Between the IE 600 and Nova, the IE 600 comes out ahead in several specs, while the Nova wins on sensitivity and driver count. Overall, the IE 600 scores 61.5 and the Nova scores 73.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Nova is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 12.4 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
The IE 600 doesn't pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the Nova if you care most about sensitivity and driver count. Its strongest claims are sensitivity, driver count, impedance.
Both ship with comparable detachable cable, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Nova is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Sennheiser - IE 600 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Truthear - Nova wins
- ▲Sensitivity — 4.24% more. 123 dB vs 118 dB.
- ▲Driver count — 4.00 more. 5 vs 1.
- ▲Impedance — 3.00 Ω less. 15 vs 18.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 600 | Truthear - Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 1 | 5lead |
| Driver types | Dynamic (TrueResponse) | 1DD + 4BA Hybrid |
| Impedanceⓘ | 18 Ω | 15 Ωlead |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 118 dB | 123 dBlead |
Build
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 600 | Truthear - Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | MMCX | 0.78mm 2-pinlead |
Spec-level deep dives
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