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I would like to be able to connect my Evo to my car so that I can listen to Pandora using the car stereo. Unfortunately my car only has an Ipod dock connector.
Would it be possible to create an adapter that will allow you to connect an HTC Evo to an Ipod dock and output audio?
I have seen something similar being done with a T-Mobile G1.
webnetta.com/2008/12/27/hack-connects-t-mobile-g1-to-ipod-dock/
Is it just as simple as getting a Ipod dock extender cable like this one:
monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10831&cs_id=1083101&p_id=6828
and cutting off the male and of this cable and soldering it to a male end of microusb cable?
Any help would be appreciated.
this is a huge area where android needs improvement.
There's no audio through the Evo USB port. I was searching for the same thing last night. I have a logitech ipod speaker: (can't post links)
I also have this ipod bluetooth adapter:
What I'm thinking about doing is to hardwire the bluetooth adapter to the inside of the speaker. Then get the 5v from the dock and make a cable or adapter to go to the Evo's mini usb port. It's not the best solution, but I do have all of the parts already. If I didn't, headphones would suffice.
find the schematic for the ipod dock and solder a headphone jack to the audio inputs on the connector and you're done. I have done the same thing and it worked just fine for my friend that I did it for.
the thing that sucks about that is you will need an extra cable to charge the phone.
speedracerbubba said:
find the schematic for the ipod dock and solder a headphone jack to the audio inputs on the connector and you're done. I have done the same thing and it worked just fine for my friend that I did it for.
the thing that sucks about that is you will need an extra cable to charge the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hence my bluetooth idea.
I did some digging around a couple weeks ago and came across this
talkandroid.com/guides/ipod-dock-adapter-for-motorola-droidmilestone/
It sucks you need the 3.5 adapter, but better than letting letting a perfectly good dock sit and collect dust.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I just ordered a couple of these last week. My car has an ipod adapter, and this should let me connect to that and connect the 3mm to my EVO.
It's coming from Hong Kong so may be a bit longer before it's delivered. I'll report back when I get it.
I can't post links yet - go to bestofferbuy.com and search
"3.5mm Male to iPod/iPhone 2G/3G/3GS Female Adapter Cable - Black (95CM-Length)"
It's $2.60 shipped so I bought two. Can't go wrong for 5bucks
oooo ^ good find. picked up two myself.
I've been using one of these in my car for about 6 months now, originally it was to have audio from netbook. It has now been doing me good on the evo.
*correct the link and bingo... Cant post the real link because of my noobness
w w w.cablejive.com/products/Dock-Input-Cable.html
I had the same problem, I think the best solution is to go Bluetooth. This will future proof you for phone changes down the line as well. Long story short, here is the best solution I've found and it works great! Just connect it to your ipod cable and stream over Bluetooth. So far it has worked with everything ipod, iPhone and iPad that I own, especially my custom installed iPhone stereo connector.
Just look up item number 190402178083 on eBay.
Sent from my EVO 4G using XDA App
Step 1: Buy some Sugru or ShapeLock
Step 2: Buy Cheapie $1 headphones
Step 3: Buy iPod female Dock connector and MicroUSB Male end
Step 4: Use Pinout.ru to connect the points appropriately (iPod dock connector pins are pretty small and you must work quickly or your will melt the plastic, do not forget the internal resistors if needed for your application)
Step 5: Wrap it up in Sugru or Shapelock (use hairdryer to smooth it out with your hands)
Step 6: Paint and Enjoy!
Creating custom cables and docks and such is really not that difficult, just need some decent soldering skill and patience.
You could also just buy this:
http://www.cablejive.com/universal-dock-converter
FIPO Bluetooth
I use this in my BMW for streaming over the bluetooth to the stereo. Works great and convient to just start the car and the Evo start playing music/podcast/etc.
FIPO Amazon Sprint search will turn up the 20 dollar adapter.
Childofthehorn said:
Creating custom cables and docks and such is really not that difficult, just need some decent soldering skill and patience.
http://www.cablejive.com/universal-dock-converter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of us do have the necessary skills, but do not want a ugly wire staring us in the face. Also the components themselves tend to get expensive when ripping apart 3 different cords for parts... not to mention when someone tries this and melts something, then you have to go through the hassle of ordering more components. That is the main reason we come here, because someone may already be on the job.
