Outstanding in-ear sound system
The interior of the IE 800 conceals many small but effective innovations: the centrepiece is Sennheiser’s specially developed Extra Wide Band (XWB) driver. With a diameter of just 7 mm, it is the smallest wide-band sound transducer currently available in dynamic headphones. Its functional principle guarantees distortion-free sound even at high sound pressure levels. “Until now, high-quality in-ear headphones have used so-called balanced-armature multi-drivers,” explained Senior Acoustic Engineer Axel Grell. “Reproducing the entire audio spectrum requires several narrow-band drivers to be operated in parallel. However, this results in very slight jumps and delays in music reproduction.” By contrast, the miniature-sized XWB driver developed by Sennheiser is able to perfectly reproduce the entire audible frequency spectrum and beyond. The advantage: music is played back with crystal clarity and with absolute time precision.
The endeavour to fully exploit the sound potential of the premium headphones led to a further small but highly effective innovation: a vented magnet system. The idea is actually quite simple and was used for the first time on the HD 700 high-end headphones. “The oscillating motion of the diaphragm produces an air flow in the magnet system housing that causes the diaphragm to wobble slightly,” explained Axel Grell. “By positioning two precisely defined vent holes in the housing directly under the magnets, we can cause the air to flow in a specific direction. This minimises the wobbling motion of the diaphragm and reduces total harmonic distortion to less than 0.06 percent.
Innovative dual-chamber absorber
With the IE 800, Sennheiser has succeeded for the first time in solving what is known as the ‘masking effect’. This effect, which has a negative influence on overall sound quality, is due to the way in which our ears work. “The human ear is unable to perceive low-volume frequency components of a sound if there are much louder sounds occurring in a lower frequency range at the same time,” explained Axel Grell. “This means, for example, that very loud low-frequency sounds will ‘mask’ very quiet sounds in the medium frequency range. This is particularly apparent in in-ear headphones. The sealing of the ear canal by the earphones normally causes resonances that result in a peak in the 7kHz to 8kHz range. This has the effect of masking the actual higher-frequency components. Precisely this problem has been overcome in the IE 800 by the use of an absorber. Sennheiser’s patented dual-chamber system absorbs the energy of the resonance, thus preventing any unwanted peaks. As a result, all frequency components – even the finest nuances – in the music material become audible.
Finest wearing comfort
The optimum sound properties of the IE 800 are further enhanced by excellent wearing comfort. The housing is made of scratch-resistant, skin-friendly ceramic, while the ear pads consist of skin friendly silicone. This rules out any risk of allergies or skin irritation. To guarantee a perfect fit, Sennheiser has developed new ear adapters with an oval shape based on extensive international studies in ergonomics. According to their personal preference, users can choose from a selection of oval (SM/ML) and round (S/M/L) adapters. A protective mesh on the ear cushions effectively protects the drivers against dirt contamination.
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Technical Data |
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Transducer principle |
Dynamic, closed vented |
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Frequency response |
8 – 41,000 Hz (–3dB) |
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Impedance: |
5 – 46,500 Hz (–10dB) |
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Total harmonic distortion: |
24 Ω |
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Weight: |
< 0.06 % (1 kHz, 1V) |
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Cable length: |
1.2 m (symmetrical) |
About Sennheiser Asia
Fully owned by Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. in Germany, Sennheiser Asia was formed in 1992 to oversee the entire Asian market and coordinate activities with distributors in Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the islands of Maldives and Mauritius. Sennheiser Asia has acquired a strong foothold in the region for all its business segments, which include music/theatre, broadcast, film/studio, consumer, conference, audiology, aviation and call centre. Its product range also encompasses other globally recognized brands such as L-ACOUSTICS, K-Array, Rycote, and Neumann, enabling the company to compete as a total solutions provider.
You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser Asia by visiting their website at www.sennheiserasia.com, or by contacting:
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Sennheiser Electronic Asia Pte Ltd Press and Public Relations Kimberly Luo 438B Alexandra Road #01-06/08 Alexandra Technopark S(119968) DID +65 6408 5149 Fax +65 6273 5038
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The new IE 800 high-end in-ear earphones from Sennheiser
