HiFiMAN RE800 - Outstanding - Engaging - Vivid
HiFiMAN
RE800 - Outstanding, Engaging, Vivid
HiFiMAN
brings a new contender to their high-end IEM offering! RE800 promises to do a
lot with their Topology Diaphragm, technology also found in their bigger
brother, RE2000.
Introduction
HiFiMAN
electronics has been a huge company in the Audiophile Industry for a while now,
and they made a big name for themselves with well-known products like their HE-560
and HE-1000. Founded in 2005 by Dr. Fang Bian, HiFiMAN has been refining their
IEMs and headphones offerings ever since.
HiFiMAN
also made some of the best-known audiophile DAPs, like the HM-901 DAP, which
has been held in the hearts of the fans for a long time as having one of the
sweetest sounds they ever heard.
It should
be mentioned that, like IE800, RE800 is a single Dynamic Driver IEM, and it doesn't
rely on multi-BA setups. The main feature is the lightweight driver made under
the Topolgy Driver Diaphragm name, a technology that proposes to make drivers
that respond even faster to impulse than the typical dynamic driver, leading more
details and better precision.
I have
absolutely no affiliation with HiFiMAN Electronics, I am not receiving any
incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review will be as
objective as possible and it reflects my personal experience with RE800. Every
opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to
help those interested in RE800 find their next music companion. This review is
part of a small tour organized by HiFiMAN for their newly released products and
my opinions have been taken after having used RE800 for at least two months,
enough time to accommodate with the sound and all the details about this
wonderful IEM.
About
me
My name is George
Dobrescu and I am the Director of the Seventh Heart Studios game studio. I work
as one of the main programmers for the company, and I am the writer for Quantum
Magica and Falsetto Memories projects. I spend eight – twelve hours a day
working on a computer, writing and sometimes drawing. I also take care of
administrative work which means that I require a portable setup so I'll be
testing the portability of iDSD as well.
Music is present all
around me for a big part of that time as working with music is always more fun.
With all the devices I own, I need great sound, comfort and ease of usage, not
to mention that my listening volume ranges from "please stop that, it's
far too loud" to "I can't even tell that you're listening to
music".
My collection includes
everything from Classical to Metal, from Rap to Pop, from Punk to Cabaret and
absolutely everything in between. There are great artists from every type of
music, and I'm one to collect their albums, and keep a tidy order for my files.
You can
check out more about our games on our pages https://www.facebook.com/seventh.heart.studios/ and https://twitter.com/7heartstudios .
At
Seventh Heart Studios, we all love music and this has had an impact on our
games as we hold the music close to our hearts and we are committed to only use
ogg -q10 as the encoding format for our music since it offers the best disk
space to sound quality ratio, OGG -q10 being closest to audibly transparent
when compared to FLAC encoding.
Personal
philosophy: Music is more than a hobby or sound. Music is inspiration. Music is
life. Music has meaning by itself, being the one thing that can define one's
life while shaping one's imagination and creativity. Music can open doors to
new plains and music can change one's mood. Music can rest the mind better than
days of sleep or can give one energy better than a thousand cups of coffee.
Music can be anything we want it to be and the music we experience using
professional audition tools is more but at the same time it is nothing more
than our way of enhancing the emotion we get from music. Love is a concept too
shallow, unable to encompass what music really means to a music lover.
First
Impression
When it comes to
high-end IEMs, I have owned quite a few by now, and while it might seem ironic,
HiFiMAN's own RE2000 is one of the best IEMs out there, high in the top with
other well-renown IEMs. RE800 and RE2000 both rely on a single Dynamic Driver
setup, comparable with Sennheiser ie800, in technology, since ie800 is also a
TOTL (Top-Of-The-Line) IEM which employs a Single Dynamic Driver setup.
I have owned quite a few
IEMs and headphones before, Ultrasone DJ One Pro, Meze 99 Classics, Ultrasone
Signature Studio, Dunu DK-3001, Sennheiser ie800, HiFiMAN RE-2000, Oriveti New
Primacy, Kinera H3, FiiO F9, Beyerdynamic Xelento, and a few others. I also
owned high end sources like DAPs (Opus #3, iBasso DX200, Opus #2, FiiO X7mkii),
and high-end DAC/AMPs (iFi iDSD Black Label).
I actually received the
RE800 as part of a package from HiFiMAN Electronics, being part of the tour for
their newly released products, and this time, the package arrived in a pretty
funny way. I must commend HiFiMAN's communication and support as the package
almost got lost on the road, and they provided great amounts of effort to help
me receive the package safely.
It was a rainy day when
I first took RE800 out for a listen. Describing the weather that day as rain is
too little to be said, the aphotic skies vaguely resembled the end of the
world, thunderous applauses from above shaking the buildings from their grounds.
