Nowadays, it is fairly common to see morning joggers and walking enthusiasts sweat it out on the tracks, with their heads wired to MP3 players and mobile phones?belting their choice of music. Although it doesn?t rain much in the capital, but when it does rain?especially during this time of the year?these morning walkers make a dash to the nearest tree shade, primarily to save their music apparatus, than themselves, from getting wet and subsequently ruined.
With new Sennheiser earphones, co-branded with Adidas, early risers? rush to seek the nearest rain shelter can be avoided. Sennheiser and Adidas teamed up a few years back to make exercise-friendly earphones, and the line was recently updated. The new range of sports earphones offer high resistance against external influences such as water, sweat or cold. And being Sennheiser devices, they offer premium sound and excellent fit. Most important, the five new models are pretty much affordable and retail in the price band of R3,500 to R5,500.
Recently, the German sound and audio major sent across two models?PMX 685i and CX 685?for a product review. The new models have been designed together with sports equipment maker Adidas. Sennheiser, according to company officials, has worked closely with the Adidas team and their athletes to create this special range of sports earphones. This new series promises great sound quality and optimal wearing comfort, even in the most extreme workout situations.
With a weight of only 20 grams, the PMX 685i is the lightest model in its class, with the neckband design ensuring a secure fit. It is priced at R5,490 and is compatible with Apple iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro. It is equipped with a remote and microphone module for use with the Apple devices. This offers the users greater convenience in the taking of calls and the controlling of their music even in the thick of their sports activity.
In my opinion, the PMX 685i is a good-looking earphone and can be an ideal music companion with all the additional features that make it above and beyond what a static earphone would offer. It is not only lightweight but
also sits unobtrusively under your biking half helmet, or around your neck. It also stays exceptionally secure through rugged off-road terrain and bumps that the woodland trail throws at you.
I tested the PMX 685i with three Apple devices?iPod nano, iPod Touch and MacBook Pro. Sound is good even at high volume from these three devices. High-output drivers deliver a powerful and natural stereo sound while the in-ear design provides great situational awareness. A unique moisture protection system allows you to rinse the headset under the tap to remove grime and perspiration. The lightweight design and the comfortable fit in particular receive special recommen
dation in my positive feedback.
The CX 685 retails for R4,990 and is
another well-designed, sweat-proof, moisture-resistant in-ear option from the Sennheiser-Adidas collaboration. The new device is the ideal choice for those who want to focus on music during their workout. Due to its position in the ear canal, this model offer a perfect attenuation of surrounding sounds. These earphones feature an extremely robust, para-aramid reinforced cable and their innovative water protection system effectively shields them against sweat and rain.
In my usage, the CX 685
delivered deep bass even at top volumes without any distortion. Not only does it deliver the audio cleanly, but it does so with quite a bit of deep bass thump. And just for the record, if you happen to listen to romantic music when you exercise, that, too, sounds solid through the CX 685.
My takeaways: Both the earphones from Sennheiser and Adidas provide excellent audio performance. They will be available from September through selected Sennheiser sales partners and Adidas stores.
