Sol Republic Relays VS Sennheiser Momentum In-Ears.
Let me get started on how I myself got here.
So I've had my Relays for a couple of years now, and they're great, I paid about $80 AUD for them and I've absolutely loved them. Then, purely idiotically, I put them through a full wash cycle. Now, at first, the right ear was significantly lower than the left (keep in mind that the relays are sweat/water resistant). Now, obviously I figured they were dead and gone (rip) and went hunting for a new pair of in-ears that were a huge step up from the Relays. Now I had known about the Momentums for quite some time now and really wanted a pair, but the price had me quite indecisive.
After two days of online research, I found the Momentums on special, down from $169 to $128, and of course, after reading many reviews stating these were one of the best in-ears under $200, I jumped at the chance to get them for this 'hot price'.
So $128 AUD later, I've got a great new flashy pair of highly rated in-ears. Of course, I test them out, and they're quite great. For the price, I expected them to be exquisite (compared to my Relays). Now since it's 2 years later, I could've gotten a replacement pair of Relays for $64, half the sale price of the Momentums. So I've gone home with my Momentums, and honestly, I don't actually regret my purchase; yet. I mean $128 is a lot of money.
Now this is where I come to the conclusion that I've struck a run of bad karma.
A couple days after my $128 purchase, I'm still testing out these Momentums, trying to decide if they were really worth the price. Now, half the price are the Relays, and well I've still got a working left ear. So I thought I'd try and compare the two. Now also keep in mind, I mainly purchased the Momentums because I was under the impression that the vocals would sound absolutely crisp and clear, I wanted earphones that'd give me goose bumps and make me feel chills right down to the bone when listening to my favourite song. (Colors [Stripped] - Halsey - bone chilling vocals [3:40-3:43 mins in] - in case you were interested). Now the Momentums could do just that, bring justice to such an extraordinary voice, but you see, here's the issue. I went to compare the two earphones, AND MY RELAYS ARE WORKING JUST FINE AGAIN. FULL. WASH. CYCLE. Now this is when I began to think this was some bad bad karma. So hip hip hooray, I've got some like-new Relays; as well as actually new Momentums.
Now this is when I get to comparing.
Relays: great sound.
Momentums: great great sound.
Now, clearly the Momentums are better, but Relays; for half the price (AND BEING EXTRA EXTRA CLEAN) why do they almost sound just as good? Like come on, I put them through the freaking wash, and they only cost $64 brand new?! Yet, the vocals from the Relays sound pretty much exactly the same as the Momentums (I insist on reminding readers that Momentums are exactly double the price, and thats when they're on sale). Now, the mids and highs are noticeably better on the Momentums, and they do have great acoustics due to the build, but they're not extraordinarily better, they're not twice as good, as I'd expect. The Relays do have pretty damn good bass too, which personally, I believe, is almost on par with the Momentums.
To clarify:
Relays: between good and great mids and highs - great bass
Momentums: great mids and highs - great bass.
So to anyone reading this, I've mainly put this up to be informative. Just in case anyone's trying to decide between the two.
Now a quick brief on the design.
Relays:
- 3-button mic
- Made for sports, legitimately don't fall out (I find them extremely comfortable)
- Legitimately sweat/water resistant (I clearly know first hand, I don't recommend trying to find out for yourself though, I got lucky)
- L-shaped jack
- Wax grate right on the surface of the earphone tips (I accidentally removed the grate while trying to clean off the ear wax and then exposed the earphones hardware) ((still survived a full wash cycle!!
))
Momentums:
- 3-button mic
- Huge and poke out of your ears significantly (still comfortable though)
- L-shaped jack
- Instead of the wax grate being right on the surface of the earphone tips, it's a little further in which I really like, you can easily clean out the wax without accidentally getting rid of the grate
Let me get started on how I myself got here.
So I've had my Relays for a couple of years now, and they're great, I paid about $80 AUD for them and I've absolutely loved them. Then, purely idiotically, I put them through a full wash cycle. Now, at first, the right ear was significantly lower than the left (keep in mind that the relays are sweat/water resistant). Now, obviously I figured they were dead and gone (rip) and went hunting for a new pair of in-ears that were a huge step up from the Relays. Now I had known about the Momentums for quite some time now and really wanted a pair, but the price had me quite indecisive.
After two days of online research, I found the Momentums on special, down from $169 to $128, and of course, after reading many reviews stating these were one of the best in-ears under $200, I jumped at the chance to get them for this 'hot price'.
So $128 AUD later, I've got a great new flashy pair of highly rated in-ears. Of course, I test them out, and they're quite great. For the price, I expected them to be exquisite (compared to my Relays). Now since it's 2 years later, I could've gotten a replacement pair of Relays for $64, half the sale price of the Momentums. So I've gone home with my Momentums, and honestly, I don't actually regret my purchase; yet. I mean $128 is a lot of money.
Now this is where I come to the conclusion that I've struck a run of bad karma.
A couple days after my $128 purchase, I'm still testing out these Momentums, trying to decide if they were really worth the price. Now, half the price are the Relays, and well I've still got a working left ear. So I thought I'd try and compare the two. Now also keep in mind, I mainly purchased the Momentums because I was under the impression that the vocals would sound absolutely crisp and clear, I wanted earphones that'd give me goose bumps and make me feel chills right down to the bone when listening to my favourite song. (Colors [Stripped] - Halsey - bone chilling vocals [3:40-3:43 mins in] - in case you were interested). Now the Momentums could do just that, bring justice to such an extraordinary voice, but you see, here's the issue. I went to compare the two earphones, AND MY RELAYS ARE WORKING JUST FINE AGAIN. FULL. WASH. CYCLE. Now this is when I began to think this was some bad bad karma. So hip hip hooray, I've got some like-new Relays; as well as actually new Momentums.
Now this is when I get to comparing.
Relays: great sound.
Momentums: great great sound.
Now, clearly the Momentums are better, but Relays; for half the price (AND BEING EXTRA EXTRA CLEAN) why do they almost sound just as good? Like come on, I put them through the freaking wash, and they only cost $64 brand new?! Yet, the vocals from the Relays sound pretty much exactly the same as the Momentums (I insist on reminding readers that Momentums are exactly double the price, and thats when they're on sale). Now, the mids and highs are noticeably better on the Momentums, and they do have great acoustics due to the build, but they're not extraordinarily better, they're not twice as good, as I'd expect. The Relays do have pretty damn good bass too, which personally, I believe, is almost on par with the Momentums.
To clarify:
Relays: between good and great mids and highs - great bass
Momentums: great mids and highs - great bass.
So to anyone reading this, I've mainly put this up to be informative. Just in case anyone's trying to decide between the two.
Now a quick brief on the design.
Relays:
- 3-button mic
- Made for sports, legitimately don't fall out (I find them extremely comfortable)
- Legitimately sweat/water resistant (I clearly know first hand, I don't recommend trying to find out for yourself though, I got lucky)
- L-shaped jack
- Wax grate right on the surface of the earphone tips (I accidentally removed the grate while trying to clean off the ear wax and then exposed the earphones hardware) ((still survived a full wash cycle!!
))Momentums:
- 3-button mic
- Huge and poke out of your ears significantly (still comfortable though)
- L-shaped jack
- Instead of the wax grate being right on the surface of the earphone tips, it's a little further in which I really like, you can easily clean out the wax without accidentally getting rid of the grate
