KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
To test the Momentum In-Ear Wireless earphones, I used them for 3-4 weeks as my go-to pair of earphones. This meant listening to a lot of music and watching videos, while also assessing the performance, comfort and battery life of the device.
I'll start with comfort, as it is still a bit uncommon to see a wireless pair of earphones that use a neckband – most Bluetooth earphones just have some cabling connecting the buds, or have a rigid design and sit across the back of the skull.
In short, I found the neckband to be pretty much perfect. It is very light, and with the weight distributed across your neck, you quickly forget it is there. The nappa leather covering also feels lovely and soft, while it looks very stylish as well.
For me, the buds themselves are also very comfortable. I've always used the medium-sized silicon buds with previous Sennheiser products, and I found medium was again the optimal size for me while using the Momentum In-Ear Wireless. It is good to have 4 different pairs of buds, though, so I am sure most people would be able to find a size that feels right.
As for the ergonomic design of the actual earbuds, both buds fit my ears very well. My previous pair of earphones – Sennhesier CX 300 Mk IIs – used ‘straight' buds, but once the buds are actually in, I can't say I noticed the difference for day-to-day use.
The integrated neckband controls are also easy to access, despite the fact that the buttons are quite small. The play/pause button actually has a slight bump to it, and this is vital as it would be otherwise impossible to know which button is which without taking the neckband off. However, once you know the button with the bump is the play/pause button, it becomes to easy to turn the volume up or down without accidentally pausing your music. Sennheiser has done a good job in that regard, as I was initially concerned when I saw some Momentum In-Ear Wireless product photos, but there is no need to worry.
Before coming to sound quality, I want to touch on one other area – use while exercising. Many people considering a wireless set of earphones would likely be interested in using them while exercising, as traditional wired earphones can get in the way, cause microphonics and just be a general pain in the ass. In that regard, a wireless pair can be liberating.
To try out the Momentums while exercising, I took them to my regular gym sessions and just wore them while working out. I really enjoyed using them at the gym, I did not feel the neckband rubbing or irritating my skin, while it also stayed pretty still while I was exercising. There is plenty of cable length for the earbuds themselves, too, so they were not accidentally yanked out by any sharp movements. All-in-all, the Momentum In-Ear Wireless earphones proved great for use in the gym.
In-terms of actual sound quality, the Momentum In-Ear Wireless earphones also perform very well. I paired the earphones with my iPhone and whenever I would normally listen to music via speakers or with a headset, I used the Momentums instead.
I'll start with the bass, as everyone loves earphones that have some kick to them. Plenty of cheap earphones over do it, though, and can sound distorted. That is not the case with the Momentum In-Ear Wireless earphones, however, as these sound rich and punchy without going too far. I am a big metalhead and listening to some heavy tracks from the likes of Dream Theatre and Tool is very satisfying as the low-end is detailed and nuanced while also very potent.
The mid-range is also well represented, and this is something that some people tend to ignore but it can be vital for making sure female vocals are clear and life-like. Without a full, clear mid-range, speech quickly becomes tinny, but that is not the case here.
A crisp high-end is also key, and you can hear it come through very well using these earphones. The splash of a cymbal is beautifully sharp, while guitars and synthesizers at the higher end are also crisp and vibrant.
All-in-all, the sound is just very well balanced. No single area dominates, and that is good as the low, mids and highs can all be distinguished and this provides an excellent listening experience. In terms of pure sound-quality, I find it very hard to fault the Momentum In-Ear Wireless earphones.
Lastly, one of the downsides to a wireless pair of earphones is that you will eventually need to recharge the device. For the Momentum In-Ear Wireless kit, Sennheiser advertises a 10-hour battery life, and while I am unsure of their testing methodology used to pin-point this figure, my experience has been that the earphones last a fair bit longer than that.
I estimate I used the earphones for between 45 minutes to an hour on a daily basis, sometimes more, and I managed to last over 2 weeks from a single charge. I would say that is a great result.
