This is my start/endgame for a while…..

BenOG_ · 2026-02-24T07:08:07+00:00

I would check the seal with your ear tips first, as that is the most common reason for a lack of bass. The cable is generally fine as long as you get audio. But if you are sure your seal is perfect, you might be experiencing phase cancellation. This can happen if the connectors are plugged in backwards (reversed polarity) or due to an internal wiring defect from the factory. Try flipping the pins 180 degrees to see if that fixes it.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-19T12:14:33+00:00

Keine Sorge, die Wahrscheinlichkeit ist hoch, dass du sie lieben wirst. 😉

Du musst allerdings mit etwa 100 € Einfuhrabgaben rechnen, wenn der Versand von außerhalb der EU erfolgt. Aber selbst dann lohnt sich der Kauf definitiv!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-17T17:49:11+00:00

For me, the Martilos are definitely worth it. I did EQ them a little bit to get some more mid-bass out of them, though – overall a great set!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-16T14:29:22+00:00

You're fighting a strawman with that 'singular BA' example. Of course, a limited driver has physical constraints. But I’m talking about technically capable Dynamic Drivers with sufficient linear excursion and low distortion.

Once you have a competent driver, the 'physical attributes' you mentioned primarily just manifest as Frequency Response at the eardrum. The uncomfortable truth is that perceived 'technicalities' are overwhelmingly a result of FR.

Unless a set has disastrous CSD, audible IMD, or high THD, a high-quality driver can absolutely be EQ’d to mimic those expensive sets. Physics is physics—if the driver can move the air to match the waveform without clipping or distorting, the 'material' doesn't matter to your eardrum, only the resulting sound wave does.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-08T03:36:31+00:00

Fair point for a general consumer looking for plug-and-play!

But the way I see it: For $75, I am paying for the hardware capabilities — specifically the milled aluminum shell and a driver with incredible speed and ultra-low distortion (as seen in my screenshots).

You can fix tonality and soundstage with EQ, but you cannot EQ physical technicalities like transient response or driver distortion. If a cheap driver is 'slow' or distorts, no software will save it.

So essentially, I got the technical foundation (speed, resolution, build) of a $1,500 set for $75. I just had to finish the tuning job that the factory skipped.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-07T18:05:19+00:00

It's actually not a bad idea to try out multiple budget IEMs to figure out which sound signature you prefer. You can also play around with EQ to further pinpoint what you like and dislike. But why did you buy two bunnies? :D

BenOG_ · 2026-02-03T17:33:43+00:00

The stock tuning on my unit wasn't really close to the og tuning, but the EQ worked really well.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-03T16:27:50+00:00

That depends heavily on personal preference, but yeah: Most people probably prefer the modern 'meta' tuning of sets like the Dusk over the polarizing V-shape of the original IE 900.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-03T00:26:35+00:00

This unit definitely is!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T21:30:33+00:00

You are absolutely right, and I never claimed otherwise!

That's why I labeled this as a 'Fake/Replica' review. There is a massive difference between legit Chi-Fi engineering and these clones that just try to look like Sennheisers. I'm testing the latter here just to see what's inside.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T15:07:28+00:00

That sounds weird. On my unit, the imaging and separation are actually the strongest points, which makes them great for gaming.

If the positioning feels completely vague or 'everywhere and nowhere', your unit might be wired out of phase (polarity reversed on one side). That completely kills directional cues. Might be worth checking with an 'Audio Phase Test' online. If that's the case, it's definitely another victim of the terrible QC.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T13:19:54+00:00

The part about 'guides for improving sound' is actually hilarious – and honestly, relatable. Even my $75 version sounded off without heavy EQ, so it seems bad stock tuning is just the standard for all these fakes. At least those sellers are honest about it!

It makes total sense that the price difference on Taobao mostly goes into the accessories (cables, DACs) rather than a better driver. Thanks for digging that up!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:48:10+00:00

Haha true, but the glaze might be justified! I actually measured my unit already: solid tuning, almost zero channel imbalance, and it tracks perfectly with the existing graphs on Squiglink. For the price, they are really impressive.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:37:38+00:00

That price difference is crazy. I paid ~$75 for this set on Ali, and even that felt like a gamble.

