Anyone tried https://snugsearphones.co.uk/ for their IE800? I'm tempted to do this because I already have another spare IEM at my disposal.

orky261 said:

  Anyone tried https://snugsearphones.co.uk/ for their IE800? I'm tempted to do this because I already have another spare IEM at my disposal.

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They seem like they could help with ie800. I wonder how much would soundstage be affected. They seem pretty expensive though. 

dobrescu george said:

   
 
Those might be fakes. 
 
Try buying directly from Sennheiser, if you want 100% authenticity. There is link on their own site, for example   http://service.sennheiser.com.au/consumer/products/portable-headphones/ie-800

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well here the sennheiser agent does not sell them, so is there a reputable online store that ships internationally that i can buy the medium tips from

Wrote a review for the ie800`s after over two years of ownership. It has some tips and tricks for current owners and some advice for interested buyers. I thing that they`re a good upgrade from most $400 iems and can be had for not much more these days. Please have a look in the review section or on my blog here:
https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/
Enjoy the review!

ryanjsoo said:

Wrote a review for the ie800`s after over two years of ownership. It has some tips and tricks for current owners and some advice for interested buyers. I thing that they`re a good upgrade from most $400 iems and can be had for not much more these days. Please have a look in the review section or on my blog here:
https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/
Enjoy the review!

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Thanks for the review. I LOVE my IE800s

ryanjsoo said:

  Wrote a review for the ie800`s after over two years of ownership. It has some tips and tricks for current owners and some advice for interested buyers. I thing that they`re a good upgrade from most $400 iems and can be had for not much more these days. Please have a look in the review section or on my blog here:
https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/
Enjoy the review!

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Nice review, @ryanjsoo! Glad that you like your IE 800s! 

Thanks for the feedback. I really like the sound on my ie800`s, lucky not to have any cable hardening despite the revision. I`m looking forward to a successor? 

I'm looking for an IEM with good instrument detail (E.g. down to the backing instruments in a jazz quartet, or to hear clear instrument separation in a full orchestra - assuming that the tracks are recorded well). Currently using a HD598 and while excellent I don't get the above as much as I'd expect, and wondering if my expectations are too high for the IE800?
 
Also does anyone own the Shure 846 as well as the IE800? Could you describe the general differences in the sound? 

rurouni said:

  I'm looking for an IEM with good instrument detail (E.g. down to the backing instruments in a jazz quartet, or to hear clear instrument separation in a full orchestra - assuming that the tracks are recorded well). Currently using a HD598 and while excellent I don't get the above as much as I'd expect, and wondering if my expectations are too high for the IE800?
 
Also does anyone own the Shure 846 as well as the IE800? Could you describe the general differences in the sound? 

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I`ve owned the ie800`s for three years, and tried the se846`s on many occasions, I`ve lived with both. If you value mainly sound quality, then the ie800 is technically superior, but I believe the se846 is a better iem overall, fit, isolation, customize-ability, etc.
 
The ie800`s are quite flat with a very slight v-shape, accentuating instruments over vocals, the se846`s are the opposite. The ie800`s have more much clarity despite the midrange differences and slightly more details though the 846`s are also very good. I prefer the bass performance of the ie800`s more, they have a tighter sub-bass response and mid-bass is in a better place too. Of note, the ie800`s retrieve details in the treble that I`ve never heard from any other earphone (you can see what I`ve owned on my profile page). So if you are looking for absolute detail, then the ie800`s are infinitely resolving, especially after getting used to the v-shaped character, the se846`s are more lush but also more laid back and the treble is much less pronounced. If you`re coming from a midrange forwards earphone then get the se846`s, if you like a little more treble and clarity, get the ie800`s. Both are great choices, I just prefer the ie800`s since I have the privilege of owning a set of Westone W30`s for travel/sport.

rurouni said:

  I'm looking for an IEM with good instrument detail (E.g. down to the backing instruments in a jazz quartet, or to hear clear instrument separation in a full orchestra - assuming that the tracks are recorded well). Currently using a HD598 and while excellent I don't get the above as much as I'd expect, and wondering if my expectations are too high for the IE800?
 
Also does anyone own the Shure 846 as well as the IE800? Could you describe the general differences in the sound? 

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As for the tonal difference between both:
 

(http://frequency-response.blogspot.de/2016/02/SE846-TF10.html)
 
Stock silicone tips with both, white treble filters with the SE846.
 
 
What I am subjectively hearing:
 
SE846 has got thicker, warmer mids, IE 800's are tonally more correct and less pressing.
IE 800 has more fundamental tone and the more "hammering" upper bass (upper bass is firmer -> less loose than SE846's).
IE 800 has the better treble extension.
IE 800's upper treble attack sounds somewhat metallic.
IE 800 is brighter.
IE 800 has a different spatial presentation: SE846's is round, intimate however with good imaging. IE 800's is wider, more distanced, with precise imaging.
 
