
Etymotic ER4XR Earphones vs Moondrop Blessing 2: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Moondrop Blessing 2 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Etymotic ER4XR Earphones | Moondrop Blessing 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Wired IEMs | Wired IEMs |
| Price (USD) | $299 | $222 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Balanced Armature (BA) | 1 dynamic driver + 4 balanced armatures |
| Driver size | - | 10 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 5 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-16kHz | 9Hz-37kHz |
| Impedance | 45 Ω | 22 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | 117 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Battery | ||
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| ANC type | none | - |
| Transparency mode | No | - |
| Companion app | No | - |
| Custom EQ | No | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | none | - |
| Design | ||
| Detachable cable | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C | No | - |
What reviewers said
Etymotic ER4XR Earphones
The Etymotic ER4XR is a compact, wired in-ear monitor built around a single balanced-armature driver, delivering a detailed and analytical sound signature with crisp mids and highs. Its deep-insertion design provides excellent passive noise isolation and a secure fit, though the unusual fit and lack of onboard controls make it better suited for professionals or critical listeners than casual users. With a detachable cable and replaceable filters, it's a durable, portable choice for travel or office use, though the bass response is lean and the feature set is minimal.
- Pro:Exceptional mid and treble detail
- Pro:Superb passive noise isolation
- Pro:Compact, durable, and highly portable
- Con:Deep insertion fit may be uncomfortable
- Con:Bass-light tuning not for bass lovers
- Con:No inline remote or controls
Moondrop Blessing 2
The Moondrop Blessing 2 is a hybrid in-ear monitor that delivers a balanced, highly detailed sound with excellent imaging and separation for its price. It's easy to drive, comfortable, and offers a neutral tuning that appeals to critical listeners, though it falls short of flagship-level refinement in stage size and midrange timbre.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and imaging
- Pro:Neutral, well-balanced tuning
- Pro:Easy to drive with high sensitivity
- Con:Midrange timbre can sound slightly unnatural
- Con:Soundstage is not particularly wide
- Con:No noise cancellation or wireless features
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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