Our Verdict
Mediocre for mixed usage. The Sennheiser HD1 On-Ear have a decent sound and a sturdy build quality. They also have easy to use controls and are decently portable. Unfortunately, they won't be the most suitable headphones to use in loud noisy environments due to their poor isolation performance. They're also not as comfortable as some of the other on-ear designs we've tested and aren't stable enough for sports or physical activity. These headphones are best use as a critical listening headphone since they do not perform as well for other use cases.
- Lightweight, sturdy design.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Leaks quite a bit of sound.
- Poor isolation.
Decent for neutral listening. The Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear have a slightly uneven but good enough sound quality for most. They pack an above-average amount of bass but tend to sound a bit boomy and cluttered since their mid-range is a little recessed. Their treble range is also a bit inconsistent and can sound a bit sharp on some S and T sounds but should be balanced enough to not be piercing on already bright tracks. Unfortunately, they won't be the ideal choice for more neutral listeners since they have a fairly small soundstage due to their closed back on-ear design.
Poor isolation performance for noisy commutes. They're fairly portable and have a decent control scheme but won't block much ambient noise in loud environments.
Mediocre for sports use. They're compact and breathable but are a little too unstable for high-intensity exercises and running.
Poor for office use. The Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear headphones will leak enough to be distracting to your colleagues and do not adequately block the chatter of a busy office.
Average for gaming. The Sennheiser HD1 on-ear have a decent sound and a low latency wired connection, but are not as convenient or as customizable as most wireless gaming headsets. They also have a mediocre at best microphone and an iOS specific audio cable that is only compatible with the PS4 controller and not the Xbox one.
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 On-Ear are well-built headphones with decent audio reproduction. They can be a little boomy and slightly sharp on some higher frequencies but sound good enough for most casual listeners. Their lightweight yet sturdy design feels durable thanks to the metal and dense plastic used for the frame and ear cups. Unfortunately, they're not the best sounding or most comfortable on-ears we've tested, especially when compared to some of the headphones below. See our recommendations for the best on-ear headphones.
The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless are a better headset overall than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear, but since the Momentum are wired-only headphones, you cannot make a direct comparison. The PXC 550 are more comfortable and have a lot more features, like a customizable sound and noise cancellation. This makes them more versatile for most use cases and suitable for different environments, unlike the Sennheisers. They also sound better out of the box, but on the other hand, the Momentum are wired, so they have no latency when watching videos. They're also a bit more compact and portable than the PXC 550 Wireless. However, you can also use the Bose with the provided audio cable for the same use case.
The Sony WH-1000XM2 are a much better headphone than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear, but they're also wireless and noise cancelling which is not as comparable. The WH-1000XM2 are more suitable for commuting and traveling than the Sennheisers since they are noise cancelling and the Sennheisers are not. The Sonys also have a lot more features like a customizable EQ, codec options, and room effects. On the other hand, since the Sennheisers are wired, they have no latency when watching videos. They're also a bit more compact and portable than the Sonys.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II are much better headphones than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear/HD1 On-Ear. The Bose are much more comfortable and have an outstanding ANC feature that helps gives you peace and quiet during your daily commutes or on long travel days. Their sound profile is much better-balanced, and their wireless design gives you more freedom. On the other hand, the on-ear design of the Sennheiser makes them a bit more portable, and you don't have to worry about keeping their battery charged since they're not wireless.
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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