The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless are average-sounding around-the-neck headphones. They're lightweight, portable, and relatively easy to use but don't have the most durable build quality. They also don't block a lot of noise, so they won't be ideal for noisy commutes, but since they barely leak, you can play your music at higher volumes and not be distracting to those around you.
Our Verdict
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are above-average for most uses except for critical listening and watching videos. They don't block a lot of ambient noise but barely leak, making them a decent option to use at the office if you turn your volume up a little to mask the noise. They have a stable around-the-neck design, and they're decently comfortable for an in-ear model, but, unfortunately, don't have the best sound. The audio cables are also not as sturdy as the rest of the design.
- Low leakage.
- Portable and stable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Below-average microphone.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are average for neutral listening. They have a bit too much high-bass, which makes them sound slightly boomy and muddy. That, coupled with the somewhat recessed mid to high-frequencies, makes instruments feel slightly muffled and pushed back in the mix. They don't have the best soundstage due to their in-ear closed-back design, but on the upside, they sound good enough for casual listeners; they just won't be ideal for more neutral listening.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are average for commuting. They don't block a lot of noise but they're decently portable and barely leak so you can mask some of the ambient noise with your music. They also have a pretty easy-to-use control scheme.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are above-average for sports use. They have an around-the-neck design that's stable when running or jogging. They're lightweight, portable, and wireless. However, the in-ear tips slide slightly in the ear canal during strenuous activity, which may not be ideal for all sports.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are decent for office use. They barely leak at high volumes, so they won't bother your colleagues, but unfortunately, they don't block a lot of noise unless you can get a good seal with the provided tips.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are average-at-best for gaming. They have enough latency to be noticeable when gaming. They also don't have the best mic for multiplayer online games. On the upside, they're breathable and decently comfortable, although the in-ear fit may not be ideal for all gamers.
You can use the Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear for wired gaming as they come with a USB cable that you can use to receive audio, but they aren't really expected to be used this way. Their bassy sound can also help emphasize sound effects in your gameplay. However, they don't have any gamer-centric controls or features.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 13, 2023: We've updated our 'USB Audio' results in Wired.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
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Compared To Other Headphones
See our recommendations for the best neckband headphones.
The Sony WI-1000X are better headphones than the Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless. They have better sound quality; their app offers more customization and they also have a better isolation performance. They also come with more tip options to find a better fit. However, the neckband of the Sennheiser HD1 feels more high-end, and they come with a hard case that protects the headphones better than the Sonys' pouch.
The Sony WI-C600N Wireless are better around-the-neck headphones than the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Wireless. They are more portable thanks to their malleable neckband and their sound quality is also better, but you can EQ both headphones in their respective apps. They're also noise cancelling in-ears and block a decent amount of ambient noise, which is good for commuting. On the other hand, you get more battery life with the Sennheisers, their latency is lower, and some may not notice the delay when watching video content.
The Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear/HD1 In-Ear Wireless are a better option over the Bose Hearphones Wireless if you're looking to listen to audio content like music or podcasts. Their companion app offers a parametric EQ and presets so you can customize their sound to your liking. However, the Sennheiser don’t have an ANC feature like the Bose, and they also don’t offer a nice conversation-enhancer mode that amplifies ambient noise. The Bose are also more comfortable and have a better wireless range.
Test Results
The Sennheiser HD1 Wireless In-Ear are decently stylish-looking headphones. The flexible neckband has a faux leather finish that blends the typical red and black momentum aesthetic into an around-the-neck design. On the other hand, the earbuds and cables are similar to the original Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear and don't feel as durable or as premium as the neckband, which is slightly disappointing. Overall, they won't stand out for their design, especially if you put the neckband underneath your shirt, but the understated look will work for most.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are moderately comfortable headphones as long as you don't mind the around-the-neck design. They come with several tip sizes but no foam or special tips, making them conventional in-ears. If you dislike the fit of in-ears, then you'll have some of the same issues with these headphones. On the upside, the neckband is lightweight, flexible, and won't be too noticeable during long listening sessions.
