The IE 200 are Sennheiser’s entry-level in-ear displays. If you’ve got ever felt envious of the corporate’s dearer IE 300, IE 600, or the flagship IE 900 fashions, then at $150, the IE 200 is a a lot simpler tablet to swallow, particularly for the reason that earlier entry level price twice as a lot.
With the IE 200, Sennheiser has a really clear aim; to supply an exceptionally impartial sound signature at an inexpensive value. This is a little bit of a departure from the opposite fashions within the sequence, which have all come to be often known as bass cannons. In that sense, it’s a little bit of a job reversal. If you need probably the most correct sound, it’s important to pay the least. That’s fairly an attention-grabbing proposition and a very good place as any to cease this introduction and begin the review.
Design and luxury
Aesthetically, the IE 200 are nearly similar to their dearer siblings, a minimum of so far as the essential form is anxious. The important distinction is within the selection of supplies; whereas the IE 600 and 900 are made out of steel, the IE 200 use plain previous however dependable plastic just like the 300. Moreover, the IE 200 lack the textural prospers of the 300, and as an alternative, simply go for plain black plastic to essentially drive the purpose dwelling that these are the least costly choice quantity the 4.
However, nothing drives that time into the bottom just like the provided cable. This is sort of simply one of many worst cables I’ve comes throughout on any IEM, and I’ve used fairly a number of at this level. It is skinny with roughly the identical really feel as a curtain’s drawstring, it retains all its kinks and principally won’t ever straighten out, has a melted plastic wrapping for the splitter junction, one other skinny plastic wrapper to regulate the size of the break up and overly versatile ear hooks that you must modify each single time you place the earbuds in. The cable additionally has numerous microphonics.
The cable terminates in two MMCX connectors. However, whereas these could appear to be normal MMCX, you possibly can’t simply match any MMCX cable on the earbuds because the connector is recessed. This means it’s important to watch out choosing aftermarket cables for Sennheiser IEMs.
The IE 200 additionally comes with two units of earbuds. There are the same old silicone suggestions in three sizes and likewise the froth suggestions in three sizes. The silicone suggestions are unusually skinny and cheap-feeling. I could not get a very good seal with them irrespective of which measurement I picked. Even in the event that they felt fantastic at first, merely shifting my jaw would trigger the seal to interrupt.
The foam suggestions provide a greater seal. I’m not notably fond of froth suggestions as they’re often extra bother than they’re value and may also are usually much less comfy over prolonged periods as the froth expands and exerts strain in your ears. The foam suggestions Sennheiser offers additionally aren’t notably nice; they develop fairly quickly after you press them, inflicting them to nearly actually develop again to regular form earlier than you’re even carried out inserting them in your ears. Sennheiser recommends ready 15 seconds for the froth to develop in your ears however in my expertise, they took lower than 5.
One trick of the IE 200 is with the ability to modify the frequency response primarily based on the way you connect the information. You can both connect the information by inserting all of them the way in which on the nozzle. This produces a extra bass-heavy sound. Alternatively, you possibly can connect them midway on the nozzle; it will create an audible click on and the ear suggestions will lock in place. This creates a barely much less bass-heavy sound and is seemingly the supposed approach of listening. This trick solely works with the bundled ear suggestions as some other tip will not keep midway with out coming off. You can nonetheless use them within the totally inserted place, at which level they work like some other tip.
In phrases of consolation, the IE 200 are excellent. The important shell of the earbuds is extraordinarily small, the smallest I’ve ever used on any IEM. They principally match solely inside your ears and weigh nearly nothing. Most of the time, you’re feeling the cable or the ear suggestions, not the earbuds themselves. With a greater cable and extra comfy earbuds, you’ll doubtless overlook you’re even carrying these.
Of course, the small measurement has some disadvantages. The earbuds are considerably finicky to seize and insert in your ears, as there is not a lot to carry on to. Also, the cable always will get in the way in which and can typically even dislodge the earbuds if you happen to attempt to modify it. You should insert the earbuds, modify the cable hooks, then modify the earbuds once more in any other case your seal would have nearly actually been damaged by the cable adjustment. This just isn’t an issue with bigger, heavier earbuds however the IE 200 simply get bullied by their cable.
Overall, whereas the design and luxury are good, the cable is in dire want of consumer substitute. You must also look into better-quality silicone suggestions if the two-step nozzle trick is not vital to you.
Audio high quality
Audio high quality is a serious focus of the advertising and marketing for the IE 200, correctly. After all, you’re solely shopping for wired as a result of you have an interest in audio high quality. But greater than the standard, Sennheiser has additionally been very explicit about the kind of sound you can be listening to. Going past simply saying the sound is exact and impartial, Sennheiser additionally mentions that the IE 200 are tuned for the diffuse-field goal.
Diffuse-field goal just isn’t frequent nowadays for headphone tuning, not to mention IEMs. Diffuse-field goal is predicated on the sound of loudspeakers when enjoying a flat take a look at tone in a reflective room, as heard by way of a dummy head microphone. Headphones tuned to the DF goal are likely to have a really impartial bass and mid-range however pretty brilliant treble response. It’s not one thing most individuals discover satisfying to hearken to, which is why diffuse-field (and its cousin free-field) have largely been changed with extra standard Harman goal curves which might be extra shopper pleasant.
