*FUN FACT:* you can easily make the IE900, IE600, and IE200 compatible with *any* MMCX cable by carefully removing the plastic recess rings with tweezers or small pliers. Saved me from spending $100 on a new set of 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm cables. 😁
I just got Tripowin Zombur cable where the connectors already come like that. No fiddling required. Granted, it is a cheap pair, but good enough for my use case.
You can also remove the plastic ends from most MMCX cables if you prefer to leave the IEMs stock. Most MMCX have red/clear plastic ends and you can just prise them off with a knife.
So much this. I got my IE600s last Black Friday and couldn't be happier with them as IEMs. Superb sound and immensely comfortable. The stock cables I dislike though, they are microphonic and I intend to replace them soon.
They are incredible. Even spent the money for the custom ear tips. Didn't regret it 🙂👍 Edit: Google for 'Sennheiser custom comfort tips'. Perhaps only available in Germany and looks like they're discontinued.
Equally happy with my IE600s. Came from Shure 535s but listen mostly with Focus Clear Pro but I do enjoy the IE600 to a degree where they seriosly challenge the Focals in terms of detail and clarity.
This review has been top notch from start to finish, highly informative. Though I don't own any of these three I get a great understanding of the sound of all of them now. Kudos for the excellent review bro
I have tried all of them. The 600 is the safest option but you are right about the bass on the 900... it's just amazing. Now I have the 200 to take with me to work, and the 900 at home. The comfort is just unmatched btw, i don't think I have worn more comfortable iems than the IE series, the Sony M9 does come close though.
Really great review and comparison, thanks a lot. I tried IE200 and IE600 and absolutely agree with all you said about both of them. In the end I took IE600, but for ca. 550 USD, so I think this was a good price. Was thinking about IE900, when they were on sale, but got some advice, it isn't worth it and after this review I'm pretty sure I choose well.
First time I have heard you on YT. Really well presented and a great source of information for anyone wanting an educated opinion on these IEM’s. Thank you and looking forward to seeing your other videos!!
I bought IE600 on launch day (May 2022), left side driver died on me 2 months ago (so it survived 1 year and 8 months). Given Sennheisers are no longer made in Germany(mostly in Ireland, cheap ones in China), I’d say it’s pretty solid.
I have the IE200 with Dunu S&S tips. I love them. My main cans are the OG Ananda, although I might upgrade later this year. “Omegas maybe?” Also got Hart cables.
i don't listen to vocal centric music a lot so the IE900 doesn't really bother me, the aggressive tuning and amazing bass are very good for my library.
Sedna Earfit Max works fantastically for the tips and Null audio makes replacement cables designed specifically for the Senheiser MMCX. For my IE600 these two upgrades moved the listening experience from good to great in one shot. I love this set.
I wrote sennheiser about the intermittent disconnection and it is actually a design fault that can be fixed by removing a little washer from the cable. Really crazy stuff for such an expensive IEM (IE 600 in my case).
@@Farpun It's a tooth lock washer located on the tip of the cable, right after the connector. It's a little ring with tiny bumps (the "tooth lock"). You can use a small flat head screwdriver to remove it. It solved my issues. Sennheiser customer service sent me a pdf to show it but it's really very easy.
The 3.5mm cable from my ie900 had this problem. The bad connection wasn’t an issue with the other provided cables or my girlfriends ie600 3.5mm cable. I made a warranty claim and sent in just the cable. I was sent a brand new sealed ie900…. Not what I was expecting but it was a nice surprise
You can use any MMCX cable on the IE line. All you have to do is clip off the red & black plastic rings. That's what I did and DMS did as well in his video. I would suggest the Divinus Velvet tips for the IE600. And if you want to push the IE600 a bit further, try a 75 to 100 ohm resister adapter.
Just be aware that if you commonly listen to any of these while lying down in bed, they will die. I've had to RMA 3 or 4 of these, because the left driver always experiences a drastic decrease in volume, around 15db, but not consistent, causing huge imbalance and loss of dynamics. The only reason I can think of as to why this happens to me and not reviewers is that our use scenario is probably very different. While the proprietary cable is annoying and leaves much to be desired, it is ultimately not the cable that is causing the issues I've had. I can't know for sure, but me and some other people I've seen seem to think it's water/moisture damage. Reviewers probably just sit down in front of their computers and listen to them sitting up straight for short periods of time, but I used the IE600 with a Qudelix 5K and took them outside and everywhere I went. Additionally, I suspect that the fact that I wear them in bed may ultimately be the biggest problem. Sometimes ears sweat, especially if you have a good seal blocking any sweat or water in the ear cannal from evaporating, now, if you lay down on your side, all that liquid goes into the nozzle, potentially damaging the IEM. Again, I am not sure if this is the case, but it's my best hypothesis given the repeated failures I've had. It is the only IEM I've had this problem with, so that is incredibly disappointing and I wish they would have had more consideration when making these to mitigate this issue, since it really limits how you may use them.
This should be top comment : Chifi we know what we are getting into and warranty is fairly decent But for a well known international brand ? Geeze that isn’t acceptable and makes me feel they are doing cash grab with nothing new
Humidity will be a killer for any IEM (or electronics in general). Personally, I don't wear IEMs after a shower until my ears are dry and if I'm exercising, I'll use beaters. - Fc-Construct
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Yes, of course. Though it is curious as to why (if this is indeed the issue, which I don't know for sure) this seems to be much more of a problem here, as I never have had these issues with any other IEMs before. I've probably had 8 different models throughout the years and these are the only ones where this has happened, and it happens consistently.
