Sennheiser does not typically veer onto totally different sub-categories of headphones or earbuds, although there are exceptions, like the concept of “sports activities” wi-fi earbuds ruggedly designed to deal with extra energetic existence.
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport are a second crack at this, solely this time with an in-ear coronary heart fee monitor and temperature sensor to trace sure health metrics whereas carrying them. Music plus health monitoring is normally reserved for different wearables, however this integration is an innovation that might 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 distinct path with the Momentum Sport. A svelte construct coupled with a fairly customized tackle match and placement make these buds higher suited to staying energetic. They arrive with three pairs of ear suggestions and 4 pairs of wings to assist discover essentially the most steady match. You’ll be able to take that additional with the Match Take a look at within the Sennheiser Sensible Management app to determine which tip provides you the tightest seal. As is at all times the case with earbuds, the tighter the seal, the thicker the bass.
A lot of the particular floor is matte, coated 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 once I needed to alter them, they weren’t frequent. 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 stable choice for utilizing presets or creating your personal, whereas Sound Examine is nicely 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 thing the Momentum Sport buds can do. Sound Zones are another choice the place you possibly can have audio and energetic 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 with the intention to apply the modifications in order that music and ANC sound totally different, say, within the fitness center, in comparison with in a quiet workplace.
You’ll be able to’t management noise cancelation the identical manner 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 figuring out or working. Even should you want podcasts, there is a preset made for that within the app.
Both manner, Sennheiser provides these earbuds the suitable 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 you probably have that choice. If the bass is simply too heavy, it is a easy factor to tweak within the app’s EQ.
The larger deal could also be the truth that Sennheiser squeezes coronary heart fee and temperature sensors into the left earbud, letting you retain observe of heartbeat and physique temperature metrics in real-time. You would possibly suppose it odd to do it this fashion, 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 might 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 suitable with the Polar Movement app. Whereas Sennheiser’s app can at all times present you the fundamentals, Movement 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 Movement gives dozens of workout routines to select from, making issues attention-grabbing should 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 might have each apps put in in your cellphone, although you’ll need a Polar account to get it achieved (subscription not required). Monitoring is sort of correct when the match is sweet and comfortable, including confidence to any metrics you are keenly monitoring all through a day or exercise.
As for sound management whereas staying energetic, do not count on ANC to match the most effective within the enterprise, akin 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 fitness center, in addition to avenue noise, although aren’t fairly as efficient with droning feels like these on a subway practice.
Transparency and Anti-Wind are stable, 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 must take a name outdoors. Onboard put on sensors additionally robotically pause playback if you take away both earbud.
Multipoint connections imply you need to use the Momentum Sport with two gadgets concurrently, excellent should you plan to make the most of them for work or to look at one thing on one machine whereas taking calls on one other. I additionally like you could 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.
Name high quality is sweet, too. Sennheiser has lengthy been good at this kind of factor, although I observed callers felt it was apparent I wasn’t speaking by way of a cellphone.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: What’s not good
I’ve examined a ton of wi-fi earbuds, and the Momentum Sport could also be probably the most 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 observe, or worse but, hanging up on a name. The default sensitivity is about to Medium, which solely makes the Excessive setting really feel like tapping on eggshells. Low is not dangerous, however even there, you might 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 prone to get that far should you think about 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.
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 accurately. Therefore, I’d be cautious of utilizing the included lanyard to hold them. These are at all times higher off in a pocket.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Competitors
Sporty earbuds aren’t that arduous to seek out lately, and you possibly can make an argument sure pairs among the many greatest wi-fi earbuds are worthy. The Jabra Elite 8 Energetic really stand out as opponents 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 totally rubberized and supply a cosy match for all kinds of ears.
You can additionally take into account the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional as an choice, although their IPX7 ranking is not nearly as good for mud resistance. Additionally they do not supply a customized EQ however are in any other case resilient and filled with a variety of different options. In order for you extra fundamental options but want an much more safe match with ear hooks, you possibly can additionally attempt the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC for a a lot lower cost.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Do you have to purchase them?
You can purchase this if…
- You need extra ruggedized earbuds for runs or exercises.
- You need excellent 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 like to spend much less.
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport supply so much out of the field and thru the Sensible Management app, however you must 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 choice each on your personal finances and the worth you suppose you’d achieve from the distinctive integration out there 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 package deal. You will not come away disillusioned with what they’ll do, although solely you possibly can determine if it is all price it in the long run.
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 fee and physique temperature.
