EARS EM3 earphones from Future Sonics

24 MAY 2004

EARS EM3 earphones from Future Sonics

Would you pay some $160 dollars for a set of earphones?

No, not for headphones but “just” for in-canal type earphones that you can use on your iPod or Digital Audio Player.

While that may sound like a lot of money it may well be worthwhile if you can really hear the difference.

We’re testing (very subjectively, I might add) the EARS EM3 Universal Fit Monitor Earphones from Future Sonics (FSI).

Are we rapt with this professional product?

On this site we have been reviewing some top gear lately and it’s always striking how much more of a joy it is to work with products that professionals use. They demand the highest standards in quality, reliability and useability and they are willing to put some good money on the table for it. Mind you, they are not fools willing to throw money away, so pricing must be reasonable as well.

Future Sonics is a crowd that caters to the professionals with their custom-moulded ear monitors as well as these EM3 universal fit “personal monitors” (in this league you can’t just call them ear buds or earphones any more…)

Just check their very extensive list of clients, from Celine Dion to U2 and Cirque du Soleil and hundreds more. They must be onto something good here…

First impression when you open up the box: Mmmm, that doesn’t look expensive…

The natural beige colour of the set is meant to camouflage the monitors when you’re on stage, not to stand out from the crowd as if it were a fashion accessory. If you want to show off your gear go for something extravagant in the looks department (some of the Bluetooth headphones come to mind…)

The only thing that gives away that you got a more than an average unit here is the gold 3.5mm connector – which you won’t see, of course, when it is plugged in!

Beige is an excellent colour for on stage but perhaps FSI should also cater for the prosumer market with a flashier (not fleshier) model. After all, iPOD users like to flaunt their gear and FSI has been a great hit in this market even with these plain-looking but super-high quality earphones

The EM3 are a “universal fit” model, meaning they come with special foam sleeves that you roll and squeeze to insert in your ears, after which they quickly expand to their original size, making for a snug fit.

This differs from their custom-moulded Ear Monitors that need a fit (ear impression) by an audiologist. These do provide a better fit as they are custom made for your ears only.

(They also come with higher specifications and, yes, in different tones too besides the natural beige).

Recently FSI also introduced their SofterWear Custom Fit Sleeves for the EM3 monitors, which gives you the best of both worlds.

The EM3 comes with 2 sets of large foam sleeves and a set of small sleeves together with a leather pouch.

One Man’s Opinion

It’s actually presumptuous for me to give a qualified opinion on a product that has been so wholeheartedly endorsed for well over a decade by the people that matter.

The fact though that more and more consumers rather than professionals are discovering that their iPods, iRivers and iPAQs sound better with great earphones, does make me qualified on that score.

So how does it all sound?

I tried the EM3 Earphones out on several MP3 and CD players.

With the incredible clarity and dynamics of these earphones I found that players also differ in quality of reproduction!

Where this product really shines is in the low bass spectrum, giving you a deep and intense quality listening experience. You may have to adjust the equaliser a bit to find just the right blend but you’ll be stunned by the overall clarity. I may have jeopardised my high-frequency hearing a bit over the years, flying in noisy airplanes (that’s what my audiologist reckons anyway) but my favourite CD of late, DreamCatcher by Secret Garden – a most harmonious blend of pop, classical & folk, has never sounded better!

The foam sleeves are also very effective in reducing background noise, thus lessening the need for excessive volume that can damage your hearing.

An Expert’s Opinion

Last night I let the lead man of the famed (at least here in Western Australia) Arthamus band listen to the EM3.
He's a guy with perfect hearing -- he can even hear a problem developing with your car long before it becomes obvious to any of us! He was blown away by the directional clarity and said they are better than his $600 headphones!!

Another aspect he particularly liked was the drowning out of other noises (some say the foam sleeves cut down noise levels by as much as 25dB!) which is kinda important when you work in a band…

What it tells me is that you don’t need to crank up your MP3 player as high either to hear your music well.

The downside, of course, comes when you miss the “Dinner is ready!” calls when listening to your favourite music!

Verdict:

if you spend hours and hours listening to your iPod or Digital Audio Player you owe it to yourself to invest in some decent “ear wear”. If you’re a professional you already have but too often consumers take whatever comes with the player and that may not be good enough if the product has been built down to a price.

Other than a front row seat at your favourite concert this may be the best alternative.

Highly recommended!

Check the FSI site here

The EM3’s suggested retail price is $159 but on their website they sell it for $143.