Sennheiser Momentum Sport: health monitoring utilizing the ear

I used to be a bit of skeptical in regards to the $329.95 Sennheiser Momentum Sport headphones. Different coronary heart fee monitoring headphones I’ve examined have been uncomfortable. The exercise monitoring might have been finished with the most effective of intentions, however in follow it was a bit hit or miss. So, I used to be pleasantly stunned that the Momentum Sport headphones delivered what they promised – a straightforward solution to view real-time health metrics with out sacrificing audio high quality.

Most health headphones provide further bass, a safer match, and improved sturdiness. The Momentum Sport has that, together with an optical coronary heart fee sensor and a temperature sensor. The purpose right here is that the ear is definitely a extra correct place to gather this sort of information than the wrist (which technically appropriate!). It additionally integrates with the Polar Circulation app, providing you with entry to coaching analytics, voice steerage and Polar coaching. In some methods it is so much like a chest strap… though you may stick it in your ears and it’ll play music.

As a runner, my guidelines for health gear is a bit of completely different than for on a regular basis use. They should keep in my ears, a great transparency mode is important, they can not get ruined on windy days, and a bit of rain cannot damage them. The Momentum Sport scores extremely throughout the board.

Becoming headphones is all the time a problem, however the Sport headphones are a terrific selection for coaching. The ideas are bigger and I’ve small ears, so I did not discover them as comfy as my favourite operating headphones. Beats Match Professional. Nevertheless, I’ve taken them a number of instances they usually have by no means fallen out of my ear.

I’ve had issues with coronary heart fee monitoring headphones prior to now as a result of them being the flawed dimension. Good contact with the sensor is crucial, so a poor match can imply unreliable outcomes or no outcomes in any respect. This defeats the entire level of in-ear monitoring: higher accuracy. I did not have that downside right here. This makes it a terrific various when you play sure sports activities that are not suited to a smartwatch, or when you discover chest straps uncomfortable, particularly when you prefer to work out to music – it may theoretically be one much less wearable you must put on to get your information.

The Transparency and Windproof modes labored nice throughout outside runs. I may nonetheless simply hear the vehicles whistling round me, however the robust gusts of wind didn’t drown out my music. I additionally took them on a depressing wet run with no downside. Nevertheless, I nonetheless checked the climate earlier than operating. It is IP55, a bit of higher than the standard IPX4 you see on headphones, however a heavy thunderstorm is usually a dangerous time.

I’ve discovered that on the subject of health monitoring, you are not restricted to a proprietary companion app. When you’re within the Polar ecosystem, it integrates absolutely with the Polar Vantage V3 watch. With out a Polar watch, it’s also possible to hyperlink the Sennheiser Good Management app to the Polar Circulation app in your cellphone. Then all you must do is begin a exercise from Polar Circulation and choose it as your coronary heart fee sensor. It labored nicely once I tried it, and if you do not have a favourite health app, Polar Circulation is a fairly versatile app! The draw back is that you simply will not be carrying all of them day, so your restoration concepts will not be pretty much as good.

It additionally works with different health apps and smartwatches that help Bluetooth equipment. I examined it and was capable of pair it with Strava and Runkeeper, two of my most used health apps. I additionally linked it to mine Apple Watch Extremely 2 and from there I used to be additionally capable of view my coronary heart fee readings. I respect this as a result of it permits me to get coaching suggestions from the platform my selection. After I examined Amazfit Powerbuds Professional, the same pair of fitness-tracking headphones, I had to make use of its proprietary companion app to entry lots of its well being options. This simply added extra litter to my routine.

As for accuracy, it was inside roughly 5 beats per minute. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music together with Chest strap HRM-Match. The physique temperature was fairly dizzying. First, it’s tough to confirm accuracy. Operating with a thermometer protruding of your ear is harmful, and different wearable gadgets are extra centered on adjustments in pores and skin temperature at night time. However I can see why high-level athletes may worth physique temperature information. It is simply an excessive amount of for the typical individual. You’ll really feel hotter as you train. You will additionally doubtless discover while you begin to overheat with out even figuring out your precise physique temperature.

In my on a regular basis headphones, sound high quality is what I care about most. For health headphones, glorious sound high quality is extra of a bonus. I will put up with a bit of harshness whereas my Ok-pop anthems give me a run. This isn’t an issue right here! Recently I have been testing Stray Children and their uncooked, hard-hitting music so much. MEGAUNIVERSE Sounds nice on these headphones. Although the headphones have nice bass, every thing else sounds nice too.

By way of battery, you get about six hours of playback, which is sufficient for a median long term or race. The case holds three extra full expenses, and with regular use it will final a very long time. I have been utilizing them as headphones for my each day exercises and commuting for the previous two weeks. My case has about 40 % battery left.

What I did not like was the contact controls. You’ll be able to modify them within the Good Management app, however I discovered them too simple to activate whereas I used to be adjusting the match. That is although I lowered the contact sensitivity. Nevertheless, it’s higher to have them than to not have them when coaching in chilly climate while you put on gloves.

At $330, it is expensive, however technically you are getting a chest strap and headphones in a single. My Beats Match Professional was about $180 on sale, plus I am presently utilizing a $150 Garmin HRM-Match as a chest strap. (Although chest straps may be bought for about $80-$100.) It is about the identical price.

My downside with health monitoring headphones prior to now was that they did not make my life simpler. As a result of tough match, it took longer to get began. I did not want the additional exercise options from buddies once I was already utilizing different health apps. Sennheiser Momentum Sport They do not promise an excessive amount of – simply good sound and another solution to measure coronary heart fee. That is every thing I need in health buddies.