The RE800 is the second Hifiman IEM review I'm writing after the RE2000. Thanks to AVOne and Hifiman for the review sample.
The RE800 is probably the smallest dynamic driver earphone I seen. Fully sealed and in gold, this little thing bears some similarity to others of its type but also a significant difference.
I wont touch so much on what came with the packaging here where many reviewers covered. Personally I thought its just about right for a earphone of its type: Some tips, a carrying case and a box that holds both of this. I do find the box space alittle wasted since you cant put much else. Other that that, for its price, I find it acceptable.
What I couldn't find acceptable was the fixed cables. The first thing that breaks in most earphones was the cable going wrong. Hifiman in its pursue for miniaturisation probably taught it was a good idea to leave removable cables out and this was definitely not what most people would had wanted unless its something like electrostatic. Add on with the thinness of the cables, my dealers did say they will do their best if anything happens...
Other then cables, the build is decent: All metal at around 1cm + long. Put on a double flange tip, its light and will sink in deep into your ear. Due to it being relatively small and light, it did not need a hook over ear. This is self is quite a pro since small means easy to mange, keep and wear. It would also mean have less fit problems for most.
So how does it sound?
Albums used:
Aimer Day Dream
Final Fantasy 14 Soundtrack
Beauty and the Beast
Skyfall
Player: ZX2
Compared to : KSE1500, RE2000
Coming after the RE2000, I was prepared to lower my expectation since this was meant to be the little brother. But after hearing it, I personally thought the quality of sound difference isn't great except 2 major things: Vocals and Warmth.
Lets start with the warmth, the RE800 do not bear much similarity to most IEM using Dynamic Drivers from my memory when it comes to warmth. Be it the Lyra or the RE2000, the RE800 sounded a little cool, at times it even felt a little hollow. It didn't have the mass and warmth I expect from a dynamic driver. However this is a preference and luckily due my preference to KSE1500, I quite enjoy this lighter, cooler touch of sound from the RE800. So a direct switch from RE2000 to the RE800, this is definitely its biggest and most apparent difference.
Then it follows the vocals, the RE2000 isolates the vocals and brings it forward, quite a surreal experience if your enjoy vocals. The RE800 treatment of vocals were a little different. It sounds separated but distant, at the edge of the music together with the instruments. It also sounded a little hollow and metallic at times due to the lack of warmth and mass. Its also just not as smooth as RE2000 liquid like or KSE1500's quick and light. I am probably exaggerating here since the difference were small and you probably will only notice it if you been hearing something like the Re2000 for extensive period of time.
After the comparison above lets talk about whats great: The Bass.
Personally, I may actually enjoy this more then the RE2000. It has just enough of everything: Impact, Depth and most importantly "Feel". KSE1500 sounds like bass is there, RE2000 has the impact and warmth, but the RE800 had the impact when needed together with the tiny feeling of bass vibration. Fantastic really. This was noticeable with FF14 Sound Track - Dragonsong, I can surely say, I will listen that sound using this earphone over the RE2000 and KSE1500.
The other good characters is something it shares with RE2000, which is the sibilance characters. Short of the worst of tracks, its relatively tamed, making it a great choice of modern pop music. Plus it being less warmth, it definitely fits into modern genres a lot better then the RE2000.
Soundstage is wide, wider then what i remember for most earphones of its class. Its probably just a touch smaller the RE2000, definitely good enough for its class. Similarly for details, its good but just a little lower then RE2000 and KSE1500. This is noticeable in complicated instrument tracks from FF14 Soundtrack. Some softer instruments will get lost in the track, not a huge issue though and if you are a loud listener, it probably wont be as much of a issue.
What I think it lacks was treble energy. Treble was there, just not much excitement, energy or speed compared to BAs and KSE1500 electrostatic. This made it less musical for tracks that are bass light and treble heavy. However when the opposite happens, I think this was not an issue in my listening experience. An example was listening to Skyfall, which really did not contain much of the higher frequencies, and through the RE800, it sounded fantastic.
All this said, I thought the RE800 is a rather good IEM for its class, except the lack of removable cable and not much accessories, its definitely something that people can consider for its sound quality. If I had to recommend it to someone, it will be to people who listen to modern pop music due to its good sibilance and bass character.
