German audio company Sennheiser produces a lot of different headphones, including on-ear, over-ear and in-ear versions in the Momentum range. I tried the affordable in-ear set as I figured they would be ideal for travel as are very small and light, and not so expensive that if they got lost or stolen I would be really annoyed.
The ear buds are attractive, glossy, metallic, red nuggets made from impact-resistant polycarbonate and stainless steel (they also come in black). You have to make sure you get them in the correct ear, though, otherwise they don’t fit properly and fall out. (There is a choice of silicon ear buds so you can find the ones the best wedge into your ear canal.)
The Momentum In-Ears are incredibly light (18g), which compared to more substantial – and more expensive – in-ear phones I have tried, felt like an indication of lower quality. That said the sound quality was good, especially for a set under £100, with powerful, rich bass.
Thought has gone into the design and there is a neat zip-up case for storing them in. Although there is a wireless option, I wanted a set of earphones that would plug into in-flight entertainment systems, and these ones feature red and black elliptical cables that are tangle free, if a little plasticky. There is a handy integrated, three-button mic for controlling music and taking calls.
Make sure the Momentum in-ears are compatible with your device before buying – Sennheiser lists Apple, Samsung Galaxy, LG, HTC and Sony among the brands they work with.
PROS Affordable and good sound
CONS Insubstantial, a little plasticky
PRICE £90
CONTACT en-uk.sennheiser.com
