Home > Consumer Reviews > Etymotic Research HF2 Earphones / Headset (iPhone Compatible) - Black

Got a pair of these last week, and they were my best for iPhone use (but have since been superseded by the new Apple in-ear buds). This review might have more perspective than those that have never tried an earbud before, or claim unprecedented performance in all ways.

For reference, I've had other earphones with my iPods and iPhones:

my V-Modas sound muddier than these (still use them sometimes, they predated having the iPhone mike/button),
my Ultimate Ears UB7 were weak on the bass (and I or my daughter lost them, which is why I bought these),
my Sennheiser OMX70s sound fine but are not sound isolating, and are too gaudy and bulky for commuter comfort (and no mike/button),
my B&O A8s were great but not sound isolating ( (and no mike/button, and stolen), and
my Shure E3c's were fine (but one side just faded out after several years of abuse, also coincidently last month).

As most others report, these have excellent sound, and the mike and button work very well. The cord is a good length, has an odd rubbery surface, and doesn't generate untoward noises. I don't know why other reviews complain about durability, cord-rubbing noise or the grip of the clip - these are no problem for me. Just don't run the cord where it will flop around in the wind. [added later] And I've carried them in my pocket caseless for months now with no problems.

There are a range of earpieces available. I like the foams for ease of insertion and good grip, for some reason the middle one fits my left ear and the big yellow one best fits my right. The clip is handy - grab the shirt with it and reduce the swinging that loosens the earbuds and reduce the noises from a rubbing cable - it performs well.

Some trade-offs - I'd have considered Shures if they offered an inline mike and button, but so far as I know one needs an adaptor that adds extra length to the cord and opportunities for snags. The button on the UB7s, a patched in Apple one, is much more compact than the HF2 one, although I found it more tricky to hit twice fast. These phones isolate better than my other earphones. They claim 42dB background noise reduction with foam, and the ambient noise really does disappear. In fact, it disappears so well I can't hear the cars coming up behind me when on my bike, which I could hear with UB7s, E3cs, and V-Modas, although I still use them.

A minor irritations - all earphones stay on better wrapped behind the ear, but this positioning places the mike too high, by the top of my jaw. Styling is nondescript - good, I suppose, if one is worried about a mugging, but could be more fashionable. The expense of spare ear foams from etymotics is surprising - three pair of the large yellow foams ran $20+ on the last order.

I approached this product with a high level of skepticism for a few reasons. I've never found ear buds particularly comfortable, I've never found cord-based microphones particularly effective, and I've never found an in-ear earphones and headset combination that has lived up to my hopes and needs when it comes to audio clarity and depth.

I picked these up wanting a multi-functional solution for the new iPhone 3G; I wanted to be able to use them for both music (our iPhone spends more time as an iPod than it does a phone) and for the sake of calls. I can't possibly be more happy that I did. I am continually amazed at the quality of the audio as I listen to music, and I consider myself something of a closet audiophile. These pack the functional performance of high-end top-quality over-the-ear headphones, by my ear, and do so with a practically imperceptible profile on your head. The microphone is wonderful, I've never had someone complain that they can't hear me, that it sounds like I'm too far away from the microphone (a problem with an old headset we had). The buds are also extremely comfortable, although certainly your mileage may vary depending on the shape and size of your canals. The noise cancellation is outstanding, even in a relatively active setting, you can close your eyes and be alone with the music, or if you're on the phone, in an isolated little one-on-one pocket of happy with your favorite telemarketer.

I pride myself on my ability to consider a product and understand how it could have been better. I'm also generally loathe to just gush in a review about how great a product is. I'm coming up empty on the former, and happily guilty of the latter when it comes to the HF2. Not only did these knock all my preconceived notions about in-ear solutions out of the park, but every single time I use them I'm surprised anew at just how impressive they sound. I've enthusiastically recommended them to friends, and have even run into a couple situations where other owners have recognized them and said things like "aren't those just the greatest ever?" Grammar, absolutes, and superlatives aside, I always have to smile and enthusiastically nod.

I don't have an recent generation ipod, nor do I have an iphone. I wanted these because I am hard of hearing and needed something precise to use with Skype and the various other devices I have that record sound. However, these earbuds are simply amazing. I am able to *hear* so much that even the pricey earbuds and cans I have don't permit. Not to say these are cheap - they are not. But they are well worth it.

This headset comes with two full handfuls of ear adapters. This was especially important to me, as I have tiny little ear canals that are easily irritated by clumsy earbuds. These are also extremely lightweight. There is no battery to boost silence. I am not sure how this works but it does far better than the Phillips noise isolating earbuds I have, or the Sennheisers. Unlike those headsets, this has a deep, rich sound that is similar to surround. I can hear each distinct pitch in each distinct place.

