Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones review

The Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones are the company’s most fashionable personal audio product at the moment. The headset brings the head-turning looks of the Sennheiser Momentum headphones in a more compact form factor, coupled with a lower price tag.

Founded in Germany in 1945, Sennheiser is one of the most revered audio equipment brands in the business today. The company’s vast product range covers everything from budget-friendly earbuds, through high-resolution digital recording microphones, all the way to integrated audio systems for use in conferences and conventions.

Retail package

The Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones ship in a well-appointed retail package. Inside the nice-looking box you will find the headset, a carrying case with suede finish, a soft carrying pouch, and two audio cables (one with remote control and one without).

The retail package is exceptional

Overall, as far as additional accessories go, the headset has you fully covered. Even a demanding user will be hard-pressed to find something to frown at.

Design and build quality

The Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones are among the best-looking offerings available on the market. Sporting the same design as the critically acclaimed Momentum over-ear model, the headset seamlessly combines retro elements,superb attention to detail, and high-end materials.

The headset looks amazing in the flesh

The abovementioned attention to detail is truly impressive. The contrast stitching on the headband and the metal logos on its sides bring sense of craftsmanship which few competitors can match.

In order to cater to even the most fashion-conscious users, Sennheiser offers the Momentum on-ear headphones in seven different color schemes – black, ivory, pink, green, red, brown, and blue.

Build quality is exceptional. The Momentum on-ear headphones are superbly put together, using top notch materials such as brushed steel and Italian Alcantara. To top things off, the headset is covered by a two-year manufacturer warranty.

Ergonomics

The Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones tip the scale 160 grams including the cable and the remote control, so long stretches of use should not be an issue. The weight is in line for a headset in this segment.

The ear pads, in addition to being covered in Alcantara, are filled with two layers of cushy foam. The ear cups are attached to ball joints which easily swivel for a right fit every time.

The three-button remote control is one of the most comfortable I have experienced. Its buttons are well-spaced, pleasant to touch, and easy to find while on the go. The audio cable of the headset is 1.4m long and unsurprisingly tangle-free.

The three-button remote is superb

Overall, the Momentum on-ear headphones deserve high marks for their ergonomics. Thanks to the premium materials used in their construction, the headphones deliver amazing tactile feel too.

Sound

Sennheiser has equipped the Momentum on-ear headphones with proprietary 18 Ohm transducers whose frequency response ranges between 16 and 22,000 Hz. The sound pressure level tops out at 112 dB, while the total harmonic distortion sits below 0.5%.

The real-life sonic experience which the Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones deliver is in line with the high expectations which the brand commands. In a segment dominated by bass-centric offerings, the headset stood out with clear, well-balanced regardless of the music style I played.

The low range produced by the headset impressed with its depth and natural feel. Bass sounds pleasant and packs a great deal of punch when you want to, without trying to overtake the entire sonic experience.

The highs are accurate and devoid of any commonly seen harshness; playing classical music was really enjoyable. The mid-range is good considering the size of the headset’s drivers and its compact nature.

Audio quality during phone calls was good.

Final word

The Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones combine eye-grabbing timeless design, unmatched tactility, and great sound in a compact package. The headset should be on the shortlist of anyone looking for an on-ear daily driver with $200 to spend.

You can pick up a pair of Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones directly from the manufacturer’s online store over here. The headset is priced at $199.99.

The HTC One M8 is king of touch screen response time

Looks like HTC can add another feather in the cap of the One M8 as the phone’s screen has the fastest touch-screen registry time of any smartphone.

46ms is all it takes for the One M8 to recognize your touch input; the first phone to go under 50ms.

Improved latency speeds are part of the cell phone spec revolution, it appears. In addition to better cameras, processors, high resolution screens, and storage space, making your cell phone quicker to respond to your touch has been added to that list of necessary improvements.

Research indicates that most touchscreen devices, both phones and tablets, that are 6 months and older averaged a latency speed of 80ms-250ms. Poorer latency speeds are most notable on applications that require dragging motions, like the popular game, Fruit Ninja.

By comparison, the Samsung Note 3 has a latency of 63ms, and the iPhone 5s takes 75ms to register a touch.

Tablets seem to take a longer time to register presses. The Kindle Fire HD has 114ms latency. The Surface RT fares better with 92ms, but is nowhere near Microsoft’s ideal time: 1ms.

The issue of latency is a tricky one, as it is difficult to attribute a single component of a device that improves touch-speed. It isn’t only RAM or raw processing power, but a combination of factors.

Are you a little more interested in HTC’s newest flagship now that it has the world’s fastest screen?

Samsung announces Galaxy ACE Style smartphone

Samsung has announced a new mid-range Android smartphone aimed at the younger audience. Called the Galaxy Ace Style, the phone is said to have a "a fun, unique design with an enhanced camera and advanced features for superior performance."

The Galaxy ACE Style has a 4.0-inch, WVGA display TFT LCD, 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory with microSD card support, 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus, VGA front camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, 1,500mAh battery and Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Samsung's TouchWiz Essence UI on top.

The Samsung Galaxy ACE Style will be available globally in April in Cream White and Dark Gray colors.