Sennheiser IE 200

First the disclaimer – I have been a Sennheiser fanboy during the initial days of my audiophile journey, having owned PX80 and MX170, I was somehow a Sennheiser fan in regard to their product quality, warranty coverage and most importantly sound quality.
Now, ie200 – I had been following the IE series lineup for the past year or so and read a lot about them. I was on the verge of buying the IE300 (which I bought eventually) but there came news of the new product Sennheiser was about to launch within the $200 mark, in a group I was part of a graph of the FR was shared and I was intrigued by it and pre-ordered it.
IE200 arrives in a rather simple packaging whereas its Chinese counterpart which arrived on the same day and belonged to the same price, the SeeAudio Yume 2 came in impressive packaging, good quality silicone eartips and a carry case, something for Sennheiser to take as feedback. Came along with iems were a carry pouch few pairs of eartips, some custom tips with acoustic treatment by Sennheiser and some foam (underwhelming in today’s standard of $200 iem).
Now coming to the sound, the first impressions were quite good on the first two tracks I heard (Ghoomar and Ek Dil Ek Jaan) however with time the iem started to feel spicy in the treble region to become fatiguing especially when I was side by side listening to Yume 2 which has perfect balance across frequencies except for the bass being a bit leaner in comparison.
The IE 200 features a plastic housing and is among the smallest in-ear monitors available. Despite its small form factor, it delivers powerful and detailed sound. The IE 200 proudly employs the same 7mm True Response driver found in Sennheiser’s higher-tier models. The tuning is lush and inviting, making it an excellent choice for music enthusiasts.
I was informed in advance by the forum members about tip rolling to bring out the best, I also happen to follow GizAudio about the same topic around the same time.
Tip rolling –
• Stock tips – extremely comfortable, but be ready to sacrifice the sound quality as I believe it just doesn’t do justice to these item's capability
• Foam Tips – Now, the entire concept changed, the bass became prominent also the mids feel more natural to my ears, listening to Udit Narayan playlist, I was getting the memory of me listening to those tracks on HD6XX, albeit the stage felt wider on these. Dark Horse by Katy Perry and Starboy by Weekend sounded extremely good, the opening of these tracks is good to evaluate if the bass can overpower other details and I could happily say that I didn’t face any issue with these tracks on the ie200
• Final E tips – Now comes the final E tips on the recommendation of a beloved friend, the first impression was underwhelming TBH as I thought I was getting the best with foam tips however with the final E tips I was getting LetShouer S12 vibes on ie200 because of the spicy treble and overpowering bass. Gave it a few days and these have become the new normal, I have been switching between E tips and foam for a change, final E tips are good if you want to make the sound a little more V.
Overall, I would say that I still need to spend some good time with these iems, as it is a chameleon when it comes to sound changes on tip rolling. As for the sound quality in summary I am impressed with the Sennheiser ie200. It deserves to be sold in volumes as it is launched at a very aggressive price point if we see Sennheiser’s standards. This could be the game changer as were the Senn HD6 series I believe people would get that taste in an iem form, they just need to choose the right eartips (which may not be easy). The Sennheiser IE 200 offers a balance of performance and portability, making it a great choice for music lovers on the go. Until next time

Review OF The Sennheiser IE200​

Introduction​

Sennheiser, A German company that has been in business since 1945 and is well known for providing high-quality studio and professional electro-acoustic products like speakers, headphones, and in-ear monitors has outgrown its capacity to produce these products and has turned to more reasonably priced options in order to reach a wider audience of customers while still maintaining the promise of current-day true superior sound quality. They flourished in this market because they are renowned professionally for high-quality microphones and other electronic equipment like Bluetooth headphones and earbuds that are more geared towards a customer-friendly approach. Nevertheless, being an audiophile, I am more interested in IEMs and headphones, thus I will be examining their newest entry-level IEM, the IE200. But first, let's discuss certain concerns before evaluating.

