Sennheiser PMX 70 Sport Earbud Line Stereo Neckband Headphone
by Sennheiser
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Our Price: $59.95 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sennheiser PMX 70 Sport Earbud Line Stereo Neckband Headphone
Customer Review: Good Sound, Average Design
Summary: 4 Stars
Overall Sennheiser has produced a good quality sport headphone with the PMX70. I bought a pair of these headphones last year after a pair of my Sony workout phones broke down. I had been a buyer of the cheap Sony $10-$20 headphones with sweat-guard, but they had a tendency of breaking down after a couple of months so I decided to get a more study pair of phones for my workouts. I have listed some of the good and not so good attributes of these headphones:
Pros:
- Sturdy build. The plastic construction was thick and sturdy not only on the wraparound, but also on the buds. Additionally, the cabling is relatively thick compared to other phones I've had, where an insignificant amount of tension would snap the cable.
(4.5/5.0)
- Design: Decent overall design, especially around the ears; however, I assume this will be an individualistic assessment. The color scheme is unique in the "Incredible Hulk" green that Sennheiser has chosen, and I actaully do like it (though it took some time). Additionally, the cable length is ample and leaves you plenty of range of motion for most activities. (I actually found it a little long when running as the cable undulations were irritating, so I looped the wiriing around my mp3 armband).
I had two major problems with these phones:
1) the neckband was not adjustable, this should have be a standard feature of any neckband. It doesn't make much difference when running, or engaging in any activity where the neckband isn't obstructed. However, when using a weight bench, i constantly was adjusting my phones so that the ear buds wouldn't pop out (this usually meant angling my headphones at a lower point on my neck).
2) the location of the cabling, being on of the ears as opposed to being in the middle of the neckband, made it a little uncomfortable, especially if you are involved in an activity where the cable is movin around a lot, e.. running. The cable would usually rub up against my face several times, and this gets irritating once the cable becomes a conduit for sweat.
(3.5/5.0)
Sound quiality: The sound quality was suficient for sports headphones, though for the price I wish it would have a little more dynamic range. The phones were very bass heavy, which is good for working out, but offered very little at the higher frequency ranges. Obviously, they don't compare with similarly priced Sony or V-Modas, but that is not a fair comparison given their differing utilities. Also, if you like your music relatively loud, the voume limit on these seemed much greater than my buds or my old Sony's.
(4.0/5.0)
Value: This is a tough point as in the end most sports headphones become disposal items (especially for people that workout hard and sweat a lot). Is it worthwhile for better sound quality and slightly longer durability to pay twice as much for these phones? I would probably say that these should be in the $30 range, so they are probably slightly on the expensive side.
(3.5/5.0)
Overall: As mentioned above, the phones are probably the best work out phones that I have tried, but there a few annoyances such as the wire placement and the unadjustable neckband. Also, as soon as the underlying bud is exposed to sweat/liquid it starts to degrade and eventually stop working. So by not providing additional replacement bud covers, they become unusable - Sennheiser should have at last provided a spare pair at this price.
(3.75/5.0)
Customer Review: easy to fall in love with these guys
Summary: 4 Stars
I really like these for running; see note below for cycling.
Me: Female with average+ head. Runs up to 15 miles. Run in the rain.
The good:
0. You can return them to Amazon/AmazonFresh with little fuss.
1. They fit around my head very well after the initial awkwardness (see below).
2. They don't bounce around; I hardly feel them.
3. The cord does not tangle. It is also very light.
4. Sound quality is good and I can still hear ambient noise (versus in-ear buds). Safety!
5. Can be worn with or without hats or pony tails (the band will sit on top of your pony tail). At first I thought I would have to have them propped ontop of my pony tail, but after a day or two of meticulously tying my hair at just the right spot, I once forgot--and the headphones were just as comfortable.
6. They seem resistant to breaking; I really super abuse all my sports stuff, and I've managed to not break these in the two months I've had them.
7. Overall, very easy to not think about them. I really like that.
The not-so-excellent:
1. The cord comes out of the left side of the band, so think about how that will work for you.
2. If you want your music *loud* and you use an iPod, you have to remove the volume max control so you can turn it up if you're running near traffic or really need House of Pain to blare during a bad hill.
3. It takes a few runs to wear them in. The first few runs I was ready to return. The buds are huge and they just hang out in the various basins and folds of my ear cavity. Through the third run or so I still felt them on my ear--if I didn't know better, I would have been concerned about ear calluses! But, day four came around and I didn't even notice they were there.
I equate these headphones to wearing in a pair of toe-strap sandals for the first time. The first week you're all "what the f?! is that between my toes?!" But then you're okay.
The bad:
1. These may not work for someone with oddly shaped or very small ear cavaties.
2. These may not work with an especially tiny head. Not that the tension around the earbuds isn't good, but I think you'd just have too much play with the band if there isn't sufficent head mass.
3. I haven't used these for extensive cycling, but I agree with a previous review that the outside-the-ear-outward-angled design would produce wind noise.
I'd be happy with paying more than the $30 I forked over for these. I'd pay $60. They're just easy. I like easy.
Customer Review: Great for their intended purpose.