This is my exact setup and use case (although I don't always wear them in bed) haven't had any issues yet after probably about 5-6 months, hopefully I don't encounter anything similar but I'll for sure be paying attention now! *Edit - Forgot to mention I'm using Tripowin Zonie cables with the collar removal hack and not the stock ones
I use the Tanchjim One to sleep. That set is the most convenient and most comfortable, its no contest. I usually just use one side and can use it for both ears when turning during sleep.
I have owned my ie200 for about 6 months. I got them on sale for $100 during black Friday. I have been able to enjoy a wide variety of music with them. They were too bright for me before doing the tape mod. The cable is far more manageable with a Velcro strap. Before owning these I used a set of ie300s, I prefer ie200s over the ie300s due to the mid range tuning. I'm happy with my perches, they may not be the best value but I really like the comfort. I would say they are a great all arounder/ edc iem, not amazing at anything but decent at everything.
Snagged a pair of IE200 last Nov as a blind purchase during sale, and absolutely no regrets. A cable and tip change (Spinfit W1) later, it has been my go-to set for anything but the most analytic kind of listening. That's what my S12 is for. It sounds really balanced, detailed enough and yet inoffensive at the same time out of the box.
I too found the postional audio on the ie 600 were meh. So are the 900 also meh or are they more accurate? Also you definitely don’t want to enable any sort of virtual surround sound effects such as Dolby atmos for headphones because it bends the stereo audio between the ears and results in a significant reduction in precision.
Thank you, sir. This comparison video review and essential suggestions regarding cables and ear tips are certainly will help people who are looking for comfort+quality in the new pair of IEMs and who had the IE 900 and IE 600 on their radar. I am sure you have an opinion about their contenders regarding these very features: comfort+SQ. I, personally, would like you to share your thoughts about the Shure SE846/Shure SE846 PRO Gen 2. However, I am sure you might know about some other units who have even better SQ, low weight, small size and comfort. Please share this with us! Thank you very much. Liked and subscribed. 👍👍👍👍👍
My IE800s recently stopped working. Had them 5 years and git them as a free upgrade after my IE800. Saved some money and splurging on the IE900 on payday. Sennheiser gave me a voucher for 200 off them but found a approved retailer thats a little cheaper still. Cannot wait.
Would be very grateful to hear recommendations for classical music - orchestral. Which one of these is better? Would the IE900 be better because of its techicalities and detail, would the midrange be an issue there? Thanks!
Did he say "they dont compare well with other iems on the market" ?.. 17:50 Am i hearing something wrong there as ie900 is a top3 iem and the 600 isnt far behind it for him..??
I’ve had multiple pairs of the ie200, and one pair of the 600. The 600s had a right driver failure after 3 weeks. The 200s lasted 8 months or so then did the same, then the replacement did the same within 8 weeks. The 600s are exciting but just a bit too spicy in the treble for me. The 200s are exceptional for the price especially with eq for the bass. The cables for both are underwhelming. If durability wasn’t a concern the 600 is great, but now I just got the Moondrop Variations for the same money.
Wish you would have compared them eq'd. Given how crazy close their FR's are, would have been interesting to hear how close they can get. Like the HD600/650 can get pretty much indistinguishable (as stated by Oratory, even), so I'm wondering if that's the case with these as well, especially given that they use the same driver. Edit: and also would have been interesting if you bought a knock off ie900 shell and put the ie200 driver in it to try to see if the drivers really are identical (preferably with a blind test, unless the knock off shell ends up feeling different in the hands, so that you're not accidentally letting the price influence you). I know this is a good bit of work to do, but yeah, would be an interesting video!
i love both my ie200 and ie600. both have uses for me. ultimately the comfort and size of these iems are just amazing compared to my other big iems. the ie200 is always in my bag just in case i never bring my other iems. good enough for a simple wired iems for my commutes to work. cos of this, i actually rarely bring out my airpods pro cos i want better sound quality without being so analytical the ie600 however pairs up nicely with my DAPs or Mojo2 when im really in the mood for some proper listening either at home or on some days where im just out and about doing my own off day things. more engaging and fun.
I love what he said about the IE200...too many folks let other peoples view or rankings rob them of the enjoyment they actually hear from their IEM's. The IE200 is a great EDC IEM for me, even though I have the Blessing 2 , 3, U12t, Monarchs, and Dunu's mk2 of the world. I find it's unique style so perfect for EDC and once I got a cheap MMX cable to replace the loud microphonic cable it came with... it really became my go to lightweight, good bass, and balanced mids and treble IEM with great vocal clarity I love to have, on the go.
can confirm you can take any mmcx connector, cut off the plastic collar (I used pointy nail clippers) and it will fit any IE series. It will still work in other mmcx but the fit will be off and might not be as secure anymore.
It's simply not true that prior to this Sennheiser have had little impact in the IEM scene. The IE800 paved the way for $1000 consumer IEMs. some may have existed prior, but Sennheiser and their marketing budget made the first big effort to convince consumers to pay such prices for products that at the time were still being given away for free with phones, and iPods etc.
How do you guys listen to IE600 at all? For me it either falls off/looses low end completely without seal or when I press it all the way down (especially with tips that achieve full seal) sound just disappears, diaphragm is barely moving. I couldn't get it to work for me, it is extremely sensitive to air pressure, which is impossible to maintain when moving. Had to sell them. Sounded good with perfect pressure level though. I'm wondering if this could even damage the IEM like @RageNukes mentioned below. Also cable is extremely loud on IE600, again, makes any movement very audible and annoying.
I have the 200's and 600's and have not experienced the issues that you did. They are the most comfortable IEM's that I have found due to my ear canals being narrow.
I think they're pretty close. There are only a few differences in tuning, tonal, technical, driver quality and price. But when you put them side by side on the table, they are quite close.
LIFE HACK: I got a free pair of IE 900's due to 2 RMAs i've submitted for the IE 600s left earbud failing. Buy a 600, return it twice and compain. I now own a pair of 600's, and 900's.