I tested these with a Zune 80. This was the first time I really got to experience all the audio enhancements native to Zune without having to plug it into external speakers. I tested this with my 5.5 gen ipod video, and the sound was much more lavish than I had previously experienced, although I do prefer my Zune. The button on the headphones that is supposed to advance tracks on the ipod did not function for me. A small complaint compared to the improved sound quality.

I used the microphone to record with my Sansa e260 and the sound was crisp, with as other reviewers have noted, no distortions. And yes, these do work wonderfully with Skype, which is what I was most hoping for. I hooked these up to an iphone clone I have. The advance button did not work but the sound and microphone did.

I intend to use these with my laptop as when I make calls with it the background static is terrible. This headset seems to cipher this down to an acceptable level for me and whomever I am calling. Best of all, these come with a clever little carrying case! I hate weeding through a tangle of wires, or having to purchase separate cases! There is enough room for the headphones and several pairs of spare earbuds.

This is the nicest headset I own :) These will not dissapoint :)

**Bonus - this works like a charm on my Blackberry curve. It even advances the music when you press the button, and mutes when you get a call.

The Etymotic Research hf2 headset is, perhaps, the best iPhone headset out there on the market. The price might be a turnoff for some, but the amazing sound quality is more than worth the price.

The hf2 comes with three ear tips: a standard triple flange, a smaller triple flange, and a foam ear tip which blocks out even more ambient noise than either triple flange tips--which also block out an amazing amount of noise. The microphone and control are placed conveniently to the right of the user's mouth, making it easily accessible for either conducting voice conversations or controlling music playing on the iPhone.

The sound quality is very bright, crisp and clear. Some complain about the so-called lack of bass response, but Etymotic Research's website has videos online on how to put on their earphones. Also, the ear tips definitely make the difference between a bad listening experience versus a good one. These are definitely not for bass lovers as the headset's drivers do not have the raw bass power of the V-moda Vibe Duo. But the sound detail is exceptional with the hf2.

Voice conversations on the hf2 are a delight. I can hear people clearly, and they could hear me as well. It also helps that the ear tips isolate a lot of ambient noise, even more so than active noise canceling headphones. I don't have to speak as loudly as with the Apple iPhone Stereo Headset.

Overall, I love this headset. I have tested these against the Apple iPhone Stereo Headset, the V-moda Vibe Duo, and the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4vi headsets. The Etymotic Research hf2 is a hands-down winner in my book!

**EDITED ON 11/16: Added content, clarification.

I got my iPhone 3G and the earbuds that come with them are simply unusable. It's quite frankly embarrassing that Apple could listen to them and say, "Yep, they pass our tests!" So I set off to get replacements.

I got the V-Moda II's and the sound was great on them. However, the durability was *horrible*. They would always give out on me within a month. I'm seriously on my fourth pair. While waiting for my latest to return, I got the HF2s.

The sound is great, but if you're a freaky base lover, you'll be disappointed. The V-Moda might artificially crank up the bass too much, but I guess I got used to it and missed it with the HF2s. Overall, however, the sound is great, with one caveat; you have to make sure you get a good seal with the phones. If you just stick them in your ear without a little force, they're good. If you give them a little extra twist, however, you get two things. One, the sound improves by about 25%. And second, which I guess bolsters number one, the sound isolation quality is, in a word, phenomenal! I'm typing this review with them in my ears and no sound and I can barely hear my typing. With music on...just make sure you're not in an area where you need to hear stuff because it won't happen with these seated well in your ear canals.

With headphones, I wait at least a month to confirm that they're durable. To my dismay, just last week the left ear piece cut out on me and I was about to return them. However, I just called them and they showed me the little metal tool that comes with it. Bottom line, I had to take out the green filter and put in a new one because it was clogged with wax. A little strange that a little wax can completely kill the noise, but there you go.

Now again, to get really good noise isolation, you have to stick them in your ears pretty good. It's real easy to do, but if you're one of those people who doesn't like earbuds in your ears, well then you'll definitely not like these. But I ride the train for over two hours every day and program for a living next to a noisy department, so there are times where I simply need to isolate myself from the rest of the world and these are great.

One last thing. There is no reason why these phones should cost so much money. $100? Fine. $179??? Way too much. It's the reason I tried the V-Moda's first. Bottom line, however, is if you want great noise-canceling sound combined with the built in mic so that you can answer calls while walking and listening to your music, I haven't found anything better. Again, while Apple doesn't have to include buds like these with the phone, the fact that they include such awful earbuds is a shame.