Etymotic

January 6, 2009--Etymotic Research, the inventor and world leader of in-ear high-fidelity earphones, is showing all of its iPod earphones and iPhone headsets at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, January 6-9, 2009, in booth #2418 South Hall.

“Etymotic Research has a longer design cycle than most companies,” said Mead Killion, Ph.D., founder and president of Etymotic Research, “but when we introduce a new product, it usually receives widespread acclaim – which happened again this year with our hf2 iPhone headset. In fact, the ER-4 (developed in 1991) received another Editors’ Choice Award this year.”

Here are some Etymotic Research highlights for 2008: Read more

November 7, 2008 -- Etymotic Research, the inventor and world leader of in-the-ear, high-fidelity earphones, announced its fifth generation of noise-isolating, high-fidelity earphones: the hf5 earphones, designed for iPod and other MP3 music players.

The hf5 earphones are the same high-fidelity, noise-isolating earphones as those contained in Etymotic’s hf2 headset for iPhone devices, except without the microphone. The hf2 headset received two Best of Show awards at the 2008 Macworld Expo, and editors’ choice awards from Mac|Life, Macworld UK, PC Magazine and PC News Weekly. In a recent review of the hf5 earphones, CNET Editor Jasmine France concluded: “The Etymotic hf5 earphones are an excellent option for those who want the highest level of sound isolation without sacrificing sound quality, portability or style.” Read more

October 22, 2008 -- Etymotic Research announced that a new ruby version of its award-winning hf2 premium iPhone headset is now available at Amazon.com, in select Apple Stores in the U.S. and at Apple online.

In addition, distribution of the hf2 headset in black has expanded from all Apple stores in the U.S. to Apple Europe, Apple China and Apple Australia. This worldwide expansion resulted from high demand at 66 flagship Apple Stores, where test sales of the hf2 headset began in March 2008.

“Consumers are raving about the sound quality and comfort of the hf2 headset, and we’re confident they will be equally excited about the new ruby version,” said Michael Shaver, director of worldwide sales of consumer products for Etymotic Research. “We are encouraged by the response to our earphone and headset products and the continued expansion of our lineup through Apple stores.” Read more

January 14. 2008--Etymotic Research Inc., the original inventor of noise-isolating, high-fidelity in-ear earphones, has introduced the hf2 headset, which stands for high fidelity, hands free, for users of the iPhone. The hf2 combines the accurate sound quality of Etymotic’s ER-4P earphones with a well designed microphone and end/send switch.

The hf2 also works with the iPhone for both speech and music, all iPod models for music and with other music players and mobile phones that accept a 3.5mm-4-contact phone + stereo plug. The hf2 headset adds a high-quality, in-line microphone to Etymotic earphones with the highest earphone noise isolation and response accuracy in the business. Read more

January 14, 2008--Etymotic Research Inc., the original inventor of noise-isolating high-fidelity in-ear earphones, has introduced the etyBLU Dual Mode Bluetooth headset, with a quick-connect noise-canceling boom microphone, called BLUmaxx. The combination of the noise-canceling microphone and noise-isolating earphone enables callers at both ends of the conversation to hear clearly and be understood in high-level noise.

Etymotic will demonstrate the etyBLU headset in booth #S-2410 at the Macworld Conference & Expo, being held at The Moscone Center in San Francisco, Jan 14 to 18. Read more

At Best Stuff we have long been fans of Etymotic Research. The company is headed by Mead Killion, a brilliant master of the science of hearing. Killion first worked on perfecting hearing aids and, as a part of his continuing research, found a need for truly high performing headphones. He advanced the headphone concept, developing extremely accurate tiny headphones that fit in the ear, not on the ear---very much unlike the cheap and ubiquitous ear buds that ship with most portable music devices, or the big, bulky earphones that fit completely over your ears, like earmuffs.

After years of "underground" success with the finest recording artists and engineers using the new Etymotics (and those were among the few that could afford to pay the premium prices these devices originally commanded) Killion and his team turned to develop similar, less costly products for the "rest of us" who don't have $500 to spend on earphones.

The success of Killion's products did not go unnoticed by competitors and over the last few years many large earphone companies have slavishly copied Killion's original designs. Meanwhile, the Etymotic line continued to grow and now includes a number of products; one of the newest is perhaps the finest cell phone headset. Etymotic's latest baby is the ety8, a wireless bluetooth headphone that fits in the ear. This tiny device is extremely comfortable and accurate, and was designed to use with the iPods. The ety8 even lets you control your iPod remotely. The iPod can be in your pocket, or even in your purse or briefcase, and you can control it remotely by using the Bluetooth technology developed by Etymotic. As a very valuable side benefit-- as with Etymotic's other in-ear phones-- the ety8 effectively reduces ambient noise by a magnitude greater that those large, over-the-ear "active noise-canceling" earphones that are so popular. Read more

November 20, 2006-Etymotic Research, the inventor of in-the-ear high-fidelity earphones, today introduced the ety.8™ Bluetooth Earphones, the industry's first and only in-the-ear wireless earphones. The ety.8 Bluetooth Earphones are also the only Bluetooth earphones with high-accuracy sound reproduction and full noise exclusion.

The new earphones are the smallest wearable stereo Bluetooth earphones, able to fit easily in a pocket or purse. Each earphone weighs less than half an ounce; one contains the battery and the other the circuit, antenna and controls. The ety.8 Bluetooth Earphones, which work with iPod devices and other Bluetooth-enabled music players, are supported completely by the ear canal-with no external support required-for comfortable long-term use. A large selection of eartips is supplied to accommodate different ear sizes. Read more

December 7, 2005 - Etymotic Research, Inc. announced today that its 6i Isolator earphones are now available in black, in addition to the original white. The 6i earphones are designed specifically for use with the Apple iPod and other small portable players, providing greater sound output and enhanced bass. The 6i earphones recently received the award for Best Headphones of 2005 by iLounge Read more

May 23, 2005 -- With more and more cities implementing laws requiring handsfree mobile phone use, Etymotic Research recommends the ETY- COM for today's mobile workforce that will be required to adhere to these new laws. New York, New Jersey, Washington DC and New Hampshire require the use of handsfree devices. The Illinois law goes into effect July 8, 2005.