Just got a second hand IE600 for 400 CAD$ and it's a really great experience. Excellent earphones overall, my new daily drivers I think (Coming from DUNU SA6 MK1)
I had the disconnect issue with my first pair of ie600s and only gave the warranty a chance because of how good they sounded. Thankfully haven’t had any such issues with the replacement pair. P.S sennheisser warranty’s are a real pita and take forever. If you can get them through a 3rd party like Scan in the uk they take much of the pain of these things out of the picture by organising the full warranty repair.
Sennheiser makes an official cable with an inline mic, I’ve found it’s better than the included cables but it’s only sold to the Singapore market on their website. There are a few 3rd party sellers but their markup is quite absurd.
I never really had any issues with the cable on my 200 & 600. I personally use the Azla SednaEarFit Light Short for the perfect seal and large bore design.
You earned a subscriber ! Especially for recommending me the tripowin amber cable. If you see this message could you tell me if i should go for a more expensive tripowin - seraph cable for ie900?
You could if you like the ergonomics of the Seraph but I wouldn't do it expecting any sound differences. I recommended the Amber cable mostly because it seems like a very reasonable, affordable choice. - Fc-Construct
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I tried both and i have to tell you the seraph is the perfect fit. It connects with a satisfying tight click sound but at the same time amber doesn’t do that. We are only pushing it and it somehow gets squeezed inside. Both works though but i recommend the Seraph one for that perfect click fitting just like how the orginal cable does Also it doesn’t make iem rotate too much like the orginals
I must say, I've tried all three before buying one of them. Personally i started out by buying the IE 600 but after 1 week returned and bought the IE 200, which is the perfect for me personally. The first thing I did after buying the IE 200 was buy a replacement cable from the 600 and just store the 200 cable for if the 600 cable breaks. What I find sad is that I feel the IE 200 is the best sounding but clearly has really bad build quality. I need about 1 - 2 months to get the IE to a level where it is a comfortable fit :) I daily drive it now and I'm never going back to headphones ;)
I've bought IE200 on sale for roughly $120. Still not the best value but my reason to purchase these over something like Truthear Hexa is the smaller size and smaller stem size as well. But I had to replace the stock cable, it was not great to put it mildly. I purchased the Tripowin Zonie which fits perfectly once you -carefully- remove the plastic bits from the cable. I highly recommend this upgrade. I also replaced the stock ear tips with the Dunu SS which is not a necessary upgrade but it can elevate the somewhat lacking bass frequencies.
IE200 might be overpriced for what It can offer in sound quality, but the excellent comfort makes up for it. I just want something that sounds good and is comfortable to wear for hours, and the IE200 does that better than most IEMs.
The ie200 and 300 use the same driver technology but they are made with lesser materials. I've seen this stated by sennheiser multiple times. The 600 and 900 drivers are basically identical, just implemented differently with the chambers
600 is an overall upgrade to 900 with half the price. Some people prefer 900 is because of the price tag, their brain DAC turns to maximum when the they see heavy price tag. I listened to both of them without seeing the price tag first, then I got the 600 because it’s way more enjoyable than 900.
@@leeasy7112 Not heard the 900, I have the 200 and 600. I was surprised when I got the 600 because everyone was saying the 200 sounds almost the same. It does not. Even EQing the 200 to match the 600, it doesn't sound similar. I much prefer the 600. However sometimes the 200 has this sparkle in the treble that the 600 does not, I do miss that sometimes.
I picked up the ie600 for 300 used and can’t be happier. The ie900 is more like 700+ so quite a price jump. I just need to find custom cable to pair with it. I also have the s12, sa6 mk2, and hexa which I all like for different reasons. Considering also pickup up a meteor or mangrid tea 2 at some point or maybe even a supernova.
@@m.varelpataheldra1004 yes I enjoy the ie600 more than s12 but I also got my s12 in a bundle for way cheaper so from a value perspective s12> ie600. But that is highly subjective. Technical performance and bass impact or both better in ie600 but the cable is crap.
@@aceofspades6667That’s a great collection! I just came in to tell you not to buy the Tea 2 if you didn’t try and like it. Imo a really underwhelming IEM. Got the same grade as a 7hz Sonus (60$) on my ranking list. The IE600 is my best one too hehe
When I first time heard an "audiophile" tuning of the og chu, I found that i am abit of a treble head. So I thought getting the IE200 for that treble with the added bass would be a good path to upgrade to. And after changing the cable and tips the IE200 is my preferred sound that I should seek. So if youre not yet "spoiled" by hi-fi expensive stuff I think the IE200 is really good for the tuning alone because everything else is meh.
I own the 200 and the 600. With a portable amp, they sound nearly identical to me - the 200 is excellent value, especially whem on sale. Buy the Final tips to replace the trash silicone tips - they are absolutely terrible.
That is it...I'm suing the Headphone Show for committing the heinous crime of good taste! How dare they praise the Sennheiser?! I demand justice for my fragile ego, which was brutally assaulted by their positive review. I mean, what's next? Telling me that pizza is actually good for me?! Or that my cat doesn't hate me?! It's a travesty, I tell you!
Have both the IE 600 and 900, and prefer the 900 10 times out of 10. To my ears the 900’s vocals sound much more normal, the 600 sounds shouty and too forward. The treble on the 900 is very present and well defined while it sometimes becomes a bit veiled on the 600. Also bass on the 600 has more volume and impact but it’s definitely not as rumbly nor well textured as the 900. You can easily “fix” the IE 900 with EQ on the 3k region, but no amount of EQ can elevate the 600 to the 900’s level.
so... whats your "bass" taste, whats the music you listen to. You are reviewing headphones/earphones using a ton of advjetives without telling the principal... whats the music you listen to, what music was used to compare them.... come on
Other reviewerts say these IEMs fit perfectly and are ahead of the best when you compare these even with others of higher prices so maybe its your ear shape or something else which causes this problem.
