Sennheiser Adidas PMX 680i Sports Headset (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

These headphones are great for exercising. They stay in place and sound great. The cord length is perfect for me. Build quality seems excellent, especially where the cord attaches to the phones. This is important for frequent, rough handling. These phones are not bad looking, either.A few people complain that the mic doesn't work with their Blackberry, Macbook, Droid, or non-iOS device. The product description clearly states that the mic is designed mainly for iPhones, recent models of iPod touch, and iPads, but will also work with 2009 and later Macbooks/Macbook Pros. If you are buying this for the mic to use with your non-iOS device, check Sennheiser's website to see whether it'll work with your device.Sennheiser's 680 line includes several different models that have the same sound quality and speaker components, but different ways of making them sit on your ears. This model, the PMX, is one piece that wraps around the back of the head. Other models in this line are called CX, OMX, and MX. They attach to your ears with clips or "ear fins", depending on the model. Also, some models have noise isolation (for when you don't want to hear the annoying music playing over the gym's loudspeakers) while other models in this series are more open (so you can hear honking cars while you're jogging on the side of the street). The PMX is one of the more open ones, but when I'm using them at the gym, the outside noise doesn't bleed in too much.Also, note that some models have the number "680i" while others are just "680". The difference is whether it has a microphone. "680" (with no "i") means no mic, but there is an in-line volume control. "680i" has the in-line volume control and the built-in mic.Unfortunately, most of us cannot try these on before purchasing to determine which format is most comfortable. So if you're thinking of buying these, purchase from a reputable vendor that stands by their return policy.Lastly, I'd suggest comparing the prices of various sellers. I bought mine from OnSale, an Amazon third-party vendor, and paid a lot less than Amazon is currently charging. I've bought several things from OnSale through Amazon's website, and their service has always been excellent.In sum, the Sennheiser 680 line offers very good sound quality for the money, good build quality, and different models with different options regarding fit, noise isolation, and mic. One of the models in this line is likely to be a great match for your needs. For me, it's this one, the PMX 680i.

I decided to get these based on a Gizmodo review and the fact that they were marked down quite a bit for a lightning deal (or something like that I can't recall right now). The set fits comfortably around my ears and head. So far I've only worn them when I've been running (indoors and out) and they're very secure. I don't have any thoughts of them popping out of my ears. Although I will say that I have to use the cable clip to my shirt because the in-line volume control dongle would flop all over the place if I didn't. (I'll quickly add that the dongle works wonderfully with my Apple devices, but doesn't work with my Verizon Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.1.) I've got a smaller head and ears, so I do have to fiddle with getting these to sit right so the sound seems the best. Once I get them manipulated into position, they stay there. The ear pads are a little big for my ears, which is why it takes a little while for me to find the sweet spot. The headset comes with foam ear pad covers, but I haven't used them. It's no secret you pay a bit of a premium for Sennheiser products, but my experience has been that it's worth it. These headphones sound pretty good for workout phones. They leave a little to be desired if they're going to be your 'everyday' use phones. The common complaint is the lack of bass and the mid-tones get a little muddy. I'd agree with that to some degree. Fiddling with the settings on your audio device to match it to your preferences and music will help some. My biggest complaint has nothing to do with the sound, it's with the design. The ear pads fit in your ears perpendicular to what I'm used to. Think: take your crappy earbuds that came with your iPod, stick them in your ear, then twist them outward so the speakers are shooting forward. This design isn't any more uncomfortable than the stock earbuds, but they seem to catch a lot of air/wind when running outdoors. So much so that you can't hardly hear the music you're wanting to listen to without cranking up the volume where it hurts your ears. It's like running in a wind tunnel even with the slightest breeze. Again, this may be my small head/ears, but it's very distracting and annoying. Still I find these are loads better than anything else I've tried. The light weight, sound, and fit are fantastic and worth the price.

I wanted something that would not slip when walking the dogs. I have had behind the head earphones before. Pros, come with a carrying pouch if needed, seem sturdy and have a long connection cable. Sound is adequate for MP3. I like the voice control element and the fact there is no microphone boom, but you can hold a conversation on the phone easily.Cons, the control element is quite high on the cable and is fiddly for big fingers. Practice helps, but you cannot see the control, as it is under your jawline. The other point I did not realise, is the behind the head element means the earphones are shaped so that the band fits high on the back of your head, not around your neck. It is stable, although I have not run with them.The drawback, is in cold weather I wear a hat, and this makes it very difficult and uncomfortable to wear the earphones. They end up being pressed hard into your ear or out of alignment on your ear.Having said all that, I wear them as much as I can walking the dogs and I enjoy my music again.

The four star rating is really a one star and a five-star rating.One star rating: I'd used this headset a number of times before I needed to use the volume slider (the mic was not needed as I bought the headset to use with my my sportsman radio). The slider didn't work. If you buy this product, be sure to test everything!Five-star ratings for: a) overall quality, including sound quality and b) for this being the only headset I can use when wearing a cycle helmet and be able to hear what's going on around me (which is what I bought it for). The ear pieces just sit in the ear and don't exclude other sounds.

For someone who has never really got on with earphones where the phones go into the ear (as opposed to the larger outside ear flavours) I approached this purchase with some trepidation given the price. In the past I have used various methods of keeping the phones in my ears usually consisting of extremely tight hats. I have been quite impressed with these, they definately stay in place and the sound quality is good once you have the head/neck band in the correct location - a small adjuster in the back (as with hard hats) would have been a nice touch to allow fine adjustment but considering I have spent a number of years replacing the phones at regular intervals (every couple of minutes) as they fall out from my ear(s) that would be a little chirlish......

These headphones are perfect for all types of workout. The buds are comfortable and the neckband is large enough to fit even the meatiest of necks.In terms of sound quality, it's what you would expect from Sennheiser. The bass is deep and crisp and the trebles plentiful. There is a low level of resistance which means these headphones will go very loud if you start cranking the volume up. As mentioned by other reviewers, the on-ear set-up allows you to hear external noises, but the quality of the output means that your aural enjoyment is not compromised.Adidas and Sennheiser have got the balance right. Solid styling, functionality and build quality, while at the same time delivering great sound.

After 16 months and five times weekly cross country and gym sessions, my trusted PMX80 finally developed a wiring fault and had to be retired. After much research, I decided to stick with Sennhauser and opted for the PMX680i. As is usual with Amazon, the product arrived on time and as promised. I was pleased to see that Sennhauser have changed the jack which, with the previous model, did not fit my ipod well and was wobbly. The revised jack is rock solid and a perfect fit. Sound quality is outstanding, much more than I expected from a sports headset but perhaps a bit too enclosed for safe jogging in an outdoor environment. The head phones sit comfortably and, due to the design, cannot be dislodged even when running across rough terrain. After my first run this morning (rocking to Dire Straits), I am very pleased with the purchase. But will the head phones last? Only time can tell.