I used to be somewhat skeptical in regards to the $329.95 Sennheiser Momentum Sport headphones. Other earbuds I tested with heart rate tracking performed incorrectly. Tracking your workout can have good intentions, but in practice it may be a bit hit or miss. So I used to be pleasantly surprised that the Momentum Sport headphones delivered what they promised – a straightforward strategy to view real-time fitness metrics without sacrificing sound quality.
Most fitness headphones have extra bass, a safer fit, and an emphasis on durability. The Momentum Sport has this, in addition to an optical heart rate sensor and a temperature sensor. The point is that the ear is definitely a more accurate place to gather this type of data than the wrist (which is technically true!). It also integrates with the Polar Flow app, providing you with access to training analytics, voice guidance and Polar coaching. In some ways it really works much like a chest strap… although you possibly can put it in your ears and play music.
These buds are larger for my ears, but they never fell out while running.
The only thing I didn’t like was the touch controls. Still, they’ll turn out to be useful if you happen to wear gloves.
As a runner, my checklist for fitness donuts is a bit different than the donuts I take advantage of on daily basis. They need to stay in your ears, a great transparency mode is a must, they cannot be crap on windy days, and a lightweight rain cannot smash them. Momentum Sport earns high marks across the board.
Fitting in-ear headphones is all the time tricky, however the Sport headphones are a solid selection for exercise. The headphones are larger and I actually have small ears, so I do not find them as comfortable as my favorite running headphones, the Beats Fit Pro. However, I took them on several runs and so they never fell out of my ear.
I actually have had issues with heart rate tracking headphones prior to now attributable to their fit. Good contact with the sensor is crucial, so a poor fit can mean uncertain results or no results in any respect. This defeats the entire purpose of in-ear tracking: greater accuracy. I did not have that problem here. This makes it a pleasant alternative if you happen to play a sport that does not favor smartwatches or find chest straps uncomfortable, especially if you happen to prefer to exercise with music – in theory you can wear one less to wear to get data.
In the Smart Control app, in addition to in Polar Flow and other fitness apps, you possibly can view real-time heart rate and body temperature data.
The transparency and windproof modes worked great for my outdoor runs. I could still easily hear the cars whizzing by around me, however the strong gusts didn’t drown out my music. I also took them on a miserable, rainy run with no problem. However, I’d still check the weather before runs. These are IP55, barely higher than the standard IPX4 you see on buds, but a heavy storm may not be a great time.
When it involves fitness tracking, I discovered that you just’re not limited to a proprietary companion app. If you are a part of the Polar ecosystem, it’s fully integrated along with your Polar Vantage V3 watch. Without a Polar watch, you can too connect the Sennheiser Smart Control app to the Polar Flow app in your phone. Then simply launch your exercise program in Polar Flow and choose it as your chosen heart rate monitor. When I attempted it out, it worked well, and if you happen to haven’t got a fitness app you want, Polar Flow is sort of a flexible app! The downside is that you just won’t be wearing all of them day, so your recovery results won’t be nearly as good.
If you could have tattoos in your wrists and are concerned in regards to the accuracy of your smartwatch’s heart rate, you should utilize them to measure your heart rate as an alternative.
It also works with other fitness apps and smartwatches that support Bluetooth accessories. I checked and was in a position to pair it with Strava and Runkeeper, two of my most used fitness apps. I also connected it to my Apple Watch Ultra 2 and from there I used to be in a position to view my heart rate data as well. I appreciate this since it allows me to get training suggestions from my platform of selection. When I tested the Amazfit Powerbuds Pro, an analogous pair of fitness-tracking headphones, I had to make use of the proprietary companion app to access lots of its health features. This just added more mess to my routine.
In terms of accuracy, it was inside roughly 5 beats per minute for the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music when paired with the HRM-Fit chest strap. His body temperature hurt him more. To begin with, it’s difficult to envision the accuracy. Running with a thermometer protruding of your ear is dangerous, and other wearables focus more on changes in skin temperature throughout the night. But I understand why high-level athletes might value body temperature data. However, for the typical person that is excessive. When you exercise, you’ll feel warmer. You’ll also likely notice if you begin to overheat without having to know your exact body temperature.
The case includes roughly three additional full charges. It also has a practical finger loop.
In my on a regular basis headphones, sound quality is what I care about most. With fitness headphones, great sound quality is more of a bonus. I can tolerate a little bit of cynicism so long as my K-pop anthems get me through. No problem here! I’ve been listening to a variety of Stray Kids recently and the booming, percussive MEGAVERSE sounds great on these headphones. While the buds have great bass, the remainder sounds great too.
As for the battery, it provides about six hours of playback – enough for a median future or race. The case can withstand a further three full charges, which should last for a very long time with normal use. I’ve been using them as headphones for my each day workout and commute for the last two weeks. In my case, there was still about 40 percent of the battery left.
One thing I didn’t like was the touch controls. These may be adjusted within the Smart Control app, but we found them too easy to activate when adjusting the fit. This happened although I had set the touch sensitivity to a lower setting. Still, it’s higher to have them while training in cold weather if you wear gloves.
At $330 they’re expensive, but I appreciate that the fitness tracking works as advertised.
They cost $330, but technically you get a chest strap and headphones in a single. My Beats Fit Pro cost about $180, and I currently use a $150 Garmin HRM-Fit as a chest strap. (Though chest straps may be purchased for around $80-$100.) That’s in regards to the same cost.
In the past, my problem with fitness tracking headphones was that they didn’t make my life easier. The finicky fit meant it took longer to get going. I didn’t want any additional training features from buddy once I was already using other fitness apps. Sennheiser Momentum Sport they do not promise much – just good sound and another strategy to measure your heart rate. That’s every thing I need from fitness donuts.
Credit : www.theverge.com
