The Sennheiser IE200 is a small single-driver IEM. It uses the same 7 mm True Response dynamic driver as the IE600 and the IE900, the difference between them lies mainly in the housing material and very importantly how they handle their internal acoustics.
The Quintet, on the other hand, has no less than 5 drivers per side. There are 4 different types of drivers: 1 Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) dynamic driver, 2 balanced armature (BA) drivers, 1 planar magnetic driver, and 1 piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor. All this is fitted into quite a surprisingly small housing made of a polymer material, with a metal faceplate.
Both in-ear monitors are small and light and fit nicely in the ear. The IE200 is all plastic, the Quintet is mostly plastic but has a decorative metal backplate. The Sennheiser uses MMCX connectors but they have opted to add some extra stability and thus the plugs are semi-proprietary. The cable rotates easily and I find it a bit fiddly to fit in the ear but when they are in place they feel very nice and are super light. It’s also an issue being 3rd party cables unless you want to cut off the little plastic ring surrounding (like I have done)
The Quintet uses the widely used 0.78 mm 2-pin connector. It is also very light and fits very well in the ear. The supplied cables are 3.5 mm terminated on both.
SENNHEISER IE200 SPECIFICATIONS
- Single dynamic 7mm extra-wideband True Response transducer, the same as in the IE 300, IE 600 and IE 900.
- Frequency range: 6 – 26,000 Hz.
- Impedance: 18 Ohm.
- Sound pressure level: 119 dB.
- 1.2 m MMCX cable.
- 3.5 mm stereo mini jack (angled, gold-plated)
- Braided cable with MMCX connectors and 3.5mm plug
- Adjustable ear hooks and choice of ear tip adapters.
KIWI EARS QUINTET SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 1 Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) dynamic driver, 2 balanced armature (BA) drivers, 1 planar magnetic driver, and 1 piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor
- Impedance 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 106 dB
- Included cable: 1.2 m Detachable Silver-Plated OFC Cable
- Cable plug type amp: 3.5mm
- Cable plug IEM: Detachable 0.78mm 2-Pin
COMPARISONS
Magnetic North by Todd Sickafoose
The IE200 sounds very good, especially the electric guitar. It has a nice glow to it. The bass is very present but not too much. The treble is smooth.
With the Quintet, everything becomes tighter and slightly crispier. There’s more space between the instruments, the soundstage is bigger, and the bass is more defined. Technically, it’s definitely sounding better, but I miss that warm mid-range glow from the IE200.
Two by Arild Andersen Group
The Quintet sounds really good, everything is nicely separated yet still brought together sounding warm and lush.
The IE200 has an even warmer sounding midrange, the bass is less tight, and the treble is less crisp. I’d call it very “musical” sounding, but the Quintet is technically superior – and still sounds musical.
Present Tense by Radiohead
The IE200 is very warm and lush sounding. Quite thick and enveloping.
The Quintet sounds almost drastically different. There’s much more separation. The bass is tighter, the mid-range is less warm and thick, and the treble is clearer and crispier – without becoming too bright or harsh. The presentation is still musical and natural sounding, it’s never cold or clinical.
The Winner Takes It All by Solveig Slettahjell
The IE200 undeniably render the tender female vocals in an absolutely stunning way. It’s rich, thick, warm and delicious. The Quintet is also beautiful, but in direct comparison, I find the mid-range a bit less satisfying. It is, however, more textured, there’s a brittleness to the vocals that’s lost with the IE200.
Wandering Star by Portishead
They are less different than I expected here. The IE200 does a very nice job, with good separation, nice texture and detail. The Quintet has even better separation, more texture and more detail. However, the IE200 does offer that magic touch of warmth and smoothness.
I Am One by Smashing Pumpkins
Here, there’s a trade-off between the warmer and more full-bodied sound of the IE200 and the better separation and tightness along with the slightly thinner and brighter sound of the Quintet.
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No 2 – Janine Jansen
The IE200 is warmer, thicker and lusher, the Quintet has a brighter, more open-sounding presentation. The strings have more attack, bite and texture, there’s better separation and imaging.
CONCLUSION
First of all, both these IEMs are great sounding devices, they’re both among my favourites in the price range.
In terms of build and comfort, they are both very light and small, but the IE200 is the smallest. I do prefer the 2-pin connector of the Quintet to the semi-proprietary MMCX, though. I also like the supplied cable of the Quintet better.
In terms of soundstage, the Quintet is more open-sounding with better imaging. It is also more dynamic, The IE200 is still good in these respects, however. The detail level is in general higher with the Quintet, but the IE200 is no slouch.
The treble is smoother with the IE200, while it has more energy and articulation with the Quintet. The mid-range of the IE200 is on the warmer and thicker side, mostly in a very seductive way. The Quintet also has a great midrange, but it’s more neutral and offers better definition. The bass is tighter with the Quintet, with more texture and control.
As I already have mentioned, these are two of my favourite IEMs, and can easily be recommended.
Buy on Linsoul: Kiwi Quintet
Buy on Amazon: Kiwi Quintet
Buy on Amazon: Sennheiser IE200
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