With the IE 900, Sennheiser set a new reference standard for purely dynamic in-ear headphones. The audiophile neutral sound image impresses with balance, the fullness of detail and excellent treble reproduction. The high manufacturing costs and the resulting four-digit price of 1,299 euros were worth it. As an in-ear system, the IE 900 is compact enough for mobile use but particularly shows its full strengths in quiet surroundings and with high-quality (and, if required, balanced) peripherals. The price is high and naturally excludes a number of interested parties. However, the IE 900 are audiophile performers that definitely earn the top prizes.

The Sennheiser IE 900 is an in-ear headphone designed for users who care about amazing sound reproduction above all else. It’s two in-ear monitors connect to an audio-only cable, ignoring the extra features that other headphone manufacturers celebrate. A good seal in your ear canal eliminates the need for potentially music-altering active noise cancellation.

My long anticipation to hear the Sennheiser IE 900 was worth it because these are some of the best IEMs out there right now. Every aspect of its sound signature meets its standard for detail and clarity, and it also goes above and beyond entertaining you with more colorful characteristics as well. Its price may be steep, but obtaining the IE 900 as an endgame for your collection is something exciting to work toward.

If you're an over-ear headphones aficionado, the Sennheiser IE 900 are the best in-ear headphones for trying out the smaller form actor - if you can afford them, that is. These pricey audiophile earbuds deliver an incredible audio performance that's testament to their great design. It's a shame there's no in-line remote on any of the cables, but that's a small bugbear.

The Sennheiser IE 900 truly is a high end IEM. For a 1-driver model it comes with a higher price tag but you however do get a luxurious package with plenty of accessories in return. But that’s not all. With the IE 900 you also get a perfect fit and an awesome design, an precise high end sound in return.

It’s industrial, brutalist look almost seems like a power move on the company’s part, as if there was no need to add dressing to something that sounds so clean and balanced. Needless to say, the IE 900 really is among one of my favorites in its price range. It offers the sort of clarity that can expose parts of mixes that I haven’t heard before – an elusive quality to any headphone or IEM that I treasure when I come across it. The Sennheiser IE 900 might have an intimidating price tag at $1,499, but if you’re looking for something that comes anywhere close to its quality for less, I wish you luck. Let me know if you find it.

I think there are a couple ways to frame the competitiveness of the IE900. Against the best IEMs in its price bracket, it simply comes up short in both the tonal and technical department - emphasis on the former. Even within the context of the single-DD arms race, it's still circumscribed by its upper-midrange issues which would eliminate a large demographic of listeners. But damn, the IE900 really does have the best bass response I've heard, and I can't get enough of its treble response too. That puts me in a predicament, as the IE900 is oh-so-close yet so far. But it's not like I've heard a tonally correct DD IEM at the flagship level anyways, as I've depicted above. That in mind, I'm going to give the IE900 a cautious recommendation. It won't be for everyone, but it definitely has its niche for those looking to scratch that fabled "single DD endgame" itch.

Sennheiser really nails it on excellent isolation, proving that you don't need apps and noise cancellation to quiet the world. In a highly digital world, the aluminum housing reminds us that humans still like nicely made objects. The in-ear monitors provide great sound quality, but one wonders if the IE 900 is merely an exercise in prestige or actually worth the price.

Sennheiser’s IE 900 combine listenability, insight and comfort, making them one of the front runners at this elevated price

The Sennheiser IE 900 is a fabulous piece of work. They ooze quality from the moment you take them out of the box, and it’s super useful that three cables are included, making the plugs very useful in relation to various music players and amplifiers.