Sennheiser SPORT True Wireless Earbuds - Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones for Active Lifestyles, Music and Calls with Adaptable Acoustics, Noise Cancellation, Touch Controls, IP54 and 27-hour Battery Life

Product Information

This mode barely let in any external sounds, and it increased bass levels, which made it more difficult to hear what was happening outside. Sennheiser would have been better off employing the CX Plus’ Transparent Hearing mode. Sennheiser Sport True Wireless review: Special features and app It would also be nice if I could carry the extra tips with me in the otherwise bulky charging case. The Sennheiser SPORT True Wireless' case looks like a little treasure chest, which – as far as I can tell – serves no purpose whatsoever. It feels hollow and light; surely, Sennheiser could've found a way to allow storage for an extra set of tips? If you're going to use the open ear tips (which have a couple tiny holes to let in some outside sound - not much, but enough that you can have a conversation without removing them), the Sennheiser app adjusts the base profile to make everything sound great. Same with using the closed tips. I tried using the "wrong" settings on purpose to see the difference and wow, it changes the sound signature quite a bit to account for the open/closed earspace. And they nailed it in keeping it sounding consistent depending on which ears tips you're using.

The mids were also boosted to give vocals and lead instruments the necessary presence. Thanks to a special podcast EQ curve, you can understand your favourite voices flawlessly, even when running on a treadmill. This works well in theory, since you physically alter the hardware to change the sound, so you get a more natural sound than if you only tweaked it in the Sennheiser app. Of course, you can – and should – change the sound profile in the Sennheiser app to match the ear tips you have applied; but even so, the buds will naturally cancel/let in more sound. We regularly see an IPX4 rating (which is the same as IP54 in terms of water resistance) for models with ANC, but the Sport True Wireless in-ears don't offer any special features that excuse this low rating. Even a few pairs with noise cancellation, such as the Jabra Elite 7 Active, feature a superior rating (IP57). And some far more affordable options, such as the Tribit FlyBuds 3 (IPX7) do better here. Both of these models are among the best earbuds for runners. The Jaybird Vista 2 have an even better water rating than the Jabra Elite 7 Active and feature an equally compact body; however, Jaybird's top buds have wing tips to ensure the wireless headphones stay in place better. The Jabra Elite 7 Active buds are a significant update over the Jabra Elite Active 75t and offer more personalised sound and ANC, better fit via the ShakeGrip coating and even improved call performance thanks to the three-microphone-per-bud setup. If you aren't too keen on wing tips, the Elite 7 Active are your best option for running headphones.Internally, dynamic drivers deliver a frequency response of 5Hz to 21kHz. The earphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.2 and support the AAC, AptX, and SBC codecs—a solid range of coverage for the price. Secure Customized Fit - Interchangeable fins and a choice of ear adapters let you achieve a perfectly secure fit. Sennheiser estimates that the earbuds can last roughly nine hours on a charge and that the case holds an additional 18 hours of power. This estimate is on the high side, but your results will vary based on your typical listening volume. Charging time is about 1.5 hours. B) They must have a secure but comfortable fit – These headphones fit perfectly, although they aren't most comfortable for long-term wear The “Sidetone” setting mixes in your own voice during telephone calls, so you avoid the effect of speaking out loud, which normally occurs when wearing headphones. Here you can choose between “Off”, “Min” and “Max”.

Multipoint is not supported, but it is possible to switch between several devices in the app. It is possible to deactivate the touch control, define the switch-off time, configure notification tones and voice messages (currently in English only), and finally, there is a codec display. Sound So, do the different ear tips work? They do, with the help of the Sennheiser app, where you can tailor the sound of the buds even more to maximise sound isolation/ambient sound potential. The Adaptable Acoustics feature has two options: 'Focus' or 'Aware' mode, the first obviously being the mode you want to choose with the closed tips. D) Offers some level of situational awareness – Thanks to the 'open' and 'closed' ear adaptor system, the SPORT True Wireless not only lets in more noise when required but can also isolate you from your surroundings if that's what you want. With the Aware eartips and the matching EQ mode turned on in the app, the sonic experience is solid—the open design leads to a boosted bass response, and outside noise is audible (though not to the extent as with a more sophisticated mode that relies on ambient mics to amplify the signal). This pair isn't the first to try this approach, but few among those that have tried see success—the recent Sony LinkBuds are one example with an open design and subpar audio. Here, the open design is less consequential—it doesn’t ruin the audio experience, though the earbuds also let in far less outside sound than that Sony pair.

