Detail, Clarity And Insight

FOR Loads of detail; spacious soundstage; variety of cables

AGAINST Disappointing dynamics; lots of cable noise

If these Sennheiser IE 800 S headphones were to appear as the mystery thing in an episode of classic children's TV favourite Bagpuss, Emily might bring them into her rather unusual shop, lay them down in front of Bagpuss, the old fat furry catpuss and say her magic words to wake him up.

And, when he opened his eyes with a yawn, down might come Professor Yaffle to inspect the item, and say, “Why, these are nothing but a pair of rotten old in-ears.”

You could see his point, though. There is little to distinguish one pair of in-ear headphones from another, much less to convey luxury or a premium price tag – aesthetically, at least. But thankfully, the mice from the mouse organ would be on hand to put Professor Yaffle right. “No,” they would say in unison. “They’re not a rotten pair of in-ears, they’re a very expensive pair of in-ears.”