The clock stroke around mid noon when I noticed that I have no provisions left
and that I should go purchase some. I quickly dressed up, took on my coat and
plugged RE800 in Opus #3 and prepared to challenge the nature itself for
nutrition and survival. The bleak walls of my room felt as if they were melting
down on me as the rain was pulling more and more force in each drop.
Disheartened, I took a few steps out of the room and pressed play. A shock went
through me like a lightning as I wandered through the corridors. A sweet melody
dazzled my mind far into a fantasy world as my ears were tickled and delighted
by sweet symphonies coming from RE800 and Machinae Supremacy's music. A quick
thrill ran down my spine as multiple layers of sweet guitars and glazing
cymbals were presented by this little golden IEM. Everything got brighter in
mere minutes. No rain could darken my mood anymore, not even the storms raging
outside. It was time for more listening with RE800 and to see how it combines
with other sources.
Packaging:
First
things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
HiFiMAN goes a step
beyond when it comes to their packaging, RE800 coming in a rather mid-large
sized wood box that bears all the accessories needed within. The presentation
is quite luxurious, especially considering that most IEMs up to this price
point come in cardboard boxes.
Although the tips
included might work and should work for most people, I actually borrowed the
Spinfit tips that came with Dunu DK-3001 for my sonic impressions.
The metallic-grey wooden
box comes packaged in a smooth cartoon paper that includes a few bits of information
about RE-800, like a presentative photo, the Frequency Response, which is 5Hz –
20kHz, the impedance, which is 60OHM, and the sensitivity, which is about 105
dB. HiFiMAN wants to note their users that RE800 are electroplated with a gold
finish, by having a sticker mentioning this in the upper left corner of the
paper wrap.
The metallic-grey wooden
box is simple, elegant, and on the top side you will find the logo of HiFiMAN
and the model name.
HiFiMAN's slogan is
pretty cool, "Innovating the Art of Listening", and we are going to
look how much HiFiMAN delivers on their slogan in the sonic and
usage aspect of RE800.
Inside the wooden box,
you will find RE800 In Ear Monitors, a carry box (that proven to be quite
useful and practical), a selection of tips, both Comply and double/triple
flanged tips, and plastic earhooks. The selection of accessories is quite good,
and RE800 comes with enough to enjoy them. It should be noted that the official
current version of RE800 comes with detachable cables as well.
RE800 comes with a
high-quality, beautifully designed owner's book, that includes a lot of useful
information. It was enlightening to read about HiFiMAN's quondam models, like
RE600 and their first headphones.
The wooden case in which
RE800 is packaged will come in handy for keeping other audio-related equipment,
especially as it is padded with a soft, velvety material that will caress your
audio items, keeping them in good condition and gently defending them from
scratches.
To recap, RE800 comes
with:
- Foam tips
-
EarHooks
-
Single Flange tips
-
2-Flange tips
-
3-Flange tips
-
Owner's Guide
-
Earphone Travel Case
-
Premium Wooden Case
-
RE800 IEMs
All in all, a good
package for a good-looking IEM.
What
you should look for when considering a IEM (In-Ear Monitor)
When purchasing an IEM, there are a few factors you
should take into account to ensure that you’ll have the best experience
possible. Sooner or later, all those factors will come into play, one way or
another:
- Sound quality –
This is, by far, the most important aspect of every purchase, when you invest
in high end audio products. The sonic characteristics, along with the frequency
response / sonic signature widely differs from IEM to IEM.
- Comfort /
ergonomics – The fit and comfort are quite important, especially if you plan on
using the same IEM for hours in a row, or in a live performance.
- Isolation –
Every IEM will offer some degree of isolation, but there are both models that
focus on ultra-isolation from the outside noise, and open models.
- Good
Value – Always nice to have
- Interesting/Intriguing
design – Every user will have a personal preference and taste for what an
“interesting design” is, but it is generally recommended to pick a IEM which
you consider to be aesthetically pleasing, or in simpler words, Good Looking.
- Drive-Factor –
How easy it is to drive and how prone to hissing it is, since certain IEMs and
headphones will require special sources to offer the best performance.
- Accessories
included – It is better to have a large selection of tips and accessories
included with a IEM, especially for those that feature unique tips or require
their own accessories.
- Build Quality
and Warranty – While it is good to have a solid warranty included with Every
IEM, having a solid build quality is far better. Having best of both is the
icing on the cake.
