Sennheiser IE 900: What are the differences compared to the Sennheiser IE 300?
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on June 21, 2021, 8:00 am | Write a comment
I recently tested the Sennheiser IE 300 here on TechnikNews and soon after the Sennheiser IE 900 came out. You will wonder where the differences are. We'll show you in this article.
The IE 300 from Sennheiser are wired in-ear headphones, which has advantages, but also disadvantages. The cable restricts the freedom of movement quite a bit, you don't have to charge a battery and you can get a lot more out of the drivers thanks to the direct connection.
Now the Sennheiser IE 900 came out a few weeks ago, which is around three times as expensive as the IE 300. But what do you get for your money?
Unboxing
But let's start with unboxing. The IE 900 are delivered in quite large packaging. The box is mostly gray and has some white and blue color accents. Otherwise you can still see logos and some other, unimportant prints. A large image of the in-ears is also visible.
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- This is what the packaging looks like on the outside ... (Image: TechnikNews)
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- ... and that's inside. (Picture: TechnikNews)
To get the scope of delivery, you have to pull the box with it out of the cover. After opening you are greeted by a note with the serial number of your model and a quality guarantee - very classy and appropriate for the price. A microfiber cleaning cloth and a whole series of attachments were placed underneath. You should definitely take some time at the beginning to find the right size. Otherwise, the in-ears themselves, a transport case and three different cables are also included. I will explain in detail what the latter is all about later.
Design
At first glance, there are hardly any differences in design compared to the Sennheiser IE 300. It again resembles that of monitoring in-ear headphones, the cable is again para-amide-reinforced and MMCX are still used for the connection to the two earplugs -Plug available. There is still no protection against the ingress of water or dust.
The IE 900 are made of aluminum, not plastic. (Image: TechnikNews)
The first changes are only noticeable if you examine the housing of the IE 900 a little more closely. When it comes to material, we are now dealing with aluminum, not plastic. On the one hand, this gives a higher quality and more resilient appearance. On the other hand, Sennheiser was able to modify this a little to enhance the sound. Specifically, three resonator chambers and a turbulence channel were milled. These have the task of preventing resonance peaks, which is noticeable in many ways in everyday life. More details are preserved in the music and more frequencies reach the human ear. Sennheiser calls this the X3R because a system consists of three chambers.
Then I mentioned briefly that other cables are included in the scope of delivery. With this, Sennheiser also eliminates one of my criticisms of the IE 300. The MMCX is a universal connector, which means that you can also use other cables with the in-ears. Sennheiser didn't include any with the IE 300, which I thought was a shame. Now, however, there are two more included, in addition to an option with 3,5 millimeters, you get one with 2,5 millimeters and 4,4 millimeters. This is useful for connecting to an external DAC. With that, all the requirements are already met to Apple Music Lossless to be able to use.
Picture: TechnikNews
I also mentioned briefly that we have several adapters for the ears in the packaging. You already got a few with the IE 300, now there are even more. A total of three made of silicone and three made of memory foam are included. I decided on the medium size memory foam because I find this particularly comfortable. But there should also be the right earplugs for everyone among you.
Sound
For the Sennheiser IE 900, the manufacturer tried even more to optimize the sound quality. We have the previously explained resonator chambers, a 7-millimeter sound transducer and our own back volume and vortex. The latter separate middle frequencies from lower frequencies, which results in a more natural sound.
But how do you notice these innovations when using them? Basically all points apply to the sound of the Sennheiser IE 900, which I also mentioned for the IE 300. Everything is very clear and natural and you can hear a lot of details. I also have the impression that there is a lot more power in the individual songs. This is noticeable through a slight "tremor", which makes the whole thing come across with more force. This can significantly enhance the experience, especially with titles with more bass. This effect also comes into its own with films.
Prices and availability
For the Sennheiser IE 900, an RRP of 1299 euros is called. They are available in Sennheiser's shop. They are currently not listed on Amazon.
Sennheiser IE 900: Conclusion
The IE 900 are not headphones for normal consumers. They are aimed at everyone who wants to experience crystal-clear sound on the go. The IE 300 are more intended for the general public. They are a lot cheaper and yet the sound quality is impressive.
Picture: TechnikNews
Then there are various additions for the surcharge. These include the improved housing, the large selection of cables and ear tips and the improved sound. Overall, it can be said that you can enjoy music well without the IE 900. If they are still worth the money, they are nice-to-have and a lot of fun in everyday life.
