Intro and Disclaimer
I have been a Sennheiser fan since I was a kid. I still remember jamming out to Collective Soul (on MiniDisk!) with my HD555.
A few months ago, I did a review of the Sennheiser IE600. At the time, I felt like it set the bar its price point. I still feel like that is the case. I have not heard anything since that has provided the level of sound. Clarity, comfort, plentiful yet controlled bass, great accessories, and stellar build all make it an amazing buy. When the opportunity came to try the IE200, I jumped at the opportunity.
Sennheiser gave me the IE200 in exchange for my honest review. At no point did Sennheiser influence my decision. My thoughts are my own.
Gear Used
Chord Mojo 2 (No Eq)
Sennheiser IE200 Stock Med Silicone Tips
Sennheiser IE600 Stock Med Silicone Tips
Westone W20
Brainwavz B400
Packaging/Unboxing
The packing for the IE200 is sparse in comparison to the IE600. Considering the price difference, this is to be expected. You get a similar looking exterior box to the IE600 just a bit smaller. There are no complaints from me. I do not care too much about packaging, especially at this price point. I would rather have the funds go into a lower price or into the product itself.
Accessories
The IE200 comes with three foam tips, three silicone tips, carrying pouch, the IE200 and cable.
Unlike the IE600, the IE200 only comes with one cable (3.5mm). It’s different from the newer Sennheiser IEMs. It is a thin braded cable. It has a nice feel to it and is resistant to tangles.
The tips are the same as the IE600. I was getting a good fit with the medium stock tips so I decided to not tip roll. The stock tips are part of the tuning of the IEM. Inside the bore, there is a little bit of foam. I didn’t notice this when I did my IE600 review. I bought the IE600 with my own funds after sending the review sample back and did notice the sounded took another step up with the stock tips.
Sennheiser is working on a balanced cable to work with the IE200. It's expected sometime in the spring of 2023.
Build
At this price point, I have zero complaints about the build. They are made from plastic compared to the metal on the I600. That said, the plastic feels extremely high quality.
Also, there is a tuning system built into the IEM where there are two positions for the tip. I will go into more detail later, but you can tweak the sound to your preferences. A small port is exposed when you have the tips pulled out a bit. It does alter the sound.
Fit
I have the best luck with IEMs that fit within the concha and are held in the ear by the anti-helix. The IE200 does it perfectly. It keeps the tip firmly in the ear. I can wear these for hours with no discomfort.
Overall sound signature
All the following impressions are with the tips fully covering the nozzle. I’ll write up the alternative position later in the review.
Bottom line, the tuning of the IE200 is fantastic. It seems to play well with every genre I threw at it. There was never any sibilance or other harshness even at higher volumes.
I forget where I saw this, but I remember seeing an article where Sennheiser/Axel Grell started talking about multiple driver headphones and their limitations. He felt that a single driver is the best way to reproduce sound. As far as I know, Sennheiser has never produced a multiple driver IEM. I didn’t think much of it at the time but the more I time I spend with the IE200 and IE600 the more I’m starting to agree. I have many high-end multiple driver custom headphones. Don’t get me wrong, they sound fantastic for various reasons, but I do hear what Axel was saying. I feel like there are no gaps in the sound. Multiple driver IEMs can’t seem to touch the level of coherency of a single driver. The transition from the lows to mids to highs is seamless. It also sounds a lot more natural to my years. Just my two cents.
Bass
For my preferences, the bass was just right for basically every track I threw at it. Never boomy or overpowering the mids. The control is amazing. These are very well tuned IEMs. It also reaches very deep. When needed, there is plenty of kick but never bloated which you don’t always see at this price point. I have a few test tracks that are overly warmly recorded and the bass overwhelms the rest of the track but they were cleaned up with the IE200.
Mids
Both male and female vocals sounded clear and neither too forward nor recessed. To my ears, everything sounded natural.
Treble
I tend to like a little more treble. It gives stringed instruments a little more attack and cymbals a little more metallic sound. I think the tuning plays it a little safe on the treble. That said, that makes them very easy to listen to. It’s a tradeoff. I never felt like it was seriously lacking but it does deliver a little less detail when compared to the IE600 which does have a bit more energy in the upper registers.
Stage and Imaging
As I mentioned in my IE600 review, I’m not great at explain stage. The IE200 never felt overly wide but it also never felt like all the sound was in my head. I would say average stage for an IEM. Instrument placement was very precise. It might be a bit flatter than then IE600. The best way I can describe it is that the IE600 has a more elliptical stage where the IE200 is a bit flatter. Imaging was good and nothing ever felt out of place with my usual test tracks.