Technical
Specifications
Impedance
|
60 Ohm
|
Connector
|
3.5mm Single Ended Jack
|
Frequency Response
|
5Hz - 20.000Hz
|
Rated Power Efficiency
|
105 dB
|
Cable length
|
150 cm / 3.5mm Jack
|
Cable Type
|
Crystalline Cooper, Silver Coated
|
Driver Type
|
Dynamic Driver
|
Driver Technology
|
Topology Diaphragm
|
Housing Material
|
Brass, Gold Electroplated
|
Earphone Weight
|
27g
|
Coupling Type
|
In-Ear, Deep Insertion Fit
|
Low Magnetic Emissions
|
Yes (Inherent)
|
Build
Quality/Aesthetics
From the moment you
receive RE800, you know that you are dealing with a glamorous, top-end IEM,
presented beautifully in a wooden box, and seated in a gentle velvety sponge
cutout, which is covered in a luscious coating, RE800 appear like two golden
jewels that are crying for attention.
The IEMs themselves are made from Brass, a resilient alloy made from weaving in
cooper and zinc, then they are electroplated in gold. HiFiMAN took great care
to mention that their IEMs are caressed with the best of materials, to bring
most enjoyment to the listener.
The cables are supple,
and are very flexible, providing an excellent option for both those who want to
wear them straight-down and over-the-ear, sporting a very solid 3.5mm L-angled
connector.
The IEMs themselves have
extremely small bodies which are smooth to the touch, providing gentle slopes
and curves in their design for improved comfort and splendid design. Both IEMs housings
have HiFiMAN's logo printed on the back, and they also have an L and R markings
to notify the user of which is the left and which is the right earpiece.
The only downside of
RE800 might be that they don't have detachable cables, but soon after the
initial release, HiFiMAN issued a recall and provided RE800 with fully
replaceable cables to their users.
With their minute sized
bodies, RE800 can only be compared to IE800, which also have a keen look to
their construction bodies, both being extremely comfortable, even for users
with very small ear canals.
The Travel Case is not
branded, but it features a smooth rubbery texture on the outside, with a small
pouch on the inside. At first, one could judge the Travel Case to be pretty
frail, but I have thrown it in my bag, even under many heavy other objects, and
it survived without a scratch, proving to be one of the best Travel Cases for
IEMs out there.
All in all, with their sweet
golden color and their gentle bodies, RE800 look like two jewels and while they
won't make anyone turn their head as they almost disappear inside one's ears,
they sure are a cute and stylish IEM to see on the table and to analyze while
you're not using it.
Fit / Comfort
Inside the Owner's
Guide, HiFiMAN is proud to present that RE800 can be worn both straight down
and Over-The-Ear. After testing, they proved to be wearable in both situations.
Furthermore, they are extremely comfortable in both conditions, the IEMs, the
bore sizes, and the tips usually being small and having a gentle contact with
one's ears, providing excellent fit and comfort.
Given that they are
small IEMs, I am not sure if the largest provided tips are large enough for
someone with larger ear canals, but since RE800 works with most aftermarket
cables out there, I wouldn't worry about their fit in any way.
I have actually been
using the pair of Spinfit tips that came with the Dunu DK-3001 while using
RE800 since Spinfit offers the best comfort for me, and I have to commend Dunu
for including it and for opening my mind to those tips. It would be great if
more companies would start to add Spinfit in their default tip selection, but
HiFiMAN's default selection of double and triple flanged tips, along with
Comply foam tips is fairly good as well.
All in all, RE800 will
be extremely comfortable for almost any user, and their fit should be excellent
with all ears out there, given their small size. Even if a user wants to use a
third party set of tips, this is easily doable since RE800 has a typical bore
size and most third party tips will work with them flawlessly.
Testing
HiFiMAN RE800 has been
tested with Xiaomi Mi Max 2, FiiO X5ii, Opus #3, Opus #2, iBasso DX200, Hidizs
AP200, Shanling M2s, FiiO X7mkii and with the benchmark DAC/AMP, iFi iDSD Black
Label.
RE800 can easily be
driven from most portable sources, but given their rather revealing signature, they
will answer well to using a better source. It should be noted that they have a
somewhat odd impedance for a IEM, 60OHM, this aspect making them less sensitive
to impedance matching and prone to work well with a wider array of sources,
regardless of their output impedance.
RE800 is not prone to
hiss from any kind of sources, thing probably attributed their increased
impedance, thing which makes them an excellent IEM to combine even with noisier
sources.
Sound
Quaity
HiFiMAN RE800 is a
little energetic IEM that provides a lot of energy in the higher registers, an
impactful, full, and natural bass, a natural yet slightly recessed midrange,
and a very good instrument separation. Drums are snappy, voices have a natural
tone and texture to them, especially male voices, and everything comes out
sweet and musical, similar to how IE800 is pretty sweet and musical. The
true-to-life tonality and bite in the upper registers will work amazingly well
with Acoustic music.
