Etymotic mc3 earphone and headset review

We review the Etymotic mc3 earphone and headset to see if it combines the manufacturer’s honed headphone technology with communication capabilities

Published on Jul 13, 2010

With phones increasingly being used as a substitute for MP3 players and the mobile population looking to make communication as easy as possible, take up of all-in-one solutions could be set to boom.

Enter the mc3 earphone and headset from Etymotic Research, combining some of the manufacturer's honed headphone technology with a simple headset function.

Sound quality, provided by the ACCU Chamber Acoustic Control technology, is crystal clear and this is where the accessory comes into its own.

Bass clarity is also excellent – something that lesser headphones often lack. It is no surprise that this is where the mc3 product shines – Etymotic has been working on headphones for over 25 years. The company name itself means "true to the ear".

Outside noise, meanwhile, is just about kept to a minimum, but still creeps through if loud enough, even with the different ear bud options. Anyone angered by tube noises or passing cars disturbing their listening will not be totally placated by opting for this product.

Nevertheless, taking and receiving calls is functional enough. Having tested out the mc3 with friends and family, the sound quality is sufficient and the microphone seems adequate too, but there is nothing astounding here.

Then again, the simplicity of the headset function hints that this is not the selling point of the Etymotic offering.

As for other aspects of the headphones and headset, the cable is seriously long. For those of us who are vertically challenged this is somewhat unnecessary, even annoying at points. Of course, on the other hand, the length helps avoid any sudden disconnection.

Users get a choice of rubber ear buds, one of which is a standard bulb shape. But the best option is a three-tiered cone-like bud, which ingeniously gets round any issues with ear size and provides a decent amount of comfort. After a while, you forget they are even there.

However, this does not distract from the main problem with the mc3 headset - it lacks uniqueness.

In the headset department it simply does what any others in the market can do. Even for those who are just after some top headphones without breaking the bank, there are others in the same price range that offer similar quality.

So, if you are looking for something revolutionary or a headset with a raft of impressive features, look elsewhere. If you're happy with simple calling functions and want top audio clarity, then the mc3 option is ideal.