Sennheiser - IE 200

Personally my setup is to have one pair purely for chasing max detailed hifi for fun separate from my personal favourite for comfort, lying on my side, etc. which is the ie200 (maybe ie600 eventually)

I just skimmed the comments so apologize if I'm repeating here: IE200 are the only IEM I own/tried that I would wear under a helmet and the only that I can lie on my side with consistently and comfortably. Etymotics might be good but I'd be scared of how deep they go in, but otherwise they're basically a triple flange ear plug which can be pretty good for noise protection. But I did look it up and experienced motorcycle riders seem to ubiquitously recommend good earplugs and a cardo system (Cardo JBL?). If you do ride with IEMs make sure you check that they're blocking out the noise without music playing first, and that the music you do play can be heard and kept at safe listening levels.

Here's a fit pic (not my pic) my ears are pretty medium sized and they fit comfortably inside that part of my ear, and much flatter/less protrusion than the rest of the ear itself: https://preview.redd.it/qwkdx6rohjid1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0c0bd404728d7e29c192fe663a51e117b8be6b7 I can put quite a bit of pressure against them without any real discomfort. I only feel discomfort if the pressure isn't evenly distributed causing it to press inside my ear canal which is why I think this shape might be better than the insertion plug style for comfort. If you do get them, they go on sale under $100 USD regularly. You'll want to replace cable w/ Tripowin Zombur or Open Heart ie200 cable. And look up ie200 tape mod (free and takes a few mins).

You should definitely check out the Sennheiser IE line. From their cheapest IE200 , their midrange IE600 and to the most expansive IE900 they are all amazing iems, with incredibly small shells. Small enough to actually sleep with, as they do not stick outside of the ear.

Switched from them to Sennheiser IE200, very satisfied, they sound better than Aipods pro and cost even less. With them you will realize what a crap of a bud is the airpod

Sorry for your ears if you really tried them. But I have a suspicion you are just talking and never ever seen the package of IE200. The buds that are intended for casual listening, like AirPods, are just making a marmalade of all the instruments present in a track, blending them together and raising basses. You like this way of listening? Cool, but not say that the ie200 are not intended for listening music from a good source, because you are deeply badly informermed of just a troll. They are incredibly defined, you can easily focus on a single instrument and enjoy all the shades the track get from this medium. Basses are there, not invading the field nor left to be desired. Obviously it is not that way with every track. I enjoy listening to blues, rock and jazz a lot with these, while hip-hop/r n b and rap sometimes are not that “pushy” on the basses, but I believe this is cause we are used to those bad mediums that change the sound to be as the industry intended. Ultimately, the IE200 are a great iem and there are no ways on earth that shit like AirPods at 200€ are better than IE200 at 130€. Don’t fall for hype or fashion, why would you even buy something that after 1 year of use is clearly deteriorating and showing its bad obsolescence? I had 5 different models of AirPods across the years, WHAT A F WASTE OF MONEY. All of them end up not properly functioning after the 2 years limit, it was almost funny, they expire like milk 🤣 meanwhile my Momentum 2 bought in 2016 are still rock solid, sounding almost like the latest Sony anc earphone released last year (sound wise) and paying itself like every f technology device should do, working as intended by the manufacturer for at least 10 years.

I'll tell you what made me do the switch. I was listening to a lot of hip-hop artists lately when I decided to give my old walkman a try and bought the IE200 to try iem as main earbuds. Kendrick Lamar discography sound way better on IE200+Walkman A45 than it does on iPhone+Airpods Pro and this is a fact. You can stay here and make the thing about how many khz you want, but the richness I find in the first setup is of no match. They have significant differences imo. Also try to listen to (if you are into it) "Sum 2 Prove" by Lil Baby, on walkman+IE200 basses are going to make your eardrums explode if you are not careful. Of course there are examples where iPhone and Airpods perform better, like with many Francesco Guccini songs, where on Hi Res tracks the pitch of his voice is way higher than the rest of instruments, while on Apple Music they are leveled, but mushed all instruments together. I've also compared the IE200 with pure consumer headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum 2 and 4, still the IE200 sound way better than both of them.

Truthear Hexa: MMM... https://i.redd.it/pvyk10enj1ie1.gif DELICIOUS IE200!!

As a few others have pointed out, Etymotics are extremely good for noise isolation and are super easy to drive directly off your phone. I couldn't wear them for a super long time (which isn't an issue on the commute, but is an issue for other parts of my life) so have switched to the Sennheiser IE200s: comfort level is off the charts for me but you do sacrifice some isolation.

I've had a few models cycle in the last 2 years, but my core 4 are still here 1. Focal Elex - previously I didn't love them but they or the pads have broken in and now they're my daily driver 2. DCA Aeon X Closed - depending on the day I prefer to the Elex, but I'm an open back guy at the end of the day 3. Sennheiser IE200 - just wore for 18 hours straight on a flight and I cannot dispute the comfort and sound isolation 4. Audio Technica ATH-AD700 - my first serious headphone and I still love the soundstage, but it really lacks bass

Very well put. I will be giving up my M4s for an entry IE200 and work my way up to the IE900 as I primarily use them for gaming and movies/PC sessions.

could you please recommend some aftermarket ear tips for bass? I'm thinking of giving up the mom4 for the ie200.

a 20-50$ iem will sound much better than any non audio brand 10$ earphone and even rival 100-150$ wireless earbuds like a samsung or oneplus. an 200$ iem will sound better than an airpods, these are just logically normal things. when it comes to actually comparing against over ear headphones or speakers. under 100$ generally iems will be the best but there are some good like 70-80$ headphones that rival them. around 100-500 or even 1000$ you really cannot beat over ear headphones for sound quality, once you spend multiple thousand dollars then speakers rule. but these categories arent really comparable since they are used in different situations most of the times. people mostly use iems outside, headphones in front of a computer and speakers in the living room. I can say that on well mixed tracks you can definitely hear a difference, it does not make the song different or anything like that but you pick up on new details when comparing a 30$ iem to a 150$ one, but usually the more important one is the sound signature of it, some are very flat and neutral some are made for bass some are made to be the most clear and detailed some are focused on male or female vocals its all depending on your personal preference. personally when listening to just popular rock songs I do notice that 150$ ie200s have more detailed guitar sounds and more separated drums than 25$ 7hz zero's in terms of really high end iems, they arent really supposed to be competing with normal headphones or speakers but trying to get as close to them while still being portable and private so you can use them anywhere. at home I would not use my iems since I already have decent over ear headphones that are much more comfortable and are open back, but ofc I cant use them on the train so I use my iems. going into iems its probably a good idea to not spend a ton of money, 20-30$ options like 7hz zero2 or tangzu waner will sound much better than what you have in every way you can imagine for not much money, if you go up to like 80$ they will become more detailed and technically better but the general sound of the music wont change much. in the end they are just a piece of tech not anything elite or smart or whatever, like 1000$ iems and such are a niche and stuff most people wouldn't care about them, but more affordable ones are just objectively great value if you care about sound.

I had 600 and 200, and latter was the keeper.

ie200 with tape mod has very impactful base.

