German manufacturer Sennheiser has introduced its new IE 600 in-ear earphones, equipped with a zirconium shell, a particularly resistant material that should ensure sound output quality without the slightest alteration, even after several years of use.
The ultra-resistant shell of these earphones, made of amorphous zirconium, is manufactured through 3D printing. It guarantees a perfectly natural sound for many years, without any wear. Indeed, zirconium is a metal that is three times stronger and more resistant to torsion, corrosion and scratches than high performance steel. It is also used, for example, by NASA for the drilling heads on its Mars Rover. It is mainly found in China, Australia, South Africa and Ukraine.
Zirconium will therefore preserve the earphones' acoustic performance, but that's not the only original technical feature of this new product. A dual-resonator chamber, housed in the tip of each earphone, eliminates unwanted resonances, while offering a perfect rendering of the finest textures of whatever audio content is being listened to, without distortion.
For maximum comfort, the earphones come with two types of tips, silicone and foam, in three different sizes, and adjustable, flexible over-ear loops. These high-end earphones, which are priced at nearly 700 euros, are primarily aimed at audiophiles. They should be available by summer 2022.