Although they are
musical and natural for voices, RE800 is not free of coloration, providing a
rather fun and engaging sound, with a little unique signature, which will
appeal more to certain users. They are really good at expressing a
well-extended sound in both bass and treble, they have enhanced and
electrifying textures, and the detail and micro-detail presentation is over the
top. The Topology Diaphragm Driver technology works very well for RE800's
resolution and its sonic abilities, providing an exceedingly detailed yet fun,
engaging, and musical sound.
The signature can be
described as vivid, vibrant, euphoric, deep, and energetic. There is a little
dip somewhere in the 3.5 – 4 kHz area and a little peak in the ~6-8 kHz area,
which leads to a sound that enhances acoustic guitars and acoustic instruments
very nicely, providing them with more bite and vibrancy. Many IEMs go in the
opposite direction and are cutting too much bite from acoustic guitars, so it
is nice to see a different approach this. The layering RE800 provides is also
insanely good, being up there in the top with the best IEMs.
Little
disclaimer
All sonic impressions
for RE800 have been taken with DX200, Opus #2, M2s, AP200, X7mkii and iDSD BL,
all of those being impressive audio devices, each having a signature of its
own. All sources will influence the sound more or less, but RE800 has a certain
sonic character that is present with all sources. Some sources might tone down
or change the initial signature provided by RE800, while other sources will
enhance their natural signature.
Channel
balance
RE800 seems to have an
excellent channel balance and there is no aberration to be detected.
Bass
The Bass of RE800 is excellently
well extended, down to the lowest registers with no roll-off, providing an excellent
impact and resolution. RE800 is able to resolve micro-textures and minute-level
details quite well, Hip-Hop music feeling quite vivid and detailed. Natural and
acoustic instruments have an excellent timing and RE800 manages to sound very
natural, providing the level of texturization and depth you would expect when
hearing a live double-bass or other bass instruments.
The impact and depth are
above what one would expect from a IEM with such small housings, the bass is
deep, and provides earth-shattering levels of impact, but doesn't really go
overboard, having no traces of bloat. It is like RE800 has an enhanced bass,
but a bass that keeps its timing tight and its resolving abilities straight
while still being quite enhanced.
Fara zahar – Starea Natiunii – This is the first time Romanian
music is added to the song impressions list, but we have to take into account
that there are excellent Romanian artists out there. Fara Zahar is a Romanian
Folk / Parody / Avant-Garde – Pop band that had excellent recording and
mastering for their 2008 album, Neamul Lui Penes Curcanul. All of those are
supposed to be comedy songs, but they still sound excellent through RE800,
providing a different outlook on this type of music. The song starts with an outstanding
guitar composition accompanied by a deep and large bass playing in the
foreground. Voices sound natural and have a very true-to-life tonality and
texture to them, RE800 making them feel more like a live presentation rather
than a recorded piece listened through IEMs. The acoustic guitars play with
amazing detail and a sweet tonality. The drums sound very crispy and detailed,
and the whole composition is playful, dynamic and enjoyable. The message about
the condition of Romania from back in 2008 sounds sweet and funny, RE800
proving to be an excellent IEM to play the songs of Fara Zahar.
The Tiger Lillies – Killer – Since RE800 is best at acoustic
music, let's explore another band that employs a strong combination of both
gentle and harder acoustic instruments, The Tiger Lillies. Their song Killer is
an excellent test-song due to its good mastering. After the theatrical intro,
the song starts with a very groovy, large and impactful bass line, played along
a quick and snappy accordion and a gentle drum and snare pattern. The voice is
very clean and clear, providing an excellent driving mechanism for the entire
song. The story about how the singer could have been a killer is sent forward
with amazing emotional depth and convincing statement. Although TTL is a comedy
/ Avant-Garde band, the song feels quite real and the instruments are rather
tangible.
Ленинград – Комон эврибади – Leningrad is one of the best-known
bands of Parody, Comedy and Avant-Garde music from Russia. Their compositions
and songs have millions of lovers world-wide and their playful and melodic
style has impressed many already. The song starts with a playful combination of
guitars and drums that are quickly followed by the trumpets and the rather
hoarse voice of the lead singer. The voice feels natural, as if the singer is
next to the listener, and the smoothing that is sometimes applied is absent,
leading to a very vivid experience. The bass is always deep and heavy, played
with a natural decay, and offers a convincing sound of a real-life bass guitar.
The trumpets and other blow instruments are presented very energetic and vivid,
and the cymbals bear a realistic vibrancy to them.