IEMs:- Campfire Andro 2020 > Shure se846 > Sennheiser ie800 > Dunu sa6 > Sony mdr ex800 > Sony xba N3 > final a4000 > Sennheiser ie200 > etymotic er2xr > Sennheiser ie600 > Kiwiears Cadenza > Shure se215 > blon bl03 > Moondrop Space travel Headphones:- Audeze LCD2C > AKG K701 > hd600 > hd660s > hd6xx > hd650 > Meze 109 > Koss porta pro > Grado sr225 > Grado sr80

It just fits my music, the hype4 is the cheapest one in my favorites so it is my carry around but honestly Ill take a lower cost set if I'm going to do something dirty or sweaty. My B list is something like Estrella Performer 5 n5005 Ie200

IE200 are not worth it, tried it. Chifi delivers way more in the price bracket.

Sennheiser IE Series Overhyped, not that special and the hole slim profile, besides looking very cool, was more annoying than helpful. It’s totally personal, but I’m super used to the common form factor of many iems, how to put them in your ear and pop them out super easily, let them hang or completely taking them off - which is just not possible with the IE200 in my experience. Sound wise I just experienced the 200, which were lacking tremendously compared to IEMs in the same price range.

Take something comfortable like Moondrop chu 2 or Lan, if you go up a little take Sennheiser ie 200 or Kadenz , also stock up on eartips or alcohol wipes. If you connect directly to the microphone there may be interference and background noise

Haven't heard the Alba, but I doubt it'd be better than ie200.

For my preference, I'd say the ie200.

Don’t know about gaming headphones, but they are surely better than other headphones during gaming. I have a Bose QC25 and Sennheiser IE200’s, audio quality isn’t that much different but IEM’s are 100x more comfortable, especially during Summer and humid rainy days. Most IEM’s also are purpose built for Hi-Fi audio and thus with good DAC can also be used to consume High Fidelity content. Only con is some IEM’s don’t have an in-line microphone, so make sure you buy one with mics.

I don't have experience with many other IEMs, but I ordered Sennheiser's IE 200 recently. They sound amazing, I literally don't feel the need for anything else. They have a weird design "feature" that makes them not deliver the bass the driver is capable of, but that can be solved either with EQ or with Dunu S&S tips (I have them and can confirm), and then they'll have the frequency response similar to the 500$ IE 600. However, I find the bass to be nice even with the stock tips. They are extremely comfortable, you can wear them for hours and barely feel them. People say the stock cable is shit but I think it's because it's pretty slim. I also ordered another 20&$ 3rd party MMCX cable from Openheart on AliExpress but it's bulkier and heavier, I don't find it better or more comfortable than the stock one, with which I really don't have a problem. They have clear mids and highs, and are not fatiguing in any way. They also fit the ideal *i-dont-remember-which* curve. If you are curious about these just watch the reviews made by DMS, Crinacle and In-ear Fetish on YouTube. If you have anymore questions you can PM me.

I have small ears and the most comfortable have been the ie200 and meze alba.

If you replace the cable and tips, the Sennheiser IE200 has treated me nicely.

I did a search on Reddit for IE200, read the threads and comments, did the same on YouTube… ended up here for the cable https://tripowin.com Went with spinfit cp100 for the tips

Definitely. There are some out there that probably sound better for the price range, but the comfort is fantastic. People don’t talk about comfort enough.

ER4 owner, I can get any of the tips to fit my ears, but I have yet to be okay with the comfort for longer than 20 minutes. Sound is good, but it’s not anything mind blowing. It’s just good. IMO the 7Hz Timeless matches it, the Blessing 2 beats it. And both are much more comfortable in my ear. Fwiw I daily the Sennheiser ie200 for in ears.

I think so. I'm not going to say "I forget I have them in" but I can wear them for hours which is more than I can say for anything else I've tried. I don't like their included silicone tips but the foam ones are good. I did end up buying some Dunu silicone tips which I now prefer more than the foam tips.

Yeah, I think the pros and cons of the IE200 are the same as when it came out. But also it was really over-hyped when it came out and that's died down a bit now. The main reason to get it is for comfort (although some people complain about it popping out of their ears because it's so small). Tuning for me is meh. Nothing sounds bad on it, nothing sounds particularly great either. It's got that "boring neutral" sound without actually being anywhere close to neutral. The tuning vent thing is a really annoying, poorly thought-out gimmick that makes the tape mod essential, so you're locked into one tuning anyway. Especially if you use 3rd party tips that aren't specifically designed to cover the vent. But also with the stock tips, you frequently have to fiddle around to avoid channel imbalances if you don't tape mod it, because the simple act of inserting the IEM into the ear has a random chance of changing the tuning. Also the stock cable is terrible and the proprietary MMCX connector means there's only one cable that actually fits it perfectly, the [OpenHeart one](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006044636941.html). Fortunately that's a good cable, but it adds another hidden $20 to the cost (possibly a lot more now if you're in the USA).

You'll want smaller nozzles because a larger nozzle will create pressure on the tip, so it won't be as soft as it should be even if you are using very small tips. It's not absolute though because a shorter nozzle can be comfortable despite being wider, just because it doesn't go as far into the ear canal. In fact it can sometimes help to use a *larger* tip just so it doesn't go in as deep. Omar the Audio Amigo published a database of nozzle sizes, but it's only useful as a rough guide: https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1gagswz/audio_amigos_nozzle_measurement_and_iem_database/ As an example, the Kiwi Ears Cadenza has quite wide nozzles, but a lot of people find it very comfortable anyway because the nozzles aren't very long. I have mine on SS20 tips and it's very comfortable for me. But I have medium-sized ear canals, so don't use that as a guide. The IE200 is the best of everything in terms of having one of the smallest nozzles as well as probably the smallest and most ergonomic shell. It just depends if you like how they sound and if they are in budget.

I went to try out the IE 200 at my local hifi store and found that they fit my ear perfectly. However I found the audio to be bland, very flat, which can be a good thing for some I guess. Listening to techno I felt that they really excelled in the audio details, but for like rock and other non electronic genres not as much. Knowing that they fit good, I tried the IE 600 a week later as soon as they had them in store, and that's what I ended up getting. It's a whole other level of audio they put out. Goosebumps and smiles :) Did enjoy the cable that came with the 200 over the stiffer one(s) on the 600. Great review on your part, just what I was looking for before going to the store to try and buy.

My ears are small too, after trying multiple iems, this is what I think are some comfortable iems for small ears which i have owned. Sub $20 - Get Truthear Gate over salnotes zero Sub $150 - S12, ie200 Sub $200 - Meze alba (Most comfortable iem i have ever tried) Sub $600 - Symphonium meteor, ie600 Kilobuck - 64 audio

IMO Sennheiser doesn’t compete well with most respected Chinese IEM manufacturers on any level in this space. Others have talked about the high-end, but their IE 200 is overpriced and easily outclassed by $20 budget IEMs. I’d take a Tanchjim Bunny over an IE 200 any day. I think now they mostly appeal to those out of the loop, musicians more concerned with creation than listening, and people afraid to buy from China due to some dated notions about quality. Same folks that still buy Shure IEMs.

