Customer Reviews

Sennheiser PMX 680 Sports Earbud Headphones

5 star:		(150)
4 star:		(84)
3 star:		(42)
2 star:		(47)
1 star:		(52)

 

 

Worth it!! I've been waiting for this item to come out on the market. I've gone through about 5-6 pairs of different headsets. Earbuds would ALWAYS fall out after the first 2 steps of running. I think I may have a small ear canal? I then tried ones that wrap around your ear. That was okay but then after long runs they would start to get uncomfortable and hurt also the cord would snag if I turned my head.
This headset was a Very well thought out design. It uses 1 cord not 2 like alot of headphones out there. The cord is short maybe 18 inches long. This is nice because you don't have to worry about a cable flopping around when you run. It also comes with an extension cable that connects to make it longer if you want and has a volume adjuster attached if you need to change the volume on the fly. It fits very well and is very comfortable. I don't feel it when I run. The sound quality is a huge bonus. I'm happy with this purchase and I know there are alot of runners out there that have the same problem I had. I hope this review helps.

I had originally tried a pair of the Senheiser PMX80 headphones and they fit so terrible I had to return them. They were way too tight and gave me a headache. Other people said the same thing. These PMX 680's are a vast improvement in every way. They fit better, sound better, and look better. To clarify, these are not Adidas headphones, but are Senheiser with an Adidas branding.

The sound quality is great with strong base and crisp highs. They sound far better than your average headphone and light years better than crummy ipod buds. The fit is perfect and they are very lightweight. They are comfortable for long listening yet firm enough to stay put for vigorous runs. I wore them for over an hour the other day and they never moved and I hardly knew they were there. This is finally the perfect set of quality sounding headphones for exercising.

They come with a short cord for armband iPod players, and an extension cord with volume control if you want to pocket your player. The cord is strong and stays flexible even in cold weather. A couple things I should mention. While these are perfectly suited for aerobic type exercising, they don't work well for other types. Because of the neckband they will get pushed out of your ears if you lay back on anything, like a bench or exercise machine. Also, they will not fit with a snug beanie cap for running outside in cool weather, nor can I wear them under my snowboard helmet.

All in all these are fantastic headphones for what they are intended for, and are a vast improvement over previous Senheiser neckband headphones.

The first thing I want to comment on is the build quality. I have to assume people getting these headphones are probably running or working out with them. I have never had a pair of headphones that fit comfortably while running. Ear buds fall out (I swear my right ear is misshapen and pushes earbuds out), around the head headphones are uncomfortable and the earpads get hot and sweaty, and even a cheap set of earbuds I bought that are like the PMX680 and wrap around the ear didn't fit right and had a tendancy to fall out frequently.

The PMX680 is about as good as I can imagine for wearing while running. The headphones fit in the ear and do not budge, even if you give the cord a decent tug. The headphones themselves are made of flexible and light plastic that can probably take a pretty good beating but is fairly unobtrusive. The earbuds sit just outside of the ear canal and are made of a sticky (through friction) silicone like substance, but come with optional foam pads which I choose to use. The earbuds can cause some discomfort, they are a little tight in the ear canal and put a fair amount of pressure on it. I don't mind much because it isn't noticeable once I start running and even when I'm at work using the headphones at my desk it isn't much of an issue. The cord seems like its very sturdy at the connection sites to the headphones and the plug. I can't imagine it wearing out like other pairs of headphones have. The extension cord itself is also sturdy but the volume adjuster isn't terribly useful and feels a little cheap, however I wouldn't consider it a very important feature. The headphones come with a clip to pin the cord to your shirt and prevent it from pulling when you move, the extension cable also has a clip on the volume adjuster as well. Both of these can be handy.

The reason I give these headphones a 3 is the price and sound quality prevent it from earning a higher score. For $60 I expected better sound from them. The stock "premium" headphones that came from my zune sound better than these. The bass is nice and surprisingly punchy for earbuds, however the mids and high end sound weak and a little muffled. The sound quality is comparable, maybe a little better than an average pair of $20-$30 over ear headphones off the shelf at a Target or Best Buy (which are overpriced headphones to begin with).

In spite of the disappointing sound quality I'm happy with the purchase. The PMX680 should last me forever and sound quality isn't my number 1 concern when I'm running anyway. I just don't think they should be priced at $60. I expect more from Sennheiser based on the brand's reputation and other headphones I've had from them.

I've had problems in the past with other headphones falling out or being too tight and giving me a headache. Not so with these. I can barely feel them, and I don't have to worry about them at all. To try them out, I wore them in the office during several hours of online training. After a couple of hours, I did notice them there, but it was nothing compared to either of my other headphones (I have the standard iPhone set as well as a Motorola HT820 set). As one coworker stated the color of these is bright enough that I'd never misplace them.

I live in the desert and it isn't summer yet, but can still work up a pretty mean sweat while exercising outdoors. So far, I have had no problems with that being a problem for these headphones.

