Fake AliExpress Sennheiser IE300 IEM Teardown.. Are they too good to be true?? 🤔🧐

Hey guys, today we take a look at the FAKE Sennheiser IE300 clones from AliExpress. how good are they? are they too good to be true for $40??
Driver link:
a.aliexpress.com/_mqwC0rk
FAKE IE300 link:
a.aliexpress.com/_mOT4myA
FAKE IE300 graph:
m. story.php?stor...

[@yo3429]

Thank you for the insight! I'm not a friend of diy/fake IEMs at all, but also testet one of the ie 900 diy out of curiosity. There're some versions in the chifi market, got one with the special mmcx connector and no box whatsoever for round 70,-. (btw: hard to give any 'recommendations' if you don't know what knockoff you get). Interestingly the resonance correction around 8k worked good with the clone I received, this is remarkable. Needless to say, the frequency response is not close to the original, but to be honest, not this bad that you can't get it smoothed out with some easy EQing and then it's a pretty good and comfortable IEM in the Aria range. (But not worth / necessary to put upgrade drivers in it IMHO) Big problem is the fake market where more or less private people try to sell diy types for real ones. Every 2. offer feels fraudulent nowadays ... We will see if it'll stay this way in the future. Hope not so, but also think sennheisers IEMs are way overpriced for the most part and just image items for many. But the construction with a good 7mm and the resonance chamber against the peaks is a superior way to get the job done. (still prefer dynamics over BA and planar cause of the 'timbre')

[@benmacdhui]

The word you're looking for is *counterfeit

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

I was waiting forr this. Or better the 600. I am going to watch it right now ❤

[@fiddlix]

Great detective work Hi-Fri. It looks like they spent more money on the paperwork packaging etc than they spent on the iems.

[@hi-friaudioman]

Definitely.

[@ilpastor]

Thank you for the review

[@chrisstroud60]

A real ie 600 teardown is something I'd love to see. It's tuning matches my preference for most music

[@markanthonydedase7821]

Would have been great if you had an original to properly compare it with.

[@hi-friaudioman]

Yeah, for sure.

[@garthmckeil9539]

Your homebrew IEMs looked like palm trees on the faceplate. Pretty neat actually.

[@TonkyTronicus]

IE300 has a texture to it. Those look very smooth and shiny. IE300 is not glossy, it's muted. Anyone who has ever owned an IE300 would immediately tell it's fake, but I could see it fooling someone with no prior experience.

[@hi-friaudioman]

Makes sense. Thanks for the clarification. I knew there was some difference in plastic when I saw the picture on the box and the actual iem. They look nothing alike except for the color and they both have speckles.

[@MrJabinho]

​@@hi-friaudiomanDid you get your money back from Aliexpress ?

[@carlos_garcia_2003]

The link is not working, what was the name of the store to not buy them?

[@ZandoNoid]

Hey, there has been some Campfire/Alo Solaris iems popping up. I was wondering if you could do a teardown and maybe a review of one of those. They're diy/replicas looking from their price tag, but would be interesting to see.

[@jagruthreddy7111]

Can I know the cost of a custom IEM made by you with 5 to 8 drivers with a sound signature close to your liking? I adore your channel and your work. When I can't sleep, I watch your videos; before I know it, it's morning.

[@bennyloppo]

ie900 from ali claims that they use the same x3r drivers and I have huuuuge doubt. I hope you can do the teardown for all the fakes for us. this has been one of the most helpful information I haver saw or read from the interent. thank you sooooo much!!!! wishlist: Se846, Se535, ie500 pro (some even claim, sound quality is almost upto 98% of the original, which i believe is a complete hogwash)

[@hi-friaudioman]

I can tell you right now they don't. I've already taken apart the IE900. when they mention X3R they're actually talking about the nozzle shape or "acoustic design" The DD can range from actually pretty good Chinese 7.5mm DD, to bio-fiber or cheap titanium plated. They don't use the same DD as Sennheiser. If you want a true Sennheiser you have to find a pair of broken momentum 2, harvest the drivers and put them in a clone shell.

[@unknownusername3400]

19:31 i think what you mean is the ie 200 with the dual tuning ability to have more bass or more flat tuning with position of the nozzle vent. I dont think the ie300 have that

[@shaami8622]

i think what hes trying to say that the shell is meant to be of the ie200 so the company is "hiding" that feature with the weird lettering on the nozzle. At least thats what i think.

[@redgopnik2227]

I thought IE200s were the first model with a plastic shell, too... Don't own any of the series though so could be mistaken

[@iplaydrunk9979]

I actually like my ie300(legit).They sound detailed although they are V shaped,Soundstage is A+,and most important to me is that they sound natural Just sold my timeless because they sound not natural And yes this looks like fake as hell not even close to the legit ie300,the legit one has glittery paint like my HD 650 and the legit box has Sennheiser original sticker on upper right side

[@willianmaycom946]

Nice video Brow

[@hi-friaudioman]

Thanks ✌

[@paulosilva8200]

The real one has this type of nozzle that I think all iem should have the single or double captive cut from inside that gives them the quality of sound

[@willianmaycom946]

I'd to know how do you measure the ear frequency on PC

[@hi-friaudioman]

I'll send you the information later when I look for your message.

[@Mt.Trashmore]

I'd be curious to buy a IE200 then rehouse it into a metal shell form Aliexpress. Do you think it's doable?

