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Add to SafariWhen comparing Sennheiser IE 800 vs Shure SE846, the Slant community recommends Shure SE846 for most people. In the question“What are the best high-end earphones?” Shure SE846 is ranked 1st while Sennheiser IE 800 is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Shure SE846 is:
The bass is full, has great depth and hits with a lot of power and slam. The mids are also full and forward. Vocals, guitars and keys sound very clear and they are very easy to appreciate. The highs have a good amount of detail but are slightly rolled off, making these sound smooth.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Good noise isolation
The IE 800s allow some ambient sound to pass, but not enough to be bothersome.
Pro No bass distortion at any volume
Precisely engineered pressure vents behind a single dynamic driver leave no opportunity for distortion to occur.
Pro Ear tips provide a good seal
The ear tips are a step up from the common silicone ear tips on the market today. The part that comes into contact with your ear is made out of soft, flexible, high quality silicone. The inside canal of the ear tips however is made out of a firmer plastic material, with a metal mesh in the middle.
This combination allows the ear tips to create a very good seal when worn, reducing sound leakage/bleed while also ensuring optimal sound delivery.
Pro Fantastic listening experience
Sennheiser is known for audiophile gear, and these earphones qualify. Their frequency response, dynamic range, and clarity of definition do justice to their price tag.
Pro Good durability with scratch resistance
Instead of using metal or plastic in the construction of the earpieces, Sennheiser has used a special ceramic material on the IE 800 which is scratch resistant. This helps to keep the weight of the in-ears down, yet can still withstand use and abuse pretty well.
The cable on the other hand is very high quality and covered with Kevlar reinforcement for added durability.
Pro Oxygen-free, kevlar-reinforced copper cable
Wrapped and sealed in an oxygen-free environment, these cables are immune to corrosion so long as their tough kevlar shielding remains intact.
Pro Excellent bass reproduction, full and forward mids along with smooth highs
The bass is full, has great depth and hits with a lot of power and slam. The mids are also full and forward. Vocals, guitars and keys sound very clear and they are very easy to appreciate. The highs have a good amount of detail but are slightly rolled off, making these sound smooth.
Pro Sound filters can be swapped to alter the sound
The SE846 comes with two extra sound filters which you can swap the stock one to. There is a set of filters for a more bassy sound, and another set for a more treble-centric sound signature. The filters can be swapped out using the included tool to open up the earpieces.
With this feature, you will be able to actually change the sound to further suit your preference.
Pro Includes plenty of accessories
Along with the interchangeable sound filters, the SE846 comes with a generous accessory pack which includes a selection of ear tips, a carrying case and a cleaning tool.
Pro Removable cables
It uses high quality MMCX connectors, making the cables removable. This should make it easy for you to swap out to different cables for different purposes or to easily replace damaged ones.
Cons
Con Cable noise
Touching the cable or rubbing it against clothing makes a rustling sound that transmits into the earpiece.
Con Y-split connection can pull down the earpieces
The detachable cable after the Y-Split cable adds a bit of weight to the earpieces. This can pull them down and cause them to dislodge at times.
Con Does not come with an in-line microphone/remote
While not really a CON, this omission can make or break your purchase decision for these headphones. Sennheiser offers an add-on cable which features the mic and remote, but is quite expensive.
Con Headphone cable is not completely removable
While the headphone cable can be attached/detached via a 2.5mm connection from the Y-split down, the cable cannot be removed from the earpieces themselves. This can make replacing the fixed cables very difficult and potentially expensive.
Con Treble may not be bright/airy enough
While these headphones still offer a good level of detail, you may find the sound to be a bit too smooth or muddy due to the rolled off highs.