Although my A/B preference is easily for the IE900 mostly because the IE600 has a little too much mid bass, the IE600 is the better choice considering how much more expensive the IE900 is. That said, I’ve avoided buying these because of all the warranty claims this design seems to have. Maybe it’s moisture accumulation inside the shell. Dunno. Shame too because I think the IE600 is among the best looking IEMs out there, plus the extra sturdy shell material. After two years, things can still go wrong. At this price, Sennheiser should address this with a re-design and/or extend the warranty for a much longer period.
2:00 my sony ier z1r has a similar recessed semi proprietary mmcx connector but I simply glued on a mmcx to 2 pin adapter now I can use any 0.78 2 pin cable 😂
sennheiser and their proprietary connectors has always been frustrating having to special order balanced cables for mine because again, theirs are way over-priced. my HD650 custom built balanced cable was half what sennheiser charges.
I adore my ie900, but damn did they sting the wallet. Had the 600 been out I'd have gone that route. Reminds me, I've not warmed them up for a while. BRB.
i hated the ie200 when i first bought them, on a whim as my first iem. they sounded tinny with no bass at all., even after taping over the hole on the nozzle. so a week later i bought the moondrop variations, which blew my mind. then, after a while, i bought the thieaudio prestige ltd which blew me away all over and again. but then a funny thing happened. after letting the ie200 gather dust, unused, one day i decided to try the prestige ltd eartips on them. and wow, it was transformed, suddenly had bass, as well as its clarity of treble. after that i bought divinus velvet eartips (3 pairs M size for about 20$) as i was curious if they would sound even better due to a tighter seal and slightly longer eartip. again, i was amazed…even better again. so now i like the ie200 and am waiting for a 5$ replacement cable to arrive from china, as the stock cable is a thin tangly mess. so, there you go, its an iem with huge potential, but it seems ultra sensitive to fit and eartips.
I think they discontinued the IE300 because around the IE600's release they admitted it's got the same driver as the IE600 and IE900, just a different response due to the housing. In other words, an EQ'd IE300 is all you would really need.
sennheiser, what are you doing? That`s how I felt exactly while looking for the right cable with a connection that holds and tips that fits!! I shouldn`t be doing that after paying that much man
@@RealSteveEyes Audio engineer dude that makes some custom EQs for a lot of IEMs/headphones and shares them on reddit. Using his EQ profile for my Focal Clear MG, clear improvement over stock profile !
*FUN FACT:* you can easily make the IE900, IE600, and IE200 compatible with *any* MMCX cable by carefully removing the plastic recess rings with tweezers or small pliers.
Saved me from spending $100 on a new set of 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm cables. 😁
Very very helpful Thank You
I just got Tripowin Zombur cable where the connectors already come like that. No fiddling required. Granted, it is a cheap pair, but good enough for my use case.
I use openheart cable. They make it specifically for IE. It is cheap, and good enough.
You can also remove the plastic ends from most MMCX cables if you prefer to leave the IEMs stock. Most MMCX have red/clear plastic ends and you can just prise them off with a knife.
This is what I did for my IE200, kind of a pain to get it all off but so worth it.
You are so well spoken. The way you word sound is on a level I can understand yet so technical at the same time. Perfect balance
i am obsessed with my ie600. Maximum comfort and incredibly balanced and wonderful sound.
So much this. I got my IE600s last Black Friday and couldn't be happier with them as IEMs. Superb sound and immensely comfortable. The stock cables I dislike though, they are microphonic and I intend to replace them soon.
They are incredible. Even spent the money for the custom ear tips.
Didn't regret it 🙂👍
Edit: Google for 'Sennheiser custom comfort tips'.
Perhaps only available in Germany and looks like they're discontinued.
@@TheRealPotoroo yup. I pretty much immediately changed the cable and never looked back. sooooo comfortable
@@3xplosiv0 What cable did you get?
Equally happy with my IE600s. Came from Shure 535s but listen mostly with Focus Clear Pro but I do enjoy the IE600 to a degree where they seriosly challenge the Focals in terms of detail and clarity.
This review has been top notch from start to finish, highly informative. Though I don't own any of these three I get a great understanding of the sound of all of them now.
Kudos for the excellent review bro
I have tried all of them. The 600 is the safest option but you are right about the bass on the 900... it's just amazing. Now I have the 200 to take with me to work, and the 900 at home. The comfort is just unmatched btw, i don't think I have worn more comfortable iems than the IE series, the Sony M9 does come close though.
have you tried the ie300?
@@dhiaoshaish no, but i think they’re similar to the ie900, like how the 200 and 600 are similar
I really like my IE600s, also going to pair them with an ipod classic
Really great review and comparison, thanks a lot. I tried IE200 and IE600 and absolutely agree with all you said about both of them. In the end I took IE600, but for ca. 550 USD, so I think this was a good price. Was thinking about IE900, when they were on sale, but got some advice, it isn't worth it and after this review I'm pretty sure I choose well.
Wish more single-Driver IEM are shaped like IE series
First time I have heard you on YT. Really well presented and a great source of information for anyone wanting an educated opinion on these IEM’s. Thank you and looking forward to seeing your other videos!!
00:11 🤨 he meant 800s
The only reason that I haven't bought them is the worrying of it's QC and driver failures. Is it really that bad?
I bought IE600 on launch day (May 2022), left side driver died on me 2 months ago (so it survived 1 year and 8 months). Given Sennheisers are no longer made in Germany(mostly in Ireland, cheap ones in China), I’d say it’s pretty solid.