Now..... if your offering to do it, and you have a pricetag and are willing to offer support in case it doesn't work or kills our phones or car stereos, then I am all ears. But definitely thanks for the link.
As far as BT goes, the one poster is kind of right, I think the phone industry is betting on bluetooth, although its been 15 years, and BT performance is still at best Mediocre.
00-Photon said:
I had the same problem, I think the best solution is to go Bluetooth. This will future proof you for phone changes down the line as well. Long story short, here is the best solution I've found and it works great! Just connect it to your ipod cable and stream over Bluetooth. So far it has worked with everything ipod, iPhone and iPad that I own, especially my custom installed iPhone stereo connector.
Just look up item number 190402178083 on eBay.
Sent from my EVO 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now that is sweet! best solution yet!
What if we took audio out from the HDMI port?
Brutal-Force said:
Also the components themselves tend to get expensive when ripping apart 3 different cords for parts... not to mention when someone tries this and melts something, then you have to go through the hassle of ordering more components.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, But there are those of us with drive to do something unique and have something that fits our needs exactly. DealExtreme.com is a great place to buy the cables to be ripped up and dollar stores can be a real treasure trove. Craft/ART stores also have a lot of things which can be easily repurposed.
Brutal-Force said:
Now..... if your offering to do it, and you have a pricetag and are willing to offer support in case it doesn't work or kills our phones or car stereos, then I am all ears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to be a person who did his kind of work in college, but it is time consuming and repetitive. Plus, this is likely a market of people who are not willing to spend great amounts of money on handmade products. Even if someone charged $30 each it would not be worth the average techies time, but a worthwhile effort for a high school or college student with the drive to learn and perfect.
Brutal-Force said:
As far as BT goes, the one poster is kind of right, I think the phone industry is betting on bluetooth, although its been 15 years, and BT performance is still at best Mediocre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct in MOST scenarios!
It is more of an issue not with the BT technology itself rather the way it is popularly implemented. BT does have the ability to send out very high quality audio streams and many of which are nearly lossless in quality. The issues are with the device that streams and the device that receives. The chosen connection type between the two devices must be mutual. Problem is that most BT devices streaming A2DP use only SBC coding of varied bit rate and quality.
Now if you have a really well done setup that is very thought out you can have your EVO sending out a pure 320kbps MP3 or AAC or other compatible stream direct with no conversion being done in real time to a BT receiver which is MP3, etc. stream compatible and has an excellent, typically non-chip integrated, DAC with a nice buffered output. Problem is that many BT receiver chips are made to be as cheap as possible, have crappy dacs, and push out very little power (or simply have no buffer at all) to even crappier speakers. When you combine that with real time conversion of MP3 and other formats to SBC at an even lower bit rate, you have an even worse experience.
IMO, the headphone output on the EVO does not sound that good and if you have a car that does accept MP3 320k BT streams and you use an alternative media player like meridian that allows that kind of behavior, then it should be fine for even above average car audio.
Have a Great Listening Experience!
JoeBass said:
I just ordered a couple of these last week. My car has an ipod adapter, and this should let me connect to that and connect the 3mm to my EVO.
It's coming from Hong Kong so may be a bit longer before it's delivered. I'll report back when I get it.
I can't post links yet - go to bestofferbuy.com and search
"3.5mm Male to iPod/iPhone 2G/3G/3GS Female Adapter Cable - Black (95CM-Length)"
It's $2.60 shipped so I bought two. Can't go wrong for 5bucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great find! Just ordered one for myself
Childofthehorn said:
True, But there are those of us with drive to do something unique and have something that fits our needs exactly. DealExtreme.com is a great place to buy the cables to be ripped up and dollar stores can be a real treasure trove. Craft/ART stores also have a lot of things which can be easily repurposed.
I used to be a person who did his kind of work in college, but it is time consuming and repetitive. Plus, this is likely a market of people who are not willing to spend great amounts of money on handmade products. Even if someone charged $30 each it would not be worth the average techies time, but a worthwhile effort for a high school or college student with the drive to learn and perfect.
You are correct in MOST scenarios!
It is more of an issue not with the BT technology itself rather the way it is popularly implemented. BT does have the ability to send out very high quality audio streams and many of which are nearly lossless in quality. The issues are with the device that streams and the device that receives. The chosen connection type between the two devices must be mutual. Problem is that most BT devices streaming A2DP use only SBC coding of varied bit rate and quality.
