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Sennheiser IE800 IEM's - Page 33

post #481 of 1135
11/18/12 at 1:30am

is soundstage of IE800 a lot bigger than IE80 ??

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post #482 of 1135
11/18/12 at 3:17am

What about ie 800 vs k3003

If ie 800 is as good as k3003 ,iam going to buy 


Edited by mahesh - 11/18/12 at 3:18am
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post #483 of 1135
11/18/12 at 5:58am

Well, sometimes coincidence makes you wonder... My IE800 order has been postponed, but there was a local audio exhibition ("klangBilder") in Vienna this weekend. Even though they mainly focus on speakers and home gear, I decided to pay them an early visit today - and sure enough, the IE800 were at the Sennheiser booth and I got the chance to audition them for half an hour, with very little ambient noise and nobody else around except the Senn rep, who discreetly took a seat in a corner and watched me do my thing.

 

Here are my subjective first impressions, to be taken with a grain of salt:

 

- As eaino has mentioned, these are designed to be worn downward only. I had a hard time getting an over-ear fit, it's doable, but the upper cables are very short. I was tempted to cut off the cable cinch to gain one more centimeter.

 

- To go from bad to worse, upper cables are rather microphonic and the IE800's deep-fitting tiny earpieces only exacerbate the problem. Probably would be best to wear them over-ear and tighten the cinch behind the neck, but I didn't get to try that.

 

- Plug at the Y-split is 2.5mm, meaning no direct plugging into a 3.5mm wireless headset. Bummer.

 

- Tips are proprietory (as eaino has mentioned) and click onto the earpieces, so there's no nozzle to speak of and no way to use third party tips, except for mounting them on top of the stock tips (if possible - haven't tried it)

 

- Build quality feels top-notch overall.

 

- Bass: too much (not again, Sennheiser!). It's less boomy and better controlled than on the IE8/80 and probably peaks a tad further down (good extension!), but definitely still too much for a high-end phone, at least in quiet surroundings.

 

- Mids: Clear, detailed, smooth. Very nice and a significant step up from the IE8/80. Slightly more forward, but not in your face. Me likes.

 

- Highs: Extended and extremely clear, but borderline thin, sharp and sibilant. Remind me a bit of the PFE232's, though the latter were less prone to sibilance when I tested them. Maybe playing with tips and fit will improve that impression (didn't have much time to try), but as it stands these sound potentially more problematic than the EX1000 to my ears.

 

- Transparency: Pretty good throughout the midrange and highs, but noticeably impaired by exaggerated bass.

 

- Isolation: It was too quiet in the booth to say for sure, but definitely better than the IE8/80.

 

- Soundstage: Sorry to disagree with eaino, but they just don't sound that extra spacious to my ears. I brought my IE8 along to compare and they sounded larger and more out-of-head than the IE800. Still nice width and depth for isolating IEMs though.

 

- Separation/Imaging: Excellent, courtesy of very clear mids and highs. Nice 3D presentation with good space around instruments.

 

smile_phones.gif


Edited by james444 - 11/18/12 at 9:20am
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post #484 of 1135
11/18/12 at 7:16am

James, thank you for your first impressions! I was pretty anxious about the IE800 launch, it looks like Senn keeps creating headphones for bass-heads. We'll be waiting for more impressions, but still, it looks like this is also something I might skip.


Edited by sergiu - 11/18/12 at 7:19am
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post #485 of 1135
11/18/12 at 7:37am

Oh well, I guess I'll continue on to the hifiman or vsonic upcoming flagships redface.gif

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post #486 of 1135
11/18/12 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMinor View Post

I will buy one if it sounds like a hybrid of the IE80 and EX 1000. wink_face.gif

agreed!!

 

 


Quote:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

Well, sometimes coincidence makes you wonder... My IE800 order has been postponed, but there was a local audio exhibition ("klangBilder") in Vienna this weekend. Even though they mainly focus on speakers and home gear, I decided to pay them an early visit today - and sure enough, the IE800 were at the Sennheiser booth and I got the chance to audition them for half an hour, with very little ambient noise and nobody else around except the Senn rep, who discreetly took a seat in a corner and watched me do my thing.

 

Here are my subjective first impressions, to be taken with a grain of salt:

 

- As eaino has mentioned, these are designed to be worn downward only. I had a hard time getting an over-ear fit, it's doable, but the upper cables are very short. I was tempted to cut off the cable cinch to gain one more centimeter.