Extremely unpopular opinion, but IE 200 are pretty uncomfortable for me

True, same reason I cant use the AirPods as they just fall out of my ears. Currently use an IE200 and Final Audio E3000, these fit my ears better.

I had the Hexa before, sound was nice however not very comfy for my ears so I sold them, usually I now use my Final Audio e3000 or Sennheiser ie200.

It’s huge jump up. The bass might not be a deep as others, but the overall quality of sound is a significant upgrade, with good details, mids, highs. There are other IEMs in the ie200 range you might also want to consider, but if you have your sights set on it, it will reward you with a good sound. Still, if you describe just what it is you’re hoping for, other than just a step up, there might be something in the same price range you may want to consider. You mention details. But what about bass? Do you want a more sparkly treble? Anything else you can add you feel you’re not getting now might be helpful in other suggestions than a simple yes, that’s a definite upgrade.

Great write up. I got the ie200 when it originally released, then I got the ie600 in between and had QC issues. I also found there wasn't much difference between them after EQ. I ended up selling the 600 and keeping the 200. I'm really happy with them, they're my only iems. I think I might try the Final E tips after reading your post.

Great writeup! I'm really interested in the ie900, but that price is crazy high for an iem. I recently sold my ie600 and stuck with the ie200, I didn't find a huge difference after EQ. There is a bigger difference between my HD600 and 800S, but I'm keen to see how the ie900 compares.

I love my ie200s

Both are the same shape and size, only difference is the tuning. Er2xr has more bass while er2se is flat. Both sit quite flush, you can see how they sit in these reviews https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/etymotic-research-er2xr.23811/reviews If this isn't enough then there are sennheiser ie200, they sit flush but do not offer the same sound isolation as the etymotics.

Tip rolling is crucial for etymotics. The included ones i tried were either too big or too small. I use SS size shure x comply foam, they're the perfect size for a deep insert and are comfortable enough to not chafe my ear canals. Despite the tip rolling i'm sorry for the pain that they caused your ear canals. I'v'n't tried shure iems, they're too expensive and there are many better options from what i've read lurking in this subreddit for a while. Ie200 have the same "shape" as shure so they'd sit flush unless you have cauliflower ears which would hinder how flush they sit. Idk your preferred tuning, many claim that they sound great so hopefully they'll suit your tastes. For every iem, i suggest tip rolling (trying out different eartips), cause the eartip can make or break not only the comfort but the seal, which means they'll be uncomfortable and not sound good at all. Many iems don't come with good eartips, imo etymotic and ie200 come with mediocre to bad eartips. Trying out different eartips made them better, they made etymotics my favourite iems after finding the right tips. Popular options are: divinus velvet, tri clarion, tangzu sancai, spinfit cp100+, cp145, cp155, azla xelastic, spiral dots, dunu s&s, foam eartips from comply, dekoni, and sonicfoam.

IE600 > IE200(terrible cable) >> IE900 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IE300 problem with everything but IE200 is it's rly overpriced, IE600 at $800 msrp most closely competes with $259 Intuaura Splendor II

The IE200 is a fine sounding in ear that is worth its price, as such its a good choice no matter if you are a new or not. People around here like to call them IEMs (In Ear Monitor) but elsewhere around they are called "In ear headphones" or simply "In-ears". "Earbuds" on the otherhand is the wireless in-ears such as Sony wf1000xm5 for example.

I second Variations, massively expensive, but they sound so immaculate I only use them at home as a treat 😭 I'd also suggest the Sennheiser IE300 (go for IE200, cheaper ($150) with almost identical performance), but I've been out of the game for a bit, so that suggestion might be a bit off-base...

I believe the best of the IE series is actually the IE200.

IE200 are actually fantastic sounding as long as the bass port is covered. Built like a 5 dollar piece of crap though. Had to super glue mine together after the housing fell apart. Sound and comfort though... It's hard to beat. It gets just as much ear time if not more than my Monarch MK II

I use my IE 200 for more relaxed listening. They are extremely comfortable to wear. They are great for media, movies, and shows...as well as long lo-fi listening sessions. The IE 200 has such a pleasant tone that almost anything sounds goof on them.

I love the tonality of my ER2SE but I wish the triple flange tips fit well for me. I use comply tips. Just bought a pair of IE 200s as well :)

Sennheiser ie200 are suitable ONLY for stage use and ONLY for guitarists, vocalists and not needy drummers. They have a really pronounced high freq. spectrum (to cut thru the mix while monitoring on stage) amd very poor low end. Believe me - i am a bassist with IEM’s and i’ve had both 100, and 200 model and are total shit for listening purposes.

IE200 are really not intended for music listening purposes and are made for live performance monitoring of vocals. They have a really weird freq curve and lack sub bass freq. Would give them 3/10 for listening of music.

Our whole band uses IE100 for in ears. I also bought them but had problems with shitty sound from day 1. Always lacking bass and having harsh/pronounced highs. I then bought IE200 cuz I thought that they will be better then 100’s. Well not really. A bit more bassy but still lacking bass and having the same highs. And once again - those iem’s are built for special task called IN EAR MONITORING. They have pronounced trebles so instument players hear themselfs on a loud stage (except bass players). But I am not sure why are they built in that way that they lack bass. Probably to eliminate the muddines of bad in ear mixes. Either way… IE series of IEM’s are not good for listening to music / quite the opposite, they sound shitty. Period.

I also got the IE 200 and additionally bought the Spinfit Neo tips and the Tripowin Solstice cable. Am I good to go? The solstice feels like always disconnecting from my IEM and I almost lost the IE 200 because the cable was too lose. Also do the Spinfit Neo tips even cover the nozzle of the IEM? I heard there's some leakage with the stock tips. Would mean the world to me, if someone could help me out or give better recommendations.

Do spinfit neo work as third party tips that cover the nozzle? I also have the tripowin solstice and it feels like the cable keeps falling off.

My first ones were the KZ ZS 10 Pro and I had a similar experience. The sound wasn’t pleasant at all. I went to a friend and tried his FiiO something’s. And in the End I got Sennheiser IE 300s. Those were so muffled that I decided to get the IE600 which are absolutely everything I hoped them to be. More recently I have also gotten the IE200 which are much cheaper and sound 90% as good as the IE600. I recommend the IE200 to everyone in a heartbeat.

Got mine today (second time around...), cannot wait to spend time with them. I've a couple of different DACs there and got the Dunu SS tips but will live with them as stock without the tape mod for a week and see how they go, never found the bass overly lacking previously and absolutely loved the detail!

I might be little biased in this because I use Wan'er longer than my Castor so I will pick Wan'er because of how comfortable it is with long time gaming and also Wan'er is much more fun to be EQ. Actually 7hz Zero2 might be a better choice if you comfortable with their design. If you have more budget for IEM, Sennheiser IE 200 can do better but with that price might just go for Simgot Supermix 4

I only have a set of IE200 and IE100 pros, IE200s are better, I have not listened to the rest, but the IE200 with a better cable would be my current go to Sennheiser IEM.

I have tried a bunch of other IEMs as well but the IE200s are just very very comfortable for longer sessions, that was my main reason. my IE100 pros, the cable started breaking and I could not find a replacement cable for a decent price, so just upgraded to the IE200s, the shape of shell is honestly perfect.