Now if you have a really well done setup that is very thought out you can have your EVO sending out a pure 320kbps MP3 or AAC or other compatible stream direct with no conversion being done in real time to a BT receiver which is MP3, etc. stream compatible and has an excellent, typically non-chip integrated, DAC with a nice buffered output. Problem is that many BT receiver chips are made to be as cheap as possible, have crappy dacs, and push out very little power (or simply have no buffer at all) to even crappier speakers. When you combine that with real time conversion of MP3 and other formats to SBC at an even lower bit rate, you have an even worse experience.
IMO, the headphone output on the EVO does not sound that good and if you have a car that does accept MP3 320k BT streams and you use an alternative media player like meridian that allows that kind of behavior, then it should be fine for even above average car audio.
Have a Great Listening Experience!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that was a mouthfull. Thanks though, it helps a little. I did spend quite a while researching different Bluetooth headsets. But alas, as you have pointed out, although most of what is considered to be high end headsets, still only use bluetooth 2.0. The EVO also doesn't do a very good job at streaming bluetooth. Pandora and Music Player skip horribly. I was not aware that Meridian did a better job. I guess, that might have been another option.
As far as the bluetooth headsets go though, if your looking for A2DP, the selection is still limited, unless you want a dongle type headset, which IMO, you might as well use a wire. The Motorola, Rocketfish and Jabra headsets of top end just don't do as good a job as seating properly, unless you spend 50+ dollars on a custom ear piece.
There really are a lot of trade-offs in audio performance, but a good set high quality ear buds or headphones are hard to beat. Then comes the Car audio as well as home audio into play. I use mine as a MP3 player both on the go and in the car. My car has a Audio In jack, so I am happy with that.
I ordered a E5 Amplifier to go with mine, it should be here in a week or two. While my headset has finally broken in, I could do with about 10-20% more volume, but I am hoping for a little improved base since it will have the power to push my Vmoda Remix.
Brutal-Force said:
Well, that was a mouthful....
The Motorola, Rocketfish and Jabra headsets of top end just don't do as good a job as seating properly, unless you spend 50+ dollars on a custom ear piece.
There really are a lot of trade-offs in audio performance, but a good set high quality ear buds or headphones are hard to beat.
I ordered a E5 Amplifier to go with mine, it should be here in a week or two. While my headset has finally broken in, I could do with about 10-20% more volume, but I am hoping for a little improved base since it will have the power to push my Vmoda Remix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, The E5 is a decent beginner set. You may want to look at building a CMoy at some point, make sure to use slightly larger electrolytic caps and good film caps (resistors don't matter as much). If you make one with good parts and socketed chip, you can roll in to your flavor and it will take portable amps that are $100 or more to beat it. As far as kit amps go, its hard to beat a Mini3 for $100 to put together yourself.
I only say this as a person who actually owns a $450 Portable Amp and $575 Custom triple driver In-ear's. Don't even get me started about the stuff that is at home (I have way too much audio crap!)
BTW - you can make your own custom silicone ear pieces by using some Sugru or if you know an audiologist, you can get some of the Westone two part silicone that they normally use for getting impressions. As with everything, be careful and YMMV.
I wish i had the time to work on getting a USB host for the EVO so that we could use external USB DAC's (like the very small alien and grub).
00-Photon said:
I had the same problem, I think the best solution is to go Bluetooth. This will future proof you for phone changes down the line as well. Long story short, here is the best solution I've found and it works great! Just connect it to your ipod cable and stream over Bluetooth. So far it has worked with everything ipod, iPhone and iPad that I own, especially my custom installed iPhone stereo connector.
Just look up item number 190402178083 on eBay.
Sent from my EVO 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just ordered this too. The cable I ordered from Bestofferbuy . c o m was backordered, so I canceled. I agree with you, this should do the trick, saw it on another forum and looks like it will also allow some steering wheel functionality.
I ordered two through amazon, also found it on geek . com. Searching either with "Sprint Anycom Bluetooth A2DP Reciever" will get you there.
Would it be possible for our phones to have a FM transmitter so we can wirelessly play music through our car without a cord/attachment? Or does our phone simply not have the software to be able to?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
I think it's more an issue with hardware, not software.
Luckily, if you search Amazon, there are a lot of cheaper ones you can find that work pretty well. I unfortunately have a car deck that does not have the AUX input (it does allow me to plug my ipod in through the glove compartment though) so I know what you're going through.
