I just got those same Senns in the same sale and wasn't impressed. Excellent soundstage and imaging, but damn, the sound is SO thin. There's no bass. I'm not a basshead, but those buds have the classic Sennheiser sound -- clear mids and highs, with thin bass. Plus they have no IPX waterproofing rating and a weird fit because of their square shape.
At your price range, I recommend the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 or Helm Audio Truly Wireless 5.0.
The Melomania 1's have nice, balanced sound. Bass is present but not bloated. Clear mids and highs. Three negatives, though. One, the bullet-like shape isn't for everyone and could lead to a weird, uncomfortable fit. Two, the Melomania's don't get very loud. If you like to harass your ear drums, these aren't your buds. Three, the Melomania's don't come with an app.
Since October, I've tried quite a few earbud models, including the Lypertek Tevi (very good despite hot mids), Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 (excellent), FIIL T1X (mids a bit too hot and elevated), Sony WF-1000XM3 (bloated, uncontrolled bass, just like Sony over-ears), Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro (crap - unbelievably overrated), Soundpeats TruEngine 3 SE (not bad for $50) and Sennheiser CX 400BT (excellent soundstage but tinny sound -- no bass).
None of the above worked just right for me, either for sound or comfort, so I gave up on IEMs for a while and just focused on the sweet sound from my Meze 99 Classics closed-back over-ears. But then I saw a Flash deal on Amazon for the Helm Audio True Wireless 5.0 last Wednesday for $90, down from their normal $130. I watched and read a few reviews online, and they were largely positive, so I thought: "What the hell? These look solid. I'll give them a go on sale."
My initial reaction after about three or four hours of listening with the Helm True Wireless 5.0 is, "Why the hell aren't more people talking about these?" I think they're excellent, rivaled only by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 in my list above. And I still think the Helm's are slightly better.
Many reviewers either complain or praise the Helm's for a lot of bass. It's true -- these babies go down low in ample supply. But it never bleeds or bloats into the mids like the Sony's, and it doesn't sound artificial as hell like the Anker Liberty 2 Pros. The midrange and highs are solid.
I would describe the sound quality as U-shaped. It's not nearly as V-shaped as some reviewers describe. It's vibrant, fun -- much like the Meze 99 Classics that I adore.
Other plusses of the Helm Audio are separation and imaging. While the soundstage isn't massive, you definitely get a good sense of where each instrument is placed. Plus there's also minimal grain in the treble. I'm not a basshead -- I like rich, smooth bass that stays in its place -- but I'm also sensitive to shrill and grainy treble. These roll off at just the right spot, with good detail.
The Sennheiser CX 400BT that I've most recently tested have wider soundstage and slightly better separation than the Helm's, but their sound is thin and tinny. Prominent mids -- the usual Sennheiser sound. Clinical but not engaging. Plus they're $200 at full price, with no IPX rating.
These are the first buds I've heard that have rich, warm bass that resembles those of a quality over-ear can. No, they're not as resonant or clear as my Meze 99 Classics. But they have a fun sound signature that works with a lot of different kinds of music.
Yes, much like the Meze 99 Classics, these are not buds for those who want a totally neutral sound signature or who worship the Harman Curve like a deity. But also like the 99 Classics, holy hell, they're a fun listen that is far more entertaining than some neutral, studio cans and buds I've tried. Isn't that what this hobby is about?
The Helms have AptX and AAC. They have battery life of about six to eight hours, with about 25-30 in the charging case. I like the diamond-cut look of the exterior, and the button is tactile and less finicky than many touch controls on buds. The fit also is excellent, as the one-size-fits-all wing locks the bud into your ear. And these buds have the best Bluetooth range of any I've tried, reportedly 60 feet. These stay connected in areas of my house where other buds lose signal.
Frankly, these buds have stunned me. They're the best I've heard in the price range, and they're on sale pretty often for less than $100. Helm also offers a 50 percent discount to first responders, which is cool as hell. About the only thing lacking with these buds is no app. That would have been a big plus, but I'm happy with the stock sound signature. Plus I can use music app-based EQ to tune the sound on my iPhone.
I'm pleased as hell with the Helm Audio True Wireless 5.0. I'm also surprised more people aren't talking about them in this and other headphone/earbud subreddits.