You can't use IEMs with earplugs, so that's why we're confused here. But some IEMs isolate just as well as earplugs. Look at Etymotics, although since they stick out a bit they might be unwieldy for use under a helmet. Shure SE215, although not the best sound for the price anymore, has very good isolation and is a great small fit for under a helmet, as well as being as solid as IEMs get. Sennheiser IE200 is similar but less reliable.

Them both are not good representations to their price range. Very old and bad sennheiser tuning, try IE200 & 600

I love the sub bass of my IE 200 with 0 mods honestly. It punches well and it’s quite detailed. I’m always shocked that I can have almost studio quality while chilling on a train

I ended up getting a pair on the recent Amazon sale, and I bloody love these things! They remind me a lot of Truthear Hexas, but with a bit more texture to the bass! Also, I don't think these are hard to drive at all. I've had no issues running them on the native 3.5mm port on my a306 walkman, among other more underpowered devices.

Although I would say the hexa might suit your tuning preferences more (maybe?) the Ie200 is something to consider purely for the comfort (for your 8 hour usage). They’re are really small and fit seamlessly in the ear, they type of fit that some people have said they can sleep with. The hexas have a fairly large nozzle and a very geometric shape, so they will likely fatigue you faster. Beyerdynamic headphones have very soft pads, but they have circular and a bit smaller ear cups, so they will likely press against your ear and there’s the chance that will pinch after a while. I’m also not sure how you feel about the treble of the Beyers but that alone could fatigue you if comfort doesn’t.

**Introduction** It's been over 2 years since IE 200 was released, which is a lot in 'IEM years,' where new hype comes and goes in a matter of months. Originally released at $150 it was a tough sell in a competitive market flooded with chifi. The accessories, build and dual tuning gimmick held it back compared to the competition. As time went on price eventually dropped and IE 200 is often available at discounts around $90-100. I have been using IE 200 for almost 2 years now. In this review I will be sharing a deep dive at how it aged over these years. As always, this is a subjective review based on my experience after using it for almost 2 years. **Build, Comfort, Design and Accessories** IE 200 is completely made of plastic with an ergonomic design, making it one of the most comfortable IEMs I have ever worn. Being fully made of plastic it is lightweight and could feel cheap compared to resin or metal built IEMs. However, it has held strong over the years. There are no scratches or breaks on the IEM body. Part of the reason could be the fact that I put it inside a case after each use. But the paint on top of the Sennheiser logo has chipped off. The silver logo on the black body looks much better in my opinion than how it came. IE 200 is on the smaller side in size, with a shorter, narrower nozzle, which makes it easier for people with smaller ears. People with bigger ears might need to test with different eartips of larger sizes to get the best seal. Speaking of eartips, the silicone eartips provided are of poor quality and often break the seal inside the ear. However, the foam tips are of good quality. Since I am not a fan of foam tips, it stays inside the box without ever being used. The eartips you use play a huge role in the sound of IE 200. Eartips with a tighter core could block the vent hole in the nozzle completely making bass rise up. The included cable is of poor quality with memory hooks, which could be a dealbreaker for some. The cable is also microphonic, meaning you will hear noises when it rubs against your shirt. This makes it very annoying to use while walking. People wearing glasses could also face a similar issue when the memory hooks keep rubbing against the frame. On the positive side, the MMCX connection has been solid so far. My old chifi IEMs with an MMCX connection had developed channel imbalance when twisting the cable within a year of use and it was annoying to get it right every time. The included faux leather pouch is very bare bones and offers no protection to the IEM. A case would have made more sense, as competitors in this price range include one. **Sound** This review was done with 'tape mod' and after market eartips (Final Audio E tips). In my opinion, IE 200 sounds the best in this configuration. As I mentioned in the above section, the included eartips are not great and don't seal well. Also with tape mod, the bass is significantly boosted similar to IE 600 making the overall sound signature quite v-shaped. **Bass** Bass is one of the strong points of IE 200. With tape mod, sub bass is significantly boosted, with a good enough mid bass presence. It delivers a satisfying punch and tactile response, putting it a cut above the bass of typical budget IEMs. However, it falls short in bass texture and detail. Overall the bass quality is solid and fun to listen to especially considering its current price range. **Mid range** Even with such a bass boost, vocals never get drowned out in the mix. Unlike its older brother IE 900, IE 200’s upper mids have enough energy to avoid sounding dull. Thanks to excellent treble extension and mid range tuning, vocals exhibit an extra sheen around the edges. This works especially well with female singers, particularly those with thin and pristine vocals. However, this also comes at the cost of occasionally sounding dry on certain tracks. IE 200 mostly avoids harshness by scooping out the 4–5kHz region, which I am most sensitive to. Even though this helps reduce harshness in vocals, it can make certain instruments sound dull. Even with this, IE 200 can still be sibilant due to peaks in the upper treble and its overall treble forward character (more on this in the treble section). **Treble** Treble is very much extended without being harsh sounding for the most part. This along with boosted bass makes it exciting to listen to. There is a ‘wow factor’ when playing engaging songs. However, treble isn’t the most detailed, it’s just extended and forward sounding. But this much treble boost can also come at the cost of being sibilant or harsh in some songs. Tracks that exhibit sibilance, especially in the upper treble, are unlistenable on IE 200. Every treble note cuts through vocals making it a painful listen. That said, I have only noticed this in a few songs and most of the time it’s free from this issue. Hence, I would recommend doing the tape mod as stock ear tips have less bass in quantity, which doesn’t help with treble harshness. **Presentation** IE 200 is rather average in the “technical performance” department. It has above average performance that puts it ahead of budget IEMs. It doesn’t bring out all the details from songs like planars do in this price range, but it also doesn’t sound blunted or soft. It’s a similar story with imaging, it’s not the best at pinpointing instruments. IE 200 also struggles in instrumental separation in songs that have a lot going on. However on a positive note, IE 200 sounds wide and open by IEM standards. Its forward treble character helps create this sensation, making everything sound wide horizontally. **Conclusion** Overall, IE 200 with tape mod is a fun sounding IEM with satisfying bass and an exciting treble response. It may not be the most competitive IEM in this price range for subjective qualities like detail, resolution etc, but it still packs a punch with its distinctive tuning approach. With that said, I would only recommend IE 200 if you can get a good discount and are willing to spend on aftermarket cables and eartips.

Sennheiser IE 200 It's not the best option in its price range, as chi-fi is very competitive (now it's available at a huge discount from its original price.) But once you've done the 'tape mode' and changed its ear tips, it's just fun to listen to. The bass quality is very good with a tactile response, and the treble has that 'wow factor' yeah, sometimes it can be quite peaky.

IE 200 is small and comfortable. But the cable and eartips are both trash, you would want to replace them. If you are looking for tws, go for airpods like tws as it requires shallow fit, hence ideal for small ears. Something like Nothing ear or ear A are great.

For me it was the ie 200, when I first listened to them, my heart sank. Got the Dunu s&s tips, and oh man.

For that price you're better off getting the Sennheiser IE 200, IMHO they're decent IEM.

