Sennheiser IE 400 & 500 PRO In-Ear Monitors

[@jarrodhamilton5654]

Very short, informative and a breath of fresh air. One of the best reviewers out there.

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you. I appreciate your comment. 😃

[@jarrodhamilton5654]

@@ToddUrban anytime I appreciate you taking the time to put together this information for us. I'm struggling right now because I'm trying to choose between the fiio fd7 for 230$ or IE 500 pros for 200$...

[@ToddUrban]

@jarrodhamilton5654 the one thing with the Sennheisers is that it is a single driver. So you will get better phase correlation than these multi driver devices. (In theory) I’ve found them comfortable live and in the studio as a 2nd reference. So I have no problem recommending them to anyone. I don’t think you get better. You just get different than them.

[@jarrodhamilton5654]

@@ToddUrban thank you so much for responding especially not having to. I will certainly stay in touch I'm a loyal type person. Having said that I owned a pair of Sennheiser IE80 S BT neck band earbuds and Loved them. They were the best sounding Bluetooth neck bands I've ever had. I wound up buying a few BTR 3 amp/dac in order to gain some volume out of them luckily they detached they're basically the IE80s w a Bluetooth neck band. Once amplifying them I've only wanted to upgrade and lose the Bluetooth.

[@ToddUrban]

@jarrodhamilton5654 you will find these are a massive upgrade from your previous ones. Totally different category in terms of quality.

[@co00okies]

Thank you for the very concise and understandable comparison.

[@brianbauer3148]

After buying the 500s and reading some evaluations and watching your evaluation I think I might keep the 500s for when I mix IEMs so I'm hearing more of what my musicians are hearing with their custom ears. And since their both on sale right now I think I'm going to by the 400s for when I'm mixing for the flater response. That's still both flavors for the price of just the 500s normally. The cable is very nice. The bass and scoop you mentioned are going to be great for the stage, and less fatiguing. And the flater response will be great for FOH and studio mixing. All for $500 ($100 less than one ie500 at regular price). My co-workers paid $1000 for theirs, plus getting impressions. I found the isolation and sound were a little better with the foam tips and finding the size that fits comfortably makes a big difference. Thanks for the info.

[@ToddUrban]

The reduced price is insane. I’m actually thinking of grabbing another set!

[@JohnGeometresMaximos]

@@ToddUrban Should I buy the 500's for 270 euro [$320]?

[@ToddUrban]

I don’t think you can go wrong. I use them daily and they are excellent. (Especially at that price!)

[@brianbauer3148]

@@JohnGeometresMaximos yes. They are worth it in my opinion.

[@BenNoel117]

Great review, Todd. I wish there were more reviews on this product line out there so thank you. Here are my thoughts on the two flagship IEMs: The IE400 have more mid bass and a little more treble which are more suitable for electronic and hip hop but can get a little harsh at higher volumes but still remain very coherent. The IE500 on the other hand are perfectly balanced from top to bottom and have a darker overall presentation but as a result, imaging is impeccable and instrument separation is surgically precise. I reccomend IE400 for bass heads and those who just want more thump. IE500 can depict everything beautifully but really shine with orchestral and soundtrack because of their amazing detail. The 400 is not so far behind the 500 but cost $250 less, making them the best deal. However, nothing I have heard has even come close to the 500 (except 400) in terms of sound quality. The standard over ear IEM fitment is a proven design and is very comfortable for hours so most people shouldn't have any issues there. These things are fantastic but pricey so try to demo them before you purchase! Again, great review and thank you.

[@ToddUrban]

I agree with your comments and appreciate the reply. I ended up purchasing the IE500s. However, if my budget was very tight, I would be very happy with the 400s. I have my studio headphones, so I didn't need them to be as flat as the 400s. However, I did want them to be as smooth as the 500s for when I am on stage or have longer listening sessions.

[@BenNoel117]

@@ToddUrban The most direct comparison I can make with the IE500 is the HD800. Even though they are two completely different products and shouldn't even be compared seriously, the general sense of effortless accuracy and just tons of german research and engineering is clearly audible in both products, except the IE500 being sealed and not open like HD800, has superior bass. It is quite obvious I am a sennheiser fanboy and for good reason, they just make great sounding stuff! Although they are quite steep in price, the general feeling I get from buying their products is that you get what you pay for which in sennheiser's case is thousands of hours of research and development. I just wish there were more attention placed on this product series in particular as even the IE40 at $100 is a super smooth, less refined version of its pricier siblings. Thanks for the reply, Todd.

[@gwapster13]

Nice detailed assessment. Which one would sound closer to the IE800? I have the IE800 which used to be their flagship IEM, so i wonder how these Pro IEMs compare in terms of their tuning.

[@joshsteppan9986]

Great review thanks for the help!

[@ThePlatonas]

the cable on the 400s is prone to damage, mine broke down after 4 mounths of heavy use! the braided one should last longer! i found their isolation is very poor! shures are better in that region. lastly i'll give you a tip, they do sound way better with Final Audio type E tips, that was a great match!

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you for your additional comments!

[@krajacic21]

Great informative video. I’ve had the IE80 for a couple years now and I’m always blown away by how good they sound. How does the IE80 compare to the 500?

[@ToddUrban]

I never compared them side by side. But the 500s are a new design and just sound great!

[@drmindriot]

Great video! The IE 400 looks like the better choice for hobby music production. Would you recommend silicone or foam tips?

