Exceptional in Every Detail: Say Hello to the IE 600

[ericpalonen]

Hmmm to pre-order or not to pre-order

*whispers in Head-Fi* click the button

 

[ericpalonen]

For those based in the uk, Richer sounds have stock, mine are out for delivery

Welcome to the #IE600Club sir!

 

[ericpalonen]

As many of you have already noticed pre-orders are open for IE 600 in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, with shipping release targeted for May 24th.

 

[Derivative]

For those based in the uk, Richer sounds have stock, mine are out for delivery

Thanks for this heads up, just placed my order!

 

[lomenhk]

Anyone feel the sound 0f ie600 too aggressive? It's has top notch clarify for sure, but after listening for 30min it just feel tired for me. I do find the vocal too forward to my taste.

I am coming from fiio fd5, campfire holocene.

It needs about 400 hours of burn-in, after that the aggressiveness will be gone. The sound image is still sharp, but smooth to listen.

 

[gLer]

It needs about 400 hours of burn-in, after that the aggressiveness will be gone. The sound image is still sharp, but smooth to listen.

100h maybe. 400?

 

[lomenhk]

100h maybe. 400?

Basically 100hrs is a must, but I find its timbre keep changing continuously when it reached 220-230 hrs and it still sounded a bit aggressive. So I referenced the comments of a IE 600 user in a head-fi forum of China. He recommended to go for at least 400 hours. My further observation was when the 600 reached about 330 hours of burn in, its timbre began to stablise, and it gave you more depth for the sound stage, the Mild sibilance on "T" and "S" consonants are mostly gone/smoothen on the songs. The high is more refined.

For now my IE 600 has reached nearly 400 hours of burn-in, I can say it produces very high-end SQ, it has evolved to a very hi-fi sounding IEM.

 

[karloil]

 

[ericpalonen]

Thanks for this heads up, just placed my order!

Welcome to the #IE600Club @Derivative !

 

[James-uk]

They’ve arrived, I’m listening, and coming from the IE900, they don’t disappoint!
It’s been a few weeks since I sold my IE900 so I can’t do direct comparisons.
Instant thoughts……..I think these sound as good as the IE900 in pure SQ. do I prefer the FR? It’s to early to say, I think it might come down to some stuff sounding better on one and some on the other, but for half the price, these are clearly a massive win for the community!!

 

[karloil]

Careful in changing tips - was tip rolling earlier and this happened to my default Medium tips when I pulled them out. They are really quite thin, which fails to make a good seal and quite uncomfortable after long sessions.



Currently using Spinfits for now. Tried Final E, Symbio, Azla - can't get a good fit/seal. Any of you have other tip suggestions?

 

[lomenhk]

Careful in changing tips - was tip rolling earlier and this happened to my default Medium tips when I pulled them out. They are really quite thin, which fails to make a good seal and quite uncomfortable after long sessions.



Currently using Spinfits for now. Tried Final E, Symbio, Azla - can't get a good fit/seal. Any of you have other tip suggestions?

I am using audio-technica ER-CKS50:

https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/ER-CKS50

 

[James-uk]

I can’t imagine anyone auditioning these and the IE900 and thinking it was worth paying twice as much for the latter based on SQ alone. That’s how good these are. I loved the IE900, I’ve missed them, I’ve not enjoyed music in the same way since selling them but thankfully the IE600 goes toe to toe.
It’s almost as close as comparing HD600 to the HD650, but in this case one is significantly more expensive.

 

[Capyr]

I can’t imagine anyone auditioning these and the IE900 and thinking it was worth paying twice as much for the latter based on SQ alone. That’s how good these are. I loved the IE900, I’ve missed them, I’ve not enjoyed music in the same way since selling them but thankfully the IE600 goes toe to toe.
It’s almost as close as comparing HD600 to the HD650, but in this case one is significantly more expensive.

You are right and I feel the same way about it. Most people that own the IE900 however talk themself into believing that the gap in resolution between them is incredibly big, when in reality it is marginal. I can’t blame them after spending double the price you want to be sure you made the right decision. As someone who heard both I can confirm for anybody interested in the IE600, that they only really differ in tonal balance. If they had the same price and casing material, I would say it’s a matter of taste and not resolution. The IE600 has the stronger casing material, but plastic end-caps, while the IE900 is way more time consuming and expensive to manufacture.
So I think the price mostly reflects that.

 

[gLer]

In the high end IEM world, double the price buys you 5-10% more performance, take it or leave it. If you want the very best, you have to be ready to pay. Saying that, the IE900 is possibly the best value flagship on the market right now. IE600 seems like a high end performer too, if you're willing to forego the last squeeze of technical performance you get with the 900.