The IE 200 makes use of a single 7mm True Response dynamic driver, the identical because the one discovered on the IE 300, 600, and 900. However, the IE 200 is tuned very in a different way, which is vital to think about as this sound just isn’t for everybody.
First of all, I did not notably care a lot for the adjustable nozzle gimmick. Sure, you should use them within the prolonged place, which does make the sound adhere extra to the DF goal. In my expertise, this did not produce a dramatic sufficient distinction and it was barely noticeable on most tracks. As such, I did a lot of the testing with the ear suggestions pushed all the way in which in.
Moving on to the frequency response and tuning, the IE 200 aren’t as impartial or exact as Sennheiser would need you to imagine. Regardless of the place you set the ear suggestions, there may be undoubtedly a small enhance to the low frequencies over reference ranges. This undoubtedly retains issues from turning into a bit too sterile and uninteresting however if you’re trying to make use of these for monitoring or mastering functions, that is one thing to recollect.
Having stated that, the bass enhance could be very frugal and if you happen to aren’t used to listening to DF or reference-level bass then it’s possible you’ll suppose both the earbuds or your ears have stopped working. The focus is extra on high quality than amount, and the low-end response from the IE 200 is actually measured and bordering on heat however clear sufficient to take pleasure in percussion and string devices with out persistent rumble and thrum. Bass hits are quick and articulate with good extension within the decrease ranges. There is zero threat of auditory masking right here because the bass tapers off effectively earlier than you get into the mid-range.
The mid-range on the IE 200 is beautiful. It is supremely well-balanced throughout the vary, with excellent presence and authority within the combine. Timbre is especially wonderful, with most voices and devices having an genuine, pure tone to them.
The treble is the place the sound will get a little bit spicy. The higher mid-range is a bit on the brighter facet, which might trigger the sound to be a bit shouty at occasions. Some voices have a skinny, sharp edge on the prime as they go into the higher registers. There can be a little bit of sibilance within the S and T sounds. This is a basic pitfall of DF tuning and might make the sound a bit fatiguing to hearken to on some tracks.
In phrases of technicalities, the IE 200 is nice however unexceptional. There is an effective quantity of element within the combine, which does come by way of from time to time. The drivers aren’t crazy-resolving however they do a adequate job that you just do nonetheless really feel like you’re getting probably the most out of your supply materials with out taking a microscope to it. Imaging was above common; there may be undoubtedly a way more distinct sense of layering and positioning than what you’d get on cheaper IEMs however once more it would not precisely wow you if you happen to’ve heard higher stuff. Soundstage is roomy sufficient to not be claustrophobic but it surely’s nonetheless an IEM on the finish of the day and there is solely a lot area the earbuds can create.
The IE 200 don’t require loads of energy to get the perfect out of. I used to be capable of drive them simply fantastic with the Apple Lightning to three.5mm adapter and likewise the headphone jack on a OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Switching to a extra highly effective Shanling UA2 didn’t change issues significantly when utilizing the single-ended output. You may use a devoted amp but it surely’s not crucial.
Overall, I did just like the sound of IE 200. I’m a sucker for clear and exact bass and mid-range and the IE 200 has adequate technical chops to face aside from a few of the cheaper IEMs I are likely to review right here. However, the treble is unabashedly brilliant and will be too harsh on many tracks. So whereas I like a brilliant sound as effectively, sibilance and hiss is one thing I can not tolerate and the IE 200 has loads of each.
As on your choice, I might extremely advocate staying away when you have a selected affinity for bass. While it isn’t true impartial, it comes very shut and most of the people actually don’t have any understanding of what which means till they hear it. It’s like ordering Neapolitan if you happen to’ve solely ever had deep-dish. Don’t do it until you recognize what you’re stepping into.
Conclusion
The Sennheiser IE 200 are a great-sounding pair of earbuds for the worth. The particular tuning will not be for everybody however those that know what they’re stepping into can be rewarded with a clear, partaking sound that offers a small style of what it is prefer to personal actually high-end audio.
Sennheiser’s claims of exact and impartial sound could also be a bit far-fetched as these are not any mastering displays however that does make them extra entertaining for merely listening to music. I do want the treble was much less sibilant at occasions however that’s a simple downside to repair with EQ. Technical efficiency can be good and units the IE 200 aside from a few of the cheaper choices available on the market.
The important bugbear with the IE 200 is the cable. While not fully unusable, it brings down the expertise of utilizing the product a number of notches and nearly forces you to interchange it, which then provides to the associated fee. The high quality of the ear suggestions is also loads higher. These are very apparent cost-cutting measures however they up considerably hurting the general worth of the product.
If you’re into the kind of sound described right here, the IE 200 is an effective choice for $150 however I might strongly recommend taking the price of an aftermarket cable into consideration. Alternatively, you possibly can have a look at one thing just like the Etymotic ER2SE.
…. to be continued
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