The Sennheiser HD 1 In-Ear Wireless have an efficient button layout and control scheme. They provide call/music, track skipping, volume controls, and an additional power and Bluetooth pairing button. The buttons deliver good tactile feedback, but their position on the left side of the neckband might take a bit of time to get used to.
The Sennheiser HD1 Wireless are moderately portable headphones. They're much larger than typical in-ears due to the neckband, but they're not as cumbersome to carry around on your person as full-sized headphones. They easily rest around the neck and can be tucked under your shirt or outfit.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear have a sturdy, hard case that will protect the headphones from scratches, falls, and mild water damage. However, the case is fairly large, which reduces the overall portability of the headphones when they're in their case, although they'll easily fit into most bags.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear are decently well-built headphones. The neckband especially is well made, flexible, and won't easily break under physical stress. Unfortunately, the audio cables are a little thin and susceptible to wear and tear compared to the rest of the build. They could snap if they get repeatedly hooked on an item of clothing or by regular wear and tear. Also, since the audio cables aren't replaceable, the overall build quality is reduced.
The around-the-neck design of these headphones makes them considerably stable. They won't fall from your neck during a run or jog, but the earbuds may get a little loose during more strenuous activities and exercise depending on how well the in-ear design fits your ears. Also, if the neckband is placed under your outfit, the audio cables can get hooked or tangled, pulling the earbuds out of your ears.
- Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless Headphones
- Earbud tips (x3 sizes)
- USB-A to micro-USB cable
- Carrying case
- Manual
The Sennheiser HD 1 In-Ear Wireless have very good frequency response consistency performance. If the user can achieve a proper fit and seal given the assortment of tips that come with them, then they'll get consistent performance each time.
These headphones have good bass range performance. LFE is at 10Hz, which is excellent. Additionally, low-bass and mid-bass are pretty well-balanced. However, high-bass is overemphasized by more than 5dB, making the bass boomy and muddy.
These headphones have good mid-range performance. The bump in low-mid is the continuation of the high-bass overemphasis, making the mid-range slightly muddy and cluttered. Mid-mid and high-mid are slightly under our target, pushing vocals/leads to the back of the mix and giving more emphasis to the bass frequencies.
These headphones have mediocre treble range performance. Low-treble, which is responsible for detail and articulation, lacks by about 5dB. The 12dB peak at 10kHz could make the S and T sounds sharp and piercing on overly bright tracks.
These headphones have sub-par isolation. Unlike the Beats BeatsX Wireless, the Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear don't isolate in the bass range. However, they achieve 11dB of isolation in the mid-range, which is decent, and 40dB of isolation in the treble range, which is good.
The Sennheiser HD1 have excellent leakage performance. The leakage is centered around 2kHz, in a very narrow band. The level of the leakage is also very quiet, which makes it barely audible.
The Sennheiser HD1 Wireless In-Ear have sub-par microphone performance. Speech recorded with the microphone of the HD1 sounds thin and muffled, and because of the lack of clarity, it may be slightly difficult to understand. They can't separate speech from ambient noise well and are not the best choice for moderately loud environments like busy streets.
The microphone has sub-par recording quality. LFE is at 479Hz and HFE at 2.5kHz. This results in a recorded speech that sounds thin and muffled. The area between LFE and HFE, however, is captured well.
These headphones have average noise handling performance. The microphone on the HD1 achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of 18dB, which is about average.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless have a decently long battery life for an in-ear but will barely last you a full day if you're a heavy user. They also lack a few power-saving features that would help them last longer, like an auto-off timer that you can set within the app or the ability to play while charging, which is disappointing.
The Sennheiser CapTune app offers a great parametric equalizer with presets for the Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless. However, the app feels a bit barebones compared to when it's connected to the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless. It also lacks a good auto-off timer, room effects, and microphone options.
The Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear have relatively high latency for watching videos and gaming but perform better than most Bluetooth headphones. The audio will be slightly delayed, but it's less noticeable when aptX is enabled.
