Etymotic Research HF2 Earphones / Headset - Black

by Etymotic Research

• There is a newer version of this item available - copy and paste B007TCXI1U into the Amazon search bar
• Headset and earphones for iPod, iPhone and other mobile phones
• For music phones and music players that take 3.5 mm/4-contact phone plus stereo plug
• Highest noise isolation of all competing headsets
• Exceptional sound quality, 20Hz-16kHz frequency response accuracy, 16 Ohms impedance

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0012OP7HE
• Item model number: hf2
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (198 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 7, 2006

Product Description

Color: BLACK

From the Manufacturer

A no compromise, high-performance noise-isolating headset and earphones that delivers best-in-class benefits and superior value, perfectly matched to the latest product innovations from most smartphones that support a 3.5mm, 4-conductor stereo phone plug. The hf2 features a close-proximity, high sensitivity microphone that works with many popular smartphones and tablets from Blackberry, Samsung, HTC, Motorola Mobility, HP, and of course, Apple.

Etymotic's hf2 looks and feels great, too. With a soft-touch finish in 3 color options (Black, Ruby, and Cobalt), the hf2 ships to you with an assortment of noise-isolating ACCU-Fit ear tips to ensure proper seal and comfort. You also have the option of ordering custom molded eartips with Etymotic's CUSTOM-FIT program.

The hf2 delivers best-in-class benefits and superior value

Best Sound Accuracy

Etymotic hf2 earphones deliver 85%+ response accuracy from 20 Hz - 15 kHz. hf2 achieves the highest output sensitivity in its class with 105 dB SPL sensitivity at 1 kHz at 0.1 mV, thanks to Etymotic's Accu-Driver high performance, precision matched, balanced armature drivers.

Best Noise Isolation

Etymotic's specially-designed earphone tips create 35 dB - 42 dB of noise isolation, which is the highest documented noise isolation of any earphones or headphones on the market today. This earphone headset comes with several types of eartips--3-flange, foam, and glider--to help you achieve a comfortable fit while retaining maximum noise isolation.

Compatible with Blackberry and Android as well as iPhone, iPad, and More

The Etymotic hf2 headset works with smartphones and tablets including, but not limited to, those running Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, HP WebOS, Symbian and Apple iOS. With feature-compatible devices, you can play or pause music, change tracks, and change volume in addition to answering and ending phone calls.

Functionality for send/end, play/pause, forward/back track varies with device manufacturers' software. Please verify that your phone or tablet supports a 3.5 mm 4-conductor stereo phone plug.

Integrated Cable Slider

An inline cable slider makes cable management easy. The hf2 headset can be worn with the cables in front or in back of the head. The cable slider can be adjusted by moving it up or down for a snug fit.

Works with "AWARENESS! for Etymotic" iPhone App

AWARENESS! for Etymotic is an innovative earphone app for anyone who uses an Etymotic headset and needs to hear sounds around them. AWARENESS! for Etymotic listens to your surroundings while you listen to music, and allows any sound louder than normal background noise can be heard in your earphones. From hearing that truck while it's still down the road to hearing when someone asks if you'd like a cup of coffee in the office, or when the phone or doorbell rings at home, you can maintain spatial audio awareness for better safety in any environment.

Use with music, videos, games, and audiobooks while traveling, in the office, at home and at the gym. The app works with all Etymotic headsets (except Bluetooth models), and works best with noise-isolating headsets such as the Etymotic hf2, hf3 and mc3.

Upgrade to a CUSTOM-FIT

Custom molds can be made for all Etymotic earphones and headsets. CUSTOM-FIT molds enhance your listening experience. They provide a comfortable, secure fit and do not alter the exceptional sound quality of the earphones. Register your Etymotic headset at etymotic.com/customfit and print out a voucher. Find a network provider on the CustomFit page who can make impressions of your ears and order custom molds for your Etymotic product.

What's in the Box

Etymotic hf2 earphone headset with 4 foot cable, assorted eartips, filter tool with replacement filters, storage pouch.