I love the short cord/long cord option since I hike and run with my iPhone on my upper arm. Other cords get in the way, even if I route them through my clothes or clips. The short one is just long enough to reach from my iPhone to the headphones with a little slack so I can still turn my head. If I had a complaint it would be that I had to move my phone to my left arm since the headphone cord comes out of the left side. Which reminds me of another bonus -- a single cord coming out of the headphones.

I'd hardly consider myself an audiophile, but they sound great to me, but I am still able to hear what is going on around me with the music at a reasonable volume.

For those interested, I went with these over Bluetooth-enabled headphones in order to conserve battery and not interfere with the iPhone's GPS.

These headphones are great for exercising. They stay in place and sound great. The cord length is perfect for me. Build quality seems excellent, especially where the cord attaches to the phones. This is important for frequent, rough handling. These phones are not bad looking, either.

A few people complain that the mic doesn't work with their Blackberry, Macbook, Droid, or non-iOS device. The product description clearly states that the mic is designed mainly for iPhones, recent models of iPod touch, and iPads, but will also work with 2009 and later Macbooks/Macbook Pros. If you are buying this for the mic to use with your non-iOS device, check Sennheiser's website to see whether it'll work with your device.

Sennheiser's 680 line includes several different models that have the same sound quality and speaker components, but different ways of making them sit on your ears. This model, the PMX, is one piece that wraps around the back of the head. Other models in this line are called CX, OMX, and MX. They attach to your ears with clips or "ear fins", depending on the model. Also, some models have noise isolation (for when you don't want to hear the annoying music playing over the gym's loudspeakers) while other models in this series are more open (so you can hear honking cars while you're jogging on the side of the street). The PMX is one of the more open ones, but when I'm using them at the gym, the outside noise doesn't bleed in too much.

Also, note that some models have the number "680i" while others are just "680". The difference is whether it has a microphone. "680" (with no "i") means no mic, but there is an in-line volume control. "680i" has the in-line volume control and the built-in mic.

Unfortunately, most of us cannot try these on before purchasing to determine which format is most comfortable. So if you're thinking of buying these, purchase from a reputable vendor that stands by their return policy.

Lastly, I'd suggest comparing the prices of various sellers. I bought mine from OnSale, an Amazon third-party vendor, and paid a lot less than Amazon is currently charging. I've bought several things from OnSale through Amazon's website, and their service has always been excellent.

In sum, the Sennheiser 680 line offers very good sound quality for the money, good build quality, and different models with different options regarding fit, noise isolation, and mic. One of the models in this line is likely to be a great match for your needs. For me, it's this one, the PMX 680i.

I purchased this Sennheiser headset shortly after my company set me up with an iPhone 4. Previously I was using older model, bright green Sennheiser headphones (same behind the neck style) with a fourth generation iPod. I listen to podcasts while commuting to work by bicycle, and I've found this form factor works best for me; the stock ear buds never stay in my ears, and I don't want the sound isolation of in-ear models. Because I upgraded from another Sennheiser product, it's easy for me to identify where they improved things and where they fell short:

PROS:
1. This is obvious, but I have to express my appreciation for the mic and play controls. When you have podcasts of varying volume levels, easy access to volume buttons is so convenient.
2. Straight cord -- the previous model was designed with a coil in the cord. Terrible design decision! I was constantly untangling the cord.
3. Straight connector -- the old one was L-shaped and covered by a rubbery sleeve that was starting to slide up. This one is hard plastic and seems sturdier.
4. Lighter than older model.
5. Same good sound.

CONS:
1. My biggest complaint is with the redesign of the plastic that goes over and behind your ears. It used to be solid and thinner. Now it's two pieces -- a hard plastic top "rail" and a softer plastic along the bottom. I can understand why they did this -- the flexible part rests on your ear and should make it more comfortable. However, I didn't find the older model uncomfortable, and the new design is much thicker. Before it was never a problem to wear my headphones and sunglasses under my helmet. The stems of the sunglasses would fit against my head and above the headphones. With the headset's new design, there's no room for the stems, so I have to wear them over the headset which squeezes them against my head. My commute is only 30 minutes, but I imagine if it were longer, the pressure would start to get uncomfortable.
2. My old headphones came with rubber covers for the speakers. When they got dirty, you could pop them off and wash them in water. This headset comes with those standard foam covers that are so difficult to put on and have to be thrown out and replaced every so often. I prefer the greener alternative of reusable rubber covers.

Sennheiser claims this headset is water resistant. That's hard to believe with the exposed mic and controls. I rode through some torrential downpours with the headphones, and they're still going strong. I'll be sure to update this review if the headset dies after its first ride through the rain.

I hate headphone that sit in the ear canal, this one doesn't do that, they sit a little further in and forward, the sound is AMAZING and so far they have been very good to me. I usually short out headphones at the gym from the amount of sweat I produce. These guys have resisted the copious amounts of liquid that eventually works it's way down into my ears. I've shorted out every apple headphone set I ever had.

