Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 200 | Truthear - Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 1 | 5 |
| Sensitivity | 119 dB | 123 dB |
| Impedance | 18 Ω | 15 Ω |
Between the IE 200 and Nova, the IE 200 comes out ahead in several specs, while the Nova wins on driver count / sensitivity. Overall, the IE 200 scores 62.5 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 11.4 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 200 does not 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 driver count / sensitivity. Its strongest claims are driver count, sensitivity, impedance. The single most decisive one: Driver count — 4.00 more. 5 vs 1.
Both ship with comparable detachable cable, so those specs do not 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.
Which should you buy: Sennheiser - IE 200 or Truthear - Nova?
Truthear - Nova leads the current Mars Score by 11.4 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare driver count, impedance, sensitivity against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Sennheiser - IE 200 if…
Sennheiser - IE 200 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Truthear - Nova if…
Truthear - Nova has the measurable edge on driver count, sensitivity db, impedance ohm.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Sennheiser - IE 200 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Truthear - Nova wins
- ▲Driver count — 4.00 more. 5 vs 1.
- ▲Sensitivity — 3.36% more. 123 dB vs 119 dB.
- ▲Impedance — 3.00 Ω less. 15 vs 18.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 200 | Truthear - Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 1 | 5lead |
| Driver types | Dynamic | 1DD + 4BA Hybrid |
| Impedanceⓘ | 18 Ω | 15 Ωlead |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 119 dB | 123 dBlead |
Build
| Spec | Sennheiser - IE 200 | Truthear - Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | MMCX | 0.78mm 2-pinlead |