As a broke person (sim racing / audiophile / keebs / vr) there is something up with the dap side of the vr headset. So if you’re using a quest 3, stick with cheaper options that don’t require amplification or a resolving dac. Yes, I am saying to avoid getting the best iem and focus on getting an iem that can be sufficiently driven by the quest 3. The high end of this for me would be the ie200. Generally speaking, this is my favorite iem because of how small it is and the sound it puts out is tremendous. This is slightly out of your budget. It is however in my mind the nicest option. Moondrop chu ii is a very good starter iem. Salnotes zero (the og) also is a good option here especially if you don’t like the metal housing of the chu. Both of them come with an inline mic if you fancy that. I would avoid any bass monsters unless you’ve got a dac solution in place. Hbb hades comes to mind here. Going further down, tin c2 have some new releases coming out. Finally, I’m gonna rec the koss ksc75 and portapros- the 75s are perfect for the quest and the porta pros were on the cv1. Although not iems, these are great sound solutions. Finally, and only if you’re willing to stay on headphones for vr, I recommend the Sony mdr-mv1. Super comfortable and light weight. Punches way above its cost as far as sound quality goes. Edit: if you’re not using the 3.5 mm on the quest, ignore most of this as my perspective is that of a user who is using the sound solution built into the q3.

I absolutely love them. For me, I finally found an IEM that fits, and with the tape mod and slight bass boost, they are lovely. Are they any other IEMs in a similar size. It seems like 90% look the same, and none fit me.

Oh yeah, hard to beat IE200 or final E4000 for comfort. Meze Albas is another one known for comfort. Apart from that look single driver iems like S08. For cheaper ones Chu II's are fantastic. P.S - most iems you find will already be smaller than mp145, I find them too big (helps the Soundstage though), for ex: Nicehck f1 pro has the same driver in a much smaller shell.

(amongst the iems have I owned) s tier: kiwi ears ke 4 and truthear hexa a+ tier: Ikko OH10, Pula PA02, Shuoer s12 pro, Sennheiser ie200, Kefine Delci, Dunu Titan S OG a tier: Dunu Titan s2, Tanchjim One, pre revision CCA CRA+ A- tier: Binary Chopin, Tangzu Waner Studio, KZ PR2 pre revision, Tripowin Olina SE B+ tier: Kiwi Ears Quintet, Tangzu Xuan Ji, Simgot EW 200, Truthear Gate and Hola, Tangzu Wan'er SG B tier: Moondrop Chu 2 and OG, KZ EDA Balanced, Kiwi Ears Quartet, Moondrop Aria Snow, FiiO Jade Audio JH3, Tripowin Lea B- tier: 7hz zero OG, Truthear Zero Blue, Whizzer BS1 C tier: KZ CRN D tier: Moondrop Quarks honorable mentions: Koss KSC75 in A minus, Porta Pro in B, Moondrop Space Travel in B-, Galaxy Buds Plus and 2 in A minus along with Airpods Pro Gen 1, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in A plus.

I definitely think you are making a mistake getting these over ChiFi. The IE200 are a bit of a mess compared to something like the Moondrop Aria (and I assume the Aria 2, but I haven’t heard them)

Yeah, I’ve tried them both. When I bought my current IEMs (Moondrop Kato) a couple of years ago, I tried the Aria, the IE200, CCA CRA+, and the S12. The IE200 were the most comfortable, but they come with an awful cable and sounded worse than everything else I tried besides the CRA+. The Aria were more comfortable than anything else I tried besides the IE200, including the Kato that I ended up keeping and sounded better than everything except the Kato.

oh god yeah. IE200 was my first iem and the best I can say is that they're better than beats lmao. The size was kinda nice tbh. I now have a fiio FH3 that I use and it took awhile to get used to the bulk. But yeah, IE200 is a glorified earbud. not something I'd consider an IEM now. especially considering how the FH3 compares to it.

I felt the same way with the IE200 after trying another iem (fiio FH3). Just felt like a glorified earbud. I had planned on getting the ie600 before, but now I felt like sennheiser missed the ball on the 200s at least, so I didn't have the confidence to drop the money on the 600. right now, I'm trying out different technology at the $100ish price point to see if there's a type of iem I like best. Just wish I had a better dynamic driver iem to compare to. still better than beats tho lmao so it's not the worst purchase to make.

3rd time seeing the ie200 in this list. glad I'm not the only one to be less than impressed.

Oh ok. Ordered spinfit 100+. I got the IE200 delivered today, it’s great in some position of the ear with full bass, but I often miss that correct spot lol. Hope Spinfit 100+ won’t have this issue.

After some research and a being bit tired of using wired headphones,I decided to buy my first pair of iems (Sennheiser ie200), and found them to be a significant improvement in sound quality of both airpods pro (2nd gen) and Sony WF1000xm4 (though I think the latter is still pretty good). Out of curiosity, I also purchased a pair of KZ Castors, just to see the difference between a pair of 100$s and a pair of 10$s. While I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘night and day’, the difference is still fairly obvious, even for a complete layman. The ie200s sound quite a bit richer, fuller, and, well, ‘closer’(sorry again for the lay description, haha). The comfort of the ie200 is really outstanding, as they are positively tiny and fit snugly in my ears. The sound quality is excellent, too, at least to me. Quite well balanced, good bass, clear trebles, and just overall very ‘smooth’ and enjoyable to listen to. I find myself pulling them out, ignoring the inconvenience of chords, just to listen to my favourite songs with them, whereas with the bluetooth buds I only want to wear them when I’m commuting or working out. That said, I think the KZs are also quite good indeed, both in terms of sound and build quality(the metal part on the Castors actually feel a bit premium), especially when you consider the price, and I would have no problem recommending them to anyone who doesn’t want to spend more than 20 bucks on earphones. (At least until they break or stop working, as I heard can be a problem for inexpensive chi-fi iems. But yeah, still good value.)

Well I got it on discount for around 120$, and I’d say they’re absolutely worth it. They sound great to me and are very comfortable (which is part of the reason I wanted to get an iem). Of course I considered the more expensive options such as ie600 and sony m7, but honestly that would be overkill for me as I’m not an audiophile and I don’t want fancy equipment to drive them. I’m going to be using the ie200s for as long as I can and maybe buy some new cables when the stock ones wear out or something.

A bit late to the party but I haven't gushed about the IE 200 anywhere online yet. They are incredible, but out of the box they can sound awful because of the stock tips. If you don't have the port covered (which aftermarkets like Spring Tips, Final Type E etc will do) you are in for a bad time. I use mine with Spring Tips because they don't tickle my ears, they sounded great with the Final Type E but those could tickle from time to time. Highly recommended, they are absolutely fantastic IEMs. Sound better than my Chu II while being way more comfortable. At home I used to use a pair of DT1990 Pros and honestly, I could easily have used the IE 200s in place of those with no complaints. I had no real problem with the stock cable but I did replace it with one from Open Heart which doesn't tangle. I think the complaints about the stock cable are overblown.

IE 200 are incredible with aftermarket tips. Spring Tips and Type E are both great with them.

