Reviewed The best Sennheiser OCX686 sports headphones

Sennheiser OCX686

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Sennheiser OCX 686G Sports Ear-Canal Ear Hook Headset for Android Devices

 

 

 

Sennheiser’s taken a more grown-up approach with its OCX686 earphones. Wireless is out to keep the price down, but it’s the way they sound that makes them a bit unusual in this company.

Their magic trick is to provide great bass impact without actually injecting all that much extra bass. The reasoning being that it’s actually impact rather than sheer volume that will get you running to your favourite tunes that bit faster.

By not swamping the sound with bass, the Sennheiser lets the OCX686’s mids breathe a bit more, so vocals and guitars are clearer and more spacious. That’s all good, but there is a problem: these earphones are quite sibilant, which makes cymbals and searing vocals clash uncomfortably with your eardrums if you listen loud.

We’ve seen a few buyers have complain about the fit of the Sennheiser OCX686s, too. We’ve had not had that issue, but it’s worth being aware of any potential incompatibility with your ears.
They use flexible hooks that sit over your ears to help keep them in place, but also use standard IEM silicone tips. They isolate well, which is great for the gym but may not be so sensible for running out on the roads. Like the best sport headphones, these are also water resistant enough to withstand sweat and the watery removal of said sweat.

There are two versions of the OCX686 headset - the OCX686G for Androids handsets and the OCX686i for iPhones. They have different circuits in the little 3-button remote, ensuring you can change volume as well as switching tracks no matter which smartphone tribe you roll with.

These are good earphones if you don’t mind being tethered to your phone, but the somewhat harsh treble may be too much for some ears, given the price and lack of wireless.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✩✩

Grown-up sounding earphones let down by sibilant treble and a lack of wireless

Sennheiser OCX686 tech specs

Bluetooth: no 
• Battery life: not applicable 
• Mic: yes  
• Remote: yes 
• Sweat/water-resistant: sweat and water  
• Weight: 18g

 

The best Monster iSport Victory sports headphones - reviewed

Monster iSport Victory

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Monster Cable iSport Victory In-Ear Wireless Headphones with Built-In Mic, Green, Sports Headphones, Running, Noise Isolation

 

Makers of running headphones tend to worry about making pairs that don’t mind sweat and that won’t instantly fall out of your ears when you start running. Monster has a few extra ideas, though.

The Monster iSport Victory earphones also work on visibility, with a neck cable that is ultra-
reflective. It’s tiny, but should still help you stand out on those treacherous night runs. As you can see from the pic, the earbuds and in-line remote are very bold too.

The earpieces are pretty big, but this actually comes in handy. To stick in your ear with the tenacity of a dog with a chew toy, the Monster iSport Victory headphones use very effective silicone in-ear hooks to stop a yank from virtually any direction pulling them out. The chunky cone-shaped backside of the earpieces allows you to get a good grip when you actually want to remove them.

The battery lasts a solid eight hours and the remote has clearly-contoured buttons to make finding them blind a cinch.

This remote has a special feature, too. Press the Vol Up and Vol Down buttons together for three seconds and the earphones switch sound profiles. There’s an ordinary one for normal listening and a turbo DSP mode that boosts the volume and makes this pair’s distinct sound characteristics all the more… distinct.

There are two boosted areas here, the bass and everything from the high mids and up. The bass is no issue: these are Monsters and sporty ones at that. A bit of extra bass is welcome and the iSport Victory headphones don’t go overboard.

The high-mid and treble boost is a more problematic, though, often making vocals sound quite sibilant, harsh or slightly grating. It’s particularly obvious if you activate the turbo mode and listen at decent volume. Ultimately, these are good headphones for sport but you can get better sound for your cash.

Professional says ✭✭✭✩✩

Safety-conscious sport earphones with a good price but disappointing sound

Monster iSport Victory tech specs

Bluetooth: yes 
• Battery life: 8 hours  
• Mic: yes  
• Remote: yes 
• Sweat/water-resistant: sweat  
• Weight: n/a

Review For The best JVC HA-ET50BT sports headphones

JVC HA-ET50BT

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JVC HAET50BTB BLACK AE Wireless Sports Headphones

 

JVC may not be a go-to name in headphones land, but the company’s been churning pairs out at a decent pace for years and some have been very good. These, the JVC HA-ET50BT’s aren’t going to set the world alight, though.

