I remember having a conversation a few years ago with someone who complained that wearing AirPods to the gym wasn’t the most comfortable experience. In fact, he lost the AirPods twice while running a couple of marathons. Although I’ve never lost my AirPods, they fall out while running. When I heard last week that Sennheiser would send the new Sport True Wireless for review, I was excited. Ever since I incorporated running as part of my transition to a healthier lifestyle, the earplugs I wear are very important to me. The perfect size, shape and factor and audio quality are so important now. And that’s why I had to try the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless earbuds. Here is my experience.
The fit
I know people who love wearing AirPods, but mine keep falling out, especially when I go for a morning jog. No matter what position I put them in, they don’t really stay.
I finally got the perfect fit I was looking for with the Sport True Wireless. Although they’re a bit chunky, they feel more secure to my ears. Rubberized fins hold the earbuds securely in the ear while still providing a comfortable fit. I’ve tested these earbuds during intense workouts and they’ve held up well. I may have adjusted them a couple of times but other than that I don’t see them falling off.
The good thing about these earbuds is that they appeal to people who like both open and closed earbuds. The buds come with six sets of ear adapters, including three “open” sets with a blue border (small, medium, and large) and three “closed” sets with a black cross in the silicone. The “open” and “closed” ear adapters actually work in tandem with the Smart Control app (more on that later), which has a “Focus” mode and an “Aware” mode. The closed-ear adapters work in tandem with the Focus EQ, which filters outside noise when you’re at the gym and doing an intense workout. The Aware EQ, on the other hand, allows for background noise to help you be aware of your surroundings. At first I couldn’t tell the difference between the Focus and Aware models. I later found that the music had more bass when Focus mode was on.
You also get four different sets of “Ear Fins”. The default medium fin worked best for me, but you can try the large fin. If you don’t like the fin, just select the “no fin” option. They are IP54 certified, making them dust, sweat and splash proof. The build quality of the buds is excellent despite each earbud weighing 6.8g. They have a distinctive cube shape, with the Sennheiser logo embossed in gold on the top of the case and on each earbud.
They have a distinctive cube shape, with the Sennheiser logo embossed in gold on the top of the case and on each earbud. (Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Bulky charging case
Like any modern truly wireless earbud, these come with a case. The case is great but has a larger footprint making it difficult to stash in your jean pocket. The charging case is magnetic and the buds slide in with a satisfying click, and you won’t lose them if you turn the case upside down. The case also comes with a quick-release lanyard, which is an odd design choice at best. Nevertheless, the case charges with a fast USB-C and the cable is included. Once in, they fit snugly and charge evenly. However, Qi wireless charging is notably lacking. Sennheiser says you should charge for nine hours with the buds themselves, with an additional 18 hours using the charging case. So a total of 27 hours of battery life. The results depend on your volume.
The case is great but has a larger footprint making it difficult to stash in your jean pocket. (Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Easy to set up and use
I connected the Sport True Wireless to my iPhone 13 mini and it was an easy process. The Smart Control app (available for iOS and Android) comes in handy. The app not only updates the firmware and changes basic settings, but also offers an adjustable EQ so you can tailor the sound to your own preferences. The EQ section is simplified in nature as you only get three bands labeled Bass, Mid and Treble in addition to a dedicated EQ preset for listening to podcasts.
Each earbud’s capacitive outer plates work well, although I do feel it takes some getting used to. A single tap on either ear controls playback and answers incoming calls, double-tap the right earbud to skip to the next track, or triple-tap a page to bring up the voice assistant. Holding the left or right earbud adjusts the volume, but I find it convenient to use the phone to change the volume. I’m someone who likes physical buttons.
They are IP54 certified, making them dust, sweat and splash proof. (Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Great audio quality
Okay… so what’s it like listening to music and podcasts with these buds? Tracks like Billie Eilish’s “Come out and play” and Jagjit Singh’s “Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho” show what the Sport True Wireless are capable of. It’s so comforting to listen to Billie Eilish’s voice when you want to disconnect from the world and be on your own. They offer depth, with clear vocals and natural mids. In fact, they work well with all kinds of music genres.
They sound incredible thanks to 7mm dynamic drivers that deliver deep bass and clear, detailed highs. The earphones deliver powerful bass, a wide soundstage and rich sound. I’ve also used the earbuds to listen to podcasts. The sound of these earphones feels natural and is clearer.
Calls were pretty clear too and I could hear the voice on the other side in both ears. There are two microphones on each earbud and while they do block out background noise, the lack of active noise-cancellation (ANC) is a major omission. In terms of specs, the earbuds support Bluetooth 5.2 and supported codecs include SBC, AAC, and aptX.
The EQ section is simplified in nature as you only get three bands labeled Bass, Mid and Treble in addition to a dedicated EQ preset for listening to podcasts.
Should you buy or skip the Sport True Wireless?
At Rs 10,990 the Sport True Wireless will appeal to a gym devotee. If you want premium sound quality and comfortable, ergonomic earbuds that won’t fall off while running, I’d suggest considering the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless. While the competition in the truly wireless earbud category is pretty tight, I see the Sport True Wireless appealing to a specific audience, much like Garmin smartwatches. If you’re on a tight budget, Sennheiser’s first truly wireless earbuds with sport fins and better durability aren’t for you.
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