---
 
What experience with IEMs do you have, @Rurouni?
What tonal direction should the IEMs head into?
 
 
Personally, I would use different IEMs for Jazz, though the IE 800 (imho) works well with Classical due to its imaging and if you are into a more v-shaped sound with IEMs (from a low impedance source, the HD 598 is quite different: less bass, dark-ish treble).

Hey Chris, thanks for the frequency chart. Always useful to discuss audio with the charts setting context. I don't own many higher end IEMs, but I have past experience with Shure E3C (hated the fit) and SBH-80 (which are based on the Sony MH-1s iirc). Of the both I really like the presentation of the SBH-80, but always wished it had better instrument detail from treble-mid-bass ranges. 
 
I'm more familiar with headphones having owned the HD-598 and HD-580, yes they are somewhere darker but being open cans, the wide soundstage helps lots to create a v nice enjoyable sound. 
 
The IEMs, if they are the IE800 will be a pair to relax to in the evenings, I have a wireless 1-ABT now which works great (sounds like a wireless closed version of the HD598 to my ears), but would like a more compact and light IEM. From what you describe the IE800 could be a good contender, but is the V-shaped sound with sources like an iPhone very pronounced? 

@Rurouni
 
Based on what you've written and owned, I think the IE 800 will be definitely too bright in the treble for you. And yes, the v-shaped tonality will be present with any source that has got a flat frequency output (luckily most do), and as the IE 800's impedance response is flat, it doesn't suffer from an altered frequency response when paired with higher-impedance sources (what I'm basically saying is that as long as the source device has got a flat frequency response, IE 800's basic tonality will be pretty much identical from any source with a neutral FR output).
 
I haven't heard the E3c but own the SE425 which should head into a more or less identical direction, however with less forward and "telephonic" mids -> overall a relatively neutral, balanced IEM.
Imvho, if you want to head into this direction, you might take a look at the InEar StageDiver SD-2 (or Westone W20 and Audio Technica ATH-IM02; the internals, crossovers and even measurements of them are pretty much identical). If you want to have more bass (especially sub-bass), and head into the direction of the SBH-80 (assuming that it is like the MH-1), the SE846 would be a good choice. It's not that SE846's stage was any small, it is actually very coherent, 3-dimensional and does a good job in terms of imaging and displaying emptiness between instruments, however when compared to other IEMs in its price class (UERM and other CIEMs for example), it soundstage is rather small to average in size.
 
If you know a location (or online store) where you could test various IEMs, I would suggest to audition the SD-2/W20/IM02 and SE846 (I think you are a good candidate for the blue filters). Imvho, the IE 800's tonality will not be to your tastes without the use of an EQ.

Hey Chris thanks for the detailed reply, much appreciated. I did manage to try the 846s, but they just didn't do anything for me even with a very good seal. I think I was not used to the soundstage mostly, as it seemed rather narrow (just to my ears, ymmv). 
 
How's the treble on the IE800? I've actually managed to try the HD800S recently and do enjoy it a lot But kinda out of my budget for now.

rurouni said:

  Hey Chris thanks for the detailed reply, much appreciated. I did manage to try the 846s, but they just didn't do anything for me even with a very good seal. I think I was not used to the soundstage mostly, as it seemed rather narrow (just to my ears, ymmv). 

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As I said, it is not the largest. I personally also don't use it for Classical (for reasons of tonality and soundstage) or Jazz (mainly because of the tonality).
 
 

How's the treble on the IE800? I've actually managed to try the HD800S recently and do enjoy it a lot But kinda out of my budget for now.

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Clearly more present and kind of "ringing" in comparison.
 
 
Imo, you should try to get your hands on the InEar StageDiver SD-2/Westone W20/Audio Technica ATH-IM02. Relatively balanced with just a bit more warmth and darkness, prominent mids, very natural and realistically sounding, good imaging and quite large, three-dimensional soundstage.

hifichris said:

   
As I said, it is not the largest. I personally also don't use it for Classical (for reasons of tonality and soundstage) or Jazz (mainly because of the tonality).
 
 
 
Clearly more present and kind of "ringing" in comparison.
 
 
Imo, you should try to get your hands on the InEar StageDiver SD-2/Westone W20/Audio Technica ATH-IM02. Relatively balanced with just a bit more warmth and darkness, prominent mids, very natural and realistically sounding, good imaging and quite large, three-dimensional soundstage.

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I am considering an HD800s my self, since I love my ie800. Surprised to read that the treble is more ringing in the ie800 than HD800s, mind to elaborate? Would be great to know more differences side by side in SQ