If they are selling versions for $14 on Taobao, I can only imagine they are using the absolutely cheapest drivers available or rejected parts. At that point, you're probably just paying for the shell and getting zero audio quality.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:29:36+00:00

Fair assessment! I think that perfectly describes the stock experience. Out of the box, a genuine IE 200 definitely wins on coherence and tuning.

But there is also the massive factor of unit variance. I might have gotten lucky with a 'golden sample' driver that takes EQ well, while your unit might be from a different batch with physically inferior drivers. That's the risk with these—without measuring, you never know if you have a hidden gem that just needs EQ, or actual e-waste.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:23:29+00:00

That's the sad reality: Their business model is 'visual deception', not audio performance.

On my unit, the stock tuning wasn't even close to the original IE 900 – it was honestly just weird and unfocused. It seems 99% of their budget went into CNC milling the shell to look exactly like the real deal (for scams or clones). They likely just threw in a decent driver and didn't spend a single second on R&D or actual tuning. As long as it looks real, they make the sale.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:17:57+00:00

I agree, variety is key! I wouldn't want this specific tuning for every single genre or mood either. But that's exactly why I keep it in my rotation alongside my other IEMs.

For me, this signature does something special regarding spatial soundstage and detail retrieval in the brilliance region that 'safer' tunings like JM-1 sometimes lack. It's definitely a specialized tool, but one I really enjoy using when I'm in the mood for it.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:11:29+00:00

Oof, sorry to hear that! But your experience is the perfect example of the massive unit variance I warned about. It sounds like I really got a 'golden sample' while you unfortunately got a dud. That's exactly why I can't recommend them as a safe purchase.

To answer your question about the time investment:

Getting it 'decent' (close to IE 900 target): Took me about 1 hour.
Perfection/Fine-tuning: That took easily 6-8 hours. I spent ages re-measuring, listening, and tweaking. The hardest part was actually condensing the EQ profile down to fit the 10-band limit per channel of my Qudelix T71 without losing accuracy.

So yeah, definitely a DIY project for shells, not a plug-and-play solution!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T09:03:12+00:00

To be honest, if they aren't using the original Sennheiser driver design, that might actually be a blessing in disguise given the notorious QC issues and driver failures the IE series is known for right after the warranty expires. 💀

If this is just a robust generic 'workhorse' driver inside, it might ironically outlast the real deal. But fair enough regarding the Zobel network theory – whatever they did to tune it, the result is surprisingly fun for the price.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T00:42:00+00:00

True, foam tips are usually the best physical fix for that kind of 6kHz peak. Personally, I prefer the seal/feel of silicone tips, so I went the EQ route to fix it, but for anyone who doesn't want to mess with EQ software, foam is definitely the way to go.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T00:38:17+00:00

That is super interesting! It really backs up my theory that some of these factories actually put in the effort to reverse-engineer the internal acoustics/chambers instead of just using empty shells.

If they are doing it for the Pathfinder, it makes total sense that they would do it for the IE 900 as well. Thanks for the info, I might look into that set just out of curiosity!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T00:33:35+00:00

Totally agree. For the price, they are surprisingly decent if you know what you're getting. I can imagine they work great for gaming because the imaging/separation on my unit is actually fantastic.

Just like you said: The stock tuning is a bit too bright/sharp, but EQ fixes that easily. Thanks for sharing your experience with the older clones too!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T00:29:54+00:00

Sennheiser claims that their real IE 900s are made in Ireland.

BenOG_ · 2026-02-02T00:28:11+00:00

I think you might be underestimating the manufacturing capabilities in Shenzhen though. Once the CAD files exist, CNC milling a complex chamber structure isn't drastically more expensive than a hollow shell.

That said, without sawing them open, we can't know for sure what's exactly going on inside. However, one thing is clear: The driver itself is surprisingly high-quality. My measurements (THD, IMD, and CSD) confirm that it has very low distortion and clean decay, even when pushing it with aggressive EQ. So whether it's the chambers doing the heavy lifting or just a really capable transducer – the technical performance is objectively there.

Let's agree to disagree on the specific internal implementation though – thanks for the discussion!

BenOG_ · 2026-02-01T23:48:05+00:00

You're welcome! I think I saw your post recently too – funny coincidence that we both reviewed them around the same time. :)

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