Sennheiser would not typically veer onto totally different sub-categories of headphones or earbuds, although there are exceptions, like the thought of “sports activities” wi-fi earbuds ruggedly designed to deal with extra lively life.Â
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport are a second crack at this, solely this time with an in-ear coronary heart charge monitor and temperature sensor to trace sure health metrics whereas sporting them. Music plus health monitoring is normally reserved for different wearables, however this integration is an innovation that would result in extra prefer it down the road.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Value and availability
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport launched in April 2024, and can be found at a variety of retail and on-line shops. They begin out at $329, and it could be a while earlier than Sennheiser (or retailers) start dropping the value for a greater deal. They arrive in polar black, metallic graphite, and burned olive.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: What’s good
Trying again on the earlier Sennheiser Sport True Wi-fi, the corporate clearly went in a special path with the Momentum Sport. A svelte construct coupled with a fairly customized tackle match and placement make these buds higher suited to staying lively. They arrive with three pairs of ear suggestions and 4 pairs of wings to assist discover essentially the most secure match. You possibly can take that additional with the Match Check within the Sennheiser Sensible Management app to determine which tip provides you the tightest seal. As is all the time the case with earbuds, the tighter the seal, the thicker the bass.
A lot of the particular floor is matte, lined with the rubberized trim of the wing. This mix proves very efficient in holding the Momentum Sport buds in place always. Whereas there have been moments after I needed to alter them, they weren’t widespread. If something, the sensitivity of the contact controls made the changes considerably irritating.
What’s simpler to understand is {that a} good match matches nice sound, not least as a result of Sennheiser provides you other ways to get there within the Sensible Management app. The equalizer is a strong choice for utilizing presets or creating your personal, whereas Sound Examine is effectively price going by way of to tweak the audio profile to your ears. It is a non-invasive course of the place you take heed to tones at various quantity ranges to set a benchmark EQ preset that differs from the default one.
Sensible Management is crucial to managing every little thing the Momentum Sport buds can do. Sound Zones are an alternative choice the place you possibly can have audio and lively noise cancelation (ANC) or Transparency utilized based mostly on the place you’re. It is a geolocation characteristic that requires the app to trace the place you’re in an effort to apply the modifications in order that music and ANC sound totally different, say, within the gymnasium, in comparison with in a quiet workplace.Â
You possibly can’t management noise cancelation the identical approach you possibly can with the Momentum True Wi-fi 4, however you do have some flexibility in how Transparency and Anti-Wind work. Given the sound leans extra towards bass response, the earbuds are ideally suited to the type of tunes you would possibly take heed to whereas understanding or operating. Even in case you favor podcasts, there is a preset made for that within the app.Â
Both approach, Sennheiser provides these earbuds the best sonic remedy. Music sounds nice — even higher when listening to hi-res tunes utilizing the aptX HD Bluetooth codec. You do not have to subscribe to a hi-res audio music streaming service to listen to the products right here, however it’s a bonus if in case you have that choice. If the bass is simply too heavy, it is a easy factor to tweak within the app’s EQ.Â
The larger deal could also be the truth that Sennheiser squeezes coronary heart charge and temperature sensors into the left earbud, letting you retain monitor of heartbeat and physique temperature metrics in real-time. You would possibly suppose it odd to do it this manner, given smartwatches, health trackers, and chest straps already cowl these options, however in-ear monitoring is arguably extra exact as a result of nothing strikes within the ear. There are not any muscle groups or tendons contracting like these within the wrist that would probably delay or throw off monitoring. Right here, it feels immediate and steady, which is a cool factor to have.
Sennheiser is not doing it alone; it’s partnering with Polar to make the earbuds tracker appropriate with the Polar Circulation app. Whereas Sennheiser’s app can all the time present you the fundamentals, Circulation tracks your precise exercise, so you possibly can go for a run or hike and glean extra from the information the in-ear sensors assist ship. Polar Circulation presents dozens of workouts to select from, making issues attention-grabbing in case you ever need to examine the accuracy of the earbuds with that of a smartwatch or health tracker.
