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The best in-ear headphones under $40
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article here. If you're looking for the best in-ear headphones on a budget, get the Brainwavz Delta With In-Line Microphone. After 32 hours of research on hundreds of in-ear headphones priced at $40 or under, seriously considering 179 models, and testing 68 with our panel of audio experts, we found the Brainwavz Deltas are the best for the money. Our panel unanimously voted them the best-sounding of all those tested in this category, plus they fit comfortably in most ears and are a steal at $22. They sound better than the Apple EarPods, so if you're looking to upgrade or replace those or want something decent and inexpensive, these are your best bet.
Sennheiser pulls Momentum Wireless headphones after Bluetooth issues
Sennheiser's Momentum headphones have been a staff favorite here at Engadget for a while. When the company announced a wireless version at CES, I was eager to get my hands on a pair for review. Unfortunately, when listening to music with the Bluetooth headphones and using an Apple Magic Mouse with my MacBook Air, I noticed regular music drop outs -- almost every time I moved my mouse. As it turns out, I wasn't the only one. After what Sennheisers says is a "small number" of customer complaints, it stopped production and shipment of the Momentum Wireless until the issue is fixed. Of course, stopping production tells me there's a big problem, but the company maintains the cases are "limited." In addition to interruptions when playing tunes, users experienced issues trying to make calls, too. Sennheiser explained the culprit could be a number of factors that prey on wireless connections, which could include anything from interference to signal strength that can't handle high-traffic areas.
Sennheiser made its great Momentum headphones even better
Since its introduction in 2013, Sennheiser's Momentum line headphones have added not only new color options, but on-ear and in-ear models, too. During that time, I've been quite impressed by the cans and their clear and balanced sound. At CES, wireless versions of the over-ear and on-ear gadgets made their debut, and when the news hit, I immediately wondered if the Momentum Wireless would be better than the original. After trying them out, I can confidently say that Sennheiser has made a good thing even better.
Sennheiser's Momentum and Urbnanite headphones go wireless
Sennheiser introduced its Momentum cans back in 2012, and then tacked on an on-ear option about a year later. Both of those are quite capable headphones, but wireless is all the rage these days, so to keep pace with the competition, the company is cutting the cord. Here at CES 2015, Sennheiser is debuting wireless models for the over-ear and on-ear versions of the Momentum family. Both feature NFC pairing, Bluetooth connectivity with apt-X tech to handle "superior unaltered sound." What's more, the pair packs in NoiseGuard active noise cancellation to drown out the ambient clamor during 22 hours of playback before needing a charge. There's also version 2.0 of the wired varieties, and the entire series now features a folding design for easy storage. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but you can expect the two Momentum Wireless models to arrive in both black and ivory color options.
Sennheiser takes aim at Beats with new Urbanite headphones
Some folks enjoy a load of bass when it comes to their headphone selection. That's fine, and you won't get any judgment here. In fact, Sennheiser has taken notice, revealing its new Urbanite on-ear and over-ear (XL) headphones designed with a healthy portion of low-end tones. Claiming to keep "bringing the bass for an intense club experience on the move," the duo does indeed pack some thump while keeping the company's trademark clarity throughout. Don't expect anything overkill here. The cans have an in-line remote, stainless steel hinges for folding down to pack away, cloth-draped headbands, soft-wrapped earpads and aluminum sliders that adjust for a comfy fit. The company says it's these "high quality materials" that set the new wares apart from what the likes of Beats and others have released. It's looking to compete in the color department too, as six different schemes across iOS and Android/Windows models (including a denim option) are sure to suit most tastes. While the $199 on-ear Urbanite model goes on sale today, the $249 over-ear Urbanite XL is set to arrive in Q4.
