I have mixed feelings about a lot of things here, not the least of which is the love/hate relationship I have with the included estron Linum cable. I do like the T2 connector design, and it is a strong, ultra-thin cable, but you can't just use it casually, which means more fiddling around for setup each time. This combines with the IEM design, with the choice of ear tips resulting in far more of a difference here than any others I have tested to date. Etymotic has always stressed the importance of achieving a proper seal in the ears to then hit the target curve it has developed, and any deviation from the norm can significantly hurt the user experience compared to expectations. This means there is a learning curve, one that can result in a few unpleasant experiences as you go about probing yourself and getting more familiar with your ear canal than you ever thought necessary.

Once done, things are more comfortable than you would believe possible, though. It's no custom IEM based on a mold of your specific ears, but if the older tube design was divisive, this is going to be far more universally appealing. The gentle curves of the more ergonomically designed shells allow the Etymotic EVO to sit and easily be supported by a typical set of ears. The nozzle is thin and long, and the multi-flanged tips secure a comfortable fit too. It can get quite isolating, however, so you may want to take a breather occasionally. Ending up in the middle of an enjoyable listening session is easier said than done, though.

The Etymotic tuning signature is a neutral, flat, accurate response, and we see that all over the Etymotic EVO. If you fancy listening to music as recorded and mixed by the artists, this is the set for you. I will say right away this is not enough for many, especially if you have been accustomed to a warmer or even significantly more bass-heavy response courtesy the typical single dynamic driver and sub-bass/mid-bass optimization seen in many earphones today. Indeed, I am as neutral-loving a person as any I personally know, and even I'd like some more warmth around the lower mids. The treble region is still something I would personally EQ, but do be aware of this if you are considering the Etymotic EVO. My lack of experience with other Etymotic earphones probably comes in favor of the brand here. I suspect this is not much more of an improvement in the actual sound signature than my colleague's experiences with the brand's less expensive single-driver offerings. I do have to give Etymotic the benefit of the doubt, but the award below is with some conditions owing to inexperience applied.