Ummmm... Ok?
I also do not have an AUX input, but today I just installed this into my car (the itrips, etc. just didn't do the job) and I am loving it. It wasn't as smooth a install as I would have liked, but the quality is far superior to the wireless ones.
http://www.amazon.com/PAC-IS32-Modulator-Charging-Audio/dp/B004613FCE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344913514&sr=8-1&keywords=is32
There are many 'Headphone jack' FM transmitters out there.. Most by Belkin, Scosche, Koss, etc will be along the same quality and roughly the same $40ish bucks. There are actually a couple Bluetooth visor-clip handsfree adapters now that have the Bluetooth music profiles and an FM transmitter built in if you dont want an extra dongle hanging out of the phone. I have a Jabra laying around that does that and it worked pretty well.. I used it before I bought a built-in speakerphone kit.
--- Umm seriously, why do I have to wait 5 minutes to edit my own post? That's just stupid.
I bought a belkin for my sister for her birthday and had to return it because the sound is terrible but then I found one at walmart for about $30 in the automotive department and it sounds as crisp as if is connected in an auxiliary jack, it also as a usb port to charge your phone and if I am not mistaken it can mount your phone giving it control, and if you have a well placed light or charging position it would be convenient, it also has slot to mount a regular sd card directly... it has a display with controls and remote control included.
world wide web dot walmart dot com /ip/Scosche-FM-Transmitter/16652629
I bought an install kit like the one posted from amazon. It puts a little ground noise in the speaker, especially if I use the charger simultaneously. It's all strapped in, inside the console, and my six foot cord comes out of a small hole in the back the cd pocket under the radio.
The right way to do it would be to power the modulator directly from the battery, not the radio fuse. And maybe even a power-line filter depending on how the modulator acts. But who has time for that?
http://www.inateck.com/inateck-bp2001-10w-bluetooth-stereo-speaker/
Inateck® Wireless 10W Stereo Bluetooth Portable Speaker Built-in Hands Free Speakerphone and Rechargable Battery Works With iPhone, Samsung, Nexus, iPod, iPad, Mp3 player, Tablet PC, Laptop, Computers, Android Smartphones And more Bluetooth Enabled Devices, Support 3.5mm Audio Cable Connection, Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR, Portable Stand for Tablets Smartphones, Black (Wireless Phone Accessory)
i wanted a affordable bluetooth speaker for at home and outside by the pool ect and found all of that in this unit. some of the features are:
- Bluetooth
- Call button
- Rubber foot pads
- Aux in
- MicroUSB charging
the packaging was very well done and the unit is very slim and looks great and very sturdy hard plastic was pleasing to the eye . in the box was the bluetooth unit,(1) usb power cable and a simple to follow users manual. the unit came almost fully charged so i jumped right in and powered it up and when phone paired with the unit i was alerted that pairing was done with a sound and a flashing bluetooth icon illuminated on the unit. very nice to see a "call button" on the unit and something other units are lacking.the call button. the unit also has a built-in rechargeable lithium battery so no worries the the unit will die after only a few hours of use and i was able to get 7hrs of use and still battery was not fully depleted. on the back of the unit is a very handy kickstand which is also a great idea since i have a ipad and a large NOTE 3 phone that demand a solid base as both are large/heavy units. the pullout kickstand really gives my large tablet stability in landscape or portrait. And this also keeps it level on the table or desk. the top of unit is has a large "cutout" lined with rubber to securely hold phone/tab ect in place and soft rubber makes a nice stable (scratch free) area to support such devices. the sound quality was excellent and even on full volume no distortion unlike other units i have had in the past. overall i gave the unit 5 stars for ease of use/price and sound quality.
This is a Review of Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless Bluetooth headphones (M2 AEBT). http://en-us.sennheiser.com/momentum-wireless-headphones-with-mic , also available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SNI44CQ/
While waiting to receive my review unit of recently introduced Sennheiser Momentum 2 Wireless headphones, I was both excited and a bit concerned. Personally, I thought it was a risky move for Sennheiser to make a leap from a wired headphone world where they are a well known audiophile player and into a wireless universe dominated by products fueled with celebrity endorsements and exaggerated bass. Wireless Bluetooth technology has been maturing year after year, and now with BT4.x and aptX codec the performance of BT headphones have improved significantly with a sound being less compressed, more dynamic, and with a better transparency through a digital domain delivered to your headphones. But you still need to consider D/A conversion, amplification, and transport of analog signal to your headphone drivers. This fusion of digital wireless domain and analog driver tuning is the biggest challenge to tackle in order to deliver a transparent natural sound, something Sennheiser wired headphones are well known for. So, was Momentum 2 able to accomplish this wirelessly? You BETTER BELIEVE IT!!! Here is what I found.