Technical Specificationsm

• Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 15 kHz
• Accuracy Score: 85%
• Transducers: Balanced armature
• Noise Isolation: 35-42 dB
• Impedance (@1 kHz): 16 Ohms
• Sensitivity (@1 kHz) SPL at 0.1V: 105 dB
• Maximum Output (SPL): 120 dB
• Cable: 4 ft with 3.5 mm plug

Product Description

The HF2 is a high-fidelity, hands-free noise-isolating headset and earphones combination - but it's really much, much more than that. The HF2 provides a near-perfect music experience. Made by Etymotic Research, the people who created in-ear earphones, the hf2 delivers Etymotic's world-renowned sound quality in a comfortable, convenient wireless phone headset, so you'll never miss a call! Headset includes a high-sensitivity microphone and a Music/Call button that allows you to quickly answer calls while contolling your music. You'll be able to hear and be heard, clearly, even in a noisy environment. The HF2 includes the in-ear headset and earphones, assorted eartips so you can find the ones that fit you best, carry pouch and filter changing tool with filters. Works with iPhone and other music phones that operate with a 3.5 mm/4-contact phone + stereo plug. Compatible with most music players (e.g., iPod, mp3, CD) that accept a 3.5 mm stereo plug. HF2 headset + earphones can be worn with the cables in front or in back of the head. The cable slider can be adjusted by moving it up or down for a snug fit.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 112 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Typical Etymotic sound quality, but a high price for a mic July 24, 2008

By Personal Robot VINE™ VOICE

Color Name:BLACK|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

You've seen those people with earphone-mic combos for those phones - you know, *those* people who walk around, holding the mic up to their mouth, who might as well pull out the earphone and just hold the phone up to their ear. Are they uncomfortable, thinking that the mic won't pick up their voice, or are they compensating for a lackluster microphone? If the latter, that will not be necessary with the Etymotic HF2 earphone headset, whose mic is every bit as strong as the one built into most phones, if not better.

I tested this set with an Iphone 3G, and those on the other end were not able to guess that I was on a headset microphone rather than the Iphone's admittedly high-quality mic - that's a great compliment right there. The mic, which hangs about three inches below the right earphone, seems to be able to filter out background noises, as well. As for controls, it's simple - there's one button on rectangular microphone unit. Press once to answer or hang up a call, twice to send a call to voicemail.

As for sound quality of the headphones, they're fantastic, and that's no surprise given the pedigree associated with the Etymotic name. I'm an Ety fan - I have a pair of Ety ER6i as well as their "big brother" the ER4P, and the sound quality of the HF2 ranks right around the ER6i, which should be excellent for most people. Those not familiar with the "Etymotic sound," it is extremely clean, and many may find it lacking in bass, but it is very true to the recorded sound, unlike many other cheaper (and sometimes similarly priced) earphones. What you hear with Etymotics is a very accurate, if sometimes stark, representation of the sound that the artists captured. They are not good headphones for those looking for huge bass response. Those who enjoy jazz and great detail in their music might just love the Etymotic sound - they truly are an audiophile company. And when it comes to calls, there's also a small thrill to be had that first time you talk to someone and hear them in stereo through these earphones if you've never experienced it before. The world is blocked out due to the earphones' superior sound-dampening abilities, and the caller on the other end is extremely clear.

A note about fit and sound quality: these in-ear 'phone are meant to seat deep in your ear, sealed with your ear canal. When seated properly, they will deliver incredible sound quality and beautiful, solid bass - but not the deep, head-rattling bass you may be accustomed to from other head-and ear-phones. If they aren't seated properly, wet the tip just slightly, insert, and then turn just a bit to get them "snug down." The fit shouldn't hurt, but may feel odd at first. I found it took some getting used to and, yes, you will likely notice some earwax - you are, afterall, closing up your ears, so they will get warm. Clean the triple-flange tips from time to time and make sure your ears are as clean as possible. It sounds like a ritual, but it really is worth it for the extrmely high sound quality these earphones are capable of creating.

Other small details: where the two wires for the earphones connect to join into one is a slider to sinch up the wires . . . I assume if you want them close to your neck? Included on the wire is a clip that I found more annoying and cumbersome than useful. Thoughtful, yes, but not easy to remove, and I feared damaging the wire sleeve in doing so, so it stayed put. It simply made winding the wires up to put into the handy zipped leather pouch a job a little more clumsy than necessary. Also included are foam tips and smaller triple-flange tips for the earphones, replacement filters, and a filter replacement tool.

For owners of the first generation Iphone, the headphone jack is sized to fit into the recessed jack - no need for an awkward adapter.

So why only four stars if I enjoy these so much? (It would really be 4.5 stars if Amazon would let me offer it.) I balk a little at paying almost the price of the 8gb Iphone for a mic/earphone headset, even as high-quality as this one is. Another thing, and this is true of any headset, and so I don't mark this one down for it, your speaking voice does not come through the earphones. Normally that's not such an issue, but when you are listening to the other party in stereo, and you can only hear yourself as if through plugged ears, it's a little disorienting, and I found myself fighting the urge to speak louder. It would be nice if there were some way for your voice to be able to feedback into the earphones.

