Steve, I think you've done a really good job of describing your impressions, so I think you DO have sufficient vocabulary.

I like how you described the speakers. I haven't heard the HD1s, but I've always thought from descriptions they would be a bit too "forward" for me (or more than a bit). And I love the laid back sound of the ERR, so I think you pegged that sound. I've now got my HR-1s in the main system, and I think you're right, they're a combination of both sounds. . . . I really miss the more laid back sound of the ERRs though, I'm so used to it and it suits my listening material so much, I'll probably have the ERRs  back in the system soon. . . .

Thanks for the writeup of your experiences.