headset or something? Though joker (same one from the huge IEM thread) ran into similar issues with a cheap ZTE phone so it's hardly a Samsung or recent model thing.
Click to expand...


Yeah that's the guy. I don't know I just hope that it works with my phone, I guess I'll know when they get here.
 
Impulse said:
You mean this guy?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1862741

Yeah, it's definitely starting to look like Android phone headset jacks are not all wired the same... I guess maybe some mimic the iPhone even though they don't implement multiple button controls just so that headsets are compatible?

Dunno, that guy specifically mentions they worked with his One X so I think I'm gonna risk it (EVO 4G LTE here), at worst I'll just end up getting an adapter or selling them forward for the same $50 I'll pay now (or maybe a little profit).

What a mess though, does Samsung sell their own three button headset or something? Though joker (same one from the huge IEM thread) ran into similar issues with a cheap ZTE phone so it's hardly a Samsung or recent model thing.
Click to expand...

That guys post said they worked with his Gnex, so hopefully i'll be fine. Thanks for the info.
 
darkangelamd said:
Yeah that's the guy. I don't know I just hope that it works with my phone, I guess I'll know when they get here.
Click to expand...

What phone ya got? I read a few more scattered reports of the HF3 working fine with previous Samsung phones, from stuff as old as the Captivate/Vibrant to models as recent as the Galaxy Nexus... Couldn't find much more on HTC phones though, blah. I saw at least two different posts saying it works with the One X but then I don't know if the intentional and US versions are wired the same, lol. :eek:

Anyway, I decided I'm just pointlessly wasting time trying to figure it out online. I'll probably order them tonight as well but I might stop on my way home and buy the cheapest IPhone headset with volume control that I can find locally, that'll give me a definitive answer (hopefully I can return it too if it runs me more than $10). This is worse than the game of musical chairs they used to play with the capacitive buttons...

Also saw someone mention that Sony Ericsson headsets were wired the opposite of the HF3, FWIW.
 
I could not find a definitive answer either but damn you guys for tempting me to gamble on this deal or pay $130 for the HF2. This deal is still cheaper than the HF5's. Also, they may or may not honor the 2 year warranty since the shady cow site is not an authorized reseller, but at 60 bucks it's no big deal. ffffuuuuu apple and sony for your proprietary and closed disposable hardware!

I just called. They keep a compatibility chart. No data on the HF3 and galaxy s2. Should still function as headphones but may have to hold down the mic button to talk. Sold out again. Grrr....
 
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WetMacula said:
I could not find a definitive answer either but damn you guys for tempting me to gamble on this deal or pay $130 for the HF2. This deal is still cheaper than the HF5's. Also, they may or may not honor the 2 year warranty since the shady cow site is not an authorized reseller, but at 60 bucks it's no big deal. ffffuuuuu apple and sony for your proprietary and closed disposable hardware!
Click to expand...

Cowboom is owned by Best Buy, and these are new. I don't see why you'd have problems with warranty.

P.S. Mine shipped :D
 
I'll post tonight whatever I find out if I get an IPhone headset to test with, dunno that it'll do you guys any good unless we got other HTC / One users in here... Although I suppose I could take the headset to Radio Shack or AT&T and test every phone I can until the employees start giving me dirty looks, lol.

Lemme know what phones you're using and I'll beeline for those if they're recent and on display, haha.
 
Bought one and will report back. Wonder why it keeps going in and out of stock? After testing compatibility with your device, call Etymotic and let them know if it works. They pickup the phone right away and very friendly. They keep an internal chart of devices tested with various models. Sadly, no data on the Samsung T-989 (t-mobile galaxy S2). If it don't work, I will gift it.

Hell of a deal though. Thanks for the tip.
 
Yeah my sister was about to buy them and they're out of stock atm, has it been doing that a lot or were they just on the last gasps of stock?
 
They're back in stock, have been for a solid 20 min., heh...