I have found these to be a very good headphone for me while I am working out. I am a cyclist, but I use these for running as well. They sound great. I use them primarily with an armband, so I have very rarely used the extension. They are very comfortable and fit well. The short cord for me is ideal. I love not having to deal with the excess cord getting in the way of my arms swinging etc. This is currently the best all around sports headphones I have ever used. I even like them better than the Sennheiser PMX-80 which I also own (primarily because of the cord length. Sound quality was not significantly different).

I do however have two issues with these particular headphones: 1) When I did use the extension, the volume control on the extension always had to be turned up to maximum in order to get the same volume that I got with the short cord. What is the point of a volume control except extra cost? Also that extra length is significant and almost too much. You can get tangled in the excess cord very easily. 2) The connectors (where the headphones connect to the mp3 player) ultimately wear out quite quickly. This is an issue I have had with all of the Sennheiser headphones I have owned. The plastic surrounding the connector either seperates or breaks after approximately 6-8 months of use. Now I admit that I am a heavy user of the equipment (daily for 1-2 hours), but I don't recall ever having that problem with other sports headphone manufacturers (Sony). I would still buy Sennheiser over other sports headphones, but I have gotten used to and budgeted for at least two pairs a year because of the connector issue.

Make no mistake, these headphones are designed specifically for sporting, be it running, working out, or other activity. Earbuds fall out, tug on your ears, tangle up and are generally a nuisance but have the desirable form factor. Spendier in-ear buds also suffer the problem from seals, sure they block out noise but often your own footsteps become deafening thuds. Previously, my go to work out earbud was the classic Shure e2c, relatively decent priced ($80), and they featured a few desirable traits not found in many earbuds: a unique earwrap design, slightly reduced dynamic range, foam earbuds that worked well at reducing cord and footstep noise and a good price point. Their durability, however, was subpar as I killed a few over years from running in all sorts of weather and general abuse. Shure later changed their headphones, favoring a more traditional earbuds which left me out in the cold. Sure there were other headphones but nothing as high quality as the Shures for exercise.

I own the Sennheiser PMX80 In-Ear Sport Series II Behind the Head Earphones the precursor to the Adidas repackaged Sennheiser PMX-680, and lost them (only to find them days before my order arrived) and currently the PMX-680s. First off, neither of these headphones are high end. In fact, the redesigned Apple earbuds included with the iPhone 4 have more tighter bass, better articulation in the mids and cleaner highs, but unlike the Apple earbuds, Sennheiser understands our ear holes aren't circles. (Yes, as much as everyone loves to hate the Apple Earbuds, they've improved over time. The iPhone 4G buds are not bad, seem to be on par with a few earbuds I've tried in the $25-40 range). Both the PMX-80s and PMX-680s are well designed for workouts. First off the cable is consolidated to one cord, meaning less tangle. The wrap gently presses the earbuds in but doesn't violate one's ears, and the over the ear wrap design lets the headphones rest gently in the ear. Over all its a well done design, but not exactly perfection. The PMX-680s also include a volume knob on an extension cord. This also functions as a break-away cord so if you catch your cord, the headphones will disconnect at the volume dial, saving wear and tear on your MP3 player's headphone jack. This gets extra kudos, although ut could break away a little easier. Also the PMX-680s feature a slightly more stylish design thanks to Adidas and a very nice carrying case.

Sound wise, the PMX-680s are lacking, they're good enough. They won't offend your ears but they're not exactly great sound either. Also, without foam tips that insert into your ears, they lack noise blocking capability. This is bad as you have to turn up your music louder to drown out a noisy gym or environment. There's a significant lack of detail to the highs and bass. The bass also is slightly muddy, undefined and lacking the attenuation for workouts. For the average bundled earbud with an MP3 player, these headphones (considering sound quality only) are a lateral upgrade. The real prize here is ergonomics.

Updated:

Are they worth it? Short answer: yes and no.

Despite the short comings, these headphones are decent however its the older PMX-80s feature considerably better mid and highs. After going for a run using the PMX-80s, there's quite a large difference, the highs on the 680s are muffled, and lack clarity and the bass is over bloated, even when working out. I originally cited these as the headphones to get, but I rescind. Get the PMX-80s over the 680s. They may lack the volume knob and spiffy adidas case but they're considerably better. I still prefer the defunct Shure E2cs, that combined the magic of earwrap design, foam tips and higher quality sound but these are less than 1/2 the price, designed from the ground up to be used for active wear

Maybe in the future we'll see these get a substantial upgrade, until then, go for PMX-80s. I've linked them in this review.

if you're like me and run with your iPhone, then these are a must have. they are the only fully integrated/functional running headphones made for your iPhone in the market. sound great, comfortable and fully evolved to the top of its food chain. only downfall is the color options...