Disclaimer​

*Since I received this unit from my fellow audiophile Pulkit Dreamz, I am grateful to him. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as "IE200."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the IE200 based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

A single 7mm transducer is housed inside the IE200 single dynamic driver IEM, right in front of the nozzle. Plastic makes up the exterior, which seems flimsy and cheap yet, much to my surprise, is more adaptable. The little shells are comfy and conceal well inside the conchae despite their diminutive size. The distinctive aspect or characteristic of the IE200 is that the air pressure port is set up so that using various types of eartips on the nozzle results in a variety of sounds. Even still, it's unfortunate that none of the eartips availed with the IEM were able to securely seal. A braided cable with mmcx connectors and a 3.5mm termination connection is included with the IE200. Together with the cable, the ie200 includes two different types of eartips: foam and silicone, which come in small, medium, and large sizes. Together with the other accessories, a pouch is also provided. I was unable to convey my impression when using the provided eartips because of a poor seal. About the technical performance, the frequency response ranges from 6 Hz to 20 kHz, the impedance is 18 ohms, and the sound pressure level is 119 dB. Total harmonic distortion is also less than 0.08%. The IEMs only weigh 4 grammes, which makes them quite light. They were also incredibly comfortable and light to wear.

*source of the above image: link

Sound​

The ie200 sounds almost like its big brother ie600 with a more tonal warmth and less resolving technicalities. The whole response from my point of view is smoother and pleasing than the ie600 in other words, the value these hold at the price they're being offered, is simply no-brainer choice for any audiophile. The German audio engineering savors the taste of the market mostly dominated by chi-fi market. Ie200 definitely holds its position greatly beside it's competitors. Coming back to the sound these produce, the treble is extensive and smooth with good details. The mid range is very forward in the mix whereas the bass has a pleasant approach to hits and slams in the mix. The whole experience is not neutral sounding but mostly balanced. Lately Sennheiser's being manufacturing highly appreciated stuff. I admire their products and vision. Especially the Ie200 which is brutally dominating over the price segment they're being offered. Let's dive deep more into the sound.

Treble​

The treble is astonishingly praiseworthy as a single 7mm transducer is able to hold the balanced sound while producing such extension and air in the sound. The exposure of the treble is not something new as a few under or around this price provide such a tonality. The differences comes when the technicalities comes into play. The response becomes rich and details without producing nuisances in tonal balance. The upper treble sounds extensive and airy with good details which are vividly clear to listen to. The vocals have a little shy approach but keeps harmony between the instruments and itself very well. The vocals sound have a realistic persona. The instruments have a more forward approach where it seems not to be edgy or sharper but anyhow brings out good details without being emphasizing the dynamic range. The instruments do have a lush presence but comes out beautiful and informative. I should also point out that these aren’t the detail monsters but usually the tonality suffers of those IEMs with great technicalities especially those with dynamic drivers. The lower treble sounds a little spicy yet retaining the tonal performance and not being metallic or odd sounding. The vocals have a lively approach where as the instruments works in harmony with the vocals while producing a forward presence with better dynamics and soft timbre. There hints of a little hotness with instruments playing in high octaves. All in all the presentation of the treble region is ecstatic and vivid with smooth flow of presentation.

Mid Range​

When it comes the mid range, only things that came to my mind was spaciously staged and smooth flow of elements. The sound in mid range is centric which shows its dynamic prowess. The sound is melodious and beautiful. The upper mid range acts almost like the lower treble, but sounds more dense and rich in warmth. The natural timbre of both instruments and vocals is pleasant to listen to. No offensive characteristics come to take place. The vocals have a denser note presence whereas the instruments try to sound more expressive. Although both sound expressive enough to separate the presence of each elements. The instruments have a more rounder and warmer approach with polished appearance, I love how swiftly and smoothly each and every note takes place. The melodious pact in the mid range surprises me a lot. The lower mid range acts not so shy nor dull. The instruments have a shine to them, the vocals are clean but not clear in details and texture. The bass lines have a good thick note as well as feels vivid. The note weight and density makes the sound less dampened and dense. I find the response to be very favorable to all as the balance between the lower mid range and the upper mid range is elegant as the lower mid range builds the foundation to push the higher frequency to bring pleasurable tonal timbre with warmth and excitement. The overall presentation of the mid range is polished, melodious and warm with good extend to details and richness.