I have the IE200 with Dunu S&S tips. I love them. My main cans are the OG Ananda, although I might upgrade later this year. “Omegas maybe?” Also got Hart cables.
i don't listen to vocal centric music a lot so the IE900 doesn't really bother me, the aggressive tuning and amazing bass are very good for my library.
Sedna Earfit Max works fantastically for the tips and Null audio makes replacement cables designed specifically for the Senheiser MMCX. For my IE600 these two upgrades moved the listening experience from good to great in one shot. I love this set.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
And what you think about older ie300?
I wrote sennheiser about the intermittent disconnection and it is actually a design fault that can be fixed by removing a little washer from the cable. Really crazy stuff for such an expensive IEM (IE 600 in my case).
Thanks so much for this, mine keeps cutting out and I was going to return them! Where's the washer located on the cable?
@@Farpun It's a tooth lock washer located on the tip of the cable, right after the connector. It's a little ring with tiny bumps (the "tooth lock"). You can use a small flat head screwdriver to remove it. It solved my issues. Sennheiser customer service sent me a pdf to show it but it's really very easy.
@@brunis_m thanks so much for that, I really appreciate it
The 3.5mm cable from my ie900 had this problem. The bad connection wasn’t an issue with the other provided cables or my girlfriends ie600 3.5mm cable.
I made a warranty claim and sent in just the cable. I was sent a brand new sealed ie900…. Not what I was expecting but it was a nice surprise
You can use any MMCX cable on the IE line. All you have to do is clip off the red & black plastic rings. That's what I did and DMS did as well in his video.
I would suggest the Divinus Velvet tips for the IE600.
And if you want to push the IE600 a bit further, try a 75 to 100 ohm resister adapter.
Don't do this. You will void your warranty and IE series don't have stellar QC. Buy compatible cables instead.
@@Sand_1995 The warranty is only a year, so if you bought them 2nd hand, or had them longer than a year, then clip them.
Just be aware that if you commonly listen to any of these while lying down in bed, they will die.
I've had to RMA 3 or 4 of these, because the left driver always experiences a drastic decrease in volume, around 15db, but not consistent, causing huge imbalance and loss of dynamics.
The only reason I can think of as to why this happens to me and not reviewers is that our use scenario is probably very different. While the proprietary cable is annoying and leaves much to be desired, it is ultimately not the cable that is causing the issues I've had. I can't know for sure, but me and some other people I've seen seem to think it's water/moisture damage. Reviewers probably just sit down in front of their computers and listen to them sitting up straight for short periods of time, but I used the IE600 with a Qudelix 5K and took them outside and everywhere I went. Additionally, I suspect that the fact that I wear them in bed may ultimately be the biggest problem. Sometimes ears sweat, especially if you have a good seal blocking any sweat or water in the ear cannal from evaporating, now, if you lay down on your side, all that liquid goes into the nozzle, potentially damaging the IEM.
Again, I am not sure if this is the case, but it's my best hypothesis given the repeated failures I've had. It is the only IEM I've had this problem with, so that is incredibly disappointing and I wish they would have had more consideration when making these to mitigate this issue, since it really limits how you may use them.
This should be top comment : Chifi we know what we are getting into and warranty is fairly decent
But for a well known international brand ? Geeze that isn’t acceptable and makes me feel they are doing cash grab with nothing new
Humidity will be a killer for any IEM (or electronics in general). Personally, I don't wear IEMs after a shower until my ears are dry and if I'm exercising, I'll use beaters. - Fc-Construct
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Yes, of course. Though it is curious as to why (if this is indeed the issue, which I don't know for sure) this seems to be much more of a problem here, as I never have had these issues with any other IEMs before. I've probably had 8 different models throughout the years and these are the only ones where this has happened, and it happens consistently.
This is my exact setup and use case (although I don't always wear them in bed) haven't had any issues yet after probably about 5-6 months, hopefully I don't encounter anything similar but I'll for sure be paying attention now!
*Edit - Forgot to mention I'm using Tripowin Zonie cables with the collar removal hack and not the stock ones
I use the Tanchjim One to sleep. That set is the most convenient and most comfortable, its no contest. I usually just use one side and can use it for both ears when turning during sleep.
I have owned my ie200 for about 6 months. I got them on sale for $100 during black Friday. I have been able to enjoy a wide variety of music with them. They were too bright for me before doing the tape mod. The cable is far more manageable with a Velcro strap. Before owning these I used a set of ie300s, I prefer ie200s over the ie300s due to the mid range tuning. I'm happy with my perches, they may not be the best value but I really like the comfort. I would say they are a great all arounder/ edc iem, not amazing at anything but decent at everything.
I like this guy; great review.
I love ie300 way more than 200. Imo 300,600 and 900 have consistent sound tones
Excellent review and comparisons!
Bro, Construct is one of the best IEM reviewers out there. Glad to see he's stepping in front of the camera more to present on the Headphone Show. 👏👏
Great and detailed review! Finally understood how Sennheiser tuned different iems using the same driver
Awesome in-depth review - Sennheiser blew it out of the water with this series. Love the 600 - best IEMs I’ve ever owned.
Hi,I am using Audio Technica Ath-im70. And was looking for a upgrade. Is IE200 is a good option?
Snagged a pair of IE200 last Nov as a blind purchase during sale, and absolutely no regrets. A cable and tip change (Spinfit W1) later, it has been my go-to set for anything but the most analytic kind of listening. That's what my S12 is for. It sounds really balanced, detailed enough and yet inoffensive at the same time out of the box.
How do the ie 900 compare to the ie 600 for gaming? I have the ie 300 and ie 600 but I’ve been on the fence for awhile now on the ie 900.
600 is by far the best of the ie series for gaming.
Is it worth to upgrade to ie600 if I have ie300? Which I absolutely love!