Sound

The issue is that changing miniature ear tips continuously is not the most convenient thing to do. They roll around, are soft and squishy, slip out of your fingers etc. Do I want to fiddle around with ear tips before I go for a run? Not really, but it's nice that, in theory, I could. I won't, but the option is there. Connectivity – Compatible with Bluetooth 5.2. Connects to TV and Sport equipment so you can stream your workout at home or stay connected in the gym. A secure, tight fit is optimal for exercise and running, but not so much for long-time wear, as I found out during my tests. It's the same as when companies say their clothing is 100% waterproof and 100% breathable. There is no such thing; it's either completely waterproof or completely breathable. Something's got to give. Purpose made for all types of workout, the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless earphones are your best gym buddy. The Sennheiser Smart Control app (available for Android and iOS) is a requirement because you need to tune the earphones via the EQ depending on which eartips you choose; the Focus EQ mode is for the closed eartips and Aware EQ mode is for the open ones.

Adjustable Sidetone – Sidetone makes phone calls more comfortable by letting you hear your own voice during calls. We're just not sure why Sennheiser didn't opt for a mic-based transparent listening mode that you can turn on or off. That approach is far more convenient than regularly requiring users to swap out eartips. For the price, we expect a better implementation, especially because you don't even get a carrying pouch to hold these eartips. This omission makes us feel like Sennheiser doesn't really expect you to change tips often, which further causes us to question this system's practicality. Supplied with both Open and Closed earbud adapters, the Sport True Wireless earphones let you choose how much of the outside world to let in. Generally, it’s recommended to use the Closed buds at the gym and the Open buds when out for a run, keeping you more aware of surrounding traffic. The Sennheiser SPORT True Wireless is all about finding the perfect fit. These lightweight headphones (only 6.8 grams per bud) come with six sets of what Sennheiser calls ear adapters (closed/open, small/medium/large) and four 'ear fin' sets (N, S1, S2, S3) to make sure they sit perfectly in your ears. The seven-millimetre TrueResponse drivers with a frequency response of 5Hz to 21kHz ensure a successful sound performance: the sound was clear, and defined, but not too sharp or even harsh.

Not Quite a Bronze Medal

I used the biggest of all of them, of course, as I have ears as big as Dumbo, but I was surprised that I could find a fit that works as I often struggle with buds falling out of my left ear. The wing tips – sorry, ear fins – press the buds into the ears perfectly, leaving very little room for the sound to escape. This is important as the SPORT True Wireless hasn't got active noise cancellation (ANC), but even if it did, ill-fitting buds would compromise it. As you can see, the Sennheiser SPORT True Wireless is this close [holds two fingers up very close to each other] to be the perfect headphones for running and exercise. Should it not be for the faff of having to change ear tips (and the silly charging case situation), it might even reach the top of our running headphones guide. Sennheiser Signature Sound – Powered by Sennheiser TrueResponse transducer, a 7mm dynamic audio driver that delivers a high-end sound experience with full bass.

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How long does the battery last on the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless?

The app also lets you adjust the on-ear control layout, tweak the in-ear sidetone (how much you can hear your own voice on calls), and access a three-band EQ. Aside from its reliance on three bands instead of the usual five, the EQ delivers weak results. Boosting the bass fader to its maximum level, for example, only subtly increases the low-end and causes the digital signal processing (DSP) to step in. Here, the DSP compresses the signal and affects the maximum volume output. It's a little baffling that an audio powerhouse like Sennheiser has among the worst in-app EQs we’ve tested. TrueResponse does exactly what it says and gives you the purest, most crystal-clear sound. Responding to your music with precision, the 7mm drivers at the heart of these earphones give a natural and balanced sound, just as the artist intended. Intuitive touch controls – Touch interface control of music, calls and voice assistant for effortless operation.