Summary: 5 Stars
I owned a Shuffle and the earbuds that were included while not the best in the world worked well enough to use while running. Over the course of four to five miles one would usually fall out of my ear. Well I ended up buying a Nano and it included the newer version of the same earbuds. They sounded slightly and I repeat slightly better however for whatever reason they wouldn't stay in my ears. I was continually replacing them in my ears.
So that led me to looking for an alternative. After much research and a little apprehension I ended up with the Sennheiser PMX70's. I poured over many reviews and saw that most were fairly positive and yet there was a couple of things that repeated themselves.
First I notice that many people claimed that the "headband" was too tight and in turn made the buds fit too snug in the ear. Well when I first put them on they were indeed tight and I worried that over the course of a run they would become uncomfortable. Well that didn't happen and in fact I forgot that I was even wearing them.
The other shortcoming I noticed people mentioning that because the buds don't actually sit inside the ear canal that wind noise is more of a problem than most. This is something that I noticed myself. The first run I used them on I started off interestingly enough into the wind. I certainly heard more wind noise than I did with the "stock" buds and assumed that most of the noise what just the wind passing from me running. Well as I found when I made a turn and changed direction the wind was just blowing and it wasn't from my stellar running speed! If I was looking for something to use while riding a bike (overlooking the fact it's not a good idea) I'd look elsewhere. I'm sure you would generate enough of your own wind noise while biking.
Overall the sound is fine. Nothing to get excited about but nothing to really complain about either. The build seems like quality and in the short time I've used them they look as they'll hold up well. I love the single line which is much less likely to get into your way as having a cord from each ear would. The color is something that is either love/hate or something you don't even notice. I really don't care one way or the other color-wise.
As I stated in the title.... they're great for their intended purpose. If you are active and are looking for some phones that can stay put while having a decent fidelity to them then you might give the Seenheiser PMX70's a look. I'm glad I did.
Customer Review: Stylish and functional
Summary: 4 Stars
I have learned through numerous headphone purchases (mostly wasted) that buy headphones with your activity in mind. No headphone design is good for all body movement patterns, sound requirements, and weight profile. Sometimes you just have to but em and try em to see if they fit your activity listening requirements.
I bought these headphones for running. Just for running, not for exercise or more broadly sports. I use other headphones for those other categories. I already use the Nike HJ020 Flight Sport headphones for running. I use other styles for other types of activities. In general, the behind the neck in-ear design (Nike and Senn.) are a good choice for running since they stay secure while being lightweight and have a low profile. However, the design is not functional for lifting weights or seated listening. The neck band pushes against the bench/chair and comes out while hurting your ears. Also, I do not find the design comfortable on my ears for general listening. I much prefer using the various Sony earbud styles for general listening.
The Sennheiser PMX70 is very similar in design to the Nike headphones. Here are the differences:
- the cord comes out the neckband on the Nike and the left front side on the Senn. Coming out the neck is less intrusive to your face but puts a little weight on the neckband. Nike +
- the neckband comes over the ears for the Senn. and straight to the neck for the Nike. For the Senn., the earband puts pressure on the outside of the ear unless you push it behing the ear. Either way, it a little snug on the ear. Nike +
- The Senn. are a little heavier then the Nike. Nike +
- The Senn. behind the ear design and stiffer neckband make the headphone a more secure albeit snug fit. Senn. +
- The Senn. is more stylish but a more visible profile (depends on what you want others to see)
- The Senn. sound is superior, but not detectable during running. Senn+
For me, I am sticking with my Nike headphones for running. I am always on the lookout for new, better headphones. For running, The Sennheiser PMX70 is new but not better.
Customer Review: Beware - dangerous headphone
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this headphone thinking "What a nice design and color." I sweat while I ride my bike in the summer, and this seemed to be perfect for me as I like to use my iPod while riding. I bought it from Amazon.com in June, 2008, and until today, I really loved the design and I was satisfied with its loud sound.
Well, what happened today? I tried to put it on to watch a movie on my laptop just now. But when I tried to put them on as usual, it felt like something sharp was either on the left side of the headphone or on my left ear. I tried to put on the headphone in several different angles, and I even tried to put it on with my glasses off, but I still felt something sharp thing poking on my ear. Then I examined the headphone (while connected to the Apple laptop) and realized that something had gone wrong on the left side. The electricity was so strong on the left side (that's where the wire to the sound source is located) and I realized that I was getting electricuted when I was trying to put on this headphone. I was so scared. And I was upset that a company like Sennheiser would make such a subpar product. After I bought the headphone in the U.S., I came back home to Japan, so I probably cannot even get a service for this product, let alone get a refund.
I think this is a horrible product, and I felt I am obligated to let others know about it. Contrary to its looks, this headphone must have some design flaws. I really have not done anything harsh to it at all. I used it very very carefully. The headphone line was long enough that I never had any need to pull it with any kind of force. I never dropped it or stepped on it. I just connected and unconnected it to my iPod or to my laptop. That is all.
I can't believe that I have to worry about getting eletricuted while using a headphone. Thank God it didn't impair me in anyway. I am upset that such a stupid thing could happen. I am over 40 years old, and this is the first time ever in my life that I am upset over a pair of headphones.
I will NEVER buy Sennheiser products again. (By the way this is the 2nd Sennheiser headphone I bought)