[deltz]

Thanks for the reply, I've uploaded some images, hope they are clear click on them for larger ones. In my eyes, they dont sound very good but might be placebo effect!

 

[lee730]

I doubt they are real. As I've stated earlier the cheapest I got my pair for was $265.00 and that wasn't from an authorized dealer either. The person selling them did acquire them though from an authorized dealer in Germany and passed them onto me for cheaper. What you paid is too good to be true. Good luck.
Quote:

Thanks for the reply, I've uploaded some images, hope they are clear click on them for larger ones. In my eyes, they dont sound very good but might be placebo effect!

 

 

[airomjosh]

 
 

 In my eyes, they dont sound very good but might be placebo effect!

I think it is really difficult to judge the sound quality of an IEM if you will just use your eyes. You need to use your ears , bro. 

 

[lee730]

Quote:

 
 
I think it is really difficult to judge the sound quality of an IEM if you will just use your eyes. You need to use your ears , bro. 

The price he paid for them is too good to be true my friend. They look phony even in the pictures.

 

[soufis]

....i had a bad experience with  fake ie8 on Ebay...i bought also a used genuine one(i was lucky-the seller was honest)...i compared them...soon i will upload photos......are the r & l letters angled when you place the earphones on the table?Does the bass screw turn smoothly?Does the sound has deeper bass than middle and tremble?As for the cable,even in my fake pair,there is a red wire to the right connector(and maybe they put a genuine cable)-so this is not a clear sign of a fake or genuine set.

 

[soufis]

DELTZ...could you upload closer photos of the backside of the gray/black box,to the aluminium box also(''s''),and to ''R'' letter placed the earphone on the table?(i saw some bad signs on your box)...hmmmmmmm   the name of the Ebay seller?Was he from Spain?I bought my fake set also for 100 gbp and i have already opened a PayPal case.

 

[halfwaythere]

They could be real if somehow the seller robbed a store or hijacked a shipment. Its a know fact that most high end products don't cost that much to manufacture in the later stages of their commercial cycle but still this is a too good to be true deal. The problem is that some fakes are very good that even on very close inspection they seem genuine.
 
I guess only comparing them side by side and judging the SQ could one tell for sure. 

 

[soufis]

you are right halfwaythere...i will soon upload some photos comparing my 2 IE8's sets...maybe we can prevent some people from buying newer versions of fake IE8's.

 

[sjondenon]

They don't look real to me

 

[Egret]

 

[burtomr]

My Real vs Fake Test for IE-8's (or IE-80's):
 
Does the storage case have a magnetic latch in the back of the drawer ? There should be a silver metallic plate inside the back of the storage case outer case. The drawer should make a noticeable 'click' sound when it closes.
 
Questionable (i.e.: fake) IE-8's and IE-80's omit this feature, instead the metallic plate is just black plastic. The little 'button' on the rear of the drawer is usually there even on the fakes so that alone does not make a functional latch. There must be a (silver) metallic plate inside the storage case.

 

[Ivabign]

Delz - the foam on your insert is CLEARLY the same as all the fakes I have seen. The foam insert is razor cut - yours is the same as the fake pair I have (I have both real and fake)
 
As for the 'serial number' being the same on all the boxes - I think people are talking about the barcode - the barcode is the same on every box - on my real pair, there was an additional serial number sticker with another bar code... that is the one that differentiates the individual unit purchased.

 

[soufis]

hello everyone....a couple of weeks ago,i bought from Ebay,from 2 different sellers,2 pairs of IE8's.The U.K seller was one of the best i have ever met.Before i buy his item,he sent me photos of his used pair,showing that it was genuine 100%.Unfortunately the other seller(from Spain   hazelandrace  100% feedback) tricked me to buy his fake IE8's out of Ebay via PayPal.Acording to his list,he describes the pair as an ''incredible'' but unwanted gift,showing also pictures of a genuine pair.I asked him if his item was genuine and gave him a comparison head-fi link.He didn't give much atention but said that his pair was the ''expensive'' one.I paid him via PayPal 100 GBP.After a week i noticed that he sold another one ,saying in his list the same things(unwanted gift) and showing the same pictures.Now i have  here 2 pairs-1 used genuine(frm the U.K seller)  & 1 fake (from the Spanish seller).Here is the link of his list:
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sennheiser-IE-8-earphones-iPod-iPhone-iPad-Brand-NEW-/260956630478?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item3cc23a2dce
 
here is the link of his 2nd fake pair that he sold after a week:
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sennheiser-IE-8-earphones-iPod-iPhone-iPad-Brand-NEW-/260965240266?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item3cc2bd8dca
 
