Product Review: Sennheiser PX 100 Headphones

I hate earbud headphones. I just don't think they are comfortable, and they always seem to fall out while I run. I did some research and discovered that the Sennheiser PX 100 headphones were recommended by a number of runners.

After purchasing these headphones the first thing I did was plug them into my iPod Touch. I was immediately shocked at the sound such a small pair of headphones could deliver.

I had never owned a decent pair of headphones. We usually stick to pairs that are no more than $10. The PX100s run around $40, but they are worth every penny.

The sound is ultra crisp and full of bass. These headphones do this sort of amazing thing in which you can actually hear everything that is in the song. For example, I have heard the song Kiss by Prince hundreds of times over the years and never once realized that there is actually a kissing sound in part of the song. It's crystal clear with the Sennheisers. Also, being able to really hear the song with these headphones was solely responsible for marching Billie Jean up the list of My Top 10 Favorite Songs of All Time.

These headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear. They are very lightweight. The padding at the top of the phones provides perfect cushioning. They are adjustable and haven't moved an inch during the two mile runs I have taken with them. (Extra emphasis for runners - These headphones seriously stay put. I do not notice them the slightest bit while I run. They are comfortable and sound great!)

I read on another blog that these phones seem to have been designed to let external sound in. This is good for running - as a safety feature and also if you are trying to talk to a running partner while listening to your iPod. You can hear outside sounds better than some headphones, but if the sound is turned up loud enough, all I can hear is music and even struggle to hear the alerts emanating from my Garmin Forerunner.

Two minor weaknesses I have found with the PX100 headphones:

1. They are noisy when I run in windy conditions. When running into the wind, the breeze whistles quite loudly. (I really noticed this today when I ran into a 20 mph wind - which isn't very much fun anyway.)
   
   
2. They are not very easy to fold up to put back into the case. I did practice this procedure a bit, and got it down to about a one minute process. Tip: Pay attention when you take them out of the case in the first place. (The fold up feature in no way inhibits the sturdiness of the headphones.)

Overall, I highly recommend the Sennheiser PX 100 headphones (along with almost all of the 876 people who have reviewed this pair on Amazon.) They are perfect for runners who hate earbuds (or even those that don't - I can't imagine anyone liking a pair of earbuds better than these.) They are also fantastic headphones for just sitting around listening to your favorite songs.

If you get some, you won't regret it.