audiosplitz: Sennheiser

Sennheiser PXC 550 - First Glimpse

August 11, 2016

Sennheiser has had a pretty quiet 2016 in the portable audio space. It was, of course, very timely that they chose to launch the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless last month. For some background, the 'PXC' range of Sennheiser products are consumer-centric noise canceling headphones that have been around since 2002. We take a first glimpse at what this offers.

Who's It For?
Those who need a quiet commuting experience without the cables.

What's the Big Deal?
1. Noise Canceling
With its PXC series, Sennheiser uses its NoiseGard hybrid adaptive noise cancelation technology to block out ambient noise. We're not too sure what the 'Hybrid' part means or how effective it is. We'll update this once we get our paws on a unit.

2. Fold Activation
The headphones will auto-on when you unfold them from storage mode. When removed from around your ears, they'll supposedly pause the music. When folding them back in place, they will switch off. How's that for convenience?

3. Flexibility in Usage
The PXC 550 provides an abundance of options. You can use it in wireless mode and wired mode (with the provided cable). On wireless you can initiate pairing over Bluetooth (v4.2) or via Near Field Communications (NFC). For further customization, Sennheiser provides a compatible mobile app called CapTune (Android 4.1.2+ / iOS 8+) that functions both as a music player and sound tuning.

4. Battery Life
This promises 20 hours of power with Bluetooth + ANC activated. If using the audio cable + ANC, then this increases to 30 hours. Wireless usage is on par with the Bose QC35 though the wired mode duration lasts a full 10h less.

5. Touch Controls
The playback controls leverage on touch sensitive area on the exterior of the earcups. This keeps the PXC 550 design clean. What remains to be seen is how functionally effective this is.

Pricing
They currently go for USD 400 worldwide. We're checking with Sennheiser Singapore for both pricing and availability.

Availability
The Sennheiser PXC 550 is available worldwide at Sennheiser's online shop and duty free retailers from mid-July. However, it is not available in Singapore as yet. As such, you can choose to support us by purchasing from Amazon via our affiliate marketing link.

Sennheiser PXC 550

USD 399

Beats

2015 Holiday Gift Guide - Portable Audio

December 20, 2015

As Christmas beckons and 2015 comes to an end, let's take a look at some great portable audio gear you can gift for your loved ones. Not sure what to get? Fret not! We break down a few choices for each persona.

Merry X'mas folks!

Fashionistas
1. Beats Solo 2 Wireless (SGD 490)
This model is a head turner with the variants like the Active Collection (for sports lovers), and Luxe Editions (for a more premium look) being recently released.

2. Sennheiser MOMENTUM On Ear (M2) (SGD 319)
The MOMENTUM series is helluva looker and why change a proven formula? And they haven't, given its design has been around since 2013.

3. Master & Dynamic MH30 (SGD 549)
This New York company is certainly going places with its premium design. Want something novel? It ain't seen very much in Singapore (yet).

No Cables Please (Wireless)
1. Bose SoundLink on-ear Bluetooth (SGD 379)
The OE SoundLink is one of the best in the wireless on-ears category for sound delivery. The price is very decent too.

2. Sennheiser URBANITE XL Wireless (SGD 419)
They are great headphones for street wear and high quality sound over Bluetooth makes for good icing on the cake.

3. Sony MDR-1ABT (SGD 499)
A good choice for a multitude of reasons - It's comfortable, it supports aptX and LDAC codecs and it's a Sony.

Sports Lovers
1. Jaybird X2 Wireless (SGD 259)
These rank right up there for sports earbuds. They are highly customizable and the Comply foam tips offer great noise isolation and fit.

2. LG Tone Active (SGD 189)
The space-age looking TONE series has been a killer product for LG. What better way to improve it than to make a sports variant?

3. Jabra Sport Coach (SGD 248)
It's pretty hard to find an effective product that gives an integrated software and hardware fitness solution.

Users On-The-Go (Noise Canceling)
1. Bose QuietComfort 25 (SGD 529)
The QC25 blocks off sound to the extent that you feel you're in a world of your own.

2. Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8 (SGD 699)
This is a premium looking pair to be seen with. Oh, and it's great to use on an airplane where the engine hum is just taken away.

3. Sony h.ear in NC (MDR-EX750NA)
This really light pair of in-ears works wonders on the train. Once you flick the switch on, the train grinding sounds are magically reduced.

Audiophiles
1. Klipsch Reference X20i (SGD 999)
These are certainly pricey but the sound delivery will certainly appeal to purists.

