Sennheiser, the German audio brand, is a company behind some of the most high-end audio gear. Its Momentum line of over-the-ear headphones debuted a couple of years ago and was critically acclaimed for their balanced sound, comfort and design panache. Now, the Momentum is available in an earphone avatar. There are two models - one for the iPhone and one for Android smartphones, and they promise to deliver the same superlative balance of sound, design and comfort to the in-ear format.
Let's see if they can live up to Sennheiser's lofty standards.
Design and build
The
Momentum In-Ear is an attractive pair earphones. Bathed in a
combination of red and black, they look very sporty. They have a glossy
metallic finish, which adds to the lustre.The main drum is made of very sturdy material and it feels remarkably tough. The build quality is better than similarly-priced earphones.
The control console has three buttons, which offer good tactile feedback and is easy to reach. We tested the model that is designed for the iPhone.
On these earphones, Sennheiser is not using a tangle-free cable, which means these earphones are prone to get tangled, so best of luck with that. That said, the earphones come in a swanky pouch, which keeps the product well protected.
Sennheiser is also a bit stingy when it comes to providing earbuds. It only provides two extra tips in the package, so you cannot mix and match different buds and get a perfect fit.
That said, the buds, which are pre-fitted on the earphones are of a very high quality and are likely to serve users for a fair number of years.
Comfort
We found the Momentum to have a very comfortable fit. The earbuds were neither too tight nor too loose. They were just perfect. However, this is a very subjective take on things. Depending on the size of the ear canal of the user, it may provide a snug, yet comfortable fit, or may turn out to be loose or too tight.
We also found it to be very comfortable over extended use. Whether you are jogging, walking your dog, sitting around or driving, in all likelihood you will find the Momentum In-Ear comfortable to use.
Performance
At Rs.6,990, these are expensive earphones for Indian consumers, so they have to be utterly fantastic in terms of their audio quality.Overall, we found the sound coming out of the Momentum good. But it is also something that may not be everyone's cup of tea.
As audiophiles will put it, the sound of the Momentum's is decidedly European, which means the frequency response and sound signature is very bright. Of course, Sennheiser is a German brand, but traditionally the sound of its products is more neutral and balanced.
Heck, even the over-the-ear Momentum headphones have a very balanced sound, which did not gravitate towards a particular frequency, but did a good job with all kinds of music. The same rule does not apply to these earphones.
They have a very sharp yet precise sound. By this, we mean if you listen to a lot of blues and rock, then you will probably not like the sound, as the treble will often overwhelm the mid-range frequencies, leaving the sound of the instruments in the mix quite thin. In fact, it also sounds a little too sharp with even regular Bollywood songs, as it laggards when it comes down to vocals, which are largely based on the mid-range frequencies.
We tested songs like Eric Clapton & BB King's Riding with the King, Gun's n Roses Sweet Child'O Mine, Metallica's Creeping Death, Chemical Brother's Swoon, Daft Punk's Around the World, and Led Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore.
When we tested songs like the Battle of Evermore, the bright sound often acted like a boon and the song sounded beautiful. This holds true for all the songs, which are dominated by an acoustic stringed instrument as the pristine bright sound makes the instrument cut through the mix in a better way.
The bright nature also works wonders when tested with metal music as this kind of music is often heavy on the lower-mid-range frequencies and a bright sounding earphone can often balance the sound so that it does not sound muddy.
The sound of the Momentum is also very good if you are into electronic music. The sound stage of the earphones is fantastic and they provide a very tight bass, so more often than not, you will enjoy listening to electronic music via these earphones.
If someone has used Sennheiser products before, the bigger issue is that these earphones don't sound like typical Sennheiser earphones. They have a somewhat sterile sound, which can be associated with a brand like Bang and Olfuson.
Should you buy it?
We don't out-rightly recommend the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear. With the price of Rs.6,990 they do not represent good value, as they don't sound good with all types of music.For example they sound too bright for genres like Rock, Pop, Jazz and even Bollywood Pop. That said, if you are into heavy metal and electronic music (which is a strange/rare combination to begin with) then they are quite sublime. If you are someone into metal music the Momentum In-Ear makes perfect sense for you.
Apart from the sound quality, we also feel that Sennheiser should have made the Momentum In-Ear a sweeter package by including a few more earbuds. It should have also gone for a tangle-free cord. These are little things but when it comes to premium products, these matter.
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