Head Ear Phones For Sports
Head Ear Phones For Sports
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Administrator Monday, 25 January 2010 14:21
Sennheiser PMX80 Sport Series II Behind the Head Ear Phones For Sports
Finally, a quality headphone for runners!
I didn't like the lime green color of the Sen PMX70's, so I had first bought the nicely designed Nike-Philips neckband phones. They were THE perfect design for a runner. However, the left side went out after 3 weeks! I'm a 50yr old who has been lifting weights for years, but just started running 3yrs ago. I searched and researched for headphones for runners because I sweat like a horse, and I didn't want to waste money on another pair that wouldn't suit my purpose.
So the PMX80 Sport II had just come out. Better design than the 70's, but the price is very hefty at $55. Still, I needed what these said they could do. No regrets!
First, they sound great. They have a natural bass advantage because of the way they fit in your ears. Basically, they "fill" the entire gap. However, this can be a drawback of sorts; as sweat builds up and drips down the ear-way, the excess water can create a "seal" between your ear canal and the speaker of each bud. This in turn, can create an "underwater" sound, so to speak. I see this as a design flaw, despite the waterproof nature of these phones because the sound will become muffled. Not frequently, but this CAN/DOES happen. There is also one other little issue to mention; because of the way these fill the ear canal and form that "seal"...the rigid neckband will carry the slightest sound waves (vibration). A bouncing necklace...the excess wire that may touch the neckband, etc., will magnify the sound and carry it right to your ears. A picky and perhaps minor point, but I felt I should mention it. In reality, it's only happened a few times, and only happens after you're soaked with sweat. It can be stooped by simply adjusting the neckband with one fairly effortless movement.
The video clip review you'll see here? The guy tosses out the clip saying you won't need it. Trust me, the clip is there for a reason. Maybe he's a casual jogger? Anyway, Sennheiser knew exactly why they needed to include the clip; because the one-piece wire attaches to the left ear bud, the wire WILL tug back & forth if you have it running down the back of your shirt...like everyone is going to do. The clip clips right to your shirt's neckline and keeps the wire from "moving". And actually, the wire can still tug its way through the clip channel and STILL pull! I've had to adjust it to get more slack in the middle of a long run. I'm just covering all the bases here, but trust me here...KEEP and USE the provided clip!
And yes, you can actually rinse these off under light running water after a run! Yes, the ear buds! I hold them so the buds are "vertical", so I'm not trying to force water into the bud. I simply let light running water cascade down the screen of the ear bud to rinse away sweat. I then use a towel to lightly dab off the excess water and then let them sit on my desk to dry for a few hours. Been doing this for several weeks and I haven't had any problems.
The bottom line; The rear exiting site of the Nike phones is a better design, but the quality of the Sennheisers (beefy wire, rugged, washable, better sound) negate that factor entirely. I only wish they'd just change this one design feature!!! Other than that, if you're a runner and enjoy quality sound and want durability....the PMX80's are exactly what you're looking for. They're comfy and you won't even know you have them on. I'm sure the price will drop, as I believe they are somewhat overpriced for MP3 phones, but they're also what I was looking for, so whaddayagonnado? These phones rock.