Sennheiser could have trotted out a pair of IP55-rated wireless earbuds and called them Momentum Sport (amazon;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1Nlbm5oZWlzZXItTW9tZW50dW0tRWFyYnVkcy1GaXRuZXNzLVRlbXBlcmF0dXJlL2RwL0IwQ1hGQkRGSlI_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy1wLXYtdGEtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjFmZjRlNDI3LTRlYWYtNDIzMi04NmEzLTJkY2ZmNzMxMDQxNSJ9&signature=AQAAAXsWTHPnZQXYhG0GuykOrCFQq2nhB8bpM2DVQ1NPa4DZ&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSennheiser-Momentum-Earbuds-Fitness-Temperature%2Fdp%2FB0CXFBDFJR” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:$330;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>$330), but went further and added heart rate and body temperature sensors to headphones made for exercise. These additions give you more information about workouts, but also feed data to your existing third-party activity apps. Of course, the Momentum Sport also has to stand out from regular headphones and offer an ergonomic design, active noise cancellation (ANC), touch controls, and other common features. Sennheiser has a strong track record with sound quality, but now it has to balance it with the expanded capabilities of the Momentum Sport.
Sennheiser
While the Momentum Sport has a better design than the Momentum 4, it struggles in key areas. The biometric sensors work well, but the sound quality is inconsistent and the onboard controls are frustrating.
- Improved design over Momentum 4
- Reliable heart rate and body temperature readings.
- Full set of headphone features
- Added bass is good for workouts
- Expensive
- The ANC struggles sometimes
- Inconsistent sound quality
- Touch controls need an overhaul
amazon&featureId=dynamic-offer&itemName=Sennheiser+Momentum+Sport&merchantName=amazon&itemSourceId=B0CXFBDFJR&brand=Sennheiser+Consumer+Audio&categoryId=505771&price=329.95&salePrice=329.95&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI2NmVhNTY3YS1jOTg3LTRjMmUtYTJmZi0wMjkwNGVmZGU2ZWEiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMENYRkJERkpSP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtMjAmbGlua0NvZGU9b2dpJnRoPTEmcHNjPTEiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjFmZjRlNDI3LTRlYWYtNDIzMi04NmEzLTJkY2ZmNzMxMDQxNSIsImR5bmFtaWNDZW50cmFsVHJhY2tpbmdJZCI6dHJ1ZSwic2l0ZUlkIjoidXMtZW5nYWRnZXQiLCJwYWdlSWQiOiJwbnItcHJvZHVjdC1tb2R1bGUiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJkeW5hbWljLW9mZmVyIn0&signature=AQAAAbumYl72cg5-B8du9IFLYAVgg8DqomvoIFNPaL0cCwr9&contentUuid=1ff4e427-4eaf-4232-86a3-2dcff7310415″ rel=”noopener noreferrer nofollow” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”sec:large-product;subsec:commlist;cpos:1;elmt:amazon;pdid:Sennheiser Momentum Sport;pid:amazon_B0CXFBDFJR;aid:amazon_B0CXFBDFJR;itemcost:$330;itmId:$330;sellerN:amazon;ll3:product-available;ll4:productoffer-auto;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;slk:$330 at amazon;pkgt:horizontal-cta-1;pos:3″>$330 on amazon
What's so good about the Sennheiser Momentum Sport?
The overall shape of the Momentum Sport is what I wish Sennheiser used for the Momentum True Wireless 4. The rounder profile of the former fits my ears better and feels more comfortable even though they are a bit larger. Without the fitted brim, the Sport version still fits my ears well, although that extra part definitely helps keep them in place during workouts. Simply put, this design feels more refined and I would love to see the company take a similar direction with its flagship model.
Sennheiser says its goal was to achieve “vivid sound and impressive bass” to help improve training, and it achieved it. The value setting has a noticeably greater impact on the Justice's bass. hyperdrama, Reinforcing electronic melodies with a thicker layer of tone. That's definitely something that helps with your energy levels during physical activity. But, as I'll discuss later, extra bass isn't always a good thing.
The standout features of the Momentum Sport, which are heart rate and body temperature tracking, work well. Thanks to the secure fit of the headphones, you can get consistent and reliable readings in the Sennheiser Smart Control app. The heart rate numbers matched those on my Apple Watch, and I confirmed my temperature with a forehead scan. The Momentum Sport's readings were always consistent with those of the other devices, meaning the earbuds are just as reliable as other in-home alternatives.
