Disclaimer:
The Hifiman RE600 was kindly sent to me by Mark of HIFIMAN, for which I thank you very much. It is an old model (10 years of honorable service), probably dismantled.
Nevertheless, every headset enriches my package of experience in this world.
Like all other reviews, this one will be honest and not influenced in any way.
After the Re400, the time has come to dedicate ourselves to the slightly more expensive model. Due to the format they have, they certainly have their market position.
Tech Specs:
- Titanium-Coated 8.5mm drivers custom designed by HIFIMAN
- Compact size utilizing powerful Neodymium magnets
- Oxygen-Free Copper Cabling
- Advanced ergonomics for comfort and extended listening
- Stylish design and lightweight
- 3.5mm mini plug
- Mini adapter for regular earphone jack
- Frequency Response: 15Hz–22kHz
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Sensitivity: 102 dB
- Weight: 0.45 oz (12.9g)
Packaging:
The packaging is even too luxurious. At full price, these tiny in-ears cost 199 USD and seeing the packaging, I begin to understand why. A similar package made of steel and imitation leather has a considerable cost. From my point of view, such luxurious packaging could have been avoided (mine still has signs of aging after 10 years). I prefer that the quality of the product be spent on its quality rather than on its packaging.
It opens via two magnetic ‘windows,” and in the upper part we find the Hifiman RE600 (I deduce the V2 version) and underneath the accessories such as tips and a sort of silicone cable winder. As I had already seen in previous Hifiman IEMs, the tips are not of high quality. Furthermore, we go from S to L sizes without finding any M sizes. We also have a small 3.5mm extension that takes you from balanced to standard.
Some accessories probably ended up together with the RE 400 review. In fact, I didn’t find some accessories that should have been there. Nothing serious.
Design/Build quality:
The Hifiman RE600 is almost identical to the RE400. The difference is probably in the shell, which in the RE400 seems to be made of aluminum, while in the RE600 it seems to be made of another material, perhaps plastic. I haven’t found precise information about it but it could be painted aluminium.
The ventilation hole is also in the same position as the RE400. The cables have the same quality but they are balanced. In terms of design and perceived quality of materials, we are certainly not at the level of headphones. Obviously, it is normal to think that the cable, with daily use and without too much attention, may not last forever. We are certainly not on par with Hifiman headphones in terms of build and perceived material quality.
Initial sound impression:
I was also surprised by the RE400s because for the cost and, above all, the size, they sound very good but these have a completely different level of definition and soundstage. Much more musical and enjoyable. I’ve tried other such small in-ears from KBear but they weren’t able to cope well across the full spectrum. These sound much more natural and open and the vocals are very pleasant.
Final sound impression:
Equipment used for the testing above:
Device:
- iMac
- Poco M4 Pro (MIUI Based)
Software:
- Tidal Hifi Plus
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz (Both)
DAC:
I must admit that I stayed on the original tips for a short time. The small double flanges are fine for me but I wanted to try the 07 in black, which should be M. Comfort and positioning improved significantly. I immediately noticed that they put pressure on my ears. When I take them out of my ears, it feels like uncorking a bottle. It doesn’t particularly bother me but it’s a sensation that might not please everyone. As a DAC, I mostly used the Fosi Audio SK02 with excellent results.
Bass
As for the bass, we are at a very pleasant and natural level; the poor internal ventilation makes the bass more impactful. The sub-bass is much softer and only perceptible if the track is loaded with it. I would define him as composed, fast, and precise.
Mids
The mids are the ones that stand out the most and above all, they are the biggest difference that can be heard with the RE400. The voices are not nasal but much more lively and bright. Both male and female voices sound silky and center stage. Even the musical instruments are all natural and well separated. It’s not an IEM for electronic music but for jazz and R&B, it does well for my tastes.
Treble
Brighter and the macro details come out, giving the extra definition that was missing on the RE400. They are smooth and not tiring, even with prolonged listening. I think that for the shell format, they are the best in the category I have listened to so far.
Soundstage & image
The soundstage has undergone some improvements but we are still talking about very small in ears and they are not able to have a very large soundstage. However, despite intimate listening, the image is good and a certain space can be distinguished from each instrument and voice.
The most appreciated part is certainly the reduced nasal sound compared to the RE400, where it was more marked. Sometimes some voices or tracks sound a little thin.
Comparison:
Assuming they are still available, they are an excellent purchase, especially if you are looking for something to use while lying in bed. The RE600, especially in the EU, has an interesting price and if you are looking for something with a similar shape, perhaps you will only find KBear. Obviously, if you have the review, you already know which ones sound better between the RE400 and RE600.
The economical version is offered to you by Kbear. The dumpling is of excellent quality, but the typical Kbear tuning is a little bassy. The nasality is present but all in all, they are appreciated for what they are. I haven’t given them a full review but I still find them very nice considering the cost. I leave you with the complete review by my colleague Chris.
Conclusion:
To conclude, I believe that these in-ears are very good. Obviously, if we talk about IEMs in the price range of these, there are many even better solutions but for the mini-in-ear category, I think they are models to take into consideration. Personally, I would have saved money on the packaging and spent it on higher-standard equipment. In terms of sound, they managed to pull off a “big” sound. For those who live in Europe, they can be found under 69 USD, while for others, they are decidedly expensive.
Their name, SongBird, is definitely deserved. They sing as well as a little nightingale.
My final rating takes into account the European price and its uncommon format.
7.7/10
Pros:
- Shell quality is good for 69 USD
- More comfortable than many others
- Balanced tuning (typical Hifiman)
- Natural Bass (tight & fast)
- Improved details
- Better image and soundstage width
- Great for bedtime session due to small size
- Easy to drive (you don’t need anything expensive)
Cons:
- Fixed and not-so-flexible cable
- Tips are too small or too big (not the best quality)
- Expensive packaging
- Design is pretty simple
- Price is good only for EU countries
