If the quality of earbud or headphones you’re using with your portable media player of choice isn’t cutting it for you anymore, high-end headphone maker Sennheiser wants you to take a listen to their new Street and Sport series of headphones. Since we know headphones are as much a fashion statement as a functional device, Sennheiser offers a range of looks and designs to appease the most discriminating listeners.
And since we know using headphones on the street and during workouts is really about damaging your hearing and driving yourself deaf with the greatest efficiency, you’ll be happy to know Sennheiser’s new offerings all reproduce frequencies beyond the typical range of human hearing, and are all capable of peak sound pressure levels in excess of 115 db. No, they won’t drown out a jackhammer, but after a while that annoying little yappy dog next door won’t be a problem anymore.
(Well, not a noise problem. Watch where you step.)
Sennheiser’s Street line all feature the Sennheiser Basswind system to enhance low and lower-mid range frequencies which typically aren’t reproduced very accurately in small headphones, 3.5 mm stero minijacks, and feature interchangeable covers (sold separately) so you can customize their look. The MX 50 are your basic in-ear earbuds, the MX 51s add a carrying case, wile the MX 55s add more accessories, a “Twist-to-fit” system (ow!) and (for the VCs) an inline voluem control. The MXL 51s have a built-in lanyard, and the OMX 52s are lightweight over-the-ear cans with a behind-the-head band and carrying case.
Sennheiser’s new Sport line is designed to stay on during workouts and be resistant to sweat, moisture, and impact, as well as hold up to the rigors of real activity. The MX 70 and MX 70 VC (with volume control, get it? VC?) are in-ear earbud with magnetic clip storage when not in use; the MX 75s offer additional accessories and that “Twist-to-fit” system which doesn’t sound any less painful the more I type it. The LX 70s are an ultra lightweight headphone set with a tiny, flexible headband, while the MXL 70 VC Sport (see – VC!) have an integrated lanyard and a volume control. The OMX 70s offer clip-on over-the-ear fitting, and the PMX 70s offer a flexible behind-the-head neckband.
Sennheiser is well known for the overall quality of their professional audio products, and their consumer-oriented headphones generally fare well against competitors even amongst audiophiles. But, as always, it’s important to remember that just because you can take your music almost anywhere you go and listen to it during any activity, pushing headphones to drown out surrounding sounds will do bad things to your hearing very quickly.
Pricing? Availability? We don’t know, and Sennheiser isn’t saying