Hands-on with Sennheiser's HD6, HD7 and HD8 DJ series headsets
Sennheiser, long a staple at CES with its stellar audio goods didn't disappoint this year by launching a new line of DJ headsets. The HD6 MIX, HD7 DJ, and HD8 DJ sets priced from $280 for the low end, $329 for the HD7 DJ and $389 for the HD8 DJ. Sennheiser's HD25 model has become something of a classic with disc jockeys. So, when it launched a product, presumably it thinks is superior, we get excited. Of the three new models, the HD8 is essentially the flagship, with the HD7 being the more affordable option. Both have been designed to provide high quality audio (with an impedance of 95 Ohms), but have a little more emphasis on the mid- and low-end frequencies. Something that will help DJs as they listen out for transients (think: beats) in a club environment. The HD6 has more of a studio focus, and as such has a flatter response and higher impedance (150 Ohms).
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: Sennheiser CEO Daniel Sennheiser
Daniel Sennheiser has one of the most familiar names in the world of audio. His family has been in the industry since the middle of the last century, and five years ago, his turn came to take over. We'll discuss Sennheiser's consumer division and how the company distinguishes itself in the always-competitive world of headphones. January 8, 2014 6:00:00 PM EST
The Engadget Interview: Daniel Sennheiser (video)
"I've worked for Sennheiser since I was born," the company's co-CEO says with a laugh. Five years ago, Daniel Sennheiser and his brother took over the reigns of the eponymous audio company, the third generation of a legacy that began in 1945, weeks after the close of World War II, when their grandfather Fritz opened Laboratorium Wennebostel. Two decades later, the company would go on to to revolutionize personal audio with the introduction of the open headphone. "One of our engineers discovered that you can take a microphone transducer and put it close to your head and suddenly there's a near-field effect that creates very good sound quality," explains Sennheiser. "And suddenly the open-ear headphone was born. That was the first hi-fi headphone in the world. That didn't exist at the time. We had 100-percent of the market." A quick glance around the floor of IFA will confirm that's certainly no longer the case anymore. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Sennheiser grows Momentum family with on-ear model, available in four colors
Momentum, it's not only useful for keeping things going, it's the name of Sennheiser's consumer range of handsome headphones. So far, the cans in this line have been over-ear affairs, but that changes today. Now, the on-ear crew have a pair of Momentums to call their own. If things look familiar, but just a little bit smaller, that's because they are pretty much an exact replica of the originals, all the way down to the audio innards, too. What is different, however, is the choice of colors you get. Sennheiser has spent time researching what this year's big tonal trends are going to be, and the results are what you'll be able to choose from on launch: pistachio, cream, blue and pink. So, fancy some Momentum, without the over-ear bulk? You should be able to take your pick some time later this month. At what price? Expect about £169.99 in the UK (US price to come).
Sennheiser's HDVD 800 digital headphone amp now available in the US for $2,000
Analog may be king for audiophiles, but digital is the future, friends, and Sennheiser knows it. That's why it built the HDVD 800 digital headphone amplifier to improve the sound of your digital tunes, and now stateside listeners can finally get their mitts on the thing. That's right, folks, a year after it was revealed across the pond alongside its analog brother, Senn's digital offering's finally available in the US for just a nickel less than two grand. Folks looking to part with the necessary cash to improve their listening pleasure can do so at the company's online storefront linked below.
Man who sold up to $40 million worth of counterfeit headphones gets two years in jail
A man accused of being one of the "most prolific sellers" of counterfeit electronics in the UK has just been sent down for two and a half years. Over 4,000 KiRFs, mainly consisting of knock-off Sennheiser and Monster headphones, were found at Michael Reeder's address, with a value of around £250,000 ($400,000). However, Sennheiser claims this is just 1 percent of $40 million worth of items Reeder has sold online, which is why the German manufacturer has taken a keen interest in his prosecution. Last year, Sennheiser introduced a series of authentication technologies to prevent counterfeiting that was mainly originating in China -- including QR codes on product packaging that customers can verify online. If Sennheiser's estimate of 400,000 fake items is accurate, then it makes the UK's recent Microsoft Windows scandal look almost like small fry. Update: Apologies for the earlier stumble with missing zeroes on this post.
