Reviews for Sennheiser PMX 685i In-Ear Neckband Sports Headphones

I was in the market for a new pair of headphones and, having been duped by some cheaper headphones in the past, I was willing to spend a few extra bucks for some decent ones. I have been using the headphones that come standard with the iPhone/iPod for years and really have no complaints about them. Although I enjoy clear, full-range sound, I am no audiophile; the Apple earbuds fit the bill just fine for me. And, up until the rubber surround on the earbuds deteriorated and came off, I had no issues with them staying in my ears either.

These were an excellent choice. The fit is quite comfortable, although the band around the back of the head doesn't sit as close to my head as I thought it would. That is minor, though, and I don't notice at all while I'm wearing them. I have worn them without the foam covers for a few runs (20-40 minutes per run) and don't have any complaints of ear pain or anything like that. The sound is crisp and clear, although it is a little biased towards the bass than the highs. Again, a minor thing (besides, the bass is typically the driving sound for your pace). The only thing I've noticed is wind noise. I run outside and whenever I'm running into a breeze, the wind noise is noticeable, however, not unbearable. For me, it's not a huge issue, but something to think about if you think it will be.

The volume control/microphone is actually pretty close to the headphones. I run the cable underneath my shirt and the controls sit above my collar. I just use the included clip to tether the cable to my collar and I'm good to go! The cable is also more than long enough for me to have my iPod attached to the waistband of my shorts without any pulling of the cord. All-in-all, I am happy with these and would recommend them to anyone searching for their next pair of headphones.

I've used these for trail and road running approximately 100 miles now.

Overall: Great bass, fair to poor highs, great fit, but has a few functional issues.

Even though the highs are diminished, the bass and overall sound is still better than any headphones of this type I've ever heard. The fit is excellent. It is lightly spring loaded to hold each earbud in your ears. It never slips and is never uncomfortable for me for over 90 minutes at a time. Car traffic can still be heard pretty well.

The mic and controls are well-placed, but hard to distinguish the buttons while running. I've taken maybe 4 phone calls while running, and everyone has complained about wind noise and basically unusable sound quality. The cable is on the left side, which makes it a poor choice for a hands-free set while driving for me. The behind-the-head frame probably makes these a poor choice for use on an airplane, but I haven't tested that. I have rinsed them with water several times with no change in performance.

Two biggest complaints: Excessive wind noise while running or in any light breeze, and foam pads that constantly fall off. The wind noise is usually tolerable, but often not. The foam ear pads are a must if you sweat at all. Without them, the rubber earbuds become like toilet plungers on your eardrums. Not good. The foam pads mitigate that problem, but they are far too delicate and easily fall off when taking the headphones off. I have dropped the little foam pads on the trail several times, but miraculously found them again. Sennheiser needs to fix that and they need to give you at least a half dozen spare pairs.

I do like these, but for the price, they should not have the problems I noted.

I've gone through two pair of Klipsch S4i's, two Apple sets, two Sony sets and none of them come close to these. They were even smart enough to put the controls high enough that they won't be inside your shirt if you route your wire that way. Sweat ruined the mic and controls on both of my Klipsch that way. Amazing bass response, comfortable, don't move a bit. Everyone has different ears, but if they fit, they rock!

I have the Sennheiser headset for my TV. Remarkable product, incredible sound. Will now purchase PMX 685i for running and working out. For person that lost foam pads, go to Amazon.com, search Sennheiser products and you will find what you need.

i always go for small ear-buds-on-a-wire... fit my irregular head well and stay put when i am running. i've been through many generations of Sony clip-ear or back-head ear-buds. they were good, but disposable. i jumped up to the Sennheiser's on a money-lark...
>WOW<

these things are expensive, but well-worth it. incredible bass and dynamic range. i'll never go back to lesser ear-plugs.

- bc