Honesty ie600 is terrible for gaming. I can't hear where the enemy are, and where are they coming from
I too found the postional audio on the ie 600 were meh. So are the 900 also meh or are they more accurate? Also you definitely don’t want to enable any sort of virtual surround sound effects such as Dolby atmos for headphones because it bends the stereo audio between the ears and results in a significant reduction in precision.
@@illiazakrevskyi783 very worth, meanwhile ie900 has different sound not quite 'upgrade' from ie600 directly
0:10 those are 800s not 600S
I'll be recommending your channel from now on. Very 👍🏾
ThanksMuch for posting !
Thank you, sir. This comparison video review and essential suggestions regarding cables and ear tips are certainly will help people who are looking for comfort+quality in the new pair of IEMs and who had the IE 900 and IE 600 on their radar. I am sure you have an opinion about their contenders regarding these very features: comfort+SQ. I, personally, would like you to share your thoughts about the Shure SE846/Shure SE846 PRO Gen 2. However, I am sure you might know about some other units who have even better SQ, low weight, small size and comfort. Please share this with us! Thank you very much. Liked and subscribed. 👍👍👍👍👍
Hi, thank you for your review. Ie 100pro vs ie 200? Which one better?
My IE800s recently stopped working. Had them 5 years and git them as a free upgrade after my IE800. Saved some money and splurging on the IE900 on payday. Sennheiser gave me a voucher for 200 off them but found a approved retailer thats a little cheaper still. Cannot wait.
cooking bros, can you translate the ie 600 and ie 900 fish analogy to someone who isn't sanji vinsmoke?
Ie 900's bass is Breaking Bad seasons 4 and 5, ie 600's one is Breaking Bad seasons 1, 2 and 3
ie600 is michael scofield, ie900 is robocop
Would be very grateful to hear recommendations for classical music - orchestral. Which one of these is better? Would the IE900 be better because of its techicalities and detail, would the midrange be an issue there? Thanks!
What video from resolve?
Did he say "they dont compare well with other iems on the market" ?.. 17:50 Am i hearing something wrong there as ie900 is a top3 iem and the 600 isnt far behind it for him..??
I’ve had multiple pairs of the ie200, and one pair of the 600. The 600s had a right driver failure after 3 weeks. The 200s lasted 8 months or so then did the same, then the replacement did the same within 8 weeks. The 600s are exciting but just a bit too spicy in the treble for me. The 200s are exceptional for the price especially with eq for the bass. The cables for both are underwhelming. If durability wasn’t a concern the 600 is great, but now I just got the Moondrop Variations for the same money.
Wish you would have compared them eq'd. Given how crazy close their FR's are, would have been interesting to hear how close they can get. Like the HD600/650 can get pretty much indistinguishable (as stated by Oratory, even), so I'm wondering if that's the case with these as well, especially given that they use the same driver.
Edit: and also would have been interesting if you bought a knock off ie900 shell and put the ie200 driver in it to try to see if the drivers really are identical (preferably with a blind test, unless the knock off shell ends up feeling different in the hands, so that you're not accidentally letting the price influence you). I know this is a good bit of work to do, but yeah, would be an interesting video!
i love both my ie200 and ie600. both have uses for me. ultimately the comfort and size of these iems are just amazing compared to my other big iems.
the ie200 is always in my bag just in case i never bring my other iems. good enough for a simple wired iems for my commutes to work. cos of this, i actually rarely bring out my airpods pro cos i want better sound quality without being so analytical
the ie600 however pairs up nicely with my DAPs or Mojo2 when im really in the mood for some proper listening either at home or on some days where im just out and about doing my own off day things. more engaging and fun.
I love what he said about the IE200...too many folks let other peoples view or rankings rob them of the enjoyment they actually hear from their IEM's. The IE200 is a great EDC IEM for me, even though I have the Blessing 2 , 3, U12t, Monarchs, and Dunu's mk2 of the world. I find it's unique style so perfect for EDC and once I got a cheap MMX cable to replace the loud microphonic cable it came with... it really became my go to lightweight, good bass, and balanced mids and treble IEM with great vocal clarity I love to have, on the go.
are the 400 any good am looking for gaming more
I don't see any reason to buy them for the price asked
can confirm you can take any mmcx connector, cut off the plastic collar (I used pointy nail clippers) and it will fit any IE series. It will still work in other mmcx but the fit will be off and might not be as secure anymore.
It's simply not true that prior to this Sennheiser have had little impact in the IEM scene. The IE800 paved the way for $1000 consumer IEMs. some may have existed prior, but Sennheiser and their marketing budget made the first big effort to convince consumers to pay such prices for products that at the time were still being given away for free with phones, and iPods etc.
How do you guys listen to IE600 at all?
For me it either falls off/looses low end completely without seal or when I press it all the way down (especially with tips that achieve full seal) sound just disappears, diaphragm is barely moving.
I couldn't get it to work for me, it is extremely sensitive to air pressure, which is impossible to maintain when moving. Had to sell them. Sounded good with perfect pressure level though.
I'm wondering if this could even damage the IEM like @RageNukes mentioned below.
Also cable is extremely loud on IE600, again, makes any movement very audible and annoying.
I have the 200's and 600's and have not experienced the issues that you did. They are the most comfortable IEM's that I have found due to my ear canals being narrow.
Thanks for this & for pointing out there are counterfeit IE 900’s out there
I know. I got an open box myself but from crutchfield. So I believe it's real.
Where is the 300? Why would you leave them out? IE200 is on sale for $100 a lot.
300 is discontinued i think
How would these compare to some of the far cheaper Chinese IEM's that I have? Such as the CCA C-12 and Tin T2's. Are the Sennheisers that much better?
