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That is an in-depth evaluation of the Sennheiser IE 600 which is a brand new mid-range single 7mm TrueResponse transducer common in-ear monitor. It has an SRP or value of $699.95.
Disclaimer: This was despatched to us as a pattern for our sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or companies. We thank Sennheiser for this chance.
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Word, that this put up follows our newest scoring tips which you’ll learn up on here.
Surprisingly, that is our first Sennheiser wired IEM in-ear monitor evaluation in over 6 years. We’ve coated their headphones and TWS fairly extensively since then the place doable however not a lot their IEMs.
The IE 600 is definitely a middle-child launch, with the flagship IE 900 above and the extra inexpensive IE 300 under and with costs that broadly match that construction.
The IE 800, which I nonetheless personal going again to 2014 and pretty closely modified with customized ideas, was modified to the IE 800s, after which each have been discontinued.
There isn’t a like-for-like alternative of the IE 800 given the brand new nomenclature with numbers above and under however some are suggesting the IE 600 could be the closest, we will see.
Tech Highlights
Driver
The beating coronary heart of the IE 600 is Sennheiser’s new TrueResponse 7mm single dynamic driver configuration. It’s rated for 18Ω impedance and 118dB SPL so ideally a monitor that’s simple to drive.
The unique 7.5mm model used contained in the IE 800 was constructed by hand and thus a time-consuming and costly course of. The 7mm TrueResponse driver happened over plenty of years bettering the in-house manufacturing automation course of with a extra uniform finish outcome together with Sennheiser’s personal self-designed magnet system.
It is a variant on the similarly-sized 7mm driver contained in the IE 900, although that specific one is titled, X3R TrueResponse, which makes use of a 3 Helmholtz resonator chamber design.
For reference, the IE 300 additionally makes use of a 7mm XWB dynamic driver which is one other variation of the TrueResponse driver utilizing a special mix of supplies.
This isn’t the primary time Sennheiser has developed an IEM with one of these transducer both. Going again to 2019, the IE500 Professional was one of many first of the corporate’s displays to make use of it.
Twin Resonator Chamber (D2CA)
I did point out the IE 900’s triple Helmholtz resonator chamber design for its 7mm driver. Effectively, the IE 600 additionally makes use of a kind of resonator chamber additionally, known as a D2CA or twin resonator chamber first seen within the IE 800.
These acoustic again quantity chambers are precision engineered into the nozzle itself and are designed to scale back the potential for the kind of resonance that pushes down on the standard of the high-frequency copy within the monitor.
Design
The IE 600 3D-printed shells are tiny, maybe not as small because the micro-sized IE 800 driver housing buts undoubtedly at Westone W80 stage or smaller. Sizes like this usually put much more emphasis on the information doing their job with regards to isolation which you’ll examine in additional element additional down on this evaluation.
Aesthetically, the IE 600 shells have a reasonably easily cornered italicized L-shape to them with a removable Constancy+ MMCX connector stem to the rear and the nozzle operating perpendicular to the stem. In case you look carefully sufficient the venting port for the motive force is to the decrease entrance aspect of the outer shell just under the centered Sennheiser branding.
The IE 600 housing itself is silvery with a tough grippy texture from its amorphous alloy which is technically shaped from undercooled frozen metallic liquids that are recognized to be to be fairly powerful and pretty immune to abrasion with good corrosion resistance ranges.
It’s not fairly as polished or as delicately chiseled because the older IE 800 design which I felt was extremely distinctive however it does really feel a hell of much more sturdy and to be frank, the bigger housing makes it so much simpler to handle for my fingers.
Inventory Cable
The IE 600 makes use of a removable cable format which for the unique IE 800 customers is a little bit of a godsend contemplating their former flagship had a hard and fast para-aramid strengthened cable design with a 3.5mm termination. The IE 800 S, nonetheless, did go some approach to fixing that by making the cable removable.
This time, Sennheiser throw in not one however two 1.25m inventory cables with one utilizing a normal 3.5mm termination and the second, a most welcome 4.4mm balanced different.
Each have very comparable clear aesthetics and for that matter additionally deal with in a really comparable method with their TPU jacket which provides them a spherical rubbery really feel within the hand. The interior wire is OFC or oxygen copper although I can discover no point out of the particular gauge however presuming not more than 26-28AWG.
The connector aspect of the cable is completed with a color-matched memory-retentive coating that bends and is formed in an easy method for securely positioning the cable over the again of your ear. All barrels are very low profile with the jack variant right-angled on each cables and the splitter pretty diminutive and fairly flat.
Channel markings on the MMCX barrels are a bit low-profile, to say the least. Having to shine a light-weight on them to search out out which is true or left isn’t ultimate at my age. I would favor a purple ring on the appropriate aspect to make it extra instantly identifiable and to match the shells which do have purple and black rings.
Microphonics is low however not aftermarket cable low. There’s a little little bit of journey from faucets under the splitter however nothing that annoying. It’s most likely a testomony to the respectable stage of isolation which you can hear microphonics in any respect from the IE 600.
Consolation & Isolation
The IE 600 match surprisingly effectively for such a small shell. It ought to nestle proper into the exterior auditory meatus a part of your outer ear with none spillover into the concha or urgent exhausting towards the antihelix ridge.
They’re certainly fairly light-weight additionally so you aren’t prone to really feel any undue strain contained in the ear. The extra noticeable strain or presence will doubtless come extra from the memory-forming jacket excessive of the ear which might get a bit chilly on a winter’s morning.
Nonetheless, the cable lay on the ear remains to be comparatively comfy for extended use and does assist maintain the diminutive shells safe within the ear. There ought to be no relative distinction within the consolation with both cable since they’re nearly the identical save for the jack termination.
Ideas
The isolation is superb additionally for a vented dynamic driver design. Nonetheless, a number of this can come from simply how effectively the information suit your ear. The shells do sit very near your canal with the extent L-shape permitting the cable to increase away out of your outer ear ridges with out breaking the shut match in consequence.
That shut match additionally means the comparatively quick nozzle doesn’t need to do an enormous quantity of labor to look into your ear canal however the tip does the rest of the extension inwards.
You get two varieties of ideas with the IE 600, a silicone, and a foam different. Each are available in regulation small, medium, and enormous sizing, all with interior wax guards close to the highest exit of their respective bores.
Just like the IE 800, I discovered the IE 600 labored finest with a barely smaller tip. Usually I work a big tip with displays which have lengthy nozzles however on this case, a medium silicone or foam tip prolonged a bit deeper and created a greater seal.
The froth ideas will present a superior stage of isolation between the 2 choices however for those who don’t shove the silicone ideas in too deep they’re additionally very aggressive.
Packaging & Equipment
In case you personal Sennheiser merchandise then it’s best to just about know Sennheiser packaging. The IE 600 runs true to kind with its elongated retail field and blueish gray exterior sleeve exhibiting off the IE 600 plus loads of information on the rear.
Inside, the IE 600 drivers are nestled inside on a detachable foam prime layer for defense with all of the equipment neatly packaged simply beneath. You get a single ideas tray with three units of silicone and foam, a branded decide or cleansing instrument, a lapel clip, a carry case, and two units of balanced and SE cables.
The zippered case itself is stiffened materials with a cloth or nylon outer and a softer felt interior. It’s not big, fairly pocketable really, however with simply sufficient house to throw within the two cables with the drivers and ideas. You won’t be able to get a lot else in there.
