At NAMM, Sennheiser will unveil the latest members of its family of professional in-ear monitors, the Sennheiser IE 400 PRO and Sennheiser IE 500 PRO.
They offer natural, high-resolution sound, a secure and comfortable fit that comes close to custom-moulded in-ears and a break-proof, patent-pending cable connection. These new models are set to become firm favourites with musicians, DJs and sound engineers alike. Made to exacting specifications at Sennheiser’s German factory on a brand-new production line, the Sennheiser IE 400 PRO and Sennheiser IE 500 PRO will be available from March 2019.
“When a show or gig is underway, monitoring is crucial,” said Jannik Schentek, Product Manager at Sennheiser. “Beyond connecting you with other musicians, in-ears connect you to yourself, allowing you to improve the way you perform. The IE series has been designed with this goal in mind, and the new models offer several stunning features that let users excel in their art.”
This single-driver technology, termed TrueResponse, ensures a completely natural, clear and spacious sound stage with a total harmonic distortion under 0.08% at 1 kHz and 94 dB. Even so, the sound still has punch – even in the loudest of surroundings. This enables musicians to critically monitor their sound and to fully concentrate on their performance.
With the driver measuring only 7 mm in diameter, the Sennheiser IE 400 PRO and Sennheiser IE 500 PRO feature a comfortable ear mould, which is ergonomically shaped, has a low profile and is extremely lightweight.
The in-ears come with silicone ear adapters in various sizes and special ear tips made from memory foam, which expand to perfectly fit the ear canal. This results in a secure and comfortable fit that comes very close to custom-made ear moulds. Moreover, the perfect sealing provides powerful bass reproduction and a reduction in ambient sound by up to 26 dB, protecting the wearer against excessive stage sound.
Like every in-ear in this professional series, the Sennheiser IE 400 PRO and Sennheiser IE 500 PRO are fitted with a break-proof inner cable duct, that has the cable’s sturdy anti-kink sleeve sit directly on the ear mould, providing a long-lasting solution for the rigours of stage use. For easy distinction, the right ear mould has a red ring at its cable connection.
Both new models have a detachable cable with a reinforced ear hook. While the Sennheiser IE 400 PRO comes with a black, straight cable, the Sennheiser IE 500 PROs are fitted with a clear, twisted-pair cable which provides optimised resistance to structure-borne noise.
Asked about the difference in sound between the two models, Jannik Schentek commented: “The biggest difference is in the mids, really. Between 1 and 2.5 kHz, the IE 500 PRO has more presence and sounds much more direct, thus opening up a very wide and deep sound stage that allows artists to more easily localise themselves in the mix. Furthermore, it has a wider frequency response and a few extra dBs of sound pressure level – which can be crucial on loud stages.”
The Sennheiser IE 400 PRO and Sennheiser IE 500 PRO will be available from March 2019. Both models are available in a clear and a smoky black version. They come complete with a handy transport case, memory foam and silicone ear tips, a cleaning tool, and a 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm jack adaptor.