 

- To go from bad to worse, upper cables are rather microphonic and the IE800's deep-fitting tiny earpieces only exacerbate the problem. Probably would be best to wear them over-ear and tighten the cinch behind the neck, but I didn't get to try that.

 

- Plug at the Y-split is 2.5mm, meaning no direct plugging into a 3.5mm wireless headset. Bummer.

 

- Tips are proprietory (as eaino has mentioned) and click onto the earpieces, so there's no nozzle to speak of and no way to use third party tips, except for mounting them on top of the stock tips (if possible - haven't tried it)

 

- Build quality feels top-notch overall.

 

- Bass: too much (not again, Sennheiser!). It's less boomy and better controlled than on the IE8/80 and probably peaks a tad further down (good extension!), but definitely still too much for a high-end phone, at least in quiet surroundings.

 

- Mids: Clear, detailed, smooth. Very nice and a significant step up from the IE8/80. Slightly more forward, but not in your face. Me likes.

 

- Highs: Extended and extremely clear, but borderline thin, sharp and sibilant. Remind me a bit of the PFE232's, though the latter were less prone to sibilance when I tested them. Maybe playing with tips and fit will improve that impression (didn't have much time to try), but as it stands these sound potentially more problematic than the EX1000 to my ears.

 

- Transparency: Pretty good throughout the midrange and highs, but noticeably impaired by exaggerated bass.

 

- Isolation: It was to quiet in the booth to say for sure, but definitely better than the IE8/80.

 

- Soundstage: Sorry to disagree with eaino, but they just don't sound that extra spacious to my ears. I brought my IE8 along to compare and they sounded larger and more out-of-head than the IE800. Still nice width and depth for isolating IEMs though.

 

- Separation/Imaging: Excellent, courtesy of very clear mids and highs. Nice 3D presentation with good space around instruments.

 

smile_phones.gif

How does it compare to FX 700 from your memories? base/treble quantity, soundstage, separation/imaging?

Really eager to know!! Thanks


Edited by Mini0510 - 11/18/12 at 7:50am
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post #487 of 1135
11/18/12 at 8:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

Well, sometimes coincidence makes you wonder... My IE800 order has been postponed, but there was a local audio exhibition ("klangBilder") in Vienna this weekend. Even though they mainly focus on speakers and home gear, I decided to pay them an early visit today - and sure enough, the IE800 were at the Sennheiser booth and I got the chance to audition them for half an hour, with very little ambient noise and nobody else around except the Senn rep, who discreetly took a seat in a corner and watched me do my thing.

 

Here are my subjective first impressions, to be taken with a grain of salt:

 

- As eaino has mentioned, these are designed to be worn downward only. I had a hard time getting an over-ear fit, it's doable, but the upper cables are very short. I was tempted to cut off the cable cinch to gain one more centimeter.

 

- To go from bad to worse, upper cables are rather microphonic and the IE800's deep-fitting tiny earpieces only exacerbate the problem. Probably would be best to wear them over-ear and tighten the cinch behind the neck, but I didn't get to try that.

 

- Plug at the Y-split is 2.5mm, meaning no direct plugging into a 3.5mm wireless headset. Bummer.

 

- Tips are proprietory (as eaino has mentioned) and click onto the earpieces, so there's no nozzle to speak of and no way to use third party tips, except for mounting them on top of the stock tips (if possible - haven't tried it)

 

- Build quality feels top-notch overall.

 

- Bass: too much (not again, Sennheiser!). It's less boomy and better controlled than on the IE8/80 and probably peaks a tad further down (good extension!), but definitely still too much for a high-end phone, at least in quiet surroundings.

 

- Mids: Clear, detailed, smooth. Very nice and a significant step up from the IE8/80. Slightly more forward, but not in your face. Me likes.

 

- Highs: Extended and extremely clear, but borderline thin, sharp and sibilant. Remind me a bit of the PFE232's, though the latter were less prone to sibilance when I tested them. Maybe playing with tips and fit will improve that impression (didn't have much time to try), but as it stands these sound potentially more problematic than the EX1000 to my ears.

 

- Transparency: Pretty good throughout the midrange and highs, but noticeably impaired by exaggerated bass.