The setup is not all that arduous when you may have each apps put in in your cellphone, although you have to a Polar account to get it achieved (subscription not required). Monitoring is kind of correct when the match is good and cushty, including confidence to any metrics you are keenly monitoring all through a day or exercise.Â
As for sound management whereas staying lively, do not count on ANC to match the perfect within the enterprise, comparable to Sony or Bose. I’d even argue Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wi-fi 4 are higher at blocking out background noise, however the Momentum Sport are nonetheless shut. They dampen the clinks and clangs of the gymnasium, in addition to road noise, although aren’t fairly as efficient with droning seems like these on a subway prepare.Â
Transparency and Anti-Wind are strong, letting you management the impact you need. Anti-Wind is excellent at reducing again gusts sufficient to make podcasts and cellphone calls sound clearer. You will not want it in quieter areas, nevertheless it’s nonetheless good to have when you need to take a name exterior. Onboard put on sensors additionally robotically pause playback while you take away both earbud.
Multipoint connections imply you should use the Momentum Sport with two units concurrently, excellent in case you plan to make the most of them for work or to look at one thing on one system whereas taking calls on one other. I additionally like that you may settle for an incoming name by merely taking both earbud out of the case, the place it immediately connects and takes the decision. Doing this finally ends up being a battery-saving transfer and negates having to put on the earbuds on a regular basis in case calls are available in.
Name high quality is sweet, too. Sennheiser has lengthy been good at this form of factor, although I seen callers felt it was apparent I wasn’t speaking by way of a cellphone. Â
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: What’s not good
I’ve examined a ton of wi-fi earbuds, and the Momentum Sport could also be one of the vital delicate pairs I’ve tried so far as onboard controls go. Anytime I needed to alter the match, I ran the chance of inadvertently resuming play, skipping a monitor, or worse but, hanging up on a name. The default sensitivity is ready to Medium, which solely makes the Excessive setting really feel like tapping on eggshells. Low is not unhealthy, however even there, chances are you’ll find yourself with unintended penalties. Non-responsive controls are sometimes an issue for wi-fi earbuds, however these one way or the other take that to the opposite excessive.
Battery life is one other one that can require compromise and persistence in your half. Sennheiser claims as much as six hours per cost, however you are not more likely to get that far in case you consider ANC, quantity ranges, and health monitoring. There’s a Battery Eco mode to assist squeeze extra life out per cost on the expense of the aptX codec. I get between 4 and 5 hours per cost, which is greater than sufficient for exercises and runs however not fairly as excessive as I wish to see for the value.Â
That additionally goes for sturdiness. The IP55 safety for the buds themselves is fairly good, although I’d suppose “sport” earbuds costing this a lot would ramp that up a bit. The case itself is IP54, and has a pleasant rubberized coating, solely the lid is not as safe correctly. Therefore, I’d be cautious of utilizing the included lanyard to hold them. These are all the time higher off in a pocket.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Competitors
Sporty earbuds aren’t that arduous to search out lately, and you could possibly make an argument sure pairs among the many greatest wi-fi earbuds are worthy. The Jabra Elite 8 Lively actually stand out as rivals within the seek for sweaty earbuds, particularly given their spectacular IP68 safety, bodily button controls, superior battery life, and cheaper value. They’re additionally virtually solely rubberized and supply a comfortable match for all kinds of ears.
You could possibly additionally think about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional as an choice, although their IPX7 score is not nearly as good for mud resistance. In addition they do not supply a customized EQ however are in any other case resilient and full of a spread of different options. In order for you extra fundamental options but need an much more safe match with ear hooks, you could possibly additionally strive the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC for a a lot lower cost.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Must you purchase them?
You can purchase this if…
- You need extra ruggedized earbuds for runs or exercises.
- You need superb sound and noise cancelation.
- You need customization and personalization.
- You desire a comfy match.
You should not purchase this if…
- You need one thing much more ruggedized.
- You need extra battery life.
- You favor to spend much less.
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport supply rather a lot out of the field and thru the Sensible Management app, however you need to pay a premium to get all of it. These are costly wi-fi earbuds by any metric, leaving it to you to make a calculated determination each on your personal funds and the worth you suppose you’ll acquire from the distinctive integration obtainable right here.
They clearly sound nice, and are rugged sufficient to deal with most runs and exercises, together with all of the customization within the app, so it is a compelling bundle. You will not come away disillusioned with what they’ll do, although solely you possibly can resolve if it is all price it ultimately.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport
Sennheiser reinvigorates its sporty earbuds with a brand new search for the Momentum Sport, full with nice sound and in-ear sensors to trace coronary heart charge and physique temperature.
