Performance

HiFiMAN has usually been a little bass light in their in-ear tunings, much like Etymotic. This has, however, changed with the introduction of the RE800 because it brings a level of bass with it you would expect from much more mainstream brands. The bass is very pronounced and extends super low with plenty of power.



The 80 Hz bump you get on the Sennheiser IE800, which I often associate with slam and punch, is not as pronounced on the RE800, but it still manages to produce a very distinct, punchy bass experience. Having a slightly flatter bass response brings the sub-bass a little more into focus on the RE800 when compared to the IE800. When you listen to the ER4 XR, which is flatter, you do get the sense that the control is slightly better on the XR, but that is probably due to its lesser sub-bass.

The RE800 controls the bass exceptionally well. Compared to other in-ears with the same amount, it is miles ahead to where even super high-end custom in-ears have to throw in the towel. The UE PRM, which is tuned to produce a great amount of bass, does not have the same control, and especially below 60 Hz, you simply get a much better experience with the RE800. The UE IERM does come close to being as revealing in the lower octaves, but it lacks the power you get on the RE800.

HiFiMAN managed to pack a lot bass into the RE800, and they did so without ruining the midrange. The immense sub-bass and bass is well contained, and the way it bleeds into the midrange produces no obvious coloration of the lower midrange. The vocals do not seem quite as forward as on the Etymotic ER4 XR and SR, which is due to the RE800 having significantly more bass and sub-bass. The upper midrange is pretty similar on the Etymotics in-ears and HiFiMAN RE800. In the upper midrange, the drums are forward and have a good amount of punch. Unfortunately, this also makes the RE800 slightly harsh on some modern recordings. The 3 kHz peak is pretty wide, which also brings up the 2 kHz area, which can make the RE800 slightly fatiguing to listen to over longer periods of time. The ER4 XR/SR are more neutral in the midrange, but have the same amount of energy beyond 3 kHz.

Going beyond 3 kHz, you find a high end that is very similar to the Etymotic ER4 models. It is not dulled down and does not overexpose anything in that range. It seems the high end is tuned for a more precise representation rather than for listening to pop music masterings, which can make the RE800 a bit fatiguing to listen to for extended listening periods. In this sense, the ER4 XR/SR and RE800 fall into the same category. I feel like I can listen to stellar recordings all day, but listening to something where the 1.5-3 kHz has been brought up beyond reason, like you hear on some hip-hop/rap recordings, can be a little painful.

Detail throughout the range is insane, especially price considered. At $699, this pair of in-ears is not exactly inexpensive, but compared to its in-ear rivals, it is priced pretty competitively, plus HiFiMAN manages this in a universal in-ear design, which means you can actually sell the RE800 if you outgrow it.

Top-end extension is perfect, hovering around at a neutral level all the way beyond 10 kHz. Tuning-wise, it hits a level very close to the ER4 XR, but is perhaps somewhat smoother in the 3-8 kHz range, which can lead to some features being overly dominant. This seems to be a bit tip dependent as well, so you might want to experiment a bit before settling on a specific tip.

The RE800's sound stage outperforms the Etymotics', but the IERM give both a real run for their money. Generally, in-ears are well behind full-sized headphones. The RE800 does not bridge the gap, but is among the better performers in its category. Noise attenuation is similar to other in-ears with dynamic drivers. Here, the RE800 is probably a good 5-10 dB behind the Etymotic ER4 or a perfectly fitting custom in-ear.

Comfort is generally good, but we would have preferred it if the coaxial connector were further away from the tip in order to accommodate ears with a larger gap between the tragic notch and canal entrance. Due to the short distance, some tips just would not work for me as the entire earpiece was being pulled out gently.