2. Grado SR60e
The SR60e is their entry level headphones and despite that, the quality of the music is simply amazing for its price.

Headphones

Sennheiser MOMENTUM On Ear (M2) - Sublime Audio Quality

November 25, 2015

Sennheiser launched the original MOMENTUM headphones in 2012 and three years on, this sub-brand is still going strong. Following the success of the first version released in July 2013, the MOMENTUM On Ear 2nd generation, nicknamed the M2 OE, was launched earlier at CES 2015. Let's have a look at how this unit fares.

Design
And as usual, first things first - the unboxing. Just slide out the black box within, lift the flap and there lies a black carrying case that contain the headphones.

The packaging contents include:
- Headphones
- Audio cable (3.5mm to 2.5mm with in-line remote)
- Carrying case
- Soft pouch
- Quick start and safety guides

There are 6 color variants available namely Ivory, Black, Blue, Red, Pink and Green and 2 device variants - iOS and (Samsung) Galaxy. We received the M2 OEG (short for MOMENTUM 2.0 On Ear - Galaxy) Ivory version for our testing.

Design-wise, it's a looker. It's no wonder why the MOMENTUM series is still evolving using the base look even after 3 years in the market. For the heft, it clocks 190g, sitting between the 153g Bose OE SoundLink and the 260g Master & Dynamic MH30. The materials used feel premium - stainless steel is used for the collapsible sliders while the headband / ear cup covers are made of a soft suede-like material called Alcantara. Through a ball joint, the ear cups can be angled to your ears in a more ergonomic manner.

While the carrying case seems to have shed some weight from its predecessor, this could actually have been made even more compact as there was ample space within after the headphones were folded. Interestingly, there's an additional fabric soft pouch thus giving you two storage options.

Features
The 1.4m audio cable connects firmly to the right ear cup through a plug-and-twist mechanism via a 2.5mm jack.

The in-line remote is Samsung Galaxy friendly but if you have an iPhone, the iOS-friendly version (M2 OEi) is available too. As per most remotes, the volume buttons flank a multi-function button that plays / takes calls with a single press or skips tracks with a double press. At the other end of the cable, you get an L-shaped 3.5mm jack that connects to your device.

The ear cups, which have two layers of foam within, are replaceable. We're currently checking on the cost and availability.

Performance
It's always a challenge for a headphone manufacturer to juggle sufficient clamping force vs comfort. These headphones are initially comfortable but after an hour of usage, the discomfort drawn by clamping force starts to creep in. They somehow do not hit the heights I experienced for the pillowy Bose OE SoundLink or the elliptical ear cups of the Klipsch Reference R6i On-Ear.

The audio quality of the Sennheiser is simply sublime. Sarah Brightman and Fernando Lima's vocals on Ave Maria are at their inspiring best when paired with very good control and delivery in the bass. Sam Smith's enunciation of 'How do I live? How do I breathe' to the piano accompaniment on Writing's on the Wall is distinctly clear, something that its lesser peers could easily bungle by muddying treble and bass together. The MOMENTUM does not give a flat delivery but for commuters, this is the type of sound that gets across to your ears across all the train rumbling and bus engine revs.

Did I mention the clamping force? Well, this combined with sufficient ear padding provide a certain level of noise isolation that take away a few decibels from the surrounding ambient noise.

Overall
There's no question that the Sennheiser MOMENTUM On Ear (M2) (SGD 319) is a very competent performer in audio delivery. Apart from the clamping force, its other positives such as the sturdy build, materials used and two year warranty make these headphones a good choice for people on the move.

Audio Sources
Writing's On The Wall (Spectre OST) - Sam Smith (Tidal 1411kbps FLAC) on Samsung Galaxy S4
Ave Maria (Duet with Fernando Lima) - Sarah Brightman (952kbps FLAC) on Sony NW-ZX100 Walkman

Credit to Sennheiser and Ketchum for an evaluation unit.

aptX

Sennheiser URBANITE XL WIRELESS - Club Sound on the Move

October 15, 2015

Sennheiser announced a flurry of headphones at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015. One of the new products was the URBANITE XL Wireless (SGD 419), an extension of its URBANITE product line which had wired and on-ears variants previously.

Design
Before checking out the actual product, let's see the unboxing.

The box is massive. But on the other hand, for a relatively bulky pair of headphones, you need a box of size to match.

The Sennheiser is packaged in a no frills manner. Taking out the cover gives you direct access to the folded over-ears with the other contents tucked in a hole on the bottom right.

