Etymotic mc3

In an industry that has recently learned how to reproduce booming bass at budget prices, Etymotic Research can be seen as a guardian of the old school, audiophile ideal: flat-response earphones. Until recently, though, Etymotic earphones could not be described as low cost. Enter the Etytomic mc3, a (nearly) flat response earphone pair that, at $99 (direct), is as well-made as it is affordable. Fans of deep bass or those looking for the ideal gym earphones can stop reading now—the mc3 is for the audiophile on a budget. Minor issues including cable thump are made up for with excellent audio performance, a versatile array of in-ear fitting options, and built-in iPhone controls. (If you don't need the phone controls, the mc5 is otherwise identical but costs $20 less.)

Design
Like many Etymotic earphones, the mc3 is fairly nondescript. Its narrow, rounded earpieces come in a metallic red, blue, green, or, like our test pair, black. The 48-inch cable is thin and Kevlar-reinforced. The earpieces are fit with flange eartips—an option that has never really worked for me. The good news is that the mc3 comes with not only three different types of ear flange (in various sizes and materials), but also two foam-earplug-style options. All of this comes packaged inside the familiar Etymotic black zip-up carrying pouch. Also, the filters on the mc3's earpieces are replaceable—if earwax build-up becomes a problem. Replacement filters and a changing tool are available on Etymotic's Web site, and the mc3 comes with a two-year warranty. As far as fit, the eartips felt secure when I was sitting listening to music, but movement compromised the in-ear stability occasionally.

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I have a minor issue with the mc3's integration of the iPhone controls on the earphone cable. The buttons function perfectly, as does the mic—it's easy to answer a call, hang up, or adjust playback—but the placement on the cable is awkward. The controls sit on the right ear's cable, in a blind spot along the side of your face. This is the ideal spot for microphone placement, but you can't see the controls while you're wearing the earphones. You'll eventually become accustomed to the controls, but dropping the control panel a few inches on the cable would make button memorization unnecessary. All of the controls work with the new iPhone 4 ($199.99, ).

Specifications

Type

In-Canal

Sealing

Sealed

Noise-canceling

Passive

Frequency Range

20Hz-15kHz

Impedance

16 ohms

Maximum Output

120 dB SPL

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It's also worth noting that, for an extra $100, you can get custom earmolds that will fit not only the mc3, but also most of the models in Etymotic's earphone line-up. More information is available on the company's Web site.

Audio Performance
Our HEAD Acoustics frequency response tests show us what is apparent upon first listen: the mc3 strives for accuracy, not extreme bass or a highly sculpted sound. And yet, the mc3 offers a bit more low-end response than Etymotic's flat-response standard, the ER-4S ($299 direct, ). The difference in response is subtle, and the boost in bass is not anything like the difference you'll see when comparing these earphones to, say, the Ultimate Ears Metrofi 220 ($79.99 direct, ), which features a lot more low end. Also impressive is the mc3's performance on our linear frequency response tests, which measures the left and right drivers to see how well they match. The ER-4S is our standard for this test, and the mc3 does nearly as well, with the left and right ears rarely deviating from each other by more than 2dB.

My personal experience with the mc3, after finding the right eartips, was refreshing. As much as I take occasional guilty pleasure in earphones with enhanced bass response, hearing a pair that colors the sound so little is a joy. The fact that this level of sonic accuracy can be had for $80 (or $100 with iPhone controls) is a feat. On orchestral pieces, like Jonny Greenwood's There Will Be Blood film score, the strings are crisp, but never too bright, and the low frequencies are dutifully represented, but never overwhelming. To some, the idea of flat response may sound boring, but the concept is simple: you hear things in a transparent way. The less the sound is colored, the closer you are to what the mix engineer at the recording studio hears. Flat, but not without sonic power, the mc3 did not even approach distortion at maximum volume on The Knife's extremely bass-heavy, "Silent Shout." This feat isn't accomplished by merely ignoring the bass frequencies, everything is there, just not exaggerated or boosted.

Though I do find the placement of the iPhone controls an annoyance, and cable thump prevents this pair from being a versatile, gym-friendly option, the mc3—along with its less-expensive sibling, the mc5—is an amazing value. At $100, it's a budget pair that doesn't sound cheap.