[@ToddUrban]

The 400s are great and will save you money. I love the 500s, but if you don’t need that amount of pro detail, you will be happy with the 400s. Of course, see what you can get them for on sale too!

[@drmindriot]

@@ToddUrban Thanks! I suppose for production a flatter response is preferred. Would you recommend silicone or foam tips or is that strictly a more personal preference? Also, if I may ask, what do you mean by "pro detail" in your response?

[@ToddUrban]

I like the silicone tips. But definitely personal preference. In terms of the detail, I mean that I find some of the clarity in the higher frequencies is better on the 500s. But it is subtle detail. The casual listener might not even notice. But for me, I also use these to check mixes and find the 500s helpful.

[@drmindriot]

@@ToddUrban Interesting, thank you so much for your time. Hmm, so, for hobby music production, would you have a preference between the 400 and 500?

[@ToddUrban]

I think I’d save the money and go for 400s.

[@mahmud-ahsan]

Thank you

[@hiimyou2409]

Can i use this for travelling around the world instead of truly wireless momemtum?Or truly wireless moemtum is a better buy?

[@moviekidtechlife]

Which would you recommend for mixing on the go for music production and how do they compare to say the shure 864

[@ToddUrban]

I think you could go either way. I use the 500s when I'm traveling, but then will check my work with my open-back 6XXs. The IE 400s will also be great and give you a little more budget friendly option. Believe it or not, the cable on the IE 500s is really one of the big selling points for me!

[@Arturo_Slam]

Todd Urban I have the hd650 and use it in combination with Sonarworks. Which one is closest in sound to the hd650, the 400 or the 500?

[@jcdrum9781]

Can this be used for running and training? I sweat a lot

[@ToddUrban]

Yes. Actually they are very light and the wrap around design is better than something like AirPods.

[@christopherventura4975]

In curious, why are the 400ie more expensive then 500

[@ToddUrban]

They weren’t originally. I think they’ve discontinued and replaced these, but I’m not certain. So maybe they are blowing them out? Either way, I own both and they are both great options.

[@Arturo_Slam]

I have the hd650 and use it in combination with Sonarworks. Which one is closest in sound to the hd650, the 400 or the 500?

[@ToddUrban]

I also use the HD600s. The 500s will probably be closer. Obviously these are closed, so they have a different feel. But the smooth response across the frequency spectrum will be similar. The 650s will feel a little more “open”.

[@Arturo_Slam]

Todd Urban Thank you Todd, for your answer. I had Sonarworks create a personal calibration file for my hd650. So they are a lot flatter in terms of frequency. So maybe the 400 is better?

[@huyphucnguyen5623]

Akg N40 vs senn ie400 pro which one is better ?

[@ToddUrban]

Haven’t compared the AKG. I have compared the Shure ones in the same price ranges and prefer the Sennheisers.

[@Abhi-wn7sw]

How would you compare these to the SE535?

[@ToddUrban]

I don't know. I never used them. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[@hiimyou2409]

Can it fit through 3.5mm jack?

[@ToddUrban]

Yes it terminates to a mini jack but also comes with an adapter.

[@niccologelli2618]

Hi, this in ear sennhaiser si for audiofil? And support hi Res?

[@ToddUrban]

I use them both on stage and as a second set of monitors for mixing. They are very hi res.

[@niccologelli2618]

@@ToddUrban thank you so much! so i can safely use them as audiophile headphones? the over ears bother me a lot

[@ToddUrban]

Definitely. I use them for listening to music and they are great!

[@niccologelli2618]

@@ToddUrban hello in the meantime happy holidays! I have seen that there are headphones at a much lower price such as the fiio f9 pro or the fiio fA 7 that reach up to 40khz double the sennheisers. despite wuesto do you think the sennhaisers are superior to the latter? The price of the sennheisers is more than double so I suppose they are better, or is it just because of the name?

[@ToddUrban]

Well, can you hear 40kHz? No. The technology in these is just different. It is difficult to know what is best for you without trying them. It’s not just about sound. It’s also about feel. I like the open feel of these. Plus, Sennheiser has been making this type of technology for a long time. So they understand how to work with a single driver to produce excellent quality.

[@melodology-5383]

Hello 👋 Have you compared the ie400 to Shure se425 or se535. If yes, please help me make a decision. I want to use it as a reference for my home studio recording and mixing Thank you 🙏

[@ToddUrban]

Hi! I have not tried them side by side, so unfortunately cannot give you an honest comparison. But from what I remember, the Sennheisers are way more open and detail sounding to me. But I also know many people who use the Shure and are happy with them.

[@sham8723]

"Open top end from 16k to 20k was beautiful"..... you can hear 16-20k? Do you have the ears of a juvenile bat? My hearing drops off dramatically after 15k. I bet yours does too 😕... not sure i'm buying it... Most adults lose that high end beginning as young as 8 or 9 years old.

[@ToddUrban]

Well, in a live gig setting with in ear monitoring, no I cannot. But in a studio setting with the proper source material, yes, I can hear the difference. I know some people cannot, and once again, it depends on the source. But the difference is in the detail of that top end. The open quality of the upper harmonics, or the detail that is sometimes otherwise lost in an A/B comparison.

[@juanespinosa1259]

These monitors are as shitty as they come. IE500 in my case. I have no way of fitting them into my ears. Guarantee? No sir you fitted them into your ears so the warrantee is void; so FU. Thank you for the 500 dollar business. If I ever spend another dime on Sennheisers please God strike me with lightning.