Sennheiser

IE 200 In Ear Monitors

£129.99 RRP

Some of us have intently watched the rollout of Sennheiser's IE range of in-ear monitors of late. It's been interesting in the sense that the order of the company's new releases almost seems to reflect a journey and the strides the company has made in developing the range. First came the IE 300, followed by the IE 900, then the IE 600, and now the IE 200. Sennheiser's latest sits at the low end of the price spectrum, and in my opinion, at least, it's no slouch despite its entry-level status. 

In terms of voicing, the IE 300 has a 'V-shaped' response with plenty of bass and treble, whereas the IE 900 leans more towards neutrality, and the IE 600 strikes something of a middle ground. While the IE 300 seems better finished and is currently not that much more expensive than the IE 200, I'd recommend it to new users looking for a pair of in-ear monitors to start their journey. The product is certainly more versatile when it comes to musical styles and always feels like something you can always come back to even when you've fallen further down the head-fi rabbit hole!

The new IE 200 is a modest-looking product – nothing about it strikes you as being particularly expensive. Indeed, it's an unabashedly no-frills design, built around unassuming matte plastic, with only an embossed Sennheiser logo to provide any semblance of prestige. It's a functional piece of gear and ships with the bare minimum of accessories, which is a sign that you're not paying for anything you don't need. As per tradition, the manufacturer provides an array of silicone and foam ear tips packaged in an appropriately functional pouch. Some may find this all a bit austere, but the company's track record shows that people want high-quality, no-nonsense products. Not for nothing did it get to where it is now.

Another good thing about 'bare bones' design is that it's light. That's just what you want with any type of headphones – especially in-ear monitors, which tend to fall out of your ears if they're too heavy. Your requirements may differ from mine, but I found that I preferred a slightly tighter-fitting ear tip. Regardless, the IE 200 is certainly pretty pleasant for long hours of use, as you will hardly feel them in your ears.

Noise isolation isn't quite its thing. It's reasonable, but I found myself gravitating towards the foam tips just for that little bit more dampening. The stock cable falls squarely in the category of 'serviceable'; it's slightly stiff, so a little cable noise is to be expected. It might have been better for Sennheiser to offer an option for in-line controls for users dipping their toes in the pond for the first time, but I suppose the company can easily do this in future if the demand is there. Like its stablemates, the IE 200 also uses Sennheiser's non-standard MMCX connection. While this particular implementation certainly feels more secure, it narrows down options for third-party cables. That said, Null Audio does specifically offer connectors for the IE range, so there's at least that. 

DRIVE TIME

Like the rest of the range, the IE200 uses a single dynamic driver – a 7mm TrueResponse transducer. This might seem a little disappointing to newcomers expecting some elaborate hybrid array of driver wizardry and crossover magic to put Spider-Man: No Way Home to shame, but you can't deny that the K.I.S.S. approach works wonders here. While certainly not designed for bassheads, the lower register is tight and well-controlled despite the limited range and certainly not lacking in body.

The IE 200 also has another trick up its sleeve in this regard, as the vents can be covered by shifting the position of the ear tips, so you can enjoy a subtle but noticeable bass boost. Pushing the eartips fully down gives you more bass while leaving the vents on the nozzles open gives you a little more sizzle and a more airy sound. In both cases, the sound is excellent but different, so it's just a matter of taste or even perhaps the choice of music. 

So the bottom line is that you can easily tweak to your heart's content. The fact that you get to experiment between a bassier sound and a brighter one is excellent for new users who are trying to figure out their preferences. So between the two ear tip positions and ear tip materials, you already have quite a number of permutations to play around with – and we've not yet brought in third-party ear tips into the equation. As much as I liked experimenting, ultimately, I preferred to keep the ear tips all the way down as it resulted in a more comfortable fit for me. Your preference may vary, but leaving the vents open made the fitting a little awkward; I'm sure it's just a matter of me taking the time to get it right.

THE LISTENING

It might seem like I'm damning the IE 200 with faint praise by describing it as remarkably inoffensive, but honestly, that's what makes it great. You get a balanced sound signature that's slightly coloured but with a layer of polish that's buffed to a showroom shine. This product almost always sounds decent, even when used with smartphones – via a good quality DAC of course – or off your laptop. For this writer, this is a non-negotiable must-do for all entry-level IEMs purporting to be introductory gear. However, the IE 200 likes it when you feed it with 'juice' – you can scale up accordingly to your DAP or amp while you upgrade at your own pace. Much as I enjoyed the Sennheiser when powered by my Chord Mojo, I don't always want to carry the latter around on my commutes. So it's great to know that pairing it with more modest equipment still gives acceptable results – or maybe I am just too easy to please!

The IE 200's soundstage is wide and deep, and although it won't blow your mind, it's certainly spacious enough to enjoy the individual elements of each track. I also have no complaints about its ability to render fine detail. Never at any point do things get uncomfortably shrill – which is nice if you don't want to put off a friend who's already cagey about spending more money on earphones. 

Presentation is arguably the IE 200's strongest suit. I find that it's able to ensnare the listener into the moment, regardless of genre. For example, the incredibly tight chugging rhythms of I by Meshuggah? Check. Plácido Domingo bellowing “Vicenro” in full regalia at the end of Nessun Dorma? I got you, fam. Thundercat laying down yet another sultry groove in the delightfully eccentric Dragonball Durag? Smouldering! I think it's safe to say that these IEMs are pretty responsive and carry a sense of urgency if not nuance. That's perfectly fine, considering the price. Being able to encapsulate the energy of the performance for pretty much anything that you can throw at it, is quite a big plus in my book. For beginners, I think that's perfect.

THE VERDICT

It's easy to understand why most people think that paying £130 for a pair of IEMs that isn't outstanding in any particular area might seem like an imprudent use of disposable income. Still, the fact that we can't fault the IE 200 in any particular area without sounding unreasonable speaks volumes about how well-designed it is. As far as introducing new users into our world of audiophile delights is concerned, the Sennheiser is a great teaser of what's to come when users delve deeper into the hobby. It's tempting to label it as a 'gateway drug', but the truth is a great many people will find much to like. 

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