The IE 200 are Sennheiser’s entry-level in-ear displays. If you happen to’ve ever felt envious of the corporate’s costlier IE 300, IE 600, or the flagship IE 900 fashions, then at $150, the IE 200 is a a lot simpler capsule to swallow, particularly because the earlier entry level price twice as a lot.
With the IE 200, Sennheiser has a really clear purpose; to supply an exceptionally impartial sound signature at an inexpensive worth. This can be 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. In order for you essentially the most correct sound, you need to pay the least. That is fairly an fascinating proposition and place as any to cease this introduction and begin the assessment.
Design and luxury
Aesthetically, the IE 200 are just about equivalent to their costlier siblings, at the least so far as the essential form is worried. The primary distinction is within the selection of supplies; whereas the IE 600 and 900 are made out of metallic, the IE 200 use plain previous however dependable plastic just like the 300. Furthermore, the IE 200 lack the textural thrives of the 300, and as a substitute, simply go for plain black plastic to actually drive the purpose dwelling that these are the least costly choice quantity the 4.
Nevertheless, nothing drives that time into the bottom just like the equipped cable. That is fairly 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’s skinny with roughly the identical really feel as a curtain’s drawstring, it retains all its kinks and mainly 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 could regulate each single time you set the earbuds in. The cable additionally has numerous microphonics.
The cable terminates in two MMCX connectors. Nevertheless, whereas these could seem like normal MMCX, you’ll be able to’t simply match any MMCX cable on the earbuds because the connector is recessed. This implies you need 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 in addition the froth suggestions in three sizes. The silicone suggestions are unusually skinny and cheap-feeling. I could not get seal with them regardless of which dimension I picked. Even when they felt effective at first, merely shifting my jaw would trigger the seal to interrupt.
The froth suggestions provide a greater seal. I’m not notably fond of froth suggestions as they’re normally extra bother than they’re value and also can are usually much less comfy over prolonged classes as the froth expands and exerts strain in your ears. The froth suggestions Sennheiser gives additionally aren’t notably nice; they increase fairly quickly after you press them, inflicting them to nearly definitely increase again to regular form earlier than you’re even performed inserting them in your ears. Sennheiser recommends ready 15 seconds for the froth to increase in your ears however in my expertise, they took lower than 5.
One trick of the IE 200 is with the ability to regulate the frequency response primarily based on the way you connect the ideas. You’ll be able to both connect the ideas by inserting all of them the way in which on the nozzle. This produces a extra bass-heavy sound. Alternatively, you’ll be able to 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 meant manner of listening. This trick solely works with the bundled ear suggestions as every other tip will not keep midway with out coming off. You’ll be able to nonetheless use them within the totally inserted place, at which level they work like every other tip.
By way of consolation, the IE 200 are excellent. The primary shell of the earbuds is extraordinarily small, the smallest I’ve ever used on any IEM. They mainly match totally inside your ears and weigh nearly nothing. More often than not, you feel the cable or the ear suggestions, not the earbuds themselves. With a greater cable and extra comfy earbuds, you’ll probably overlook you’re even carrying these.
In fact, the small dimension 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. Additionally, the cable continually will get in the way in which and can typically even dislodge the earbuds for those who attempt to regulate it. It’s a must to insert the earbuds, regulate the cable hooks, then regulate the earbuds once more in any other case your seal would have nearly definitely been damaged by the cable adjustment. This isn’t an issue with bigger, heavier earbuds however the IE 200 simply get bullied by their cable.
General, whereas the design and luxury are good, the cable is in dire want of person 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 significant focus of the advertising for the IE 200, appropriately. In spite of everything, you’re solely shopping for wired as a result of you have an interest in audio high quality. However greater than the standard, Sennheiser has additionally been very specific 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 is just not frequent today 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 inclined to have a really impartial bass and mid-range however pretty brilliant treble response. It isn’t one thing most individuals discover gratifying to take heed to, which is why diffuse-field (and its cousin free-field) have largely been changed with extra typical Harman goal curves which can be extra client 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. Nevertheless, the IE 200 is tuned very in another way, which is vital to think about as this sound is just not for everybody.
Initially, I did not notably care a lot for the adjustable nozzle gimmick. Positive, 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 many of the testing with the ear suggestions pushed all the way in which in.
Shifting on to the frequency response and tuning, the IE 200 aren’t as impartial or exact as Sennheiser would need you to imagine. No matter the place you set the ear suggestions, there’s positively a small enhance to the low frequencies over reference ranges. This positively retains issues from changing 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 may be very frugal and for those who aren’t used to listening to DF or reference-level bass then chances are you’ll suppose both the earbuds or your ears have stopped working. The main focus is extra on high quality than amount, and the low-end response from the IE 200 is definitely 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 may be zero danger of auditory masking right here because the bass tapers off properly earlier than you get into the mid-range.
The mid-range on the IE 200 is beautiful. It’s supremely well-balanced throughout the vary, with excellent presence and authority within the combine. Timbre is especially glorious, with most voices and devices having an genuine, pure tone to them.
The treble is the place the sound will get a bit of spicy. The higher mid-range is a bit on the brighter facet, which may trigger the sound to be a bit shouty at instances. Some voices have a skinny, sharp edge on the high as they go into the higher registers. There may be additionally a little bit of sibilance within the S and T sounds. This can be a traditional pitfall of DF tuning and may make the sound a bit fatiguing to take heed to on some tracks.
By way of technicalities, the IE 200 is sweet however unexceptional. There’s a good quantity of element within the combine, which does come by way of every so often. The drivers aren’t crazy-resolving however they do a ok job that you just do nonetheless really feel like you’re getting essentially the most out of your supply materials with out taking a microscope to it. Imaging was above common; there’s positively 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 for those who’ve heard higher stuff. Soundstage is roomy sufficient to not be claustrophobic however it’s nonetheless an IEM on the finish of the day and there is solely a lot house the earbuds can create.
The IE 200 don’t require a whole lot of energy to get one of the best out of. I used to be capable of drive them simply effective with the Apple Lightning to three.5mm adapter and in addition 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 possibly can use a devoted amp however it’s not vital.
General, 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 ok technical chops to face aside from among the cheaper IEMs I are inclined to assessment right here. Nevertheless, the treble is unabashedly brilliant and may be too harsh on many tracks. So whereas I like a brilliant sound as properly, sibilance and hiss is one thing I can not tolerate and the IE 200 has loads of each.
As on your desire, I’d extremely advocate staying away when you have a specific affinity for bass. Whereas it is not true impartial, it comes very shut and most of the people actually don’t have any understanding of what meaning till they hear it. It is like ordering Neapolitan for those who’ve solely ever had deep-dish. Do not do it until you already know what you’re entering into.
Conclusion
The Sennheiser IE 200 are a great-sounding pair of earbuds for the value. The particular tuning will not be for everybody however those that know what they’re entering into shall be rewarded with a clear, partaking sound that provides a small style of what it is wish to personal really 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 instances however that’s a simple drawback to repair with EQ. Technical efficiency can also be good and units the IE 200 aside from among the cheaper choices available on the market.
The primary bugbear with the IE 200 is the cable. Whereas not utterly unusable, it brings down the expertise of utilizing the product a number of notches and nearly forces you to exchange it, which then provides to the fee. The standard of the ear suggestions may be 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 efficient choice for $150 however I’d strongly counsel taking the price of an aftermarket cable into consideration. Alternatively, you’ll be able to take a look at one thing just like the Etymotic ER2SE.