I think they're pretty close. There are only a few differences in tuning, tonal, technical, driver quality and price. But when you put them side by side on the table, they are quite close.
They're so much better, I suspect that people claiming that $50 IEMs sound as good or almost as good as a $500 pair, probably haven't tried any.
LIFE HACK: I got a free pair of IE 900's due to 2 RMAs i've submitted for the IE 600s left earbud failing.
Buy a 600, return it twice and compain. I now own a pair of 600's, and 900's.
nice
what about ie 300? those came before the honestly meh ie 200
Is there a perfect ear tip for the 900, any recommendations guy's?
Just got a second hand IE600 for 400 CAD$ and it's a really great experience. Excellent earphones overall, my new daily drivers I think (Coming from DUNU SA6 MK1)
Does the 900 have better bass than the Subtonic Storm?
Not sure, the Storm is too rare. But Precog who has heard both gave the Storm a 9 in bass, and the 900 a 10.
it does bass in a way you wont hear on any else
Great video! Own Thieaudio monarch MK3 and oracle OG. Looking to try out either ie600 or ie900. Thanks 🎉
IE4 (and its other names) was quite an impactful one a long time ago. I personally know a lot of people who've got into the hobby from this one
I had the disconnect issue with my first pair of ie600s and only gave the warranty a chance because of how good they sounded. Thankfully haven’t had any such issues with the replacement pair. P.S sennheisser warranty’s are a real pita and take forever. If you can get them through a 3rd party like Scan in the uk they take much of the pain of these things out of the picture by organising the full warranty repair.
Personally, I love the midrange of the ie900 - the only safe IEM for Saxophone, trumpets and orchestra brass and string sections IMO.
Sennheiser makes an official cable with an inline mic, I’ve found it’s better than the included cables but it’s only sold to the Singapore market on their website. There are a few 3rd party sellers but their markup is quite absurd.
I never really had any issues with the cable on my 200 & 600. I personally use the Azla SednaEarFit Light Short for the perfect seal and large bore design.
You earned a subscriber ! Especially for recommending me the tripowin amber cable. If you see this message could you tell me if i should go for a more expensive tripowin - seraph cable for ie900?
You could if you like the ergonomics of the Seraph but I wouldn't do it expecting any sound differences. I recommended the Amber cable mostly because it seems like a very reasonable, affordable choice. - Fc-Construct
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I tried both and i have to tell you the seraph is the perfect fit. It connects with a satisfying tight click sound but at the same time amber doesn’t do that. We are only pushing it and it somehow gets squeezed inside.
Both works though but i recommend the Seraph one for that perfect click fitting just like how the orginal cable does
Also it doesn’t make iem rotate too much like the orginals
I like the 900. check out the Westone MACH 60 as well.
excellent video
This is a fair assessment!
I must say, I've tried all three before buying one of them.
Personally i started out by buying the IE 600 but after 1 week returned and bought the IE 200, which is the perfect for me personally.
The first thing I did after buying the IE 200 was buy a replacement cable from the 600 and just store the 200 cable for if the 600 cable breaks.
What I find sad is that I feel the IE 200 is the best sounding but clearly has really bad build quality.
I need about 1 - 2 months to get the IE to a level where it is a comfortable fit :)
I daily drive it now and I'm never going back to headphones ;)
I've bought IE200 on sale for roughly $120. Still not the best value but my reason to purchase these over something like Truthear Hexa is the smaller size and smaller stem size as well. But I had to replace the stock cable, it was not great to put it mildly. I purchased the Tripowin Zonie which fits perfectly once you -carefully- remove the plastic bits from the cable. I highly recommend this upgrade. I also replaced the stock ear tips with the Dunu SS which is not a necessary upgrade but it can elevate the somewhat lacking bass frequencies.
IE200 might be overpriced for what It can offer in sound quality, but the excellent comfort makes up for it. I just want something that sounds good and is comfortable to wear for hours, and the IE200 does that better than most IEMs.
The ie200 and 300 use the same driver technology but they are made with lesser materials. I've seen this stated by sennheiser multiple times. The 600 and 900 drivers are basically identical, just implemented differently with the chambers
600 is an overall upgrade to 900 with half the price. Some people prefer 900 is because of the price tag, their brain DAC turns to maximum when the they see heavy price tag. I listened to both of them without seeing the price tag first, then I got the 600 because it’s way more enjoyable than 900.
@@leeasy7112 Not heard the 900, I have the 200 and 600. I was surprised when I got the 600 because everyone was saying the 200 sounds almost the same. It does not. Even EQing the 200 to match the 600, it doesn't sound similar. I much prefer the 600. However sometimes the 200 has this sparkle in the treble that the 600 does not, I do miss that sometimes.
I think the point of the tuning of the ie900 is to turn studio mastering back into live concert hall acoustics.
I picked up the ie600 for 300 used and can’t be happier. The ie900 is more like 700+ so quite a price jump. I just need to find custom cable to pair with it. I also have the s12, sa6 mk2, and hexa which I all like for different reasons. Considering also pickup up a meteor or mangrid tea 2 at some point or maybe even a supernova.
is IE600 an upgrade from s12 ? coz both of them have same fr
@@m.varelpataheldra1004 yes I enjoy the ie600 more than s12 but I also got my s12 in a bundle for way cheaper so from a value perspective s12> ie600. But that is highly subjective. Technical performance and bass impact or both better in ie600 but the cable is crap.
@@aceofspades6667That’s a great collection! I just came in to tell you not to buy the Tea 2 if you didn’t try and like it. Imo a really underwhelming IEM. Got the same grade as a 7hz Sonus (60$) on my ranking list. The IE600 is my best one too hehe
There is a way around it... by trying the 900 on more quality and synergistic gear, it scales very well
When I first time heard an "audiophile" tuning of the og chu, I found that i am abit of a treble head. So I thought getting the IE200 for that treble with the added bass would be a good path to upgrade to. And after changing the cable and tips the IE200 is my preferred sound that I should seek. So if youre not yet "spoiled" by hi-fi expensive stuff I think the IE200 is really good for the tuning alone because everything else is meh.
