Sennheiser previously launched the IE 300 and IE 900, for 249 and 1,299 euros respectively. In between is another alternative: the 699 euro IE 600. This model is supposed to bring hi-fi options to a wider audience, but will that come at the expense of the audio experience? Read it in this Sennheiser IE 600 review.
Sennheiser IE 600
Recommended retail price € 699,-
Colors Gray
Link Wired
Type of cables 3.5mm jack, 4.4mm Pentaconn (MMCX)
Weight 6 grams
In the box Two kinds of cables, earplugs, storage case, multiple kinds of plugs
Website www.sennheiser.com
8.5 Score 85 
- Pros
- Neutral(er) sound
- Two types of cables
- More earplugs
- audio experience
- Durable housing
- Negatives
- Price
- Non-slip housing
The Sennheiser IE 600 is a remarkable product in many ways. We are well aware that paying almost 700 euros for wired earplugs is not for everyone. There can be several reasons for this: you can’t spend it on it or you don’t want to spend it on it.
That does not alter the fact that Sennheiser delivers an interesting hi-fi product with the IE 600. Perhaps more people will come into contact with hi-fi and the possibilities that the high-end products have to offer through these earplugs. But what makes this set so interesting?
Special housing from the 3d printer
Of course, the audio experience plays the biggest role. But before we get there, let’s first discuss the design and specifications. For example, the housing comes from a 3d printer. The material used by the audio manufacturer for this is ZR01 amorphous zirconium. That won’t ring a bell with everyone, but this material has a glass-like atomic structure that is three times as hard and bend-resistant as high-quality steel. This metal ensures that the earbuds are protected against rust and signs of wear, making them “last for decades”, according to Sennheiser.
Such a claim, of course, cannot be verified within a period of several weeks of daily listening. Some context is therefore in order and Sennheiser is not afraid to provide it. For example, NASA’s Mars rover, the North American space agency, uses this material for its drill head. As a result, we at least have the confidence that the durability is good and that the earplugs are not easily damaged.
Incidentally, the earplugs feel very hard and cold, but are nevertheless quite firm and reasonably comfortable in your ear canal.
Two types of cables
Sennheiser supplies enough accessories to use the IE 600 optimally. You get different earplugs, made of silicone or memory foam. It’s nice to see that the earbuds support MMCX cables. This way you can easily replace the cables, if necessary. In addition, there are two types of cables: the 3.5mm audio jack and the 4.4mm Pentaconn standard. So you don’t have to settle for one thing or another, if you have a particular preference. The cables offer the option to drive the earplugs unbalanced or balanced.
Audio experts agree that a balanced listening experience is much better than an unbalanced one. There is less noise on the line, the impedance is lower and there is little distortion. To really make the most of it, you need to invest in high-end or hi-fi hardware. Then think of the right music players or DACs that you place between a device and the set of earplugs.
If you’re considering hi-fi products like this Sennheiser, you’re probably already equipped. However, if this is your first time and you want to get more out of your audio, there is a lot coming your way.
Is it worth it?
We focus on the layman for a moment; we are sure that the average hi-fi enthusiast already has an answer to the question of whether investing in such products is worth it or not. We can now say something silly like “it just depends on what you want to get out of it”, but in fact it comes down to that. In addition to good hardware and a set of earplugs such as the Sennheiser IE 600, you also need good music files that can be played in the highest resolution. You can create a personal collection or take out a subscription to a hi-fi streaming service.
Sennheiser offers one driver per earplug. In the market for hi-fi earplugs, a heated discussion quickly arises about the use of drivers in earplugs. One thinks that a single driver should be possible, while there are also manufacturers crammed three four to ten drivers into the compact housing. Sennheiser therefore sticks to one driver, the so-called TrueResponse driver. It is 7 mm in size, leaving enough room for higher tones.
Lower tones are naturally slightly less present, but the sound chambers in the earplugs subtly amplify the sound where necessary.
High level audio experience
Okay, enough about the specs, the case and the parts, how does the Sennheiser IE 600 sound? We’ll mention it one more time: the experience strongly depends on the hardware you use and the type of music files you play. For example – just for the layman – there is a huge difference between listening to songs via Spotify and Tidal, via the same device. This is due to the difference in quality, but also because of the earplugs. They usually play a relatively neutral sound, so that the audio experience borders on the experience that an artist has in mind.
Still sounds a bit fuzzy. Because how does it sound then? Well, first of all, very clear. You hear fine details in the background and the different layers all come out nicely, without getting in each other’s way. The bass is not very strong, as can be the case with wireless consumer earplugs. But that’s an obvious choice.
It does not mean that the bass sound is absent, on the contrary. But it is less loud and really does not boom through strongly, so that you generally have a pleasant listening experience – regardless of the genre.
This means that the IE 600 falls well between the IE 300 and IE 900. Where the IE 900 sounds even more neutral and the IE 300 logically a lot less, you do not pay the top price here for a sound that waltzes into your ears very nicely. The audio sounds a bit warmer compared to the more expensive model and never crosses a boundary.
Music therefore always sounds lively and natural, as well as controlled and very precise. The soundstage therefore sounds both very broad and intimate. It doesn’t matter what music you listen to; pretty much everything sounds nice with the IE 600 in.
Sennheiser IE 600 – conclusion
700 euros for a set of earplugs is a lot of money. But it is not 1,300 euros, while you do get a considerable hi-fi experience. If you are interested in these types of products and if you want to experience how music can sound through more neutral earplugs, this is a nice starting point if you also want to get something new right away.
The Sennheiser IE 600 seems to bring together the best of both worlds: a hi-fi music experience and a relatively low price. If the earplugs do indeed “last for decades”, 700 euros does not sound like a wrong investment.
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