Hi everyone, I currently own KZ ZSN PRO X, my first IEM. I use it daily and in overall Im pretty satisfied with it; however, I listen mostly to rock/punk and sometimes indie pop and i feel like its time to retire my kz zsn pro x for something that suits my music taste better and can give me more details. Sennheiser IE 200 is comfortably in my budget. Im pretty amateur, so can you tell me how much of an upgrade is Sennheiser IE 200? Note: I use a LG phone with hifi quad DAC + Spotify with highest quality settings, and not planning to upgrade cables or go lossless/flac.

Thanks for info, i was sceptic about simgot but your comments made me want to test it if i ever come across one. And I got a ie200 today, it is just like you described. Its a keeper as its still a huge upgrade from my kz pair.

I just went for comfort > all. The ie200 fit fantastically and I can wear them for hours on end with zero discomfort

Hello! First of all, i have smallish ears too, while artti t10 are very nice overall, they are not THAT small, sound is great though :) I have ie200 and they get a solid recommendation, also look at meze alba, from moondrop you should look at chu2 (dsp is better soundwise, i have both), LAN, SSR which are very small but the tuning is kinda weird (see a graph to get an ideea), Letshuoer d13 are kinda the same shape as artti t10 but considerable smaller (40 ish $ on ali and boy they worth it at this price), tanchjim tanya dsp if you like your bass. From this list the only set i don't own is the meze alba. (ps: i can sleep with every iem you see mentioned above). Best of luck and happy listening mate!

Ie200 are very well known for their exceptional performance with not so exceptional cable. Another set of small iems are kefine delci. They are bassy but have a small footprint. The kefine kleans are also well regarded but have a bit bulkier footprint. Another option which I personally have are the final audio e3000. These are amongst the smallest iem I have ever seen and sound reasonable for the fact that they have been here for well over 4 years. The whole e series are small pill sized so you can give them a check as well.

Ie200 with a good source (chord mojo2) sounds really good for me 👍

For me the 200's missed that closing off the 100 and 400 have in their design. But that's a personal choice. They are shaped a little differently but that mostly comes down to what you want in your ear. Still think custom is always the way to go if possible. Prevents hearing loss better than the stock ones if you play really loud and with that you can also put your monitoring volume lower because you don't have to block out the remaining sound that is there with stocks. I like high dampening but with customs you can also usually choose how much dampening you want if you like some stage noise to remain. It does come at a price though... Edit: you can also ask your tech for audience mics if you like high dampening but want a bit of room and engagement! They are usually put on the left and right side of the stage and used to mix in the amount you want. Also mostly using overheads or slowly mixing them in can help you give room to your mix :)

I had the IE200 for 3 years (ear tip and cable mod), now I've switched to the Truthear Hexa and I must say that with the equalizer settings from u/oratory1990, the Hexas beat the IE200 imo

I have ie200 too, put on the stock cable from ie600 and use it for gaming haha, it’s so far the best I used for gaming and casual level entry level music. Ie600 still rocks the main tunes. I also got the solstice cable for ie600, it makes the fit much better and snap on without any fiddling like the stock cables, and results better sound quality.

To me it’s the better and easier fit that make it sound better. The stock cable takes 10 tries and it easier to have “space” around the tips and your ears which bass sounded less and treble loose soundstage

Ive been seeing a lot of posts asking about getting the Momentum 4s, maybe I'm only seeing these because I looked at these posts myself and arent subbed to this subreddit so they pop up on my homefeed. Anyways, I'm making this for anyone who is looking at getting the Momentum 4s. I see so many reviews raving the quality and how insane it is, and honestly they arent that much better than my IE200 In ear monitors. To some, this comparison might be stupid, but if you want to listen to your music and hear instruments you've never heard from your favorite song, you can save yourself a chunk of change and get some nice in ear monitors. To be honest, the ANC of my Momentum 4s is BARLEY better than the natural noise blockage of my in ear monitors, but keep in mind I have after-market ear tips, because the stock tips on the IE200s arent good. The sound quality on the two are split, my IE200s sound a lot better for vocal artists like Amy Winehouse, and the deep low bass she often used sounds amazing. I can hear the full range of all of her songs, especially the saxophones. The soundstage on the IE200s arent great but that can be changed with different ear tips but I don't mind. While the Momentum 4s have much better sub level bass, but struggle with mid end bass and often barry quieter instruments. YES I KNOW THESE CAN BE CHANGED WITH EQ BUT IM 2 LAZY TO DO SO. Im not a total music quality prick so I kind of just roll with it. I don't want to bother having 2 different EQs for both of my headphones, one for my phone and one for my Sony Walkman. On a convenience level, its difficult to choose one over the other. If I'm at home, at an office, or traveling via public transport, ill always choose my Momentums 4s. BUT I choose them because they are more convenient in that specific space. But at school? Ill probably be leaving these at home for my senior year of high school. If you are of school age, and are in classes you don't care to pay attention to, buying IEMS are worth every fucking penny. I mean every damn penny. I always listen to music at school, and I would constantly be reminded by teachers (to both of our dismay) for me to remove my airpod pros. But after I lost them and got IEMS, not one teacher has noticed. It helps A LOT that I have long hair as a man that fully cover both my ears, but air pods could be seen through them, but not my IE200s. And along with getting a Sony Walkman, I can listen to music in a total stealth mode, even when teachers take my phone before class. To make this short, the IE200s sound better for being able to hear every instrument, because duh they are in ear monitors. They are easily hidden if you want to be sneaky, like listening to music in class. The natural sound blockage from good fitting ear tips BARLEY beats out the Momentum 4s. Comfort wise? The Momentum 4s are obviously the better pick, but they tend to slip off my head if I look down too much. The Momentum 4s have better sound stage, and better sub-level bass, but drown out quieter instruments. Yes you can EQ the Momentum 4s but I haven't been bothered. Those are my 2 cents, I'm just a dumb high schooler so take my review with a grain of salt, but holy shit the Momentum 4s cost a lot, I got mine from Sennheiser refurbished on Ebay so I saved a hundred bucks or so, but even then, they have a BIG price tag for a broke high schooler. For the money, they arent really worth it compared to my IE200s, but I don't hate them enough to return them, as I have grown to hate running a cable down my shirt whenever I want to use my IE200s.

Sennheiser IE200 are tiny. Another possible choice is the Artti T10. A $51 planar at AliExpress with exceptional sound. Plus it has a round, smooth shell that's not too big. No edges to catch weird anatomy of various ears. Good luck.

Got them after having IE200 to step up the grade and have something with a different sound signature. Didn’t enjoy them. EQed them to be similar to IE200. They do sound richer and puncher but not as precise. Now thinking I would’ve been better wait a few monts and saved up for IE600

Meze Alba, Sennheiser IE200, Truthear Nova, Kiwi Ear Quartet, Simgot em6L, Dunu Kima, thieaudio hype 4, Aful performer 5. There is a endless list off iems from many brands that out perform anything from KZ, if your budget is under $15 USD mabe they still have a place but if your budget is $200usd there are way better options

Well… as the owner of the IE600, little drivers (7mm) can and do produce amazing bass when designed properly. EQ a single DD is a little tricker and I feel there is less you can get out of it compared to a multi driver unit. I suggest you look on the used market. You can absolutely find an iem that represents the full spectrum faithfully. Now I’m not too experienced with the budget segment but from all the reviews and comments I read, they have made SIGNIFICANT improvements in FR and technicalities. Hopefully someone can chime in on a budget set that suits your needs. Don’t be discouraged by your choice, and if you like the comfort of the IE series, the 200 is a mini 600 and with the tape mod you can get one hell of a iem for a very reasonable price. Especially if you buy used.