I will agree with the ie900 having amazing bass, only 2nd to the ier z1r for me but the z1r is the z1r and is in it's own league
I own the 200 and the 600. With a portable amp, they sound nearly identical to me - the 200 is excellent value, especially whem on sale. Buy the Final tips to replace the trash silicone tips - they are absolutely terrible.
0:11 Ah yes, the classic HD600S. One of my favorites..
That is it...I'm suing the Headphone Show for committing the heinous crime of good taste! How dare they praise the Sennheiser?! I demand justice for my fragile ego, which was brutally assaulted by their positive review. I mean, what's next? Telling me that pizza is actually good for me?! Or that my cat doesn't hate me?! It's a travesty, I tell you!
Have both the IE 600 and 900, and prefer the 900 10 times out of 10.
To my ears the 900’s vocals sound much more normal, the 600 sounds shouty and too forward. The treble on the 900 is very present and well defined while it sometimes becomes a bit veiled on the 600.
Also bass on the 600 has more volume and impact but it’s definitely not as rumbly nor well textured as the 900.
You can easily “fix” the IE 900 with EQ on the 3k region, but no amount of EQ can elevate the 600 to the 900’s level.
OMG I was suddenly hyped for an HD600 S...
so... whats your "bass" taste, whats the music you listen to. You are reviewing headphones/earphones using a ton of advjetives without telling the principal... whats the music you listen to, what music was used to compare them.... come on
Other reviewerts say these IEMs fit perfectly and are ahead of the best when you compare these even with others of higher prices so maybe its your ear shape or something else which causes this problem.
Although my A/B preference is easily for the IE900 mostly because the IE600 has a little too much mid bass, the IE600 is the better choice considering how much more expensive the IE900 is.
That said, I’ve avoided buying these because of all the warranty claims this design seems to have. Maybe it’s moisture accumulation inside the shell. Dunno. Shame too because I think the IE600 is among the best looking IEMs out there, plus the extra sturdy shell material. After two years, things can still go wrong. At this price, Sennheiser should address this with a re-design and/or extend the warranty for a much longer period.
2:00 my sony ier z1r has a similar recessed semi proprietary mmcx connector but I simply glued on a mmcx to 2 pin adapter now I can use any 0.78 2 pin cable 😂
sennheiser and their proprietary connectors has always been frustrating having to special order balanced cables for mine because again, theirs are way over-priced. my HD650 custom built balanced cable was half what sennheiser charges.
I adore my ie900, but damn did they sting the wallet. Had the 600 been out I'd have gone that route. Reminds me, I've not warmed them up for a while. BRB.
i dunno why the ie 300 isn't here
i hated the ie200 when i first bought them, on a whim as my first iem. they sounded tinny with no bass at all., even after taping over the hole on the nozzle.
so a week later i bought the moondrop variations, which blew my mind. then, after a while, i bought the thieaudio prestige ltd which blew me away all over and again.
but then a funny thing happened. after letting the ie200 gather dust, unused, one day i decided to try the prestige ltd eartips on them. and wow, it was transformed, suddenly had bass, as well as its clarity of treble.
after that i bought divinus velvet eartips (3 pairs M size for about 20$) as i was curious if they would sound even better due to a tighter seal and slightly longer eartip. again, i was amazed…even better again.
so now i like the ie200 and am waiting for a 5$ replacement cable to arrive from china, as the stock cable is a thin tangly mess. so, there you go, its an iem with huge potential, but it seems ultra sensitive to fit and eartips.
jh ambient pro vs 64 a18t vs ue premier is one of most often question i answered, which means they all didnt show up
next to jhaudio roxanne, which many kpop acts use
lul
Time for me to finally go and listen to ie600 and ie900
Ie900 alllll dayyyyy
same, the comfort and the bass just carry this IEM so hard, you just ignore all the faults
@@ROCKSTAR3291 ie900 has crazy resolution and energy great for the gym
@@theodorezurla496 its still do 'natural sound' very well, despite being heavily tuned
5:50 - 6:00 tells the whole story. IE200 is actually better tuned.
Thinking about purchasing the i.e. 500 pros for 200$
Thanks for the nozzle measure.
If they made the ie900 with the same material as the ie600.. I would buy them
First?
Btw I love how we're conveniently forgetting the IE300 🤣 not that I'm complaining 🤷🏻♂️
I think they discontinued the IE300 because around the IE600's release they admitted it's got the same driver as the IE600 and IE900, just a different response due to the housing. In other words, an EQ'd IE300 is all you would really need.
@@BatteryAz1z ah I see. Makes sense 👍🏻 thanks man
@@BatteryAz1z i think they got a lot of QC issues with the 300, that's why it got discontinued
The 200’s have the superior tuning.
Look great. I think I'm too broke from buying Empire Ears Odins to get another set of IEM😂😂😂😂
sennheiser, what are you doing? That`s how I felt exactly while looking for the right cable with a connection that holds and tips that fits!! I shouldn`t be doing that after paying that much man
IE600 is like a HD600 in the mids relating to forward and quite forced in my opinion. I said bye to the HD600 for another of its brothers.
Ie900! Love it with oratory’s eq
What is oratorys EQ?
@@RealSteveEyes you have the any of the ie series?
@@RealSteveEyes Audio engineer dude that makes some custom EQs for a lot of IEMs/headphones and shares them on reddit. Using his EQ profile for my Focal Clear MG, clear improvement over stock profile !
@@MrMeeseeks13 the IE 900