Not that effort hasn’t been made; £55 is a good price for Bluetooth sport buds (these used to RRP at £80) and there are a couple of pretty interesting features here, such as magnetic earpieces that stick together and dangle under your neck when you’re not listening, making the JVCs a little less loseable than most in-ear headphones.

Battery life, at up to nine hours, is also great for a set without a neck band or separate battery pack. And you don’t have to buy them in the fluorescent shade shown above - there are subtler shades available.

The so-called Pivot Motion Fit system doesn’t work well for all ears, though. This silicone ear hook nestles into the labyrinth of your ear cartilage to prevent the ‘phones falling out at the first knock but, while better than the standard buds of a normal pair of in-ears, the Monster iSport Victory earphones are much more secure. It all depends on the shape and size of your ears, but the JVCs seem fussier than most. If you are lucky enough to get a secure fit, you’ll also find the JVCs are very comfortable.

The JVC HA-ET50BT sound works well for an exercise earphone, with zero harshness, plenty of bonus bass and respectable mid-range and treble detail. An extra dose of subtlety and nuance would significantly improve the sound, though.

It’s all about where the bass boost sits in the frequency range. The JVC HA-ET50BT’s is higher than some, meaning it bleeds into the mids and eats up some of the space and separation in the sound. The sound isn’t as wide as some either.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✩✩

The JVCs have one or two cool features, but the sound and fit could be better

JVC HA-ET50BT tech specs

Bluetooth: yes 
• Battery life: 9 hours  
• Mic: yes  
• Remote: yes  
• Sweat/water-resistant: sweat  
• Weight: 17g

Reviewed For The best Sony XB80BS sports headphones

Sony XB80BS

 

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Sony MDRXB80BS/B Premium, Wireless, in-Ear, Sports Headphone, Black

Sony has some of the best wireless tech going, and in sound tech terms the Sony XB80BS headphones are really quite special.

Sony is a wireless master at this point, so it’s no surprise the Sony XB80BS’s wireless performance is top-notch. These earphones also have NFC, allowing you to hook your phone up (if it has NFC) by just holding it to the left earpiece. They also support LDAC, Sony’s proprietary format that transmits three times the data of normal Bluetooth for a “less digital” sound.

To fit in all this tech, Sony has had to make the XB80BS headphones rather large by non-headband standards. The earpieces snake around and increase in size as they wind down to meet your earlobes. They’re anything but slight, and can be particularly awkward if you wear glasses. Power and volume controls are squeezed onto the right earpiece, and this side’s bottom pops off to reveal a microUSB charge socket.

You might expect the battery life to be amazing given the big stems, but at seven hours it’s only OK.
It’s also important not to assume that the best wireless tech automatically means the Sonys have the best sound. These headphones sound good, but they’re not class-leaders.

Like other “XB” (extra bass) earphones, these have powerful bass, but, unlike the XB650BT headphones we reviewed recently, it doesn’t distort under pressure. It can seem a little disconnected from the rest of the sound, though, and the New Balance PaceIQ and Bose SoundSport Pulse rivals have more engaging mids and treble. The Sonys do sound good enough to use as your everyday listen, as the stereo image is quite wide, but you can do even better.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

Tech-heavy sport earphones with powerful bass

Sony XB80BS tech specs

Bluetooth: yes 
• Battery life: 7 hours 
• Mic: yes  
• Remote: yes 
• Sweat/water-resistant: sweat and water  
• Weight: 27g

Review For The best Skullcandy Method Wireless sports headphones

Skullcandy Method Wireless

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Skullcandy Method Bluetooth Sport Earbuds with Microphone, Sweat-Resistant BT WIreless, Perfect for Working Out, Secure Around-The-Neck Collar, 9-Hour Long Rechargeable Battery, Black and Swirl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a glut of sporty wireless earphones around the £100 mark, but the Skullcandy Method Wireless pair swoops in at an almost-pocket-money £39. Skullcandy’s headphones don’t always hit the mark, but this pair is a bullseye for budget buyers.