The IE 200 is excellent. Super underrated.

The cables on the ie 200 are very cheap feeling, so it’s not as reliable as you’re probably expecting.

I did vote for the IE600 because they are still very good for the price they sell here with discounts, but if you take price to performance ratio into consideration, the IE200 takes the cake.

In my experience it is really easy to play and with some dac's there is a slight improvement, nothing very noticeable, but as the volume improves, it sounds better. A little better. I tested it on the Fiio KA13, which is great and got better, due to this better volume. But these days I heard it after enjoying the KZ ZS12 PRO X and came to the conclusion that the IE200's bass suffers from anemia.

Did you notice that IE200 requires amplification?

I was actually curious to know if you used any DAC devices like I usually do and for me it's the only way to hear the superior qualities of the ie200 compared to other cheaper and equally great headphones like those from KZ

this. not a high bar but ie200 tuning make the most sense out of that abysmal line.

My wife got me a HiFi Walker H2 DAP for my birthday and I opted for a pair of ie200s. I know there's other iems that are technically better, but I opted for Sennheiser because I've never had any issues with their products (one of my favorite pair of headphones ever was the PX-100), and their warranty. My only complaint with them was the stock cable. Holy crap, it's so bad. I ordered an OpenHeart cable and it arrived today and it's made the ie200s so much better. I'm also using them with some Azla eartips and those are so much better then the stock tips (however, if someone Overall, I'm very happy with them. They're comfortable, they sound good to me, and they suit my needs perfectly.

yeah the ie200 disappointed me at first, and i kinda benched it, ignored for months, till i found certain tips that basically unlocked the thing for me. Those 3 tips are the dunu s&s, the kiwi ears flex tips and lastly the final type e, special mentions to the spinfit w1 and cp100+ but i feel those first 3 i mentioned just brought it to the level that is expected of its price point. your mileage may vary but If your ears can matchup with any of those first 3 i mentioned, then you're all set imo. I myself settled for the kiwi ears flex, the dunu was just too painful for me despite it being the best sounding one of all that i tried. Oh and keep in mind i tape modded my ie200s with electric tape too.

i have the ie200 and the noise reduction is decent for me with the medium foam tips. not the best, but i can play pretty loud without any problem

if you don’t mind a little bit less bass than what you’d expect on a plain sounding profile, sennheiser ie200 are great. 150 bucks and so much mid and hi clarity. they are the most enjoyable headphones i’ve ever used. i’ve been using them for a few months now and i recommend them greatly.

For a warm, full-bodied sound without overpowering bass, check out the Sennheiser IE 200 or the Moondrop KATO—both are solid picks for live pop/rock with great clarity for vocals and guitar!

Timeless AE like new on amazon.. got it for $145 before tax. It was uncomfortable for me, I tried memory foam tips and the same, so I tried spinfit's W1 and bam, all of a sudden a new sticky seal + comfort. Makes me wonder how many IEMs get returned not because of the IEMs themselves but because poor fit on tips. I also tried out the IE 200, good comfort, but compared to the Timeless AE they are detail lacking. If I never owned the Timeless AE the IE 200 would be great especially at the amazon current price of $120.00. IE 200 has good bass once you tape mod the hole. I would recommend the IE 200 especially if you want to jog in them.. Timeless are just too far out there you can feel the tiny bounces.

IF you asked this question a week ago i would of said the IE200, they are great for gaming and i was comparing them too Truth hear blues, and EM6L which are all great for gaming. Just picked up the Linsoul SuperMix4 and they are absolutely fantastic iems, no issues at all and i can find fault with all the others i listed above - iem falls out easily EM6L or ear tip too big Truthhear, housing scraping the ear IE200 using all different tips/cables and then i seen someone mention that the SuperMix4 are a way better version of the EM6L for a little more money, and if you was thinking of buying the EM6L then get the SuperMix4. Well i did and everything is great - audio clarity clear, comfort , cable length/ strength perfect. Honestly i could of saved myself 400dollars if i just got the SuperMix4 first.