Sennheiser Orpheus HE90 headphones ears-on
This year at CES -- as always -- there's been waves and waves of new technology. Not everything of interest is always white hot, though. We're talking about the above pair of headphones -- the Orpheus HE90 from Sennheiser. Those in the know will be somewhat familiar with these headphones, as they made their initial debut in 1991. Yeah, 1991. The limited run of 300 pairs has secured these exclusive cans a special place in audio folklore. The electrostatic headphones combined with a companion all-valve amp are what many consider to be a reference point in hi-fi. As a small example, most consumer headphones offer a frequency response somewhere in the region of 60 - 20,000 Hz. The Orpheus offer from 7 - 100,000 -- we're guessing even some bats could struggle to hear frequencies that high. Of course, audio can't truly be measured in pure numbers and specifications. There's some clever custom technology, such as the dual-electrodes the HE90 have between the diaphragm that is the cornerstone of the push-pull principle, that go a long way to helping these cans use to produce their sound. And what about that sound? Well, we were lucky enough to get some quality time with them, and what can we say. The first thing that hits you is the clarity. Bright, plucky, light audio dances its way from the large and comfortable ear-cups. In fact, these things are so comfortable that you could wear them for long, long periods of time and we'd wager you remain comfortable, without any ear fatigue. The build is wonderful, and the leather cushions on the cups changes to a cloth material on the part that rests on your skin. The size of the ear-cups is also a major factor in the overall luxury of the Orpheus, and the ovular design means your ears sit snuggly inside, while they dish out the delicious audio. We'd normally tell you about price and availability at this point, but in the case of the HE 90s, it's a bit of a misnomer. These were priced in the double-thousands of dollars at launch, and with only 300 pairs produced, that price will have increased somewhat over time. If you can find some though, even if it's at a trade show, we recommend you take the opportunity to have a listen. Billy Steele contributed to this report.
Sennheiser gets back in the (video)game, refreshes renowned PC360, PC350 headsets (update)
Sure, many gamers will choose between the likes of Turtle Beach, Astro and Tritton for their headset needs, but let's not forget about Sennheiser. While the German headphone-maker hasn't announced anything too exciting for audiophile gamers in last few years, that's changed here at CES 2013. The ever-popular, and impressive sounding, PC350 and PC360 have finally been refreshed with features for times as the P350 Special Edition and the PC363D -- keep reading for the juicy details. Aside from some aesthetic tweaks, the two headsets continue to sport the look found on its HD500 series audiophile headphones. As such, both units are still wired, stereo headsets at their cores, loaded with swiveling boom microphones -- although non-removeable, placing the booms in the up position serves to mute the mics. The PC350 Special Edition features a closed back design with folding earcups for travel like the original, but with improved sound. Sennheiser claims it's enhanced the audio using "Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement," which aims the drivers more precisely at your ear canals. "What about the PC363D," you ask? The headset has the same velour pads as the PC360, but the back of the earcups have vents instead of grills. The big news, however, is that the headset comes bundled with a Dolby decoder box for virtual 7.1 surround sound that hooks in through your USB port. Essentially, this spares you the need to pick up the likes of a pricey Astro MixAmp or Turtle Beach DSS. (Correction: looks like this is going to be computer-only, folks.) The headsets will be available this month, with no word on pricing as of this writing. Check out the press release after the break for more in the meantime. Update: Despite Sennheiser claiming that these headsets officially launched at CES, some of our readers pointed out that both have been quietly available for at least some weeks now. Currently, Amazon US has the PC350 SE priced at $350, while its UK site has the PC363D set at £209.99 (roughly $337). We've pinged the company for clarification. Update 2: A rep from the company confirmed that Amazon has had a quiet exclusive on the headsets for about the past two months, noting they'll now be released to retailers in general.
