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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and noise isolation for focused listening and don't mind a higher price, the Etymotic ER4XR earbuds are excellent, especially for music enthusiasts. However, they're not ideal for exercise, have a poor mic, and lack wireless capabilities. Conversely, if you're on a budget and prefer headphones, the Sony MDR-ZX110 offers reasonable sound for the price, is foldable for portability, but it has poor noise isolation and comfort, potentially making them less suitable for long listening sessions or noisy environments. Neither is optimized for gaming or TV due to latency issues. 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 Etymotic ER4XR
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDR-ZX110
- The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the Etymotic ER4XR.
Key differences
Phone Calls
4.7
3.0
The Etymotic ER4XR and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the Etymotic ER4XR is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
4.3
The Etymotic ER4XR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
5.3
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Cost
$234
$10
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The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
9.0
6.0
The Etymotic ER4XR has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.0
7.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Etymotic ER4XR to be very good for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.
Gaming
6.2
5.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Etymotic ER4XR to be only fair for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
7.4
6.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Etymotic ER4XR to be good for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the Sony MDR-ZX110 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | Sony MDR-ZX110 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $10 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | July 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 5.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 3.9/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 119.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER4XR
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
Sony MDR-ZX110
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Audio.org
Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the Etymotic ER4XR or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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