https://preview.redd.it/fcktdsz0zjae1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5a82a6dc90b6fd8074cacb54b013c3c8dee653f I have recently got myself the IE900 and have the IE200 borrowed from a friend at the moment and I thought why not do a "quick" comparison between the two Sennheiser IEMs given that they are so similar yet so different in many regards (especially in price obviously). Short and simple: The IE200 are great for the price, imo. They can be had for under 100€ refurbished here in Germany which is an incredible value, honestly. As I mentioned, the pair I have here is not mine and just borrowed but I‘m seriously considering getting a pair myself now! **Here is why (and why not):** They are incredibly comfortable in my ears but (and that’s a huge „but“) I needed to tip roll *a lot* to get the optimum sound performance out of them. Couldn’t use the stock tips reliably with them (whereas it strangely works quite well with the IE900). I ended up with Azla Origins and Azla Sedna Earfit Max - both work great for me and the sound is good as well! Once I found my perfect tips, they were equally as comfortable as the IE900, arguably even more so as they are lighter, slightly smaller not as cold to the touch (for the ear if it makes any sense) as that (very very nice) metal build can be a bit cold in the winter :) However, speaking just of build quality and materials, the IE900 obviously trumps the IE200 and it is not even close. The IE200 sound *great*! Cannot fault the tuning much, really. It is a rather safe tuning but an enjoyable one. **Bass:** It has less bass extension than the IE900 and the IE900 *clearly* is much better in the bass department in general (not a fair comparison to begin with but still). The IE900 have not just more bass but at the same time a much more articulate, refined and layered bass. Bass details are amazing on the flagship model. That said, the IE200 (which has two "tuning modes" depending on where you place the silicone tips on the nozzle) has very good bass (on position two, that is). It's maybe not as dynamic and doesn't hit as hard as the other entries in the IE series but it is still good! [Courtesy of headphones.com](https://preview.redd.it/ctdalpahrjae1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=8748a7a4f8372b54728030542bb9f6d5d7910d10) It doesn't overpower anything, it's not bloated - it's just very solid and balanced. For those who want a bit more (and more consistent) bass, there's an easy "tape mod" around for the IE200 which can help but finding the right tips even more important! [Courtesy of Sennheiser](https://preview.redd.it/thcqxn89njae1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=864a69fc710814927d39b8b715f781e4f45c1759) **Mids:** Arguably the "weak spot" of the IE900. They are slightly underemphasized and there is rather prominent dip in or around the 4kHz area that not everyone will enjoy. It makes vocals shine less and somewhat take a backseat in the mix because of it. Female vocals especially can therefore sometimes sound a bit more "lean" than they probably should. Make no mistake, this is not a "flaw" but a deliberate tuning decision of course but still, it's probably not for everyone (and slightly controversial on such an expensive set of IEMs). It's easily fixed with EQ, though, for those who fear it :) It does have its benefits as well. That dip pretty much eliminates sibilance and sharpness in the upper midrange which can be a very good thing, especially when listening at louder volume levels. Other than that, the mids on the IE900 are still very lush, clean airy, honest and accurately rendered with regard to depth, tonality and timbre. They are technically clearly superior to the mids on the IE200 but it still comes down to whether or not one likes their tuning enough, I think. [Courtesy of soundguys.com](https://preview.redd.it/7doyoz8wpjae1.png?width=1840&format=png&auto=webp&s=abeeb2ed3192d829deacf186af984b1eb77fcaa7) The mids on the IE200 are more forward in the mix and more present but still come across as well balanced. There is still a bit of dip in the presence region but way less so than on the IE900. Many "regular" music listeners might find this more approachable and enjoxable even. It might be a bit controversial but the IE200 might have the best midrange *tuning* in the whole IE series. That doesn't mean that they excel in the midrange per se as they are still clearly inferior in the technicalities department compared to the IE900 (and IE600 of course) but nonetheless, the IE200 have very good mids, especially for their price point. **Treble:** It's more of the same, really. The IE200 are not as technically advanced as the IE900 and lack details, air and general extension in direct comparison. Especially with regard to micro details, fine nuances and subtleties, they IE900 excel given the right source and audio files. Upper frequencies on the IE900 are never fatiguing, always in control and did I mention the extension? Simply amazing what Sennheiser can do with just one small 7mm dynamic driver here. Many multi driver IEMs would (still) struggle to compete in bass and treble extenion vs. the IE900. Simply put, it is "flagship level" treble here (as it should). Treble on the IE200 is still very good but less detailed, less technical, slighty more peaky, sometimes a but thinner and with less treble extension...you get the idea. I can only repeat, though, that is mostly obvios in direct comparison to the IE900. On its own, there is not much I would fault gain. We are talking perfectly fine highs here on the IE200 with regard to what you have to pay for them. It will be a very pleasing experience for many people, I am sure of that. https://preview.redd.it/uiocb89rujae1.jpg?width=2766&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e073af65a14f42f2df093409ac5e87888e3dea57 **What I don’t like on the IE200 (and the IE900):** The stock cable that comes with the IE200 is objectively bad. It tangles more than any other cable I have used so far, it is microphonic and it doesn’t even have a (usable) chin slider. It is lightweight I‘ll give it that but other than that, it is just flimsy and feels cheap. The cable in the IE900 is not perfect either btw. Same as for the whole IE series. It's also microphonic but tangles less, does have a good chin slider and is of higher quality in general. I have still exchanged it for a third party cable as you can see in the pictures (it's a fairly cheap Tripowin Solstice in case someone wants to know). Besides that, the IE200 need considerably more power than the IE900, funnily enough. They still work with something like an Apple dongle even but it’s noticeable that there is more headroom on the IE900. Quite an „interesting“ decision, given that the IE200 is supposedly an entry level „gateway drug“ IEM for non-audiophiles into the world of good sound and audiophilia and that target group probably uses just a phone or an Apple dongle much more often than "more advanced“ listeners, I think. The IE900 are easy to drive and can be powered off of pretty much everything which is great given that such a high end IEM can even be used on a Nintendo Switch or even a PS5 controller, if needed. Anyway, the final „negative“ thing is that little black pouch. It does the job but you see that these are the areas where corners needed to be cut for the IE200. It’s alright still but in combination with a cable that tangled this easily, it’s more of a hindrance than a benefit to have, imo. The case on the IE900 is much better and protects the IEMs pretty well. Nothing fancy or special for the high price point but it is (obviously) better than what the IE200 offers. **Conclusion:** Well, not easy. The IE900 is superior in pretty much everything but (maybe) the tuning of the mids. Is it worth 8 -10 times the price of the IE200? Very likely not. It's still the price of admission for flagship level IEMs, plain and simple. You pay for the best in technicalities and build quality the company has to offer but also for prestige of course. Bass response is one of the very best out there up to this day. The IE900 also scale incredibly well when used with a balanced cable and powered by "proper" gear, like expensive dongles or DAPs. It's a marvel of engineering in so many regards but, as Flossy would say, you have to pay to play! The IE200 have an incredible value even if you possiblly might need to buy some extra tips and maybe even a third party cable but once that's done, they sound very very good for the price, are extremely comfortable and easy to forget in the ears. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for an affordable IEM option and that signature Sennheiser sound but "on the cheap". Great little IEM, really.

Maybe not a mistake. My first IEM was the IE200 and I still wear them for longish flights (4+ hours) as they are the most comfortable and the sound is good. The longest session was about 8 hours. The IEMs I have that sound better were twice the price or more but I can’t imagine wearing my Thieaudio Origins for more than an hour or two. I wore some Moondrop Variations for about 3 hours and that was about the limit.

I just bought the Thieaudio Origins last week and absolutely love them. They have a completely full range bass feel and the bone conduction adds a little something to it that I have a hard time explaining. I can definitely tell it’s there as it feels different than my other IEMs. The others in my collection are Aful Performer 5+2, Truthear Zero Red, Oriveti Lowmaster, Moondrop Variations, Sennhesier IE200. For bassy music the Thieaudio is my go to.

Holy hell I literally just came back from retrieving my repaired IE200 after the housing fell apart looool (paid like 12 bucks for the repair, which is alright I guess)

Sennheiser ie 200. Never failed me.

Sennheiser ie200 for drumming or playing in a band 

No mostly less expensive than this, this was my splurge. I’ve had the Explorer (still love these), the Nova, Supermix 4, Performer 5, S12 Pro, T10, IE200, Hexa, EA500 LM, and a host of the popular budgets, like the Cadenza, Wan’er, Zero 2 (still use these with a Bluetooth adapter), and EW200. Before switching tips I was about to return them and just stop at the Explorer.

Do you have recommendations for doing this? I like the form factor of the IE200 but was bothered by both the last time I tried it.

Second this. It is such a good fit and good tuning in that series

IE200 and if you like it a lot, upgrade to ie600. You’ll never have to think about another iem again. Sennheisers has one thing few manufacturers manage to perfect which is the timbre. Sennheisers is ultimately known for their timbre and naturalness. They know when to emphasize and recess certain frequencies to make sound exciting and natural at the same time. Sennheisers themselves said when they first started working on their IE series, they were thinking how could they shrink the driver from their headphone to the size of the miniature 7mm and fit snuggly. I think they succeeded, and many who owned ie200 and HD600 would say ie200 is like the iem version of hd600. Doesn’t have the most detail, but literally nothing the ie200 does wrong. Vocals are pretty natural not too pushed forward like in ie600 or too recessed like in ie900. Sennheisers definitely planned their series to be an upgrade path. They managed to nerf it so buyers will want to upgrade while at the same time serving as a benchmark for introductory IEM users.

Sennheiser ie200 are the cat’s whiskers. Not big to look at but real bang for ur buck.

sennheiser ie 200 with 4.4 balanced cable and spinfit cp145 / sancai wide bore eartips connected to fiio ka3 / btr15