First off, this is a neckband wireless set of the kind that often cost well over £100. They use a flexible plastic band that wraps behind your head, rather than just a cable. As well as stopping any wires flapping about while you run, this style tends to get you significantly better battery life as there’s more space for a bigger battery. 

True enough, the Skullcandy Method Wireless headphones last up to nine hours between charges. You can run that marathon as slow as you like with the Skullcandys. The wireless connection is rock-solid, too.

The neckband exerts light pressure on your neck in order to stay in place, which might not be suitable if your neck is wider than your thighs, but there are separate versions for men and women, with tweaked neckband designs for each. Skullcandy sent me, a chap, a female version of the headphones, but I still found the neckband comfy enough. For most, the neckband disappears sensation-wise after a while, and the earpieces are as comfy as any normal in-ear headphones.

Sport headphones are often visually loud, and Skullcandy pairs often look as though they’ve been blasted with a graffiti cannon, but the Method Wireless headphones are unusually tasteful. Sure, the trademark skull is still there on the controls that sit on the left end of the band, but the colours are simple, the neckband not too chunky.

The sound is slightly bass-led, as it is with most Skullcandys, but this isn’t a bad thing if you’ll use them while exercising. Mids and treble are smooth, perhaps a little soft, but the tone isn’t congested and is generally very enjoyable. While you don’t get the dynamics of a much pricier pair, they honestly don’t sound bad next to some options at twice the price.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

 

A top buy for those after wireless sport headphones on a budget

 

Skullcandy Method Wireless tech specs

Bluetooth: yes 
• Battery life: 9 hours 
• Mic: yes  
• Remote: yes 
• Sweat/water-resistant: sweat  
• Weight: 108g

 

Review For The best Jabra Pulse sports headphones

Jabra Pulse

 

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Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset with Built-In Heart Rate Monitor

Jabra knows more than most about wireless headphones and, while the Bluetooth Pulse buds are a bit long in the tooth at this point, techie features and a big price cut mean they're still well worth considering. Another around-the-neck cable design, the big draw here is connection to the Jabra Sport app, which delivers heart-rate monitoring and pretty much any other stat you might want. There’s an in-line remote and mic, too.

Wireless buds with a fin to keep them in your ears and a neck cable that runs behind your neck is the standard design, and the Jabra Pulse do it better than most. You’ll barely notice the soft buds are in your ears (there’s a choice of three fins and four buds) and the cable is the right rigidity and length to sit comfortably.

The heart rate monitor has always worked straight away for us and the tracking appears in real time on your screen along with a myriad other figures, from calories burned to your pace and distance. 

You can even get a voice update with the tap of your ear. It’s a neat, easy to use, easy to read app. 

They sound fine, but not better than that. Even at the discounted price (these were originally £180) we’d like a fuller, bigger, all-round more impressive sound, but a decent tonal balance means they’re far from offensive.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

 

A tech-packed but simple to use pair of wireless buds with good enough sound

Reviewed For The best Jaybird Run sports headphones

Jaybird Run

 

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Jaybird RUN True Wireless Headphones for Running, Secure Fit, Sweat-Proof and Water Resistant, Custom Sound, 12 Hours In Your Pocket, Music + Calls (Jet) (Renewed)

If you’re not fussed about fitness tracking but want to lose the wires along with those extra pounds you’ve put on, Jaybird’s first pair of true wireless buds could be your perfect training buddies.

Reasonably priced considering they don’t have any fancy talents beyond playing music and taking calls, they’re comfortable and sweatproof, although a four-hour battery life isn’t especially impressive, so remember to keep the charging case nearby - you’ll get an extra eight hours of playback out of that.

Performance is a bit on the bassy side but that can be encouraging when you’re down to the last couple of miles. They won’t do complex classical numbers much justice, but there’s a crisp high end and a decent grasp on rhythm that keeps them sounding energetic.

