Sennheiser Momentum Sport Review: Super sound meets sporty sensors

Sennheiser’s Momentum range has been associated with high-quality audio for some time now. The latest earphones in this series are targeted at those interested not just in audio but also in fitness. The Momentum Sport seek to deliver the kind of audio quality that has made Sennheiser legendary but also pack in a heart rate and temperature sensor as well as a tougher exterior and an easier-to-use interface. But will this be enough to justify what seems to be a super-premium price tag? Let’s find out.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport design and appearance: Smart, chunky and tough

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport look very different from their predecessors launched a few years ago. While those had a flat, almost squarish top, these have the typical curved, oval-ish TWS shape with no stems. We got the Polar Black variant of the buds, which come with a plain matte finish. The logo is embossed on the top, but there are no metal accents, as seen in the Momentum True Wireless. The buds with changeable white transparent tips. While you get two other tip size options in the box, they are all white in color, even though the buds themselves are black. There’s a reason for this – the heart rate and temperature sensors are actually located below the tips of the buds. They need to be transparent so that the TWS can monitor the heart rate. This also means that you cannot use third-party buds with them if you want them to record your heartbeat.

The buds have a slightly open design, which Sennheiser calls a ‘semi-open acoustic system,’ with very prominent grilles on the buds. We think the sensors take up some space, so the buds are a bit bulky and could be a slight problem for those with small ears. There are wings/ fins in the box, and once you figure out how to slip them over the buds, they do make for a more snug fit. We found ourselves using the buds without fins when not running or working out, and they stayed out, but they do make a difference if you are going to move around a fair bit – we even used them for bumpy cab rides. At 6.4 mg each, the buds are light enough to be worn for long periods of time.

The case for the Sennheiser Sport is also on the large side with a logo on the top. It is slightly square in shape and is encased in what seems to be a rubber-like material. It shuts magnetically but has a rather thin, floppy hinge (because of the rubber, we suspect) and a USB Type-C port in front, which is covered by a flap to keep the water out, with a single tiny LED above it that shows battery status. At 78 grams, it is heavier than the AirPods Pro, which is about 50 grams, and also comes with the option to tie a lanyard to its side (there is one in the package, but we found it a little too small for actual use).

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport buds and case are both a little on the bulky side, but this does not affect their wearability and portability too much. Both buds and case are mainly made of plastic and have a solid feel to them (apart from that floppy hinge on the case). Both also come with water resistance – IP55 for the buds against sweat and splashes and IP54 for the case against splashes of water. These will not turn heads in the gym or in a cafe but will quietly and smartly blend in. Some might find them a little too low profile in design terms, but we like their appearance. Just make sure you have the right eartips in place, and check if the fins help – there is a simple and quick ear ft test in the companion app.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport set up and ease of use: A touch interface that works without touching the buds!

One of the charms of the Momentum Sport is just how easy they are to use. Pairing them involves taking the buds out of the case, placing them in your ears, pressing them for a few seconds to put them into pairing mode, and then choosing them from the Bluetooth devices on your phone. You need to download Sennheiser’s Smart Control app to access more features and controls. The app is free and works with Android and iOS.

We have often complained about the slightly complex touch interface on Sennheiser’s TWS. Well, we have no complaints about the Sennheiser Sport. That is because while these, too, come with a tap-and-touch interface, you can actually control them by tapping near the buds rather than the buds themselves. You can tap the buds, too, if you wish, but we have discovered that tapping them sometimes affects the fit, and we generally found tapping near our ears far easier. The controls have been simplified as well. Instead of packing in a lot of commands from the get-go, Sennheiser has kept matters relatively straightforward.

Double tapping either bud will play or pause audio, or accept a call or end it. A triple tap on either bud will reject a call or will mute it. While playing audio, a triple tap near the left bud with switch between transparency mode and ANC, while the same near the right one will take you to the next track. The only time you actually need to touch the buds themselves is for controlling the volume – touching and holding the left bud decreases volume while doing the same on the right one increases it. You can customize these controls from the app and assign gestures to a certain bud for bass boost, podcast mode, summon a virtual assistant, and so on. Tapping near your ears rather than on the buds themselves takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it is super convenient.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport Audio quality: Clarity with a classy touch of bass

The audio quality on the Sennheiser Momentum Sport is very good indeed, with very impressive clarity. However, unlike the balanced output from the Momentum True Wireless 4, the Momentum Sport have a slight bass emphasis. We are told the reason for this is that bass goes better with workouts, and we cannot deny that. You will not get ear-rattling thumps or thunderous rumbling here, but the beats will be a little deeper. The instrument separation is very good, though a slight level below that of the Momentum True Wireless 4, which remains the gold standard for TWS audio for us.

