The problem with today’s portable audio players is usually not the quality of the players themselves, but the bundled pair of earphones that are so prominently advertised as though they are the next best thing in the package. Some of the earphones are so inferior in quality that it’s the better to discard them right away. However, since majority of the consumers can’t differentiate between inferior and superior audio quality due to limited experience with a vast number of headphones, it’s one of those things that get ignored the most. Above average users and audiophiles understand the prospect of better headphones; therefore, they usually tend to have a decent pair already. Though we are recommending a separate pair than the substandard ones you usually get with MP3 players, there’s a fine line between opting for value and necessity.

Unlike audiophiles, listeners that desire the absolute best, not everyone can (nor is it obligatory to) differentiate between an ultra high-end pair compared to what’s designed for regular users. The disparity between the prepackaged earphones and "standalone" earphones should be more than enough for the majority of you that you probably wouldn’t require the absolute best. However, there are manufacturers that design some of the finest earphones in the market.

Etymotic, in addition to numerous other manufacturers, has focused its resources into producing earphones for professional musicians and audiophiles in mind. The overall package, price and sound quality logically pertains to the exclusive target market they are focusing their attention on. Today we have Etymotic’s ER-4 MicroPro pair of earphones for the high-end crowd. Can they deliver? Read on and find out…

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