Comparisons
Each comparison is done against the IE200. Please keep in mind that the IE600 is FOUR times the cost of the IE200, the Weston W20 was almost double at its release. The B400 was added into the mix because it was around the same price as the IE200 but came out a long time ago and has since been discontinued. In its day, I really enjoyed the B400 sound.
Afterglow – Emancipator
IE200 – Nice sub-bass rumble at the start of the track. Reaches nice and low. Very controlled. Cymbals are a bit recessed but still present. Never harsh and easy to listen to.
IE600 – Slightly taller stage. Same bass characteristics but a bit more quantity. A lot more presence in the treble. There is more depth and clarity to the sound. Great track for this IEM.
Westone W20 – Less rumble in the sub bass and a bit thinner overall. Staging is a bit more narrow but sightly taller.
Brainwavz B400 – More bass energy that the W20 but less than the IE200. These have aged well. Narrower but taller stage.
Lindsey Stirling - Elements (Orchestral Version)
IE200 – Very pleasant sound. Sound feels spacious. Good clarity.
IE600 – Stage feels more open and taller. There is better sense of clarity due to the higher level of treble energy. The violin is a little more lively. It basically takes all the aspects of the ie200 and raises the bar a bit.
Westone W20 – The piano sounds a bit strange. Again, bass reaches deep but lacking the quantity of the IE200. More congested then the IE200
Brainwavz B400 – The narrower staging is much more evident on the track. Less energy in the bass but these still sound great and have aged well.
Grateful Dead - Touch of Gray
IE200 – Neutral and even sound. Kick drum is nice and tight. Vocals are not forward or recessed.
IE600 – Again, it takes all the strengths of the IE200 and brings them to the next level. The stage feels a bit narrower but taller. The sound is a little more “in my head” versus the IE200. Not a good thing or a bad thing. Again, there is more bass and treble energy with vocals being similar.
Westone W20 – A lot less authority in the bass. Sounds a bit flat.
Brainwavz B400 – They make the IE200 sound a bit more V shaped. Kick drum does not have the same authority.
Angus and Julia Stone - Yellow Brick Road
IE200 – I’m really liking this track on the 200. It really shines. Instrument placements are precise. Vocals are a bit forward in this track and it comes through with these IEMs. Very natural. Nothing about the track is harsh even at higher listening levels.
IE600 – Bass becomes a but boomy and again the stage feels a but more in my head. Still a very pleasant listen but I like the IE200 a bit better for this track. The flatter signature of the IE200 plays a bit better with the way this track is recorded. It’s not bad by any long stretch.
Westone W20 – Vocals are much more forward and in my head sounding. They aren’t brighter but they still lack the relative clarity of the IE200. I like this track with these. Not as much as the IE200 but it’s still good. It plays to the W20’s strengths.
Brainwavz B400 – Bass bleeds a bit into the mids here with the B400. Vocals are again a touch more forward and intimate.
Alison Krause - It Doesn’t Matter
IE200 – Very even sound. Nice rumble on the low end. Vocals are so clear and natural. This track also shines with these.
IE600 – First off, I notice more clarity and a slightly narrower stage when compared to the IE200. I feel like her voice is bit less forward. There is sharper attack in the guitar plucks. There is a touch of sibilance in the vocals but nothing offensive.
Westone W20 – Less bass. Vocals are again a little more in my head versus the IE200.
BrainwavzB400 – Similar trend here. I still really like these IEMs.
Eric Clapton - Old Love Unplugged
IE200 – The trend continues with another easy to listen to track. Nice even sound.
IE600 – I remember loving this track when I did my original IE600 review. The added weight in the bass and extra energy in the treble play well with this track. The stage is bit better. You get a more “live music” feeling to the track. Seriously enjoyable.
Westone W20 – Similar difference here. The sound is just lively and flatter overall.
BrainwavzB400 – Narrower stage gives a little less live feeling to the sound.
Dual Tune
This feature allows you to position the tips at two different settings on the nozzle. When you place the tips on the outer setting, a small port is exposed. I tried this feature on multiple tracks and it does work. Generally, on the outer setting the stage widened, the treble became more extended, and bass was reduced. It’s not a gimmick. It really lets you tailor the sound to what your preferences are in general or for the specific music you are listening to. EDM, us it with the warmer signature. Classical, go with the wider signature. I will be using this feature with these. You may also want to keep in mind that using this feature with aftermarket tips may be an issue. The stock tips have the detents in them to keep them in place.
Conclusion
To my ears, the IE600 is an amazing IEM. The IE200 takes a bit of the same magic to a lower price point. It is an insane value at its current MSRP of $149. I have a ton of high-end customs that are getting less use than my IE200. If you need a cheaper IEM to take on the go or you’re on a limited budget, I can’t think of a better IEM. It does so much so well and plays well with every type of music I threw at it.