Our Verdict
The Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear are decent mixed usage headphones. They do well in loud environments for passive headphones, they're easy to carry around on your person and come with a great case. They also feel durable enough to last a relatively long time. Unfortunately, their poorly balanced, bass-heavy sound might be a deal breaker for some.
- Minimal leakage.
- Decent passive isolation.
- Portable design with a great case.
- Overly bass-heavy audio reproduction.
- In-ear design not always comfortable.
Subpar for neutral listening. The small and closed-back in-ear design means they won't have the most spacious soundstage. That combined with their poorly balanced sound that favors a deep bass over instruments and vocals makes them ill-suited for pure neutral listening.
Decent for commuting. They're lightweight, ultra portable headphones that passively block a lot of noise. They won't be the best in very loud environments but they can handle the level of noise of a busy commute.
Above-average for sports use. Although they're not as stable as some of the other in-ears, they're compact lightweight and decently comfortable. However, they do not have the best control scheme, and since they're wired, they might get yanked out of your ears relatively easily if the cable gets hooked by something.
Above-average for office use. They prevent a fair bit of noise from entering your audio. They also barely leak so they won't distract your colleagues in quieter environments.
Average for gaming. The Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear have a wired connection, so they have negligible latency which is suitable for gaming. They also have a decent microphone that's compatible with consoles and PCs. Unfortunately, they sound overly bass-heavy and lack a good app to customize their sound profile like most gaming headsets. Their in-ear fit also won't be as comfortable for all listeners, especially during long gaming sessions.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 02, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear do not have the best sound quality for critical listening. But on the upside, they block enough noise to be a suitable option for commuting and they will easily fit into your pockets so you can have them on you at all times. They're also sufficiently stable for sports and working out although they won't be as good as some of the competing in-ear models below. See our recommendations for the best earbuds for bass, the best earbuds and in-ears and the best budget earbuds.
The Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear are better, wired headphones than the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear. The Bose have a more comfortable earbud design that most will prefer over the fit of the Sennheiser. The Bose also have a better-balanced sound and a more stable design for sports. On the other hand, the Sennheiser In-Ear have a bit more isolation in loud, noisy environments, although not by much. They also have an easier to use in-line remote than the Bose.
The Jaybird X3 are a better option than the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear if you want to go wireless. The X3 have better build quality, a more balanced sound that you can EQ thanks to their companion app, and they have a better range since they are wireless. However, the Momentum do better for watching movies since their wired design has no latency. They also have no battery life since they are completely passive, so they will always work as long as you have a headphone jack.
The 1More Triple Driver are slightly better than the Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear / Momentum In-Ear headphones. The 1More have a more durable build quality and come with more tip sizes, so they will fit better and more comfortably than the Sennheiser. The 1Mores also have a better sound and a universal in-line remote that will work with most devices, unlike the Sennheiser specific audio cable. However, the Sennheiser do have slightly better isolation and a unique look that some may prefer over the 1More.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear/Momentum In-Ear are slightly better and more versatile headphones than the Shure SE215. The Shure have a better sound quality overall, and they're more comfortable thanks to the angled earbuds. They also have a much more durable build quality than the Momentum. However, the Sennheiser have an in-line remote, which provides control for iOS devices and has a microphone for taking calls, making them more versatile for everyday casual use. They also come with a better case than the Shure and have a slightly more compact design.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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