Midrange
The Midrange of RE800 is
an open experience, as they provide a very convincing soundstage and instrument
separation, especially with Spinfit tips and Mandarin tips. The tonality of the
midrange is excellent for Acoustic music and Pop, but might sound a bit hot for
some of the harsher Metal music. I love how they sound with metal, as they
render it quite vivid, but it should be noted that cymbal hits come a bit hot. There
is a overly nice sweetness to the sound of a violin and to the sound of an
acoustic guitar when playing a ballad, along with a certain sense of rhythm to
all music.
RE800 can be tamed and
treated to sound leaner with a bit of EQ, feeling a bit like a wild animal, that
can be tamed and taught to do anything the user desires.
A static Lullaby – Toxic (Cover) – This song is a part of the "Punk Goes Pop"
compilation, an excellent set of pop songs performed by punk, rock, and metal
bands. The song starts with an engaging combination of acoustic guitar notes,
followed by natural voice meddled with sweet rhythm guitars and snappy drums. Everything
is kept in its own place and presented with a good amount of space and air
between the instruments, RE800 being really good at presenting music in a
well-separated way. The cymbals have an exquisite energy about them, and this
enhances the detail and the micro-detail levels, bringing forward many nuances
that are otherwise subdued form this song, like the background synth sounds and
the fine textures in the rhythm guitars. The story about the toxic love that
becomes addictive to the one feeling it is felt vividly and presented with a
good amount of emotional involvement.
Rings Of Saturn – The Heavens Have Fallen – The instrumental composition by the rather heavy
band, Rings of Saturn, starts with a sweet combination of synth notes woven
together, giving the listener an introduction to the parallel plane he is going
to explore through the song. When the song starts, it starts with great impact
and it pushes the listener forward in the sixth dimension, quickly playing with
all his senses. The vibrant solo guitars woven with sweet rhythm guitars played
along a snappy, quick, yet powerful drum set sends the listener's mind dreaming
at thousands of stars flowing through the space-time continuum. The solos are
sweet and delicate, yet bear great amounts of power and emotion. The message of
this instrumental song, unclear, yet vividly presented, about the universe as a
whole, its creation, and unavoidable ascension throws the listener into both a
listening craze, and a sweet meditation about life and its meaning.
The Offspring – Cool To Hate – This old-school punk song starts with an picturesque and vintage
atmosphere representing America during the year the album was recorded in,
about 1997. Guitars are always presented with a good amount of texture and
sweetness to them, while the voices always sound natural and come through with
a good amount of power, yet never sound harsh. The cymbals are presented with a
good amount of force and life in them, providing a vivid experience for the
listener. The story about the protagonist, the negativistic teenager we all
once been, hating everything, is transmitted on a fun and happy tone, almost
like listening to a happy tune about happy teens, but with the opposite
message.
Treble
HiFiMAN RE800 has a
unique way of conveying the treble, adding a lot of energy and life to the
cymbals and other instruments that have a lot of content in the lower treble,
like trumpets. This makes RE800 an excellent IEM for well-recorded music and
music that has a very honest treble presentation, like acoustic music. On the
other hand, metal music can sound a bit hot for some, RE800 having a small
enhancement in that area.
This unique way of
presenting the treble with a lot of energy makes RE800 stand out in clarity, detail,
micro-details and honesty, giving them a strong edge when it comes to having a
life-like presentation.
Besides the energetic
side of the treble, it is good to mention that RE800 are quite detailed and
that their treble sounds rather solid, especially compared with something like IE800
which has a softer sound to their treble, albeit having an energetic top end as
well.
Machinae Supremacy – The Greatest Show On The Earth – The song starts with a few feeble and shy
guitar notes played together, like children playing gleefully through hidden
woods. The song starts strong with a series of sweet guitar notes. The voices
always sound natural, never being harsh or overexposed, and they are
accompanied by gentle sound of bells and other special effects. The bass keeps
being quite strong through the song, but it doesn't shadow the sweet midrange.
The top end of the song is always presented vividly, with the cymbals having a
tiny peak to them, yet without feeling harsh or over the board.
Jason Derulo – Talk Dirty – A good test track, to show what RE800 can do with a heavily
compressed pop song that features extreme amounts of bass. The song starts with
a good amount of drums/effects played in an airy and open space. There is a
good sense of rhythm and playfulness with the whole song, the bass is heavy and
goes very deep, but it is well controlled and provides an excellent clarity and
texture, whilst keeping good amounts of control. Voices are clear, natural and
sound very clear as well. The background voices are also vivid and presented
with good amounts of life to them. The jazzy blow instruments are vibrant, but
they don't go over the top, staying quite playful rather than being stringent.
The enhancements in RE800's treble don't bother at all, and RE800 does an amazing
job at playing pop music. The story of the song feels real, and although this
song doesn't have a necessarily interesting or nice story, it is good to know
that RE800 has the ability to present it well.
Rob Zombie – Werewolf baby – Rob Zombie's songs are always good to test with all equipment.