The RE800 is probably the smallest dynamic driver earphone I seen. Fully sealed and in gold, this little thing bears some similarity to others of its type but also a significant difference.
I wont touch so much on what came with the packaging here where many reviewers covered. Personally I thought its just about right for a earphone of its type: Some tips, a carrying case and a box that holds both of this. I do find the box space alittle wasted since you cant put much else. Other that that, for its price, I find it acceptable.
What I couldn't find acceptable was the fixed cables. The first thing that breaks in most earphones was the cable going wrong. Hifiman in its pursue for miniaturisation probably taught it was a good idea to leave removable cables out and this was definitely not what most people would had wanted unless its something like electrostatic. Add on with the thinness of the cables, my dealers did say they will do their best if anything happens...
Other then cables, the build is decent: All metal at around 1cm + long. Put on a double flange tip, its light and will sink in deep into your ear. Due to it being relatively small and light, it did not need a hook over ear. This is self is quite a pro since small means easy to mange, keep and wear. It would also mean have less fit problems for most.
So how does it sound?
Albums used:
Aimer Day Dream
Final Fantasy 14 Soundtrack
Beauty and the Beast
Skyfall
Player: ZX2
Compared to : KSE1500, RE2000
Coming after the RE2000, I was prepared to lower my expectation since this was meant to be the little brother. But after hearing it, I personally thought the quality of sound difference isn't great except 2 major things: Vocals and Warmth.
Lets start with the warmth, the RE800 do not bear much similarity to most IEM using Dynamic Drivers from my memory when it comes to warmth. Be it the Lyra or the RE2000, the RE800 sounded a little cool, at times it even felt a little hollow. It didn't have the mass and warmth I expect from a dynamic driver. However this is a preference and luckily due my preference to KSE1500, I quite enjoy this lighter, cooler touch of sound from the RE800. So a direct switch from RE2000 to the RE800, this is definitely its biggest and most apparent difference.
Then it follows the vocals, the RE2000 isolates the vocals and brings it forward, quite a surreal experience if your enjoy vocals. The RE800 treatment of vocals were a little different. It sounds separated but distant, at the edge of the music together with the instruments. It also sounded a little hollow and metallic at times due to the lack of warmth and mass. Its also just not as smooth as RE2000 liquid like or KSE1500's quick and light. I am probably exaggerating here since the difference were small and you probably will only notice it if you been hearing something like the Re2000 for extensive period of time.
After the comparison above lets talk about whats great: The Bass.
Personally, I may actually enjoy this more then the RE2000. It has just enough of everything: Impact, Depth and most importantly "Feel". KSE1500 sounds like bass is there, RE2000 has the impact and warmth, but the RE800 had the impact when needed together with the tiny feeling of bass vibration. Fantastic really. This was noticeable with FF14 Sound Track - Dragonsong, I can surely say, I will listen that sound using this earphone over the RE2000 and KSE1500.
The other good characters is something it shares with RE2000, which is the sibilance characters. Short of the worst of tracks, its relatively tamed, making it a great choice of modern pop music. Plus it being less warmth, it definitely fits into modern genres a lot better then the RE2000.
Soundstage is wide, wider then what i remember for most earphones of its class. Its probably just a touch smaller the RE2000, definitely good enough for its class. Similarly for details, its good but just a little lower then RE2000 and KSE1500. This is noticeable in complicated instrument tracks from FF14 Soundtrack. Some softer instruments will get lost in the track, not a huge issue though and if you are a loud listener, it probably wont be as much of a issue.
What I think it lacks was treble energy. Treble was there, just not much excitement, energy or speed compared to BAs and KSE1500 electrostatic. This made it less musical for tracks that are bass light and treble heavy. However when the opposite happens, I think this was not an issue in my listening experience. An example was listening to Skyfall, which really did not contain much of the higher frequencies, and through the RE800, it sounded fantastic.
All this said, I thought the RE800 is a rather good IEM for its class, except the lack of removable cable and not much accessories, its definitely something that people can consider for its sound quality. If I had to recommend it to someone, it will be to people who listen to modern pop music due to its good sibilance and bass character.