The accompanying app also offers an equaliser, so you can mess around with the levels until you find a mix that powers your quest for that elusive PB.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

 

No frills wireless buds that’ll give you a real boost with their bass

Jaybird Run tech specs

Bluetooth: yes 
• Battery life: 4 hours 
• Mic: yes 
• Built-in controls: yes 
• Sweat/water-resistant: both 
• Weight: 6.83g per bud without fin or tip

 

Review For The best Bose SoundSport Wireless sports headphones

Bose SoundSport Wireless

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Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones, Black

 

The Bose SoundSport Wireless are well set for adventuring in the great outdoors. A handy hook keeps them firmly in place even during running, while a clip attaches to your clothing to put pay to any annoying bouncing around.

Plus, they’ll bang out your playlist faves with panache.
If you have an iPhone, get the Beats, but if you have any other mobile device, get the Bose. They’re extremely comfortable, sound great for sports headphones and connect to multiple devices without suffering any dropouts.

The inline remote is easy to operate while you exercise, and the mic allows you to take calls (although wind is a factor when cycling). The five-hour battery life is pretty standard for sports headphones, but NFC tap-to-pair is a novel and valuable addition for devices that support it.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

 

The Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones are great for fitness fans who still value sound quality.

Bose SoundSport Wireless tech specs

Weight: 23g, 
Bluetooth, 
Battery: 5 hours, 
Water-resistant, 
Mic + remote

Review For The best Beats PowerBeats3 sports headphones

Beats PowerBeats3

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Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones - Black

 

Beats has had a rough history with wireless: its Powerbeats2 tended to leap out of your ears like a puppy that had just heard the postman. Thankfully, these successors stay put through hour-long runs without any trouble, while water-resistance means they’re impervious to both an impromptu downpour and your sweat.

Thanks to Apple’s W1 chip, the Powerbeats3 are automatically picked up by any compatible iPhone with no need to dig around in Settings. It’s ace, as is battery life which has doubled from 6 hours to 12. Forgotten to charge your headphones? It won’t be a problem quite so often.

Strangely, given the Apple association, they charge via microUSB rather than lightning cable. Still, that's not a huge deal.

While you can get better overall earphones for the money, these Beats can go really loud without distorting and offer plenty of detail. They’re not too punchy in the bass either, so you can cycle to work without feeling as though you’re stuck in a perpetual rave.

Professional says ✭✭✭✭✩

 

A great pair of sports buds that are ideal for iPhone 7 owners

Beats PowerBeats3 tech specs

Weight: 24g,
Bluetooth,
Battery: 12 hours,
Sweat-resistant,
Mic + remote

Review For The best Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3 sports headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3

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Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3BK SonicSport In-Ear Headphones, Black

Not every pair of sports headphones have to be wireless, even in 2019. The Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3s are normal, wired earphones, but they have a bunch of special features to make them gym-ready.

First, they’re IPX5 rated, meaning you can give them a quick rinse if they get a bit grotty, and they don’t mind some sweat. They also use flexible ear hooks designed to work their way over your ears. These make the Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3 very secure.

To try to get rid of any cable annoyances while you work out, there’s a little junction box by the right earpiece to let you cut down on the amount of wire left flapping around. You probably will want to use the inbuilt shirt clip to avoid the noise of the cable bumping against your t-shirt making its way to your ears, though.

The one obvious missing feature is a remote control. You have to pull out your phone if you need to change volume or skip that dodgy track on your “pumping iron” playlist.

Sound quality is a little different to the sporty norm in that it tries to be clean and clear instead of super-bassy. There’s enough low-end to fill out the sound, but it’s the Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3’s crisp treble that stands out in this crowd.

If you have to ramp up the volume to compete with a blaring gym sound system, it can start to sound a little grating. You do get a good sense of detail, though. This is a rare sport earphone for treble heads.

Professional says ✭✭✭✭✩

Non-wireless sport headphones for those who can live with less bass

Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT3 tech specs

Bluetooth: no 

• Battery life: not applicable  

• Mic: no • Remote: no 

• Sweat/water-resistant: water and sweat  

• Weight: 10g