On laying everything out nicely, we see that the full package contents include:
- Headphones
- USB charging cable
- Audio cable (3.5mm to 2.5mm with in-line remote)
- Carrying pouch
- Quick start and safety guides

And now for the headphones. The URBANITE XL WIRELESS weighs a hefty 300g, quite on par with several over-ears like the Parrot Zik 3 (270g) and Sony MDR-1ABT (300g) but way heavier than the Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II (198g).

The headband, made from stitched canvas on the top side and lined with white-coated rubber on the underside, looks and feels great. The ear cups actually follow the circular design of its on-ear sibling instead of going for the more traditional elliptical shape for an over-ears. When fitted on the head, they are undeniably comfortable though not to the level of a snug fit as they tended to tilt when I shifted my neck from side to side.

Sennheiser put in some nice touches too - when adjusting the cups up and down for head/ear fit, the flat cable delivering the audio extends and retracts cleanly. The cans have an inward folding mechanism for easier storage, but we've gotta say it's still bulky nonetheless. Try storing it in the carrying pouch and you'll get the picture.

When connecting the audio cable for a wired connection, I just had to plug the 2.5mm jack and align the protrusion, into the right ear cup and twist clockwise to secure it in place.

Features
The Sennheiser crams all the latest textbook features of what a pair of Bluetooth headphones should include. There's aptX codec usage, allowing CD quality transmission of audio over Bluetooth.

There's near field communication (NFC) that allows a quick connection with your NFC-enabled player to the Sennheisers. These over-ears meet the Bluetooth 4.0 standard, which promises lower power consumption, and also allow convenient connection to two devices simultaneously.

To pair the URBANITE XL WIRELESS, just flick and hold the power switch to the Bluetooth logo and the LED will flicker blue and red. Activate Bluetooth on your source, select the headphones to pair and you're good to go.

The touch panel lies on the right side. It allows playing of music / taking calls (single touch) and volume adjustment (slide the finger up / down). However, it can get a little sensitive and I ended up canceling some calls that were accidentally initiated when adjusting the fit of the headphones.

The sticker says it all

The in-line remote is designed to function when the audio cable is plugged in which in turn deactivate Bluetooth and the touch panel. The multifunction button plays tracks and takes calls with a single touch and skips tracks with a double / triple press. The volume control is a slider is great 'cos it allows compatibility for both iOS and Android.

The ear pads are easily removable and replaceable. We are currently checking on the cost of the pads.

Update (16 Oct 2015)
In Singapore, the ear pads cost SGD 48.15 (inc. GST) and are available at the Sennheiser Service Centre at 438B Alexandra Technopark.

The voice and sound prompts were certainly useful. Let's take two examples. When increasing the volume to the max, two beep alerts will sound. When finalizing the Bluetooth pairing, the voice prompt 'Connected' will confirm that there's a handshake.

Performance
Sennheiser put in their press release that the URBANITE series is geared for 'an emotional, powerful club sound on the move'. We put this claim to the test.

We tried Skrillex and Diplo's electronic dance-themed Where Are Ü Now which delivered a controlled performance with a good balance between the infusion of beats and the vastly contrasting dolphin like wails (of Justin Bieber's pitched voice methinks?).

Nothing beats David Guetta's Sexy Bitch when it comes to thumping basslines punctuating the 'emotive' outbursts from Akon about finding the right words to describe a girl.

The result from the URBANITE XL 'phones for both tracks is an engaging performance where the bass delivery is top notch. Unlike other bass-enhanced headphones, it doesn't overwhelm and it complements the treble which comes across as sufficiently clear.

On to noise isolation. This was tested during a bus commute and the result was unexpectedly poor, especially for an over-ears, as ambient sounds could easily heard through the music playback.

For the battery power, Sennheiser claims an excellent playback / talk time of up to 25 hours with a 2 hour charge of the built-in Lithium Polymer battery. This is remarkable given its performance of its Bluetooth over-ears peers like the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless (12 hours) and comparable to the Sony MDR-1ABT (28 hours).

Overall
The Sennheiser URBANITE XL WIRELESS is a well built and fashionable pair of over-ears. Though the touch controls come somewhat short, these headphones sparkle with excellent audio reproduction and a diverse feature set, inclusive of a 2 year international warranty.

Audio Sources
Where Are Ü Now - Jack Ü (Skrillex and Diplo) with Justin Bieber (Spotify 320kbps MP3) on iPad Air
Sexy Bitch - David Guetta feat. Akon (Spotify 320kbps MP3) on Samsung Galaxy S4

Credit to Sennheiser and Ketchum for a review unit.