how do they compare to the etymotic hf5?

Very well. The hf5 is a more analytical set but only slightly. My concern was loosing the "attention to detail" that the hf5 has. No worries, you do not. I would say if you like the hf5 you WILL like the gr07. The bass is exceptional, tight, well controlled, fast, and without bloat. The highs are not as sparkly but only to the point that it is non-fatiguing. The sound stage is non-comparable as the hf5 has very small staging and the gr07 is a well balanced, airy with better ambience, equal separation, and does NOT get lost when things get busy. The only thing I feel the hf5 has that is not present in the gr07 is type of grittyness with certain sounds (types of guitars) but this is not saying that guitars sound bad, or wrong, or weaker on the gr07. Just that the hf5 has this certain grit to it with distorted sounds that the gr07 trades for a bit if weight and timbre.
Hope it helped,
David