A year ago, Sennheiser began delivering its IE 500 PRO earphones designed for consumers, musicians and pro users. I checked them out, and liked the sound, but at a street price of $599, these were well above the cost of offerings from other mainstream universal-fit models, such as Audio-Technica’s $399 ATH-E70, Future Sonics’ $187 Spectrum Series G10 and Shure’s $349 SE535.
This year, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration, Sennheiser is offering deep discounts on different products each month, and for April 2020, that selection includes the IE 500 PRO, now reduced from $599 to a more affordable $299.95/street — at least for the time being. With that in mind, I decided to revisit the IE 500 PROs and check them out in more detail.
The Basics
Each IM 500 PRO earpiece uses a single dynamic 7mm driver that incorporates Sennheiser’s TrueResponse technology that refines the natural strengths of the diaphragm, and is said to substantially reduce stress factors that occur with other driver designs. Evidently this works, as the driver’s THD is also reduced to an ultra-low 0.08%. Besides avoiding the crossover aspects of a multiple armature design, the single-driver approach tends to offer extended LF response, and here the IE 500 PRO delivers down to 6 Hz.
Available in clear and smoky black colors, the IE 500 PRO package includes six silicone and foam adapters (each in small, medium and large) that provide a semi-custom fit to your ear canals. When fitted properly, they offer up to -26 dB of attenuation from external sounds. Sennheiser offers additional five-pair sets of silicone ear tips in any of the three sizes at $14.95 (or $16.95 for the foam versions). I preferred the silicone variants, which at least to my ears provided a better seal, but this is entirely a matter of personal preference. In either case, the tips snap snugly onto the earpieces, so they do not easily pull off or become lost on a dark stage floor.
Both the IE 500 PRO (and the lesser-priced IE 400 PRO) have removable cables, which incorporate a reinforced ear hook that is comfortable, yet keeps the earpieces securely in place. The IE 500 PROs include a clear, 1.3-meter (51”) twisted-pair cable with a sleeve that prevents possible kink damage at the cable exit. Termination is an 1/8” TRS plug; a ¼” adapter is included, as is a cleaning tool for removing dirt or earwax. A small yet sturdy carry case with a (removable) spool insert neatly winds the earpiece and cable to prevent tangling.
I encountered no issues with the provided clear cable, yet it seemed somewhat fragile, and its light color tended to clash with “basic black” stage apparel. Replacement cables are available (a bonus of the detachable cable design) with the standard clear cable at $79.95. Alternatively, the $49.95 black cable that comes with the IE 400 PRO interchanges with the IE 500 PRO and might be a good investment as a backup or alternate wardrobe color.
The Verdict
I liked these. The fit was comfortable and the seal provided near-custom earpiece isolation. The sound was fairly flat (not the choice if you’re looking for a hyped-out smile curve), with a punchy sound that handled transients with ease and offered a solid bottom-end, yet plenty of HF detail. I didn’t attempt to recreate the 126 dB reproduction, but had no issues playing these very loud. At the current $299 pricing, the IE 500 Pros are a great buy, but don’t wait too long on these.
At a Glance
A Good Fit for the Budget
For its 75th anniversary, Sennheiser’s flagship in-ears are available at an attractive price — for a limited time.
Sennheiser IE 500 PRO IEMs
PROS
- Wide, even frequency response
- High 126 dB SPL handling
CONS
- Cable seems fragile
- Cable color may not blend with dark stage apparel
STATS
- Transducer: Single 7mm driver
- Response: 6 Hz to 20k Hz
- THD: 0.08% (@1k Hz, 94dB)
- Max SPL: 126 dB
- Isolation: <26 dB
- Street Pricing: $299.95
More Info: www.sennheiser.com
