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Review on 🎧 Etymotion Wireless Bluetooth Cable with AKM Velvet Sound DAC and Amplifier by Etymotic, ERETYMOTION-BT, Black by James Broome

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Great accessory for Etymotics fans

I bought the Etymotion after much deliberation between it and other Bluetooth DACs (like the Fiio or Quedelix offerings). In the end, I didn't want a cable through my body to a device in my pocket, I wanted something I carried. The latest Etymotic headphones use an unusual MMCX cable, which is right-angle, so there aren't many options for MMCX Bluetooth adapters (unless you want the cable to stick straight out, which isn't ideal). That leaves me with Etymotion for my ER4SR. In general, the build quality is okay. It doesn't scream "premium," but the body of the device is good enough. It looks better in real life than most photos, which was a pleasant surprise. The cables feel a bit rubbery and don't feel incredibly durable, but they will likely get a couple of years of use if treated with care. The device also uses Micro-USB, which is an odd choice given that most premium devices use USB-CI these days. I'm pleasantly surprised at how Etymotion fits. The photos (and some customer reviews) give the impression that this large dangling box is dangling under your chin - that's the wrong way to wear it. You should place the box behind your neck and pull the cords forward and then attach it to your shirt with the clips. This keeps the cables manageable and the box rests around your neck. A bit of a hassle to put on and take off, but I forget I'm wearing it after I put it on. My ears aren't well trained, so I can't judge the sound quality well. I don't have high end DACs or amps but I can say they are better than my phone/computer/etc. It seems to be handling the ER4SR well. The microphone seems to be quite quiet. This can be useful in an emergency when making a quick call, but I wouldn't plan to use it as my primary headset. A wired mic is better than a standard cable - there are more, but I didn't feel the need to mount it around the ear, which seemed almost mandatory with the standard cable. It's possible to drape it over your ear when worn correctly (with the box over your head and the cables to the front), resulting in a slightly smaller mic, but normal wearing style is good enough. The interface seems pretty primitive compared to my Shure BT2. You'll get a simple "Power On" voice prompts "Power off," "Connected," and "Bluetooth pairing mode." It has a sine tone for volume, mute, and other functions, which is a little annoying but not intrusive. I can't find a way to check the battery life. It supports AptX HD, which to my knowledge is transparent except in extreme cases. You need a device that streams AptX HD. Android phones are fine, but for PC you need a separate transmitter. Apple users have AAC, which as far as I know is almost transparent. Considering they sell this as premium hardware and have an MSRP to reflect that, I'm a bit disappointed that LDAC isn't supported. Regarding the cost, for the RRP of 180€ I wouldn't recommend it. I bought it at a big discount from Revain's warehouse, so I'm happy with my purchase. This device allows me to move around my home office with ease with the ER4SR noise-cancelling headphones, and they fit just as well as a standard cable with no compromises (like the cable running across my body or the MMCX plugs sticking out of my ears). . In short, it does its expected job well, just know what you're getting and make sure it suits your needs. like a standard cable, without compromises (e.g. the cable runs over my whole body or the MMCX connectors stick out of my ears). . In short, it does its expected job well, just know what you're getting, and make sure it suits your needs. like a standard cable, without compromises (e.g. the cable runs over my whole body or the MMCX connectors stick out of my ears). . In short, it does its expected job well, just know what you're getting and make sure it suits your needs.

Pros
  • It's great
Cons
  • Not reliable