 

- Isolation: It was to quiet in the booth to say for sure, but definitely better than the IE8/80.

 

- Soundstage: Sorry to disagree with eaino, but they just don't sound that extra spacious to my ears. I brought my IE8 along to compare and they sounded larger and more out-of-head than the IE800. Still nice width and depth for isolating IEMs though.

 

- Separation/Imaging: Excellent, courtesy of very clear mids and highs. Nice 3D presentation with good space around instruments.

 

smile_phones.gif


thanks james, I'm waiting for your full review

so do you think that it has a V shape FR? more peaky treble than ex1000?!!! wow

 

I can say that I expected this costumer oriented sound from ie800 (bass heavy and musical maybe with an enough wow factor); I think that Senn's strategies are becoming more and more market oriented not hifi oriented (I can call this Beats effect wink_face.gif)

I think that this is the reason why Senn didn't give them to any reputable headfier to demoing them.

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post #488 of 1135
11/18/12 at 8:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

Well, sometimes coincidence makes you wonder... My IE800 order has been postponed, but there was a local audio exhibition ("klangBilder") in Vienna this weekend. Even though they mainly focus on speakers and home gear, I decided to pay them an early visit today - and sure enough, the IE800 were at the Sennheiser booth and I got the chance to audition them for half an hour, with very little ambient noise and nobody else around except the Senn rep, who discreetly took a seat in a corner and watched me do my thing.

 

Here are my subjective first impressions, to be taken with a grain of salt:

 

- As eaino has mentioned, these are designed to be worn downward only. I had a hard time getting an over-ear fit, it's doable, but the upper cables are very short. I was tempted to cut off the cable cinch to gain one more centimeter.

 

- To go from bad to worse, upper cables are rather microphonic and the IE800's deep-fitting tiny earpieces only exacerbate the problem. Probably would be best to wear them over-ear and tighten the cinch behind the neck, but I didn't get to try that.

 

- Plug at the Y-split is 2.5mm, meaning no direct plugging into a 3.5mm wireless headset. Bummer.

 

- Tips are proprietory (as eaino has mentioned) and click onto the earpieces, so there's no nozzle to speak of and no way to use third party tips, except for mounting them on top of the stock tips (if possible - haven't tried it)

 

- Build quality feels top-notch overall.

 

- Bass: too much (not again, Sennheiser!). It's less boomy and better controlled than on the IE8/80 and probably peaks a tad further down (good extension!), but definitely still too much for a high-end phone, at least in quiet surroundings.

 

- Mids: Clear, detailed, smooth. Very nice and a significant step up from the IE8/80. Slightly more forward, but not in your face. Me likes.

 

- Highs: Extended and extremely clear, but borderline thin, sharp and sibilant. Remind me a bit of the PFE232's, though the latter were less prone to sibilance when I tested them. Maybe playing with tips and fit will improve that impression (didn't have much time to try), but as it stands these sound potentially more problematic than the EX1000 to my ears.

 

- Transparency: Pretty good throughout the midrange and highs, but noticeably impaired by exaggerated bass.

 

- Isolation: It was to quiet in the booth to say for sure, but definitely better than the IE8/80.

 

- Soundstage: Sorry to disagree with eaino, but they just don't sound that extra spacious to my ears. I brought my IE8 along to compare and they sounded larger and more out-of-head than the IE800. Still nice width and depth for isolating IEMs though.

 

- Separation/Imaging: Excellent, courtesy of very clear mids and highs. Nice 3D presentation with good space around instruments.

 

smile_phones.gif

so basically, you mean that IE800is very similar to EX1000?

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post #489 of 1135
11/18/12 at 9:09am

James, the first time I read your mini-review, I thought: Yuck. Reading it again, I will reserve judgement. There are things in there (mids, imaging, transparency but for bass bloat) that sounds quite good.

 

Thanks and look forward to hearing more impressions when yours arrive.

 

I hope that Jaben has these to demo when I visit HK in early December...

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post #490 of 1135
11/18/12 at 9:23am
Replies (mostly useless quips) in bold:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

Well, sometimes coincidence makes you wonder... My IE800 order has been postponed, but there was a local audio exhibition ("klangBilder") in Vienna this weekend. Even though they mainly focus on speakers and home gear, I decided to pay them an early visit today - and sure enough, the IE800 were at the Sennheiser booth and I got the chance to audition them for half an hour, with very little ambient noise and nobody else around except the Senn rep, who discreetly took a seat in a corner and watched me do my thing.

