Sennheiser's New Headphones and Earbuds: What You Need to Know

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2024, the audio company Sennheiser announced three new products: premium wireless earbuds, fitness-focused earbuds with health tracking, and a pair of mid-range over-ear headphones. All three are designed to appeal to different types of listeners.

MOMENTUM True Wireless 4: The Flagship Earbuds

Sennheiser's new flagship earbuds are called the MOMENTUM True Wireless 4. They use Qualcomm's latest S5 Sound Gen 2 chip, which is the electronics that power the device.

These earbuds support what's called aptX lossless audio — think of it like the difference between a photocopy and the original document. Standard wireless earbuds compress audio as it travels from your phone to your ear, losing some detail. Lossless audio keeps more of that detail intact. However, this feature only works on Android phones with the right processor. iPhone users will get good sound, but not the lossless version.

The earbuds come in three colors: black copper, metallic silver, and graphite. They will cost $299.95 in the United States and $429.95 in Canada. Pre-orders start on February 15, 2024. This puts them in direct competition with Sony's and Apple's premium earbuds, which cost about the same.

MOMENTUM Sport: Fitness Earbuds with Health Tracking

Sennheiser also announced earbuds designed specifically for people who exercise. The MOMENTUM Sport earbuds have built-in sensors that track health information — like your heart rate — while you work out. The company has not yet revealed exactly which health metrics these earbuds will measure.

These earbuds are likely to be more water-resistant than standard earbuds and designed to stay in your ears during intense physical activity.

ACCENTUM Plus: More Affordable Over-Ear Headphones

Sennheiser announced a new pair of full-size headphones called the ACCENTUM Plus. These sit below the flagship MOMENTUM headphones in the company's product lineup, meaning they offer Sennheiser's sound quality at a lower price point.

Why Sennheiser Is Making These Products

Sennheiser is building these products around the same Qualcomm chip technology across its entire wireless lineup. This approach means consistent performance and features across different price ranges.

The move toward fitness-focused earbuds reflects what is happening in the broader audio market. Apple's popular AirPods Pro include health features, and other companies like Jabra have found success selling earbuds that do more than just play music. Consumers want their earbuds to double as fitness trackers.

The February 15 pre-order date is worth noting. It comes only five weeks after the January announcement, suggesting Sennheiser has already built these products and is ready to ship them quickly. Some other companies announce products at trade shows but don't have them ready for months.

Sennheiser's strategy here is to offer something for everyone: premium earbuds for people who care about audio quality, fitness earbuds for athletes, and more affordable full-size headphones for budget-conscious listeners. The company believes its reputation for good sound and build quality will convince people to buy from it rather than from competitors like Sony or Apple.

Whether this approach succeeds depends on how well Sennheiser executes and whether consumers understand the technical advantages — like lossless audio — that justify the price.