Sennheiser's Momentum headphones are back in black at CES
Taking the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach, German audio equipment maker Sennheiser is reintroducing its Momentum headphones in black. Aside from its Batmanesque color scheme, these are the same sleek set of cans that we got up close and personal with at last year's IFA. A lightweight marriage of stainless steel and buttery smooth sheepskin leather, the Momentum Black features a flexible 3.5mm audio jack -- with sexy red accents on the cups, cable and headband stitching -- simple inline audio controls and a built-in microphone for taking phone calls. If you're into expensive toys and are working with Bruce Wayne's budget, these black beauties can be yours this month for $350. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Sennheiser unveils HDVA 600 analog headphone amp, asks for $1,600
Along with a few IFA 2012 announcements, Sennheiser peeled back the wraps from its HDVA 600 headphone amp, an analog flavor of the previously unveiled HDVD 800. Like its sibling, the freshly revealed hardware sports a glass panel for peeking at its innards and an anodized aluminum exterior, but leaves the digital inputs behind. While the 800 carries a hefty $2,000 price tag, the 600 will set customers back a smaller -- but still substantial -- sum of $1,600. Both units are tailored for the likes of Senn's flagship HD 800 headphones, so they should easily be able to drive cans that require up to 300-ohms. The pair won't be available in the US until later this fall, but in the meantime, you can breeze past the break for specs and more details in the press release.
Sennheiser's Momentum headphones bring their leathery, metal goodness to IFA, we go hands-on (video)
Now these are some seriously nice-looking headphones. And really, that's sort of the thing here.
Sennheiser launches the Momentum retro-cans and CX890i earbuds
Sennheiser is busting out a pair of personal audio products worth boasting about at this year's IFA. First up is the very fashionable Momentum, a pair of chrome and leather cans that take cues from the Amperior reference design, with a 3.5mm stereo lead and optional smart remote. However, if you're in the market for something a little less visible, the company's CX 890i earphones are coated in a "glass-like" finish that offers "outstanding" passive noise attenuation -- sparing you jacking up the volume to avoid your co-workers bickering. Both sets are available in the UK from September, with the Momentum costing £260 and the CX 890i (pictured after the break) a more modest £120. Update: The Momentum will be available in the US later this fall, setting you back $350.
Sennheiser boasts anti-counterfeit efforts, unveils new authentication technologies
Sennheiser is using Tesa PrioSpot authenticity labels plus a "fool-proof" online look-up system as part of its anti-counterfeit efforts in China.
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: portable audio
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we're taking our audio with us -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! With all of the studying and on-campus traveling you're about to delve into, sometimes adding a bit of music to your step can spice up those mundane times in your daily routine. That's why we've rounded up a selection of portable speakers and headphones that'll not only help you rock out whenever the mood strikes, but also go a step further by letting you take phone calls without skipping a beat. It may not be audiophile-grade gear in the official sense, but it won't matter when you're enjoying good sound just about anywhere your smartphone-connected life takes you.
Sennheiser intros ritzy IE 800 earphones and HDVD 800 amp, your wallet screams
You thought Sennheiser had already done enough to appease audiophiles this year at CES? Think again. The company has announced yet another new set of headphones with an amp to keep it warm at night, but the high-end wares come at a high-end price. The ceramic IE 800 buds (€599 or $787) offer a broad 5 - 46,000 Hz audio range in spite of their mere 7mm drivers, while stainless steel vents on the back supposedly "improve bass and airflow." If you need some extra juice and don't mind forking over the premium €1,499 ($1,973), the HDVD 800 headphone amp's shell is rocking anodized aluminum and a glass window for peering at the bantam circuitry within -- way over the top, but also, pretty amazing. It supports 24-bit 192kHz sources and is engineered for ideal synergy with Senn's HD 800, HD 700, HD 650 and HD 600. Both should hit the shelves by summer of this year.