Excellent recording, mastering and post production conditions make Rob Zombie's
music some of the best out there. The song starts with a funky yet playful
combination of rhythm and lead guitars played along quick and rowdy drum sets.
The voices feel realistic, and the whole song is presented in a large and open
space, with a very good separation between the musical instruments. The song
chorus is vivid and playful, being quite easy to move your head while listening
to this scary yet addictive song by Rob Zombie. The story about the man who
becomes the werewolf is presented in a dark yet fun light, almost like a
painting about Rob Zombie's movies, where the watcher almost sympathizes with
the antagonists.
Soundstage
HiFiMAN RE800 has quite
an expansive soundstage, especially considering their physical size and what
one would expect form them before plugging them in. Most IEMs that feature a
deep insertion, or small IEM bodies, will have a more intimate soundstage
presentation, but RE800 seems to do its best to defy this logic, providing an
excellent all-around soundstage. Special effects in the music of Escape the
Fate can come from quite far away, there are certain instruments that feel as
if they are played above or below the listener, and there is a
very good general sense of space and air, all instruments being able to breathe
as they should.
The instrument
separation is very good as well, comparable with the mighty Sennheiser IE800, a
TOTL IEM priced similarly to RE800. The listener can easily tell different
instruments and instrument layers apart from each other, it is very easy to
identify every single nuance in every unique instrument.
ADSR/PRaT
HiFiMAN RE800 has a
uniquely quick driver, which leads to a very life-like presentation of the ADSR
(Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) / PRaT (Pace, Rhythm and Timing). The Attack
of each note is quick and RE800 gives acoustic instruments an especially
natural presentation, with all the natural textures and enhancements they are
supposed to have. Listening to RE800 can easily lead to tapping your feet while
listening to rhythmic electronic or while hearing the sweet Jazzy melodies sang
as if they were played right in front of you.
The rather large and
impactful bass presentation doesn't hinder quick rendering of other elements, the
ADSR being quick enough to present all details and micro-details, even while
RE800 has large amounts of bass impact.
Electronic guitars have
a uniquely enhanced texture representation, that is probably a characteristic
of the unique Topology driver designed by HiFiMAN. All in all, there is no
space to complain about the ADSR / PRaT, even at their rather high price.
Portable Usage
RE800 has been thought and
designed to be a portable IEM, starting with the small IEM bodies, excellent
ergonomics, and their easy-to-drive nature.
The cables are designed
to be portable as well, with their supple and flexible construction. It is good
to mention that the cables provide very little to no cable noise (microphonic
noise), and they are quite comfortable to wear, being light enough to allow for
walking and doing other activities while wearing RE800.
The isolation of RE800 will
be dependent on the tips used, my personal favorites, the Spinfit tips and the
Mandarin tips both offering an excellent amount of isolation from the outside
noise. It is possible to use RE800 at low levels while taking a walk through the
thunderous streets of Bucharest, as RE800 is able to defend the listener from
most of that commotion.
Drive
factor
HiFiMAN RE800 is fairly
easy to drive, and while it can be driven from almost any smartphone, and even
sound great as such, adding a professional DAP (Digital Audio Player), or a
DAC/AMP, will surely enhance the experience and will help the sound become not
just great, but amazing. RE800 is not particularly sensitive to hiss, and seems
to work pretty well with most sources it was tested with, but it is fair to
mention that depending on the listener's tastes, some sources might provide a
better synergy.
Select pairings
RE800 + iDSD BL – The acoustic genius playing along the TOTL benchmark DAC/AMP is a
totally sweet combination. RE800 doesn't need the switches on iDSD BL to be
engaged, as it has a very good sound just by being driven by it. The unique
signature of iDSD BL will sweeten the midrange of RE800, giving them even more
musical edge and widening the types of music it works best with. iDSD BL will
enhance the bass impact and the treble clarity of RE800 a bit, but it won't
make them harsh nor increase the peaks they have, making a very good companion
for details and musicality. iDSD BL will also enhance the soundstage size of
RE800 by a good amount.
RE800 + iBasso DX200 (AMP1) – This is a very recommended pairing for RE800 since iBasso DX200
is the neutral master of DAPs, providing a very linear, yet musical and
detailed sound. As such, it doesn't increase the bass nor the treble of RE800,
but it will enhance the dynamics and textures, giving RE800 even more detail,
without taking away any of the musicality they present to the listener. DX200
is also one of the best DAPs when it comes to its instrument separation,
further enhancing the instrument separation of RE800. Since this is the SE
version of RE800 with no removable cables, it was impossible to test DX200 + AMP3
with RE800. Commercial versions should have interchangeable cables, providing
option for balanced cables as well.