Overall, however, these are fantastic - miles above most typical headsets, but the price reflects that, too. If you spend a significant amount of time both listening to music and talking on your phone, and you truly treasure sound quality, these may make perfect sense.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best in-ears I've used. September 1, 2008

By herschel

Color Name:BLACK

I've used in-ear headphones and monitors almost exclusively for just over two-years now, both for use on-stage music monitoring, and for day-to-day ipod listening. Obviously, comparing in-ear monitors to in-ear headphones isn't quite fair -- they don't do the same thing. But, judging each pair for how well they succeed at their given task, i would definitely say the ER HF2s are hands-down the best pair of headphones I own.

(I currently use a pair of EarPeace LiveWires for on-stage music monitoring, and have used Shure E2s and E3s... And, having just started using an iphone, I decided to upgrade a little from the Ultimate Ear super-fi 3s I was previously using for my ipod.)

The HF2s are clean and transparent -- I won't go too far into detail about that here, given the glut of other reviewers saying the same thing. I will say, though, that the HF2s are really very impressive across the volume board -- they seem to provide the same punch for low-volume listening as they do at higher volumes; unlike my UEs, there's no "sweet spot" that they need to be set at in order to reproduce well. And unlike any other pair of in-ears I've owned, I truly can forget that I'm listening through headphones with this pair; unlike so many others that constantly make you aware of exactly how much they're coloring the tone (for better or worse), the HF2s really just step back and let the pure tones come right through. Highly impressive.

(Of course, the casual headphone buyer is probably not willing to spend this much dough for headphones -- so I won't spend too much time pointing out that if you're used to having your home or car EQ goose your bass way up, or if you use a pair of phones that have super-jacked-up bass drivers, you'll be disappointed with these.)

Cable noise was a concern for me based on the other reviews, but I decided to take the plunge anyway -- and let me just say, the reviews are right. If the HF2s have any drawback whatsoever, that's it right there. The provided clip does very little to help -- and, as previously noted in another review, wearing the cables "over-the-ear" (which would greatly minimize the amount of noise generated by the cable rubbing against a collar or lapel) is almost impossible with the HF2s -- the microphone would be too far away from one's mouth if worn that way. And, despite the fact that the dB isolation is really incredible with the HF2s (up to 42dB!!), the rubber on the cables -- AND the rubber on the driver housing itself -- picks up TONS of sound, most noticeably wind noise. (Even my relatively-cheapo UE super-fi in-ears didn't do that!) So a lot of what gets blocked out winds up getting re-introduced via transduction, at least at low-volume listening levels. (I was quite shocked when I first heard the sound of the wind hitting the driver-housing being reproduced in my ears. Now I don't mind it -- I actually sort of like it; it makes it seem as though you're not QUITE so isolated from the world around you. But if you're used to other in-ears, this might take some getting used to.) Be warned -- if cable-noise is a deal-breaker for you, you might want to look elsewhere.

That said, I wouldn't trade these in for anything. I'm even planning on getting a pair of fitted Sensaphonics sleeves to replace the drivers -- an expense on TOP of already expensive in-ears. But that's how great I think they are. As for the cable noise -- I'm planning on using a little piece of tape, to affix the cables to the top of my shirt, instead of the clip -- that should cut the noise to almost nothing, making these PERFECT. I highly, highly recommend them to any iphone user -- it will change your mp3 player from a toy to a audiophile-worthy piece of gear.

(P.S. -- I'd take these down to 4 1/2 stars if I could, because of the cable noise, but since I can't give it a "half" star, I'd place it closer to a "5" than a "4".)

88 of 105 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Annoying when you move a single muscle. May 24, 2008

By Mr. David Hoang

Color Name:BLACK

Others have applauded the superior sound quality, and I will second that without repeating the details. However, there is too little emphasis on the side effects of this technology: the noise induction when under isolation.

Basically, the cables connected to the earpieces rub up against your shirt, ID badge, iPod, whatever. . . and you hear every single impulse and beat of that damn cable moving around. It's akin to hearing a motor boat miles away when underwater or holding your ear against a wall to eavesdrop on your neighbor. I find myself having to hold myself completely still to enjoy my music when I wear these.

So, if you are mostly docile and sedentary when listening, you'll be able to enjoy these. If you're moving about the slightest, such as walking down the street in NYC, forget it. If you're looking for something to take on your jog, keep on looking. The cable noise will drive you crazy.