Performance

The IE7 in-ears are true performers. Their sound is freed of many of the limitations of the IE6s. Compared to the IE6s the IE7s are in a different class. The vast differences in speed and texture make them well worth the almost $100 price difference. To me the IE7s perform slightly better than you would expect for the price plus you get few extra pieces of kit in the bundle, compared to other high-end offerings on the market today. Overall as a package the IE7s deliver as promised and then some. The IE7s retain the some of the smoothness in the midrange that the IE6s posses, but add heaps of details and a lot better attack. Low range definition is likewise in a completely different class to the IE6s. Bass amount wise the IE7s can deliver quite a bit of thunder without flooding the midrange.

The midrange is among the best in class and when it comes to sound stage the IE7s blow the competition out of the water. The space between the instruments and the ambience they create is a real treat if you have nice portable player or DAC / Amplifier combination at home. Even though the midrange retains more details than that of the IE6s, the IE7s still lack a bit in order to be able to put up a serious fight with the Westone 3s and Head-Direct RE0s of this world. However, the midrange is extremely pleasant to listen to because it is semi-hot and quite forward. If you are an avid rock or pop listener you will definitely be able to enjoy the lush mids of the IE7s. The mids combined with the superb sound stage make the IE7s an interesting combination, one that is really attractive even in direct comparison with more expensive in-ears like the Westone 3s or Sleek-Audio Custom in-ears.

With that said the IE7s are still way behind when it comes to treble detail and extension. Unlike the Sleeks and Westones they lack a bit of that all important sparkle that makes a lot of stuff sound really entertaining. Some will undoubtedly like the fact that they are less obtrusive when it comes to high frequency intensity, but in order to make a really good all around set of in-ears you need to get that sorted as well especially considering the price. Even at almost a full $100 less, the Head-Direct RE0s manages to control the highs better, albeit still not "sparkly" they do make a better presentation of the high frequencies.

It seems that Sennheiser has chosen to grace the IE7s with the same quality cable as they put on their IE6 in-ears. The cable jacket feels really durable and still it handles microphonic noise nicely. Like we saw with the IE6s you get a shirt clip which is a nice addition to any set of in-ears. The much debated ear hooks are also a part of the bundle, but they do not do anything useful for me. They might have an impact on the wearing comfort with some sizes and shapes of ears; mine are just too weird to be bothered with them.

Durability

These new in-ears in the IE-line are incredibly well built. The cable is tough albeit not user replaceable. Everything is just so well laid out and manufactured that I have nothing to complain about except maybe the lack of a user replaceable cable, since this is a $300 set of in-ears.