RE800 + Opus #2 – Opus #2 makes an excellent companion for RE800, being one of the
DAPs I used a lot with it. The sound can be described as sweet and musical.
Opus in general has a sweet spot for sounding musical and for playing things
with a lively energy in the mids, along with a large bass impact. The organic Opus
sound will enhance the vocals presented through RE800, giving them an edge when
it comes to smoothness in the midrange and lifelike tonality. Opus DAPs are
also known to have large and expansive soundstages, providing an intricately wide
and well-separated presentation for music played through RE800.
RE800 + Shanling M2s – A portable, light, yet powerful combination, Shanling M2s is
known to bring a lot of sparkle and bass hit to the IEMs connected to it, being
a bit U shaped. M2s will smooth some of the detail in RE800, making them a bit
laid back and offering a relaxed experience, without taking away any of the
vibrancy and life from the sound.
RE800 + Hidizs AP200 – AP200 is an excellent DAP if you're looking at offering RE800 an
upper midrange companion to compliment their sound. AP200 is a bit U shaped by
its nature and comes with a smooth midrange that doesn't enhance
aggressiveness, but rather gives music a laid-back presentation that feels
detailed yet smooth. The highlight of AP200 would be its rather natural tone in
the midrange, enhancing the acoustic experience with RE800, without adding any
harshness or aggressiveness.
RE800 + FiiO X7mkii – FiiO X7mkii is an energetic
performer with a lot of life in the midrange and an explosively fun
presentation. The midrange of the combo is sweet and X7mkii will sweeten the
midrange of RE800 by a good degree, giving them a rather happy and vibrant
presentation, along with a nicely layered sound. X7mkii also has a natural type
of bass that will enhance the bass impact RE800 naturally has, along with the
rather quick sound, giving them an edge when it comes to speedy music.
EMI
HiFiMAN
RE800 has been tested against EMI and they don't pick any EMI (Electro-Magnetic
Interference) from any source, regardless whether they are used under
high-tension power sources or right next to a wireless router.
Comparisons
Although they are priced
in the high-end range of IEMs (considering that anything above 500$ is already
a high-end IEM priced as such) RE800 has to do a lot for themselves to justify
their 800$ price tag.
RE800 vs Dunu DK-3001 – Although there is some difference in their
price tags, DK-3001 makes an interest competition for RE800. Starting with the
bottom end, DK-3001 presents bass with a slower decay, while RE800 is quicker,
both providing really good impact and control abilities. The midrange is a bit
more V shaped on RE800, where it feels a tad more linear on DK-3001, both
having a pretty natural tonality and texture presentation. RE800's top end is
enhanced when compared to DK-3001, the presentation highlighting details and
fine nuances more on RE800, although DK-3001 doesn't try to do that, but rather
to offer a relaxed presentation to the music. All in all, DK-3001 is more of a
complementary IEM to RE800, being a smooth and laid-back presentation, while
RE800 is vibrant and energetic, with an inherent tendency for presenting more
details.
RE800 vs Oriveti New Primacy – ONP is priced considerably lower than RE800, but
still makes an interesting comparison to RE800. ONP has less bass, having a
tighter bottom end. The midrange is quite sweet on both, its midrange being
ONP's highlight, while RE800 has a somewhat more recessed midrange. The top end
is smoother and less enhanced on ONP, leading to an inherently more detailed
sound on RE800.
RE800 vs ER4-XR – Although we visited this comparison once before,
it is good to do it using RE800 as a point of reference. In direct comparison,
ER4-XR has a tighter bottom end, while RE800 provides somewhat more impact,
with a larger bass. The midrange is very forward on ER4-XR, while it is
slightly recessed on RE800. The treble is considerably enhanced on RE800, which
affects the way top-end microdetails are presented, but ER4-XR puts up a very
good fight when it comes to the midrange details. The soundstage is larger on
RE800, along with a more vivid instrument separation, ER4-XR blending the
instruments more to create a "whole" sound while RE800 defines each
instrument as its own unique entity.
RE800 vs HiFiMAN RE2000 – RE2000 is far more expensive than RE800, being
more of an ultra-high-end concept IEM, produced by the same company. RE800 has
a more enhanced and a little slower bass, while RE2000's bass is closer to a
natural sound, with a quicker decay, but still presenting a lot of impact. The
midrange is less V-shaped on RE2000, and the tonality goes one step further
into being quite life-like and natural, RE2000 having an even better texture
presentation, although RE800 still puts up a very good fight, showing that they
have the inherent qualities provided by the same topology driver technology. The
top end is more natural and less peaky on RE2000, while RE800's top end
provides a better match for acoustic music, and micro-details enhancement,
where it is very hard to match its performance. All in all, RE2000 is a very
nice upgrade to RE800, and some the sound characteristics present in RE2000,
inherent to their technology, are also present in RE800.
