Sennheiser Momentum Sport: A Fitness Tracker In Earphone Form?
Sennheiser, a renowned name in audio technology, aims to shake up the fitness tracker market with a unique twist: integrating fitness sensors directly into their latest pair of earphones, the Momentum Sport. While these earphones aren’t cheap, they promise a compelling blend of high-quality audio, advanced noise cancellation, and in-ear health monitoring. Are these features enough to justify the premium price tag, or are they merely a novelty for fitness enthusiasts with deep pockets? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport Design and Features: Utilitarian yet Classy
The Momentum Sport earphones are bulky, a fact that’s unsurprising given their integrated health-tracking capabilities. They come with earfins for a secure fit, offering a more stable experience during workouts and runs. The package includes three different sizes of ear tips and ear fins, ensuring a comfortable fit for various ear sizes. You also get a pair of non-winged tips for a less intrusive feel, though these may not be as secure for intensive activities.
The earphones have a plastic design and stick out from your ear, making them noticeable.
The health-tracking sensors are housed in the left earbud, featuring a transparent shaft to allow light to reach the sensors. This means you’ll have to use the translucent ear-tips provided with the buds as any other kind of tip will hinder the sensor functionality. The earbuds also have LED indicators on the inner side, alongside the Pogo connectors. During use, you’ll notice a rapidly blinking green light on the ear tip, a common feature of photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors.
While the wingtips provide a secure fit for smaller ears during workouts, they can cause discomfort and pressure after longer periods of use (over an hour). Users with larger ears may not experience this issue. Alternatively, you can use the earphones without the wingtips, although they may not be as secure without the additional support.
Moving on to the case, the Momentum Sport earphones reside in a squarish case with a soft-touch rubber finish. The magnetic lid, secured by a rubber flap, adds a touch of elegance to the design, though its long-term durability is questionable. The USB Type-C port for charging is hidden behind a flap at the front of the case, while an LED charge indicator sits above it. The case itself is quite bulky, creating a noticeable lump in your pocket. However, a built-in lanyard slot and a short lanyard in the box offer convenient carrying options.
The earphones are available in three color options, offering a stylish aesthetic.
The Momentum Sport earbuds boast an IP55 rating, meaning they can withstand dust and water splashes, making them suitable for outdoor workouts and runs. The case, on the other hand, has an IP54 rating, indicating it can handle splashes but should not be exposed to heavy rain.
In conclusion, the Momentum Sport earphones have a solid build quality, with the case seemingly capable of enduring bumps and scratches. However, the longevity of the rubber flap on the lid remains a potential concern. Comfort-wise, they are comfortably wearable for up to an hour of continuous use, with longer durations potentially causing discomfort for some.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport App and Specifications: Lot to offer
The Momentum Sport earphones are compatible with the Sennheiser Smart Connect app, available on both Android and iOS. This app provides a plethora of customization options, allowing users to fine-tune their audio experience.
The app works similarly on both iOS and Android, offering a consistent experience.
The app offers functionalities including:
- Equaliser settings: Users can customize the sound profile to their preference.
- Touch controls: Various tap gestures can be assigned to different actions.
- Fit test: This feature ensures the earphones fit securely in your ears.
Upon pairing the earphones with the app, the product details, battery charge information for both earbuds and the case, and the Connection management option are displayed prominently. The Heart Rate and Body Temperature sensors readings are also easily accessible.
Sennheiser’s app further includes:
- Sound Check: This feature helps personalize the audio experience according to user preferences.
- Sound Zones: Users can set custom sound profiles for different locations, automatically activated upon entering or leaving the defined zones.
- Transparency mode controls: Users can customize the level of ambient sound allowed through the Transparency mode.
- Toggle off all tap and touch gestures: This feature disables all gesture controls for those who prefer physical buttons.
The Sennheiser app offers a 5-step equalizer for precise audio customization.
The Momentum Sport earphones boast a unique Tap gesture that allows users to control playback and switch between ANC, anti-wind, and Transparency modes by tapping near the earbuds. You can choose the intensity of the tap required to perform an action, further enhancing customization. However, the tap-based controls, particularly for triple taps, may not be as responsive as desired, often registering as a double tap instead.
The Settings section of the app allows users to adjust Audio resolution, update firmware, utilize a Battery Eco mode for extended battery life, and toggle features like Smart Pause, Auto-accept call, and more.