Here's a tip for the next time they go out of stock tho, if you search for Etymotic it comes up with one "Store Item" result, switch over to the Auction tab tho and they may have one or more for sale with a buy it now option that comes out to $60 shipped (can't use the code that way)... They had two in auction while they were out of stock earlier, I ordered one, there's just one left in auction right now. :p

I'll come back later with some iPhone headset testing results, if I don't pass out after work and going to watch Expendables 2. ;)
 
Okay, I'm beyond confused right now... Grabbed a pair of Rocketfish 3 button IEM to test with, the Fire 3 or whatever. Package says explicitly they're for the IPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 1 & 2, and all sorts of iPods. Tested them on a Sony Xperia Ion, LG Viper, Galaxy Note, Galaxy S3, Moto Atrix HD, and my own EVO LTE... Music played perfectly on absolutely all of them, wtf.

The volume buttons worked on none, obviously, play button paused music on all but the Ion (soon as I plugged them in a message stated the buttons wouldn't work, bravo Sony) and the Viper (it'd just take me away from whatever I was doing and it'd try to make a call). On my own EVO a long press even correctly pauses the music and invokes voice command functionally (I believe one of the Samsungs behaved the same).

All sounded normal (for crappy RockFish IEM anyway), none sounded any different with the play button held down. Here's the kicker though, I then tried them on an iPhone 4S and encountered a level issue where the left channel was barely audible, had no clue how to diagnose it, pulling the jack out seemed to even them out for a split second but it was hard to keep at that point.

Ok, so... WTF?! This doesn't jive with anything, the SGS3 is supposed to be wired differently than at least some of those phones, and why aren't they working with the Apple phone they were made for?? Did Apple re-re-inverse the wiring between the 4S (not listed on the IEM's box) and the 4? The volume buttons did work with it btw, for the one ear that was audible anyway.

At this point I don't know whether to open the Sony IEM (for I-devices) that I also bought or just swing by AT&T to test an older Samsung phone and call it a night. I'm open to suggestions and theories!
 
Is it possible that everyone that said the HF3 flat out didn't work with the SGS3 were actually talking about the international version? The US/S4 version doesn't use the same Wolfson DAC does it? Dunno if that has anything to do with it... I'll test another IPhone 4S at AT&T for sanity's sake, and if it behaves the same I'll break the seal on the other made-for-Apple IEM I got (Sony).

All phones tested are their AT&T counterparts except for the Viper and EVO, obviously Sprint... Not sure if it's worth walking the entire mall to check any T-mo phone variants... Entering AT&T now, putting the EVO away. ;)
 
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Ok, I guess the iPhone 4S at Best Buy was just janky or had badly ripped music on it... The one at AT&T played balanced levels just fine with the SprocketFish 3 button IEM I've been using all along. The Samsung Skyrocket (SGS2 variant) and Exhiliriate (sp?) also played just fine.

At this point I can only assume one of two things, either I'm an idiot and I didn't notice an issue where there was one (although I don't think so, didn't even have to play any of the phones past halfway volume), or the only outliers really are the current gen Samsung Euro/Exynos phones and possibly some Sonys (reportedly).

Either that or the RocketPhish's remote is freaking magic... Your guess is as good as mine. I'm out, peace!
 
Well mine finally arrived yesterday. Extremely nice for only $55. It's $65 now but I'm going to pick another pair up for backup.

It has a sound signature very similar to Grados so it is best suited for stuff in the higher frequency ranges like rock. The seal is good and I'm definitely sure out of the included tips one of them will be sure to fit someone.

As for the plug, it works fine on my STX, my brother's international S3, and my friend's international S2. Fully working with pause/next/previous/mic. These are just great. I like them more than my TF10s.
 
Interesting, so it even worked on the international S3... Dunno where the complaints about Apple plugs are coming from then, mine haven't arrived and I shipped them to my sister's place anyway so I won't see them for a bit.
 
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