Bass​

The bass plays a wonderful role in the overall mix. The bass has the absolute and necessary exposure in the mix with good depth and presence. The emphasis is over sub bass than the mid bass. Although the mid bass hits you with thick slams and the presentation is more warmer than being tonally cool with more exposure of sub bass rumble and punches. In the mid bass region the bass lines have a dense and staggering notes hitting nicely not so forward but easily listenable. The presence of all elements happening in the mix is simply achieved by the IE200. The sub bass sounds phenomenal, the bass is extensive and goes deep and the impact of such performance brings out great punches and rumbles. The tonal persona of the bass is no match to any I have heard in this price segment. The bass sounds so rightly placed yet the clarity lacks a little but keeps the fun and excitement over over the listening period. The bass texture and the details aren't the best in this price range as the bass sounds a little puffy and grained which almost sounds rough and loose, yet the bass is nicely controlled which although bleeds into the lower mid range a little but from my perspective keeps the smooth and warm characteristics going on to the higher frequencies. All in all the bass region is pleasantly fun sounding packing a good amount of slams and punches which hits you hard and softly at the same time.

Technical Performance​

The technical performance of the IE200 is good for the price, I mean they aren't the best I have heard but they keep up with the performance. The stage is wide and far, the imaging is nice and clean with separation enough in notes to keep them at breathable positions. The resolution is good with alright details retrieval and the speed of notes are quite fast pacing. I must say with such a good tonal understanding a single transducer or DD you may call, keeps up with technicalities is mid blowing.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The soundstage is wide and far and every note or element is rightly positioned with providing good holographic exposure. The imaging could be better but to be honest it is very suiting to my taste because of such a beautiful tonality. The separation is commendable as the elements have enough space to breathe and perform where they are placed distant enough to be easily pinpointed as to describe where the sound is coming from.

Speed & Resolution​

The resolving power of this IEM is not the best in the range of this segment but keeps the competition on their toes, the detail retrieval is nice enough to keep the listener fascinated. The attack of notes hits fast and accurate yet the decay of notes a little underwhelming due to which it gives more a natural feel to the overall sound.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - while pairing with the V6, IE200 sounded a little relaxed and smoother than any source I have paired it with. The treble sounded smoother and silky with nice details. The mid range felt more expressive but still centric. The bass wa controlled and pulled a little back and yet the impact remain the same but just a little back in the mix opening more space for the mid range and treble to be playful, keeping the listener excited and in happy mood. The technicalities felt the same but I found the stage to become more rounder giving off a more 360 degree dilemma. I find the pairing of IE200 with the V6 suited to my taste



iFi Hipdac - Listening IE200 through the hipdac sounded fun and spoiled in a sense that the IEM acted bearing no limitation. Th treble felt more sharp but less detailed. The mid range felt more forward with a little muddied lower mid range. The bass felt more rich and dense with more mid bass exposure yet the sub bass felt enhanced a little too. The technicalities specially the stage felt more immersive and closer retrieving more details as the elements felt more approachable. The fun and excited experience I had with this pairing though I still prefer the IE200 with the V6.

Tracks Used​

Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere(Remastered)
Toto - Africa
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy (End Titles)
GOJIRA - Amazonia
Fergie - Glamorous
50 Cent - In Da Club
Skrillex - XENA
Skrillex - Torture You
The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Blck Cobrv - Candy Shop
LMYM - 0 (zero)
Indila - Love Story
Marina Hoiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
Wayne - Not Enough

Conclusion​

The IE200 fundamentally alters the IEM game, causing particular disruption in the Chi-Fi IEM market, to sum up this review. I genuinely recognize these IEMs' potential. How a 7mm driver can provide true fidelity sound and fill me with so much vigor and excitement astounds me. I have no trouble recommending these IEMs to anyone searching for a finely tuned, perfectly balanced IEM with superb tonality and excellent technicality.

Intro and Disclaimer

I have been a Sennheiser fan since I was a kid. I still remember jamming out to Collective Soul (on MiniDisk!) with my HD555.

A few months ago, I did a review of the Sennheiser IE600. At the time, I felt like it set the bar its price point. I still feel like that is the case. I have not heard anything since that has provided the level of sound. Clarity, comfort, plentiful yet controlled bass, great accessories, and stellar build all make it an amazing buy. When the opportunity came to try the IE200, I jumped at the opportunity.

Sennheiser gave me the IE200 in exchange for my honest review. At no point did Sennheiser influence my decision. My thoughts are my own.