In spite of the semi-open design, the sound stage is not as wide as on the True Wireless 4, so you do not get the sort of ‘roomy’ sound that some prefer. That said, these sound wonderful for mainstream listening, with very clear mids (vocals) and a generally warm sound. We would rate them a notch above the AirPods Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM5 in terms of audio quality. You can tweak the settings using the equalizer in the companion app and even invoke bass boost and a podcast mode. Audiophiles might have liked a bit more treble by default, but most users will love the sound on these buds, with the 10 mm drivers delivering impressive volumes.

The buds support SBC, AAC, and aptX adaptive, which is adequate for most users, although purists might note the absence of support for aptX Lossless. There is also no head tracking or spatial audio. We think both would have made sense, given that these buds are designed for fitness environments where there is plenty of head movement. Who knows, a firmware update might bring them to the TWS table. As of now, these are super for anyone who loves their audio with a touch of classy bass and work fine with games, too, with not too much latency. Jazz and classical music enthusiasts might find them a little too “warm” for their liking, but that can be fixed with some equalizer tweaks.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport Fitness, ANC, and more: Handy heart rate, superb transparency mode, decent battery life

This brings us to the heart rate and temperature measurement on the buds. They are both impressively accurate. You can see them on the Sennheiser app on your phone, and they were almost the same as the readings we got on our Apple Watch Series 8. Those who want more detailed information on both parameters can sign up for the Polar Flow app and also share information with other services such as Strava and other tracking devices. We do wish there was more detailed information on the app itself, but then we are unlikely to wear the buds for as long as we wear smartwatches or other fitness trackers. While the accuracy of both temperature and heart rate sensors is impressive, we are not too sure if they will make people opt for using the buds over conventional health and fitness trackers, which record far more information over a longer period of time.

The Momentum Sport come with Adaptive ANC, which can adjust itself according to the level of ambient noise around you. The ANC is good, but we suspect the semi-open design tends to let some external sounds creep in. Honestly, we do not think that is a deal breaker as we would like to be aware of our surroundings while working out or even taking a walk. The same semi-open design, however, makes the transparency mode on the Momentum Sport among the best we have heard, with impressive clarity – you can wear these comfortably while running or working out in a group.

Call handling is superb, too, and the best we have heard on a Sennheiser TWS. You can also connect the buds to two devices at the same time, although switching between them is a little erratic. Battery life is decent – you get six hours on the buds with ANC and about 24 hours when used with the case. The case gets charged in less than two hours, and ten minutes of charging can deliver about an hour of audio in an emergency. There is also support for Qi Wireless charging, but it is rather sluggish.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport Review Verdict: Premium priced for an everyday premium experience

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport will set you back by $325/Rs 25,990, which makes them more expensive than the likes of the AirPods Pro ($168/Rs 24,900), the just-launched Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($249/Rs 19,999), the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($228/Rs 23,990) and even Sennhesier’s own flagship Momentum True Wireless 4 ($270/Rs 18,990). In the sports category, it is also considerably more expensive than the Jabra Elite 8 Active, which are priced at $129/Rs 16,999.

The big question is: are they worth that much? The answer totally depends on how much you value the audio quality and ease of use that the Momentum Sport bring to the table, combined with the ability to monitor the heart rate and temperature. The big challenge they face is that many people already wear some device (a fitness band or a smartwatch) to track heart rate. We think they are awesome workout companions just for the audio quality, interface, and call handling.

In fact, if you have the budget and do not mind a touch of bass in your music (most people do not), then we would rank them as perhaps the best buds for those who want a TWS that can take the rigors of everyday life and still deliver great sound. The heart rate sensor is handy, but it is the overall experience that make these special.

If you want buds that totally kill the sound while you sit and work or let you get immersed in close-to-audiophile-level audio, these are not for you. But if you want buds that deliver good ANC and audio when needed and ensure you know what’s around you when you are out and about, then these are perfect. They might be called Momentum Sport, but are actually for the everyday business of life for those who do not like to be chained to their desks. Many of us might consider that to be worth paying a premium for.

Buy Sennheiser Momentum Sport (USA)
Buy Sennheiser Momentum Sport (India)