[@hi-friaudioman]

I personally think it would be difficult and not worth the effort but then again I've never tried it.

[@ironblast5]

That set of blue alien ear customs where a hot mess I still can believe they sent those out the door

[@hi-friaudioman]

Yeah the wiring, tubing, resin quality, everything on it kinda shocked me. They're not even using dampeners on the BA.

[@johnvessly]

Do a video on ie900 also thank you

[@blorg8206]

The nozzle hole for the bass leak is the IE200, I don't believe the real IE300 has this, I don't have the IE300 but there are no reports of it while it's widely reported on the IE200 (generally as a pointless gimmick). I do have the real IE200, it actually does have these "L1" and "R2" markings on the nozzle, with the number following the letter, so I suspect they are on the IE300 and copied from the real thing. IE600 doesn't have these.

[@anthony8890]

Correct, I have the real 300 and they do not have the hole, and do have the L and R on the nozzle.

[@mnfrda2454]

Nice. I thought you’ll be comparing it as well to the authentic unit side by side, but thanks.

[@hi-friaudioman]

Not this time unfortunately, they're not worth comparing anyway, these are legit garbage IMO. Not worth the $30 they're asking.

[@Lost1ntheSauc3]

@@hi-friaudioman I think they meant so that we can see the difference between real and fake for anyone who does get duped.

[@oijans]

Great teardown. I got the fake ie900 last year, too. I miss the bass but otherwise pretty decent for the price. Let me know if you tear it apart. IE 300 is now sold and supported by a different organization called Sonova Consumer Audio. I still hope Sennheiser will see this teardown and support you with some originals. Keep up the good work.

[@FabioKasper]

2:00 nice

[@Mystninja]

I love reviews that talk about how fast shipping is and not the product. It's like shipping was fast but product is shit

[@Trannymaxxed]

Please do ie900 review

[@willianmaycom946]

I have a question for you man, please help me

[@pocketstoosumo]

please measure them Im curious what theyre like

[@hi-friaudioman]

I did measure them, link is in the description.

[@BillKinsman]

I have the real IE900 and the fake IE900 and everything is crappy on the fake ones, the sound, the wires, etc etc, but actually the Chinese silicone ear tips work better than the real Sennheiser one! Go figure.

[@jb678901]

HOW do they SOUND?

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

Horrible

[@hi-friaudioman]

Like cheap trash. Bassy, no mids and big channel imbalance.

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

Awesome video. Thanks a lot. I saw them on ali and of course i was curious. Glad that i didn't buy this crap 😂

[@hi-friaudioman]

Yeah, you dodged a bullet there.

[@BillKinsman]

The cables are not as good as the real Sennheiser wire and the connectors are not as good, either.

[@fazzxides8429]

The original Sennheiser cable/connector is the source of intermittent cutting out of sound with even just the slightest turning of the head (not straight out the box in my case but pretty soon into the listening experience). If you check Amazon and YT reviews (and comments they are full up with this issue on all three models 300/600/900). I replaced with aftermarket cables and have not experienced a single instance of cutting out since which says 100% issue was with the cable connectors and not the earpieces themselves, thankfully.

[@TheMausebert]

Jesus Christ ! I looked at that graph and it looks like all bass and hisses

[@Alino17]

Thank you, very interesting. I recently have had a budget, half priced new IE900 on Ebay (original Sennheiser MMCX connectors) which sounds so good, so dynamic and extended I thought it must be original. I then have had a original IE600 too which I like too and pairs quite well, more V shaped and punchy, less airy and defined compared to IE900. Still I wonder if I could have had such a Momentum geared fake one. If it is it sounds so great, though ....

[@MrJabinho]

Did you ask for refund for these fake Sennys ?

[@hi-friaudioman]

No, they can keep the money. I just bought them for the experience and understanding.

[@MrJabinho]

@@hi-friaudioman Ok. It's a bit problematic. You end up supporting and financing piracy.

[@stephenr6427]

Just get on with it

[@hi-friaudioman]

I prefer to take my time. 😂

[@baushun332]

Is it worth the price?

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

It's never worth the price. That's the whole point of this video.

[@hi-friaudioman]

No, the fake ones are not worth the price. There are many cheaper iems that sound better.

[@baushun332]

Oh i see

[@baushun332]

Oh i see

[@m1nusasusplus897]

@@hi-friaudiomanfor example? Which models are better?

[@angrydoraemon4390]

Quick? its 34 minute dude..

[@nicmate2543]

Shenzenheiser

[@pliedtka]

Scheißheisser that's what are. Haven't seen a diy custom monitors yet. This is really cool what do.

[@shaami8622]

interesting to compare these to my ie200, especially when you talk abt the suspicious lettering on the nozzles that supposed to have the "bass-bleed" vent; only the ie200 hv that feature afaik. So the shell is probably genuine too minus the suspicious lettering and botched quality.

[@larryeckerdt9750]

The word you were looking for is forgery.

[@wipeyourbuttocks]

Fake IE800 are like $8 on Taobao lmao

[@seth1455]

you say replica I say theft

[@Sonic_Storm]

I see these not as fakes but a variation of the IE series hahaha

[@carimpest]

If they manufacture the case, the eartips, and the cables...why doesn't tell you they also made the earphones too???

[@willianmaycom946]

I just send you a message on facebook but you didn`t repond me 😎

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

He will. It can take some time.

[@hi-friaudioman]

I may not have seen it. I will check my messages later.