Gear Used

Chord Mojo 2 (No Eq)
Sennheiser IE200 Stock Med Silicone Tips
Sennheiser IE600 Stock Med Silicone Tips
Westone W20
Brainwavz B400

Packaging/Unboxing

The packing for the IE200 is sparse in comparison to the IE600. Considering the price difference, this is to be expected. You get a similar looking exterior box to the IE600 just a bit smaller. There are no complaints from me. I do not care too much about packaging, especially at this price point. I would rather have the funds go into a lower price or into the product itself.



Accessories

The IE200 comes with three foam tips, three silicone tips, carrying pouch, the IE200 and cable.

Unlike the IE600, the IE200 only comes with one cable (3.5mm). It’s different from the newer Sennheiser IEMs. It is a thin braded cable. It has a nice feel to it and is resistant to tangles.

The tips are the same as the IE600. I was getting a good fit with the medium stock tips so I decided to not tip roll. The stock tips are part of the tuning of the IEM. Inside the bore, there is a little bit of foam. I didn’t notice this when I did my IE600 review. I bought the IE600 with my own funds after sending the review sample back and did notice the sounded took another step up with the stock tips.

Sennheiser is working on a balanced cable to work with the IE200. It's expected sometime in the spring of 2023.



Build

At this price point, I have zero complaints about the build. They are made from plastic compared to the metal on the I600. That said, the plastic feels extremely high quality.

Also, there is a tuning system built into the IEM where there are two positions for the tip. I will go into more detail later, but you can tweak the sound to your preferences. A small port is exposed when you have the tips pulled out a bit. It does alter the sound.



Fit

I have the best luck with IEMs that fit within the concha and are held in the ear by the anti-helix. The IE200 does it perfectly. It keeps the tip firmly in the ear. I can wear these for hours with no discomfort.

Overall sound signature

All the following impressions are with the tips fully covering the nozzle. I’ll write up the alternative position later in the review.

Bottom line, the tuning of the IE200 is fantastic. It seems to play well with every genre I threw at it. There was never any sibilance or other harshness even at higher volumes.

I forget where I saw this, but I remember seeing an article where Sennheiser/Axel Grell started talking about multiple driver headphones and their limitations. He felt that a single driver is the best way to reproduce sound. As far as I know, Sennheiser has never produced a multiple driver IEM. I didn’t think much of it at the time but the more I time I spend with the IE200 and IE600 the more I’m starting to agree. I have many high-end multiple driver custom headphones. Don’t get me wrong, they sound fantastic for various reasons, but I do hear what Axel was saying. I feel like there are no gaps in the sound. Multiple driver IEMs can’t seem to touch the level of coherency of a single driver. The transition from the lows to mids to highs is seamless. It also sounds a lot more natural to my years. Just my two cents.



Bass

For my preferences, the bass was just right for basically every track I threw at it. Never boomy or overpowering the mids. The control is amazing. These are very well tuned IEMs. It also reaches very deep. When needed, there is plenty of kick but never bloated which you don’t always see at this price point. I have a few test tracks that are overly warmly recorded and the bass overwhelms the rest of the track but they were cleaned up with the IE200.

Mids

Both male and female vocals sounded clear and neither too forward nor recessed. To my ears, everything sounded natural.

Treble

I tend to like a little more treble. It gives stringed instruments a little more attack and cymbals a little more metallic sound. I think the tuning plays it a little safe on the treble. That said, that makes them very easy to listen to. It’s a tradeoff. I never felt like it was seriously lacking but it does deliver a little less detail when compared to the IE600 which does have a bit more energy in the upper registers.

Stage and Imaging

As I mentioned in my IE600 review, I’m not great at explain stage. The IE200 never felt overly wide but it also never felt like all the sound was in my head. I would say average stage for an IEM. Instrument placement was very precise. It might be a bit flatter than then IE600. The best way I can describe it is that the IE600 has a more elliptical stage where the IE200 is a bit flatter. Imaging was good and nothing ever felt out of place with my usual test tracks.



Comparisons

Each comparison is done against the IE200. Please keep in mind that the IE600 is FOUR times the cost of the IE200, the Weston W20 was almost double at its release. The B400 was added into the mix because it was around the same price as the IE200 but came out a long time ago and has since been discontinued. In its day, I really enjoyed the B400 sound.

