Sennheiser could have simply released a set of wireless headphones that were IP55 rated and called it the Momentum Sport ($330), but they went further by adding heart rate and body temperature sensors to the headphones made for exercise. These additions give you a better view of your workouts, but also feed data to your existing third-party activity apps. Of course, the Momentum Sport should also feature the normal headphone stuff and offer an ergonomic design, active noise cancellation (ANC), touch controls, and other common features. Sennheiser has a solid track record in terms of sound quality, but now has to balance that 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 built-in controls are disappointing.
- Improved design compared to Momentum 4
- Reliable reading of heart rate and body temperature
- A full set of headset features
- The added bass is good for training
- Dear
- The ANC has struggled at times
- Inconstant sound quality
- The touch controls need an overhaul
$330 at Amazon
What’s good about the Sennheiser Momentum Sport
The overall shape of the Momentum Sport is what I wish Sennheiser had 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 slightly larger. Without the matching wing, the Sport version still sits well in my ears, although that extra piece definitely helps keep them in place during workouts. Simply put, this design looks more sophisticated and I’d love to see the company take a similar direction to its flagship model.
Sennheiser says it’s aiming for “bright sound and impressive bass” that would help boost your workout, and it delivers. The standard setup has a noticeably lower kick than the Justice hyperdrama, boosting electronic tunes with a thicker layer of tone. This is definitely something that helps your energy levels during physical activity. But as I’ll discuss later, extra bass isn’t always a good thing.
The Momentum Sport’s signature features, which are heart rate and body temperature tracking, work well. Thanks to the secure fit of the headphones, you can get constant, reliable readings in Sennheiser’s Smart Control app. The heart rate numbers matched those on my Apple Watch, and I confirmed my temperatures with a forehead scan. The Momentum Sport’s readings were in line with the other devices every time, meaning the headphones are as reliable as other 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, not just Sennheier’s app, which is mostly designed to change 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 this metric and supports the appropriate sensors. No matter which third-party app you prefer, you’ll probably want to sync the Momentum Sport with one of these, as the Smart Control software only shows real-time readings and won’t track trends or keep track of stats during workouts.
Despite having to power more sensors, the Momentum Sport still delivers solid battery life. Sennheiser says that a single charge offers five and a half hours of playback, and that claim holds true. I had no trouble hitting this figure during my looping audio testing at around 65-70 percent volume. This is 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 the Momentum Sport
The Momentum Sport lets you touch your cheek to control playback and calls. This is handy when you’re running, for example, as you don’t have to find the exact location of the touchpad while on the move or if you’re wearing gloves. The downside is that it can be activated by chewing. This is very annoying. During my tests, chewing gum or food often triggered the controls.
Sennheiser says it’s because I have strong jaw muscles (yes?) in close proximity to the sensor, but that doesn’t make it any less infuriating. I chew gum both while running and lifting, so that’s a problem. It’s just that clenching my jaw hasn’t triggered it, so at least there’s that. The only way to fix the problem is to turn off the built-in controls entirely, which disables both the cheek tap and the more common headset tap gestures.
The Momentum True Wireless 4’s ANC performance is solid but not amazing, and the same goes for 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 offers the kind of robust, world-drenching power that the Bose and Sony muster.
The Momentum Sport’s transparency mode is serviceable, but far from great. The headphones let your surroundings through well, but they don’t let enough of your voice through, and I found myself shouting during a few calls. There’s also an anti-wind mode, which is useful 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 for the Momentum Sport. While some albums are detailed and crisp despite the added bass, others lack punchy highs and strong midrange. The sound profile compresses things like harsh, distorted guitars and bass lines. Vocals constantly intrude, but the more prominent drumming on songs like Knocked Loose’s chaotic “Suffocate” relegates the guitars to the back seat. In fact, guitars in a number of styles – including alternative, rock and country – lack the depth and detail that the Momentum 4 provides. By dialing up the low-end tone, Sennheiser has sacrificed some of the dynamics that usually give its headphones such a great sound. And in a set of headphones that cost over $300, that’s a shame.
Finally, let’s discuss the case, which is less complex than previous Sennheiser designs. These headphones cost $330 and the charging case shouldn’t feel this 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 put it all the way in. The soft-touch finish is nice, but compared to the accessories that come with the Momentum line, this case is what I’d expect with a set of headphones that cost half the price. The good news is that there’s support for wireless charging and the case is IPX4 rated, so it’s not all a loss.
Summary
Momentum Sport presents a dichotomy. For one thing, they’re excellent workout headphones that reliably track biometrics for an inside look at your workout regimen. On the other hand, they lack the overall sound quality I’ve come to expect from Sennheiser’s Momentum range, and the overly sensitive controls are a huge inconvenience. The headset could improve with some software fine-tuning, but for now, it’s too expensive to buy just for workouts, and it doesn’t even work consistently enough to be your favorite piece of kit.
1 / 10
