Sennheiser IE 900 vs FiiO FH5

Short answer: the Sennheiser IE 900. It ranks #383 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $1,299.95. The FiiO FH5 ranks #393, rated 3.0/5, at $1,138.53, $161.42 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.

The case for the Sennheiser IE 900: Oratory1990 measured sub-bass and bass within about 1.2 dB of target, so the low end is tidy and controlled. The tradeoff: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz is about 6.7 dB below the Harman target, with an 8.8 dB dip near 3.6 kHz, which recesses vocals and removes some bite.

The case for the FiiO FH5: In oratory1990’s measurement the bass and low mids sit only 0.6 to 1.4 dB above the Harman target, so kick drums and bass guitar have a warm, full body without bloating. Watch for: Presence between 3 and 6 kHz runs about 7.3 dB under target, with a 9.6 dB dip near 4.7 kHz, so vocals, snare and guitar attack sound recessed and distant.

Buy the Sennheiser IE 900. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $161.42 saving on the FiiO FH5 is not enough to make up the difference.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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How Sennheiser IE 900 compares with other leading options:

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• Sennheiser IE 600 vs Sennheiser IE 900
• qdc Anole V6 vs Sennheiser IE 900
• Sennheiser IE 900 vs Westone MACH 80
• Sennheiser IE 4 vs Sennheiser IE 900

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The Two Headphones In Full

Sennheiser IE 900: $1,299.95 Amazon eBay

Pros: Oratory1990 measured sub-bass and bass within about 1.2 dB of target, so the low end is tidy and controlled. Sensitivity of 123 dB SPL/V and a 16 ohm impedance make it easy to drive from a phone, and the 7mm dynamic driver is rated to reach from 5 Hz to 48 kHz. Top-octave air sits about 3.6 dB above target for an open, detailed treble.

Cons: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz is about 6.7 dB below the Harman target, with an 8.8 dB dip near 3.6 kHz, which recesses vocals and removes some bite. A preference score of 63 is modest for such a premium product, and the HIFIMAN RE2000 has a higher rating at a lower price.

Full Sennheiser IE 900 review and specifications →

Released	2021 (5 years ago)
Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.82 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 7mm dynamic
Form Factor	In-ear
Frequency Response	5Hz - 48kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	16 ohms
Sensitivity	123 dB SPL/V
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.7 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-2.3 dB	0.70
Peak	4,081 Hz	+5.0 dB	2.86
Peak	204 Hz	-2.6 dB	1.13
Peak	1,472 Hz	-2.7 dB	2.33
Peak	2,956 Hz	+5.2 dB	2.42
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-4.4 dB	0.70
Peak	67 Hz	+0.6 dB	1.76
Peak	26 Hz	-0.9 dB	3.19
Peak	729 Hz	+0.4 dB	2.54
Peak	376 Hz	-0.4 dB	2.69

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Sennheiser IE 900 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Sennheiser IE 900 vs qdc Anole V6
  • Sennheiser IE 900 vs Westone MACH 80
  • Sennheiser IE 900 vs Sennheiser IE 600
  • Sennheiser IE 900 vs Sennheiser IE 4
  • Sennheiser IE 900 vs Sennheiser IE 200

FiiO FH5: $1,138.53 Amazon eBay

Pros: In oratory1990’s measurement the bass and low mids sit only 0.6 to 1.4 dB above the Harman target, so kick drums and bass guitar have a warm, full body without bloating. The hybrid design pairs a 10mm dynamic driver with 3 balanced armatures, and the 19 ohm impedance and 112 dB/mW sensitivity mean a phone or dongle drives it easily. Sub-bass is slightly lifted by 0.8 dB, which suits warm and bassy tastes.

Cons: Presence between 3 and 6 kHz runs about 7.3 dB under target, with a 9.6 dB dip near 4.7 kHz, so vocals, snare and guitar attack sound recessed and distant. Air above 10 kHz is down about 3.2 dB, which takes some sparkle off cymbals. A preference score of 61 and an uneven response with a 2.96 dB deviation leave it behind the HIFIMAN RE2000 for tonal accuracy.

Full FiiO FH5 review and specifications →

Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.96 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature)
Drivers	1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature
Form Factor	In-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	61 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	19 ohms
Sensitivity	112 dB/mW
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.7 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0 lbs (8 g) per earbud

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-2.4 dB	0.70
Peak	3,870 Hz	+6.6 dB	1.63
Peak	191 Hz	-2.7 dB	1.11
Peak	1,347 Hz	-1.8 dB	1.19
Peak	9,899 Hz	+2.5 dB	2.75
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-1.8 dB	0.70
Peak	69 Hz	+0.9 dB	1.61
Peak	122 Hz	-0.6 dB	2.38
Peak	6,634 Hz	-1.7 dB	6.00
Peak	5,997 Hz	+1.5 dB	6.00

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the FiiO FH5 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • FiiO FH5 vs InEar StageDiver SD5
  • FiiO FH5 vs DUNU DK4001
  • FiiO FH5 vs Westone MACH 80
  • FiiO FH5 vs Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1