What's more, there's tight integration with apps like Polar, Peloton, Strava and Zwift, so you can use Momentum Sport with their devices and not just the Sennheier app, which is primarily designed for tweaking settings. However, only Polar's Flow supports the Momentum Sport's body temperature tracking. Sennheiser says this is because Polar is the only company with an ecosystem that monitors that metric and supports the right sensors. No matter which third-party app you prefer, you'll probably want to sync Momentum Sport with one of them, as the Smart Control software only shows real-time readings and doesn't monitor trends or monitor stats during workouts.
Although it has to power more sensors, the Momentum Sport still offers solid battery life. Sennheiser says a single charge offers five and a half hours of playback, and that claim stands up. I had no problem hitting that figure during my audio loop tests at about 65-70 percent volume. That's with ANC in normal mode and heart rate and body temperature sensors active. The company says you can extend the Momentum Sport's battery by 30 minutes if you enable Eco Mode in its app. This feature disables aptX audio and both body tracking sensors.
What's not so good about Momentum Sport
Momentum Sport lets you tap your cheek to control playback and calls. This is convenient, for example, when running, as you do not have to search for the exact location of the touch panel while you are moving or wearing gloves. The disadvantage is that it can be activated by chewing. It's intensely annoying. During my testing, chewing gum or food frequently triggered the controls.
Sennheiser says this is because I have strong jaw muscles (yes?) very close to the sensor, but that doesn't make it any less maddening. I chew gum during both runs and weightlifting sessions, so this is a deal breaker. Simply clenching your jaw didn't trigger it, so at least that's what it is. The only way to fix the issue is to disable the onboard controls entirely, which disables both cheek taps and the more common earbud tap gestures.
The ANC performance of the Momentum True Wireless 4 is solid but not amazing and that's true of the Momentum Sport. Both sets of headphones work similarly with constant noise sources, reducing the volume of external roar rather than blocking it out completely. Like much of the competition (and the True Wireless 4), the Momentum Sport struggles with human voices. Overall, neither of them offer the kind of robust, world-quieting power that the Bose and Sony bring together.
The transparency mode in Momentum Sport is useful, but it's far from great. The earbuds let in your surroundings well, but they don't carry enough voice and I found myself shouting during some calls. There's also an anti-wind mode that comes in handy during outdoor workouts, but it's a tool that almost all new headphones are equipped with these days.
Unfortunately, good audio performance is not universal on the Momentum Sport. While some albums are detailed and clear despite the added bass, others lack punchy highs and a strong midrange. The sound profile compresses things like dirty, distorted guitars and bass lines. The vocals consistently feature, but the more prominent kick drum on songs like Knocked Loose's chaotic “Suffocate” relegates the guitars to the backseat. In fact, guitars of various styles (including alternative, rock and country) lack the depth and detail that the Momentum 4 provides. By increasing the low-end tone, Sennheiser has sacrificed some of the dynamics it normally provides. to your headphones such excellent audio. And on a pair of headphones that cost over $300, that's a shame.
Finally, let's look at the case, which is less sophisticated than previous Sennheiser designs. These earbuds cost $330 and the charging case shouldn't feel so flimsy. The lid closes securely most of the time, but the hinge is just a piece of rubber, so the case doesn't stay open unless you lay it completely flat. The soft-touch coating feels nice, but compared to the accessories that come with the Momentum line, this case is what you'd expect from a set of headphones that cost half as much. The good news is that there is wireless charging support and the case is IPX4 rated, so it's not all a loss.
Wrap
He amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1Nlbm5oZWlzZXItTW9tZW50dW0tRWFyYnVkcy1GaXRuZXNzLVRlbXBlcmF0dXJlL2RwL0IwQ1hGQkRGSlI_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy1wLXYtdGEtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjFmZjRlNDI3LTRlYWYtNDIzMi04NmEzLTJkY2ZmNzMxMDQxNSJ9&signature=AQAAAXsWTHPnZQXYhG0GuykOrCFQq2nhB8bpM2DVQ1NPa4DZ&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSennheiser-Momentum-Earbuds-Fitness-Temperature%2Fdp%2FB0CXFBDFJR” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:Momentum Sport;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>impulse sport presents a dichotomy. On the one hand, they are great workout headphones that reliably track biometric statistics to get an inside look at your training regimen. On the other hand, they lack the overall sound quality I expect from Sennheiser's Momentum line, and the overly sensitive controls are an extreme annoyance. The earbuds could improve with some software tweaks, but for now, they're too expensive to buy just for exercise and don't even perform consistently enough to be your preferred piece of equipment.
1 / 10
Sennheiser Momentum Sport Review
The Momentum Sport comes with different sizes of pads and fit wings.
