Two wired in-ear monitors, two very different philosophies. The 1MORE H1023 is a new hybrid design with a dynamic driver and dual balanced armatures, aiming for richness and build polish. The Etymotic ER2XR Earphones is a single-dynamic-driver veteran known for accuracy and isolation. Both sit under $150, but they ask very different things from your ears. Here is an honest comparison based on the data we have, without inventing winners where none exist.
Price and positioning
The 1MORE H1023 costs $130. That puts it in the upper tier of budget audiophile IEMs, where you are paying for a hybrid driver array and a premium accessory bundle. The Etymotic ER2XR costs $73, which is a more aggressive price for a single-dynamic-driver design that has been on the market for years. The gap is $57, and that difference buys you a lot of extra hardware in the 1MORE package.
Positioning matters here. The 1MORE is aimed at someone who wants a modern, feature-rich wired IEM with a premium feel straight out of the box. The Etymotic is aimed at the purist who values a neutral-ish tuning and passive isolation above all else, and who is willing to accept a less glamorous build and a polarising fit. Neither is a bad position, but they are not competing for the same buyer despite both being wired IEMs.
The scores, side by side
HearWiki scores are not a single number that tells the whole story, but they do give a quick reference. The 1MORE H1023 scores 81/100. The Etymotic ER2XR scores 78/100. That is a three-point gap, which is small in practice. Both are good, neither is a flop, and the difference is well within the range of personal preference.
Looking at the subscores, the 1MORE gets 8.5/10 for sound and 8.5/10 for value. The Etymotic gets 8/10 for sound and 8/10 for value. So the 1MORE leads on both, but again, the margins are thin. There is no recorded subscore for noise cancelling, battery, or calls on either product, because these are wired IEMs with no active electronics. Do not expect ANC, a battery life figure, or a call-quality rating here—they are simply not part of the spec.
Sound
The 1MORE H1023 uses a 1DD + 3BA hybrid configuration. That means one dynamic driver for the lows and three balanced armatures for mids and highs. The result, according to the data, is a rich and detailed sound that excels at its price point. The main limitation noted is a narrow soundstage, which is typical of in-ear designs. You get good separation and a full-bodied presentation, but the stage does not expand far beyond your head.
The Etymotic ER2XR uses a single dynamic driver. Its tuning is described as naturally balanced with a slight bass emphasis and warm tilt. That is a more restrained sound than the 1MORE, but one that is easy to drive from any phone or portable player thanks to low impedance and decent sensitivity. The ER2XR is not about spectacle; it is about accuracy and a coherent tonal balance.
Which is better? That depends. If you want a more exciting, layered sound with a bigger sense of scale, the 1MORE likely wins. If you want a neutral-ish, honest presentation with a touch of warmth, the Etymotic is the safer bet. Neither is objectively superior; they are different flavours of good.
Noise cancelling and battery
Neither product has active noise cancelling. The 1MORE H1023 has no ANC, and the Etymotic ER2XR has no ANC either. However, the ER2XR offers excellent passive noise isolation because of its deep-insertion fit. That is a real advantage if you want to block out noise without electronics. The 1MORE does not advertise a similar level of passive isolation, so you should expect a more typical IEM seal.
Battery life is not recorded for either product because they are wired. There is no battery to speak of, no charging case, and no wireless operation. If you need wireless, look elsewhere—see our best true wireless guide for options.
Calls and everyday use
Call quality is not recorded for either product. As wired IEMs without microphones in the cable (as per the data), you would need a separate mic solution for calls, and neither is marketed as a headset. Do not buy either expecting a call-centric experience.
For everyday use, the differences are practical. The 1MORE H1023 has a premium build and a generous accessory bundle, which suggests it is designed to be a daily driver that feels nice in the hand and comes with everything you need. The Etymotic ER2XR has a cable that picks up noise (microphonics), and its deep-insertion fit is uncomfortable for some people. That is a real usability hurdle. If you plan to wear IEMs for hours at a desk, the 1MORE is the more comfortable and convenient choice on paper.
Which one should you buy?
If you want the best sound-per-dollar with a modern tuning, a premium build, and a generous bundle, and you are willing to spend $130, the 1MORE H1023 is the stronger pick. It scores higher, has a richer driver configuration, and is likely to be more comfortable for most ears.
If you want maximum accuracy, excellent passive isolation, and a lower price, and you can tolerate a deep fit, the Etymotic ER2XR Earphones is the value choice. At $73, it delivers a clean, warm-neutral sound that is easy to drive, and it blocks out more noise than the 1MORE thanks to its fit.
There is no single winner. The 1MORE is the better all-rounder for most people; the Etymotic is the specialist for isolation and purist tuning. If you are torn, look at our full comparison table at /compare/1more-h1023-vs-etymotic-er2xr-earphones to see the specs side by side.
FAQ
Are the 1MORE H1023 good for bass?
The 1MORE H1023 uses a hybrid setup with a dynamic driver for lows, so it should deliver a rich, full bass response. The data notes an excellent sound quality for the price, which includes a solid low end, but it does not specify a bass boost. Expect a balanced but full-bodied presentation rather than a basshead tuning.
Do Etymotic ER2XR earphones fit everyone?
No. The ER2XR uses a deep-insertion fit that goes further into the ear canal than typical IEMs. This provides excellent isolation and a secure seal, but it is uncomfortable for some people. If you are sensitive to pressure in your ears, you may want to try them before committing, or consider the 1MORE H1023 which has a more conventional fit.
Can I use these for phone calls?
Neither the 1MORE H1023 nor the Etymotic ER2XR has a recorded call-quality subscore, and neither is marketed as a headset. They are wired IEMs without integrated microphones in the data provided. For calls, you would need to add a separate mic or use a different product entirely. See our best gaming headsets or best over-ear lists for options with mics.