 

Here are my subjective first impressions, to be taken with a grain of salt:

 

- As eaino has mentioned, these are designed to be worn downward only. I had a hard time getting an over-ear fit, it's doable, but the upper cables are very short. I was tempted to cut off the cable cinch to gain one more centimeter.

 

Uh oh...

 

- To go from bad to worse, upper cables are rather microphonic and the IE800's deep-fitting tiny earpieces only exacerbate the problem. Probably would be best to wear them over-ear and tighten the cinch behind the neck, but I didn't get to try that.

 

Uh oh...

 

- Plug at the Y-split is 2.5mm, meaning no direct plugging into a 3.5mm wireless headset. Bummer.

 

Uh oh...

 

- Tips are proprietory (as eaino has mentioned) and click onto the earpieces, so there's no nozzle to speak of and no way to use third party tips, except for mounting them on top of the stock tips (if possible - haven't tried it)

 

Uh oh...

 

- Build quality feels top-notch overall.

 

- Bass: too much (not again, Sennheiser!). It's less boomy and better controlled than on the IE8/80 and probably peaks a tad further down (good extension!), but definitely still too much for a high-end phone, at least in quiet surroundings.

 

Told 'ya... *blows raspberry*

 

- Mids: Clear, detailed, smooth. Very nice and a significant step up from the IE8/80. Slightly more forward, but not in your face. Me likes.

 

- Highs: Extended and extremely clear, but borderline thin, sharp and sibilant. Remind me a bit of the PFE232's, though the latter were less prone to sibilance when I tested them. Maybe playing with tips and fit will improve that impression (didn't have much time to try), but as it stands these sound potentially more problematic than the EX1000 to my ears.

 

Hmm, didn't expect them to be sibilant --- from the presentation materials, it'd looked like Sennheiser had especially worked on toning the sibilance region down and controlling the canal-resonant masking treble... this is troubling to hear that they're not quite delivering what they promised.

 

- Transparency: Pretty good throughout the midrange and highs, but noticeably impaired by exaggerated bass.

 

- Isolation: It was to quiet in the booth to say for sure, but definitely better than the IE8/80.

 

- Soundstage: Sorry to disagree with eaino, but they just don't sound that extra spacious to my ears. I brought my IE8 along to compare and they sounded larger and more out-of-head than the IE800. Still nice width and depth for isolating IEMs though.

 

- Separation/Imaging: Excellent, courtesy of very clear mids and highs. Nice 3D presentation with good space around instruments.

 

smile_phones.gif

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post #491 of 1135
11/18/12 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

 

 

- As eaino has mentioned, these are designed to be worn downward only.

 

- Build quality feels top-notch overall.

 

- Bass: too much (not again, Sennheiser!). It's less boomy and better controlled than on the IE8/80 and probably peaks a tad further down (good extension!), but definitely still too much for a high-end phone, at least in quiet surroundings.

 

- Mids: Clear, detailed, smooth. Very nice and a significant step up from the IE8/80. Slightly more forward, but not in your face. Me likes.

 

- Highs: Extended and extremely clear, but borderline thin, sharp and sibilant. Remind me a bit of the PFE232's, though the latter were less prone to sibilance when I tested them. Maybe playing with tips and fit will improve that impression (didn't have much time to try), but as it stands these sound potentially more problematic than the EX1000 to my ears.

 

- Transparency: Pretty good throughout the midrange and highs, but noticeably impaired by exaggerated bass.

 

- Isolation: It was to quiet in the booth to say for sure, but definitely better than the IE8/80.

 

- Soundstage: Sorry to disagree with eaino, but they just don't sound that extra spacious to my ears. I brought my IE8 along to compare and they sounded larger and more out-of-head than the IE800. Still nice width and depth for isolating IEMs though.

 

- Separation/Imaging: Excellent, courtesy of very clear mids and highs. Nice 3D presentation with good space around instruments.