Afterglow – Emancipator
IE200 – Nice sub-bass rumble at the start of the track. Reaches nice and low. Very controlled. Cymbals are a bit recessed but still present. Never harsh and easy to listen to.
IE600 – Slightly taller stage. Same bass characteristics but a bit more quantity. A lot more presence in the treble. There is more depth and clarity to the sound. Great track for this IEM.
Westone W20 – Less rumble in the sub bass and a bit thinner overall. Staging is a bit more narrow but sightly taller.
Brainwavz B400 – More bass energy that the W20 but less than the IE200. These have aged well. Narrower but taller stage.

Lindsey Stirling - Elements (Orchestral Version)
IE200 – Very pleasant sound. Sound feels spacious. Good clarity.
IE600 – Stage feels more open and taller. There is better sense of clarity due to the higher level of treble energy. The violin is a little more lively. It basically takes all the aspects of the ie200 and raises the bar a bit.
Westone W20 – The piano sounds a bit strange. Again, bass reaches deep but lacking the quantity of the IE200. More congested then the IE200
Brainwavz B400 – The narrower staging is much more evident on the track. Less energy in the bass but these still sound great and have aged well.

Grateful Dead - Touch of Gray
IE200 – Neutral and even sound. Kick drum is nice and tight. Vocals are not forward or recessed.
IE600 – Again, it takes all the strengths of the IE200 and brings them to the next level. The stage feels a bit narrower but taller. The sound is a little more “in my head” versus the IE200. Not a good thing or a bad thing. Again, there is more bass and treble energy with vocals being similar.
Westone W20 – A lot less authority in the bass. Sounds a bit flat.
Brainwavz B400 – They make the IE200 sound a bit more V shaped. Kick drum does not have the same authority.

Angus and Julia Stone - Yellow Brick Road
IE200 – I’m really liking this track on the 200. It really shines. Instrument placements are precise. Vocals are a bit forward in this track and it comes through with these IEMs. Very natural. Nothing about the track is harsh even at higher listening levels.
IE600 – Bass becomes a but boomy and again the stage feels a but more in my head. Still a very pleasant listen but I like the IE200 a bit better for this track. The flatter signature of the IE200 plays a bit better with the way this track is recorded. It’s not bad by any long stretch.
Westone W20 – Vocals are much more forward and in my head sounding. They aren’t brighter but they still lack the relative clarity of the IE200. I like this track with these. Not as much as the IE200 but it’s still good. It plays to the W20’s strengths.
Brainwavz B400 – Bass bleeds a bit into the mids here with the B400. Vocals are again a touch more forward and intimate.

Alison Krause - It Doesn’t Matter
IE200 – Very even sound. Nice rumble on the low end. Vocals are so clear and natural. This track also shines with these.
IE600 – First off, I notice more clarity and a slightly narrower stage when compared to the IE200. I feel like her voice is bit less forward. There is sharper attack in the guitar plucks. There is a touch of sibilance in the vocals but nothing offensive.
Westone W20 – Less bass. Vocals are again a little more in my head versus the IE200.
BrainwavzB400 – Similar trend here. I still really like these IEMs.

Eric Clapton - Old Love Unplugged
IE200 – The trend continues with another easy to listen to track. Nice even sound.
IE600 – I remember loving this track when I did my original IE600 review. The added weight in the bass and extra energy in the treble play well with this track. The stage is bit better. You get a more “live music” feeling to the track. Seriously enjoyable.
Westone W20 – Similar difference here. The sound is just lively and flatter overall.
BrainwavzB400 – Narrower stage gives a little less live feeling to the sound.

Dual Tune

This feature allows you to position the tips at two different settings on the nozzle. When you place the tips on the outer setting, a small port is exposed. I tried this feature on multiple tracks and it does work. Generally, on the outer setting the stage widened, the treble became more extended, and bass was reduced. It’s not a gimmick. It really lets you tailor the sound to what your preferences are in general or for the specific music you are listening to. EDM, us it with the warmer signature. Classical, go with the wider signature. I will be using this feature with these. You may also want to keep in mind that using this feature with aftermarket tips may be an issue. The stock tips have the detents in them to keep them in place.

Conclusion

To my ears, the IE600 is an amazing IEM. The IE200 takes a bit of the same magic to a lower price point. It is an insane value at its current MSRP of $149. I have a ton of high-end customs that are getting less use than my IE200. If you need a cheaper IEM to take on the go or you’re on a limited budget, I can’t think of a better IEM. It does so much so well and plays well with every type of music I threw at it.