Sennheiser IE 600 In-Ear Headphones

Product Information

Technically the mids are on the same level as the bass section. Good, but not as pronounced as in the IE 900.” A fast transient response goes a long way, and the IE 600 features that well with its midrange extension. The IE 900 also has a clean and detailed timbre, but in terms of drive it is not as impactful as the lows and takes on a more natural response. Instrumental and vocal clarity are incredible on both IEMs, but in terms of tonal richness, the IE 600 has a bit of an advantage over the 900. Some might actually prefer the 900’s more subdued performance in its midrange, as I think less aggression here balances the frequency response in a way that makes a more specific sound profile emerge. One that might be more dynamic that the constant force of the mids on the IE 600. Highs Sennheiser’s 7 mm TrueResponse transducer is quite impressive, and one of the world’s smallest of its kind. Sennheiser claims that distortion is extremely low too.

The midrange, though, is the star of this recording – very few singers push their voice as far forward in the mix as Stevie Wonder, but then very few singers have the purity and character of tone to get away with it. The IE600 are alive to the tiny contributions made by inhalation and palate noise, and consequently build a vocal performance that’s thrilling in its immediacy. The IE 900’s tuning is the most reference, neutral and balanced. You get a wider presentation with more air and spaciousness making the IE 900 sound less in your head. The level of clarity and precision is elevated compared to the IE 600, making it a typical high end tuned, lighter bodied IEM. With the 4.4mm cable I listened to Tidal Masters and my offline files via the VE Megatron. There's plenty of volume without amping. The sound from the Megatron was an improvement -- more open and realistic -- but I can't specify whether that's a result of the DAC or the amping. Single DD with 18 ohm impedance probably didn't need an amp. With Portishead’s It Could Be Sweet the differences between the Kato and the IE600 are very apparent. The bass is much more present with the IE600, and the general presentation is fuller and darker. The vocals have more presence in the lower mids with the IE600 and in the upper mids with the Kato. The Kato sounds lighter and more airy, the IE600 fuller and with more body.

The Sennheiser IE600 are arriving in a world where portable listening is all about wirelessness these days – but the best wired headphones will always win out with those who prize the fidelity of sound reproduction over anything else. With regards to comfort, the IE600s are a joy to wear and are one of the few IEMs you can comfortably have in your ears while lying on the side resting your head on a pillow. The included tips are quite okay but I find them to require some effort to get a good seal and there is quite a size difference between the medium and large size. As always with IEMs, be prepared to buy your own tips if necessary. Every ear is different, and a good seal and comfortable tips are essential.One thing to note here is that the supplied tips has some mesh in front of the driver, which as far as I could tell makes the treble a bit softer. The IE600s are extremely small and light. It’s assembled by hand in Germany. The housing is 3D-printed in a special alloy metal called AMLOY-ZR01, which is stronger than steel. They look and feel very sturdy even though they are very lightweight at 6 g. Internally they have dual resonator chambers to optimize the sound.

This driver is a little smaller than what you might expect to find in an earphone. Where most of those hover around the 10mm mark, here the IE 600 makes do with a 7mm one (and 3mm might not sound significant but it’s a meaningful drop in radiating area). This helps to boost the upper frequency performance but the reduction in cross section would notionally lead to a drop in bass output. To compensate, Sennheiser uses a series of chambers to augment the low frequency response. Where the IE 900 is a triple chamber device, the IE 600 simplifies this process somewhat and makes use of a dual chamber arrangement. If you’re in the market for a mid-fi market IEM that keeps it engaging but shows you what a higher end IEM can do, then the Sennheiser IE 600 for sure should be on your short list to audition. Even if the IE 600 sounds more intimate, the IEM’s spaciousness and airiness is natural. Separation-wise the IE 600 scores well, but it’s not as pronounced as in its big brother’s. What I mean is that the mid section in the IE 900 is technically stronger. More clear, precise, extended, spacious, separated, etc. I am not talking about the IE 600 mids being recessed. The new Sennheiser IE 600 are the middle model in Sennheiser's audiophile earphone range. Sennheiser

Introduction - What Is the Sennheiser IE 600?

The 7mm driver in the IE 600 is an incredible piece of micro engineering and produces a ... [+] distortion-free sound thanks to resonance chambers. Sennheiser The Sennheiser IE600 is a small, metal-body single driver in-ear monitor that sits between the IE200 and the IE900 in the current Sennheiser lineup up audiophile IEMs. It shares the same design as its siblings. Just don't expect to seat these like your other IEMs. They work their own way to get the ideal fit.

As you read previously, Sennheiser’s communication specially mentions the IE 600’s vocals and bass, so let’s have a closer look at those. And in most other respects, the IE600 are very nearly as impressive – that’s to say, they’re very impressive indeed. The bass is powerful, more than I am used to. It feels on the right side of too much, though. Molvær’s trumpet is beautifully rendered. If I EQ down the bass, it sounds perfect. There may not be much of them, but what there is of the IE600 has been very carefully designed and constructed by a company seemingly uninterested in cutting any corners whatsoever. It certainly feels a bit ridiculous plugging such small earphones into such a big amplifier but the sound is superb. There is no issue with hum, it’s as good as dead silent. The IE600 demands some power, and the WA22 delivers.These in-ear devices not only reproduce the detail and emotion of a recording, they transcend it. Because each earphone is a masterpiece. From the hand-finished amorphous metal housing to high-end audio components developed and made by Sennheiser, everything is manufactured to the strictest tolerances. The balanced frequency response and extremely durable materials have been engineered to provide clear, natural voicing and a unique aesthetic that will retain its good looks for decades.