 

smile_phones.gif

 

Nice impressions. Sound just like the CX 985 actually. Though the 985 has a plain base mini transducer and not the wide band one and is it not vented. At least you can play with tips and filters. If I was stuck using prop. tips, the 985 would be quite bassy(natural tip set) and really bassy(with the bass tip set). And you have to like treble; sibiliance is always oh so close. Separation and imaging is just some of the best though as is the top notch ability to vary decay throughout the spectrum where many phones can't pull it off. Mids are just what they claim in the press release and really improved(best I've heard in a while). If I was stuck with the stock tips, I would have sold my 985 as the dominant bass, as James put it wonderfully, "impairs" it's abilities for transparency, micro detail, and transients. The 800 sound like they may need tip rolling to find the right balance between the boom and the shrill. It will be well worth it if it can be done in the future with some type of mod.


Edited by jant71 - 11/18/12 at 9:46am
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post #492 of 1135
11/18/12 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cooperpwc View Post

James, the first time I read your mini-review, I thought: Yuck. Reading it again, I will reserve judgement. There are things in there (mids, imaging, transparency but for bass bloat) that sounds quite good.

 

I kinda feel the same way, lol. wink.gif

 

Going by the expectations I initially had for them, of something that would rival the K3003 or FI-BA-SS, I ended up rather underwhelmed. But overall, I still concluded that the IE800 would be pretty good IEMs for mobile use (where a little bass excess is welcome), once I'd get the fit sorted out.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alias Gu View Post

so basically, you mean that IE800is very similar to EX1000?

 

Nope, they're different in a lot of ways. Here's just to name a few:  isolation (EX1000 is worse), susceptibility to wind noise (EX1000 is worse), bass (EX1000 stays more out of the way), presentation (EX1000 is more headphone-like), etc...

 

I just mentioned the EX1000, because some have issues with their treble. To me, the IE800's highs sound sharper and potentially more offensive than the Sony's, but it may well be that different ears have different sensitivities.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini0510 View Post

agreed!!

 

How does it compare to FX 700 from your memories? base/treble quantity, soundstage, separation/imaging?

Really eager to know!! Thanks

 

I'll probably be able to do a direct A/B soon. From memory, the FX700 have more obtrusive mid-upper bass, whereas the IE800's bass peak is more towards low bass, like the FX500's. Mids are less laid-back and clearer on the IE800, whereas treble has about similar presence on both, but the FX700's highs sound more refined to my ears. I'd think separation and imaging is roughly on par, maybe with a slight edge to the Senns, but soundstage is more open on the JVCs, probably due to their vents.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by heart banger-97 View Post


thanks james, I'm waiting for your full review

so do you think that it has a V shape FR? more peaky treble than ex1000?!!! wow

 

I can say that I expected this costumer oriented sound from ie800 (bass heavy and musical maybe with an enough wow factor); I think that Senn's strategies are becoming more and more market oriented not hifi oriented (I can call this Beats effect wink_face.gif)

I think that this is the reason why Senn didn't give them to any reputable headfier to demoing them.

 

I wouldn't call them V-shaped, at least not for the upper part of the FR, since mids and highs have a nice balance and pretty good transparency. But the left/lower side of the V is undeniable and that bass put its stamp on every single one of my test tracks.

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post #493 of 1135
11/18/12 at 10:40am

James thanks for the initial impressions and you saved me 800 bucks right there. wink_face.gif

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post #494 of 1135
11/18/12 at 10:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomscy2000 View Post

Hmm, didn't expect them to be sibilant --- from the presentation materials, it'd looked like Sennheiser had especially worked on toning the sibilance region down and controlling the canal-resonant masking treble... this is troubling to hear that they're not quite delivering what they promised.

 

Well, sibilance isn't something I'd conclude with certainty from a short session with stock tips. And with any other IEMs, I'd have whipped on hybrids or UE silicons to check whether it may be fit related. But with those silly proprietory tip mounts, you're simply out of luck.

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post #495 of 1135
11/18/12 at 11:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by james444 View Post

 

I'll probably be able to do a direct A/B soon. From memory, the FX700 have more obtrusive mid-upper bass, whereas the IE800's bass peak is more towards low bass, like the FX500's. Mids are less laid-back and clearer on the IE800, whereas treble has about similar presence on both, but the FX700's highs sound more refined to my ears. I'd think separation and imaging is roughly on par, maybe with a slight edge to the Senns, but soundstage is more open on the JVCs, probably due to their vents.

 

so in which area is the IE 800 better than the FX700?

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