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I give you, the
Sennheiser HD 1 In-Ear:
*Introduction/Disclaimer*
I was quite shocked when I was asked to review the Sennheiser HD 1. I was not expecting it and I was very honored to be noticed. I quickly jumped at the opportunity. I was provided a sample of the HD 1 for the purpose of the review from Sennheiser. Also, all photos in this review were taken by me, no stock photos were used.
[Product Link]:
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/hd-1-wireless-earbuds-headphones
[Current Price]: $199.95
*Specifications*
- Wearing Style: Ear Canal
- Transducer Principle: Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 15 – 22,000 Hz
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1, Qualcomm® apt-X™ and NFC
- Charging Time: Approx. 1.5 hrs
- Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 112 dB
- Battery Specification: Rechargeable Lithium-ion Polymer (170mAh)
- Battery time: Up to 10 Hours
*Packaging*
The unboxing experience is relatively straight forward. Sennheiser has been doing this for a while. So you do get quality packaging and presentation as you get to the product inside. Once opened, the HD 1 In-Ear was nicely displayed inside of its portable case.
*Contents*
- HD 1 In-Ear Wireless Headset
- USB Charging Cable
- Ear Adaptor Set (XS, S, M, L)
- Carrying Case
- Safety & Quick Guides
The Carrying Case is a very nice place to store your HD 1, I like how it looks, feels and functions.
The USB cable is simple enough, though I do like that they made it longer than shorter.
While the HD 1 comes with everything you need to make them work, I just wish there was also at least one pair foam eartips. Foam tips can provide even more isolation, which can be important for a set with no noise cancelling.
*Design/Build*
Lets just be upfront, Sennheiser did a FANTASTIC job with both the design and build. The HD 1 In-Ear is put together with precision and quality materials. This is a NICE Bluetooth earphone. I love the integrated red stitching that lines the neckband, I like the matching red cable that goes to the drivers and I especially adore the earphones themselves which are a work of art with their smooth curves and subtle etching.
*Comfort*
For me personally, I could not use the Silicon tips, I had to use a set of MandarinEs Foam Ear Tips instead. (Picture shown below):
The housings themselves are quite light and provide a snug fit, that is smooth on the ear canal. So in return, the earphones are very comfortable. Even when wearing this for long periods of time, I never noticed ANY discomfort. I could wear them all day if needed. That is because a majority of that weight is put in the neck band, controls, batteries and such.
If I have to nitpick, it is that the neckband can get a little warm and sticky, more so if you are out in the sun or hotter weather. This can all be easily solved by wearing a collared shirt, which my wife prefers on me anyways.
*Bluetooth Use/Features*
While you have the basically standard controls and microphone, the HD 1 just does it so effortlessly. When is use, it is easy to feel the four nicely placed buttons on the neckband. I like that I can control the volume, song selection/playback and phone calls with such ease. The reason this is a big deal, is that a few of the Bluetooth earphones/headphones I've tried, have not had this level of functionality and ergonomics.
Sennheiser also added all of these little touches. Like that little vibration of when the HD 1 turns on/off, so you know you are pushing the correct button and it has power. Also, once they boot up, they give you a verbal estimate of the remaining battery life in hours. It is just so classy, I could get used to this!
The battery life claims of "Up to 10 Hours" is no joke. I swear these HD 1 could play forever. I have not tested the exact playback time, but I can tell you they just keep going, like the Energizer Bunny.
*Sound*
For testing purposes, I used the LG V20 (Not Shown) and FiiO X5 3rd Gen (I sold the FiiO DAP shortly after starting this review). Both these devices use apt-X™, that allows the wireless connection to reach HiFi levels.
Lows - Sub-bass, sweet sub-bass, my favorite. The first thing I noticed was the deep, controlled lows. The HD 1 is tuned masterfully in the lower frequencies. The discipline of which the bass is used is masterful. The lows are kept in check at all times and NEVER leak out of their designated range. A GREAT test for the bass is pumping out "Trust (TRST) - Candy Walls, love that distant rumble.
Mids - Stepping up the the mids, the HD 1 continues to impress. I would go as far to say that the mids help put together and overall neutral sound signature. With vocals pitched accurately and oh so enjoyable. The clarity in this mid section is impressive.
Highs - The cherry on the top is the highs. They are as detailed as you can get without any harshness, even with treble happy tracks. The stable highs in return give the headset a longevity to listing time that is impressive for any earphone.
Soundstage - Depth of sound is impressive for not only a Bluetooth earphone, but any type of earphone. Distance is wide, while still being fast and accurate. I would not change a thing here.
Isolation - With the smaller smooth housings, getting a snug fit is a breeze. Once installed, the HD 1 blocks almost all sound, there is no need for any noise cancellation with this Bluetooth earphone.
*Overall Thoughts*
The HD 1 is not only a great Bluetooth Earphone, it is a GREAT Earphone in general! The sound quality is amazing, I honestly could not tell the difference from this wireless earphone and some of my best wired setups. Build is top rated with a great blend of function and form.
The HD 1 surprised me, I was not only caught off guard by the request to review this Bluetooth Earphone from Sennheiser, I was blown away by every aspect of its use.
While these are slightly pricey, I think they still are a wonderful bargain. You are getting EVERY cent of your Dollar/Pound/Euro/Etc... with the HD 1. It gets one of my highest recommendations.
Thank you to Sennheiser for both this chance to review your product and the enjoyment I continue to get out of the HD 1 In-Ear.
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Have to says at full retail they would be a hard sell in 2021, but at $80 they sound very nice. I agree with. Your overall take on the signature definitely shaped. I wasn't sure I was going to like them on first listen after getting used to the Technics AZ70 which has a slightly politer bottom end with more sub bass and a more energetic midrange and treble. But I have started to enjoy these. They offer a different sound option that might work better at certain times for me.
Just wanted to say, I like your music selections you used. Much of which I had not heard of. Thanks for broadening my musical horizons.