RE800 vs Sennheiser ie800 – This is probably the most interesting
comparison, especially since ie800 is priced similarly to RE800, and has a
similar signature, with a strong top end, and a deep bottom end, and with a
rather recessed midrange. Starting with the bottom end, both RE800 and ie800
provide a very nice presentation, with ie800 having a bit more sub-bass
quantity than RE800, while both have very good amounts of control. RE800 has a
bit more midbass enhancement which leads to a slightly thicker sound than ie800.
The midrange is quite detailed on both, and while both have a similar level of
instrument separation, RE800 glazes music with a slightly larger soundstage,
while ie800 presents music more intimately. The top end is where they sound
more different than similar, RE800 having a little peak around 6-9 kHz, then
slowly going down, while ie800 has a larger treble area enhanced, leading to a
softer sound, with even more treble. Both are energetic, but the cymbals sound
rather soft on ie800 and harder on RE800. The detail levels are quite similar,
and it is hard to choose between them, both of them being amazing performers,
with excellent fit, ergonomics and sound. Ie800 looks like it is made of
obsidian / ceramic, while RE800 is made out of golden brass, each adding some
inherent sheen to the sound.
RE800 vs Beyerdynamic Xelento – Beyerdynamic Xelento is more of a complementary
IEM to RE800 rather than a competitor, since Xelento goes for a far more balanced,
natural, and smoother approach. Both RE800 and Xelento are extremely musical,
but they present the music quite differently, Xelento being quite the romantic
performer, while RE800 sounds a bit more like the technical-musical performer,
especially due to their treble enhancement. Xelento's top end is the biggest
difference from RE800, where Xelento doesn't have any peak the top end, but a
smoother top end when compared to RE800, providing a leaner sound that can feel
a bit more natural, compared to RE800's energetic and vibrant approach.
Value
HiFiMAN
RE800 is priced at around 800$, being one of the more sophisticated and
luxurious high-end IEMs around.
Looking
at the package content, they come in a wooden box, which is quite rare. They
come with a good selection of tips, although SpinFit or Mandarins are
recommended as a little, very inexpensive addon.
The
sound is exceptional, even for this price point, and RE800 is one of the very
impressive performers out there, a rather exclusive and engaging IEM.
The
more interesting part about the value is the cable, which was not detachable on
the model reviewed, but at the same price HiFiMAN released a RE800 IEM with
detachable cables. Since this was one of the only gripes most users could had
had with RE800 at this price point, HiFiMAN's move to release a detachable
cable version of RE800 places RE800's value from average to a very good value.
They don't cost less, but having detachable cables makes them a far greater
value, providing a good balance of sound, ergonomics and futureproofing for the
price paid.
All in
all, there is no space to complain about the price, since they are one of the
more glamorous high-end IEMs with a few bells and whistles to check your list.
Conclusion
HiFiMAN RE800 has been
one of the most interesting IEMs to look at, with their golden looks and supple
yet curved bodies. The sound matches both the looks and the price point,
although at times the sound is actually much better than one would expect it to
be, given their rather petite size. RE800 comes to refresh the 800$ price range
with the addition of HiFiMAN's Topology Driver, which brings more speed to the
dynamic driver, and enhances the transient response of a IEM, leading to more
details and an enhancement in the naturalness of the sound.
While RE800 comes with
maybe a little too few tips, they come with comply tips, which are favored by
many. Purchasing matching Spinfit or Mandarin tips is quite easy and inexpensive,
and could further enhance the listening experience when using RE800, at a very
small fraction of their price.
Purchasing the version
of the detachable cable of RE800 will futureproof them a bit, leading to a
rather good purchase of a high-end IEM that is not to be taken lightly, despite
their nimble size and beautiful aesthetics.
So far, HiFiMAN delivers
on their word, and RE800 is a IEM that innovates the art of listening,
providing excellent fit, clarity, detail levels, bass impact, treble energy,
and a beautiful look.
If you like a sound that
is well-separated, has a great bass with extreme impact, a sweet midrange and
an enthused top end that matches acoustic music, and gives life to acoustic
guitars, RE800 might be just the IEM you're looking for, a truly amazing
listening experience in a small package.
Thank you for reading,
and remember to have fun while listening to music!
Link to the review on
Head-Fi:
Link to the official
Thread on Head-Fi:
Link to the official
product page:
Link to the official product page (Penon Audio): https://penonaudio.com/HIFIMAN-RE800
Link to the writer’s
head-fi page: https://head-fi.org/members/dobrescu-george.170938/
Audiophile Heaven: https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.com/
Audiophile Heaven on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AudiophileHeaven/
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