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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and want wireless convenience for casual listening, the Creative Labs Zen Air earbuds would suit you as they are less expensive, have good mic quality for calls, and are rated very good for air travel use. However, if sound quality is your priority and you don't mind a wired connection, the Etymotic ER2SE is known for very good music playback and excellent noise isolation, making it better for immersive listening environments but not as convenient for exercise or travel due to the stemless form and lack of wireless functionality. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Creative Labs Zen Air
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Etymotic ER2SE
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.8
8.8
The Etymotic ER2SE is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
6.2
The Etymotic ER2SE is only fair for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
7.6
The Etymotic ER2SE is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.8
The Etymotic ER2SE is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
9.1
The Etymotic ER2SE is excellent for noise reduction, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Etymotic ER2SE does not have a battery.
Cost
$30
$100
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Etymotic ER2SE costs $100.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
4.9
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Etymotic ER2SE are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Etymotic ER2SE both have excellent build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Etymotic ER2SE compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Etymotic ER2SE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $100 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Etymotic | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | February 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 6.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Etymotic ER2SE
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | April 2022
"Etymotic isn’t playing around: it takes audio seriously and has mastered the art of the noise-isolation earphone. Sure, the fit of the earbuds looks silly but it’s a signature Etymotic thing and could be considered charming by some. If you’re looking for best-in-class audio for a realistic price, the ER2SE is it."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Zen Air or the Etymotic ER2SE
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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