CES 2013

With all the headphone options out there, it might be hard to find the one that’s right for you. If quality, rather than superficial associations with aging rock bands, is what you want, one outstanding option would be Sennheiser—a company that’s been perfecting the art of headphones even longer than Motorhead’s been playing “Ace of Spades.”

And that's a long time.

InnerFidelity’s Tyll Hertsens loved the new Sennheiser Momentum ($349), admiring their look and feel and concluding, “While I’ve heard headphones that do some things better, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a headphone that does so much so well.”

I was intrigued! Hmm…

But Tyll also called the Momentum “very adult.” Am I “very adult”? God, I hope not.

In person, the Momentum is just as beautiful as it is in pictures: clean, simple, and modest, but also sleek and stylish. Indeed, the Momentum is Sennheiser’s answer to the many “lifestyle” offerings now on the market: Sennheiser wanted to build a portable headphone that would look just as good as it sounds.

While the Momentum was originally released in a handsome, coppery brown, it is now also offered in an attractive black with subtle red highlights. The headband and earpads are cloaked in the softest leather I’ve ever felt, and feel absolutely luxurious. Beneath the leather, the headband is made of a thin and surprisingly flexible strip of stainless steel. I can easily imagine wearing the Momentum for long stretches of time without become fatigued or feeling any pain around my ears. I listened for only a short while, but the sound struck me as having a fine combination of detail and warmth.

At $349, the Sennheiser Momentum seems to offer outstanding value. I’ll look forward to spending more quality time with it later this year.