The best proof of the fake item was its sound quality which is poor,without big bottom,with harsh and ''cheap'' middles and highs....the original one sounds great,with deep bass,smooth and silky mids and open highs.
 
Here are the spanish  sellers photos:
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/KGrHqJoQE8VbNzMdwBPJYoshQ60_12.jpg
 
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/KGrHqRnoE8YB9uriWBPJYnknglw60_12.jpg
 
See how thick is the yellow bright line ''open here'' to the 1st photo ...and how smooth are the curves to the ''S'' in the 2nd photo.The cornes surrounding the ''S'', seem thinner also.
 
Here are some photos of the fake item that i received:
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010009.jpg      NOTE:  -  the ''open here'' is faded  orange,and the gray color is lighter...the photo doesn't show this very well
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010012.jpg      NOTE:  -  the metal box seems so plastic,gets dirty easily,''S'' is thicker,has not smooth curves,the corners surrounding ''s' are thick.
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010013.jpg      
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010014.jpg
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010016.jpg
                                                                                       
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010010.jpg     NOTE:  -   on the left side,to the German language,2nd line,the ''β'' letter is missing from the ''Auβengerauschen'' word.
 
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010017.jpg     NOTE:  -  letters ''R'' and ''L'' are not angled ...are straigth verticaly placed.The cable has the red wire to the connector so be aware..this is not a sign of a genuine pair anymore..the cable can be original...
 
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj491/soufis/S1010020.jpg     NOTE:   -  the silver corners surrounding the ''S' are short and thick,the bass screw quality sucks..the screw doesn't make any difference to the sound,and doesn't turn smoothly(it broke my sennheiser screwdriver-pen)
 
I have already opened a PayPal case....for ebay buyers :1) a list which shows pictures of original IE8,saying its new ,unopened pair,doesn't mean anything.I suggest you only buy ,from authorised dealers, or used genuine IE8's after having some close up photos of the actual item.(as i did with U.K seller for the other genuine pair i received)...use only PayPal for your payment.
 
...i will upload soon a photo comparison between the genuine IE8 and the fake one,side by side....there are more signs that help to identify a fake pair...soon to my comparison review..
 
 
 
 

 

[supercar]

Hi all,
 
interesting thread. But I think everyone maybe a little bit confused with the fake/real thing. Let me see if I can put a little clarity on it.
 
From my research, there are the cheapo versions with the sub-standard bits and there are the OEM factory versions (which many label as fakes) that sound exactly the same as the original IE8's. Regarding the slant of the L/R they do vary. IE8i are straight and the IE8's are slanted from what I've seen. But then, earlier versions may also have variants.
 
The OEM versions sound as the originals, but the cheapo versions do sound like $3 earbuds.
 
The only way you can figure out which is which is by testing them, that is the only sure way. All the packaging and all don't tell you anything at all. They can all be mixed and matched.
 
The red wire is present in the OEM version as well as the cheapo as they have caught on to what people look out for.
 
Also, do remember that IE8's are manufactured in China, hence, OEM's are definitely real, just whether the seller is so ruthless that they decide to sell the cheapo ones as the OEM's.
 
On the box it says Designed and Engineered in Germany, and the last part is Made in China.
 
I hope this helps.

 

[burtomr]

Quote:

...I hope this helps.

"Clear as Mud"...lol, but that's OK.....just look at how long this thread is >>over a thousand posts!<< and people still can't usually tell the difference easily unless you have a real pair to listen to & and/or compare visually.
 
The best advice: Only buy from an Authorized Sennheiser Dealer.