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Add to SafariWhen comparing Sennheiser IE 800 vs Westone Adventure ADV ALPHA, the Slant community recommends Sennheiser IE 800 for most people. In the question“What are the best rugged and durable earbuds & IEMs that last?” Sennheiser IE 800 is ranked 6th while Westone Adventure ADV ALPHA is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose Sennheiser IE 800 is:
The IE 800s allow some ambient sound to pass, but not enough to be bothersome.
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 Smooth, rich bass
These earphones are known for their excellent bass, and present a balanced sound overall.
Pro Water resistant
Every component with these earphones is water resistant. These have an IPX-3 weather resistant rating, meaning that they are essentially splash proof but shouldn't be submerged.
Pro Replaceable cables
In the rare occasion that the cables break, they can be replaced in a jiffy.
Pro Weatherized magnesium canisters
Magnesium unibody canisters makes these earphones practically indestructible, and treated membranes protect them from weather and other moisture.
Pro Two year warranty
Westone provides warranty against defects in materials or manufacture for two years.
Pro Reinforced over-ear loop
The ADV ALPHA cables loop over the ears to keep the earphones in place. The segment of cable which secures them is stiffened with an additional coating.
Pro Cables covered in low-friction reflective fabric
The low-friction fabric helps avoid tangles and snares, and its reflectivity helps users be seen by cars at night.
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 Ear sweat buildup
Users have reported difficulties when using these during exercise.
Con Too much treble
Some find the ADV ALPHA high-end frequency response to be overbalanced.
