Audiophilepure

And there are, it turns out, limits to these monitors’ powers of resolution. ‘Girls in Their Summer Clothes’ by Bruce Springsteen [Columbia] is a narrow, congested pea-souper of a recording, with competing elements piled on top of each other – and despite their best efforts, the IE600 can’t open it up or spread it out. The listener can almost sense a power struggle going on, as the monitors attempt to force some distance between the horns, the percussion, the piano and the voice. Still, that’s more about the recording than the Sennheiser IE600.

Having enough money to buy premium in-ear monitors and attach them to a high-quality audio player doesn’t automatically mean you only listen to glossy, high-fidelity recordings, of course. But as long as you’re aware of the limitations of the IE600 where the silk purse/sow’s ear interface is concerned, there’s very little else that should dissuade you from trying them out.

Audeze LCDi4 Review

With the help of the larger transducer, the LCDi4 capably outputs revered bass with both power and finesse. It is a bass which straddles along the lines of neutrality without borrowing warmth from elsewhere. Perhaps some may prefer more voluminous bass akin to the Campfire Audio Atlas or the 64 Audio Nio, however the LCDi4 yields a solid foundation which extends well into sub-bass territory.

Hifiman Svanar Review

But, the real gimmick here doesn’t come from the driver, but from the housing. How? By mimicking a principle seen (and heard) in almost every opera theater: a secondary cavity designed to smooth frequency response intersection. An idea that popped up when the Hifiman team saw the ballet “Swan Lake” at the Moscow State Theater, where they were amazed by the secondary diffusion ceiling design, resulting in an extended soundstage.

Mach 30’s unique polycarbonate shell boasts superior ergonomics compared to anything on the market. With the Linum BaX cable, it is an extremely lightweight and comfortable set that can be easily used anywhere. It’s unfortunate that it lacks the performance leap we saw in the Mach 70 and Mach 80. Still, keep an eye out for discounts. If you can get it in the $300 range, it is an option to consider.

ThieAudio Oracle MKII Review

As I mentioned above, the mid-bass of the MKII is surprisingly linear. And so are the midrange. The Oracle MKII utilizes midrange drivers of the Monarch MKII, which is, in my opinion, ThieAudio’s best IEM to date. The Oracle MKII has a similar, neutral and balanced midrange with great resolution, articulacy, and detail retrieval. The instruments are breathy, clean, and natural. The strings are clear and precise. Due to the enhanced subs, vibrations are a delight to follow. However, things do get complicated around the upper midrange region. The Oracle MKII offers a lot of energy right around here, and the instruments that feed directly from this region – hi-hats, cymbals, crashes – take up a bit more space on stage than I would like. This ultimately hurts the staging and layering, especially as the number of instruments on stage increases. So to all metalheads, rock aficionados out there, make sure you select a good source to pair with the Oracle MKII. My recommendation would be a Mojo 2 or a Topping G5. Avoid analytical sources to achieve the best tonal balance, imo. 

Bowers & Wilkins, founded in the U.K. in 1966, has been at the forefront of high-performance audio technology for more than 50 years. It designs and manufactures precision home speakers, headphones, custom installation and performance car audio products that set new standards for innovation and sound quality, earning countless awards and accolades from the world’s leading recording studios and musicians. Bowers & Wilkins’ reputation is based on the unwavering pursuit of the best possible sound and an unsurpassable music listening experience.

The IE 200 features gold-plated MMCX connectors which are recessed in its housing for greater stability and guidance (just like with the IE 300, IE 600 and IE 900). A 1.2 meter cable with a 3.5mm single ended termination is included with the IE 200. You get two different styles of ear tips — silicone and memory foam — and they are provided in three sizes. What is special with the IE 200 is the ear tip tuning option. Depending on how you place the ear tips, you can influence the bass presentation. While this system does work, I don’t really find it very usable, but I’ll get back to that later.

The IE 200’s dedicated web site can be found here. As said, the IE 200 is selling for only $149 USD or €149 Euro. Sennheiser however stresses that this time, accessibility does not mean compromise. Sennheiser with the IE 200 is focusing on sound quality and while that does show in the packaging and accessories, I find it to be a good decision. Who doesn’t like great sound at a low price?

The guitars feel tonally right and quite enjoyable with the added note weight coming off of the upper bass to the lower mid regions. You hear every vibration of the strings, smooth and it does not feel lacking in detail. I mentioned in its review, the Mach 80’s lower mid-quantity felt somewhat lacking with some instruments. This is not present in the signature of the Mach 70, they feel fuller, sweeter here. 

The upper midrange of the Mach 70 is controlled, they carry adequate extension and good clarity. The hi-hats are present but they’re never the star of the show, they never shadow the mids as they follow closely from behind. The Mach 70 emphasizes the midrange and places it more forward, resulting in a smoother midrange compared to the Mach 80.