In terms of specifications, the Momentum Sport earphones come equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers offering a frequency range of 15 Hz to 18k Hz. They also feature Hybrid Adaptive ANC, 3 microphones with beamforming tech on each earphone, Bluetooth 5.2 with multi-device connectivity, and support SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive codecs.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport Tracking: Mostly works well
The Momentum Sport earphones are the first from Sennheiser to feature in-ear health tracking sensors, offering both heart rate and body temperature measurement. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize how we track our physical activity and overall health.
Sennheiser asserts that placing these sensors directly in the ear provides more accurate and stable readings compared to other methods, and anecdotal experience supports this claim. Testing the heart rate tracker during running, workouts, and idle periods yielded results comparable to those obtained from a Google Pixel Watch, considered a reliable device for heart rate tracking. The in-ear sensor also eliminates the inconvenience of wearing a bulky smartwatch during workouts, as it is less likely to move or impede movement.
The heart rate tracker is located at the tip of the left earbud, allowing for unobtrusive monitoring.
The body temperature sensor proved equally accurate when compared to a digital thermometer, particularly when experiencing illness. However, its practical value is highly niche, as its primary use case is health monitoring.
Sennheiser has partnered with Polar to enrich the insights gained from the health sensors. The Polar Flow app is required to utilize the heart rate tracker, and it allows integration with other Polar or Garmin devices for better data analysis and insights. However, the limited applicability of the temperature sensor restricts its integration with other platforms.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport Performance: High-quality sound
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport earphones deliver excellent punchy sound with powerful bass, ideal for energetic workouts and runs. However, those who prefer gentler musical genres like jazz or classical music may perceive a lack of warmth in the sound.
Genres like hip-hop and rap benefit considerably from the strong bass, showcasing intricate details in electronic and percussive instruments. Rock tracks also fare well, with the focus on lower and mid frequencies contributing to an enjoyable listening experience.
The earphones offer plenty of bass, catering to the preferences of many listeners.
The 5-step EQ in the app, along with several presets, allows for comprehensive audio customization tailored to individual preferences. Users can even fine-tune the sound using options like Bass Boost and Podcast for enhanced speech clarity. The earphones are compatible with a multitude of codecs, ensuring a high-quality sound experience on both iOS and Android devices.
The Hybrid Adaptive ANC effectively minimizes ambient noise in everyday environments and even during flights. Although a slight pressure sensation might be perceived, it is insignificant compared to the significant noise reduction achieved. The Transparency mode and Anti-wind mode work efficiently, but these earphones struggle to completely eliminate wind noise in outdoor settings.
Call quality is remarkable, thanks to the 3 microphones on each earphone. Calls are clear and minimize outside noise intrusion.
The unique tap gesture system offers a convenient way to control playback and adjust settings. However, the responsiveness of the triple tap for track switching and ANC mode changes remains inconsistent, often registering as a double tap instead. Volume control requires a touch-and-hold gesture. Other features include auto-pause when removing an earbud and the ability to utilize just one earbud for listening.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport Battery Life: Good Enough
The Momentum Sport earphones boast impressive battery life. Based on real-world usage, the earbuds can easily last for several hours of continuous use with ANC enabled, supporting the claimed 6 hours of battery life. The case allows for quick charging, offering roughly 2 hours of usage with a 20-minute charge.
The case is equipped with a USB Type-C port for wired charging.
While not groundbreaking, the battery life is adequate for long commutes, runs, and workouts. Users can comfortably go through a week without needing to charge the case. Wired charging requires approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to fully charge the case, while wireless charging takes about 3 hours.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Verdict
The Sennheiser Momentum Sport earphones are not a one-size-fits-all solution. While their audio quality is decent, it pales in comparison to competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the AirPods Pro 2, both offering a superior sound signature. The focus of the Momentum Sport lies in its unique fitness tracking features, design, and customization options.
**”For any movement to gain momentum, it must start with a small action.” – Adam Braun**
If you are an active individual seeking a pair of earphones that can track your heart rate and provide high-quality audio, ANC, and comprehensive customization features, then the Sennheiser Momentum Sport warrants serious consideration. However, if audio quality is your primary concern, there are better options available. Ultimately, the decision hinges on your priorities and whether the unique features of these earphones align with your needs.
In the end, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport represents a bold and innovative step for Sennheiser, venturing into a new territory dominated by traditional fitness trackers. Whether this foray will reshape the fitness tracker market remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly opens up exciting possibilities for the future of wearable technology.