Arrived in a sturdy cardboard box packaging, I had to pause for a second while looking at the cover picture. Even so it was a familiar image from my review of the original wired Momentum, I still took a moment to enjoy sexy lines of their design. Before opening the box, I usually like to take a tour around it to get acquainted with key features, list of accessories, design details, and technical spec data. Some of this info really stands out with key features of 22 hr battery life, BT + aptX support, NFC pairing, Active Noise Canceling (ANC), foldable design, wireless and wired connection, and 2 year warranty – quite an impressive list to get you excited for what awaits inside of the box. With a cover off, you will find a compact case made out of a soft material (kind of reminds me of suede texture) inside of a foam cutout, a familiar display setting I found with other Momentum models, though case material usually varies.
Unboxing.
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In addition to this soft touch case with a yellow stitching around the edges, other included accessories (all inside of the case) were a detachable audio cable, usb to micro-usb charging/data cable, a flight adapter, a soft draw-string pouch with headphones inside and the pouch placed in the case, and a comprehensive quick guide. Personally I prefer a more heavy duty hard shell case and eventually will look for one which shouldn’t be a problem to find since Momentum 2 has a foldable design, but I do have to admit this case looks really sweet with a yellow stitching matching the one used on leather headband. Audio cable has a right angled gold plated slim connector going to your audio source and 2.5mm twist-on connector going to earcup. This is the same connector used in the original wired Momentum, and my only comment here is that I would have liked to see some kind of an alignment marker so you know when connector is engaged and twisted correctly inside of earcup, but with a few tries you get used to it anyway.
Flight adapter is rather rare to see nowadays, but it also very appropriate since a lot of people use headphones with ANC during their travel, and sometimes you're required to turn off Bluetooth on a plane (putting your phone in airplane mode). Having a wired connection gives you the flexibility to use headphones when battery is low or when you don’t have access to Bluetooth or in a situation like an airplane. USB to micro-usb connector is obviously for charging, but there is also another undocumented feature which I’m going to talk about later in the review.
Accessories.
I already mentioned that unfolded Momentum 2 looks just like its original predecessor. You get the same stainless steel metal arc headband, split at the top, partially wrapped in premium leather with a dense foam padding inside and yellow stitching around the edges. Instead of a typical height adjustment mechanism and headphone yoke, you can slide the earcup up/down across a slit of exposed stainless steel headband sides. The sliding adjustment is very fluid and easily controlled with one hand without being too tight or too loose. The earcup itself is attached to a mounting pin and has a full 360deg pivoting rotation to adjust comfortably to the anatomy of your head and your ears. This adjustment mechanism has a pure German engineering quality written all over it, and at the same time it has a very fashionable modern-classic look. The wires from earcups going to headband are flexible and still have a heavy duty shielding. At the point of their entry to headband you will find 4 metal screws for additional security.
One of the most noticeable design changes introduced with Momentum 2 (both wired and wireless) has to be a foldable headband. Such mechanism is easy to implement with a traditional headband where you can design-in foldable hinges. Looks like Sennheiser decided to challenge themselves keeping the original design, making it look identical from outside, and adding a durable locking hinge on inside right at the point where leather band wrapping begins. This is another example of well executed German engineering - done with a slim hinge which is hardly noticeable from outside. The only comment I have here, you have to be careful when folding earcups in to make sure metal endpoints of the headband don't brush against leather earpads.
And speaking of earpads, you will be pleased to know these have been updated with a bigger opening in comparison to the original Momentum headphones. I never had issues with those original Momentum earpads, though my ears are just average and about 60mm in height. For me with original earpads it was tight but still comfortable. The new earpads are just perfect with an approximate opening of about 65mm in height, but that doesn't mean that 70-75mm ears won't fit in. The earpads are deep, with memory foam and a soft leather wrapping. According to a quick start guide, they are removable and replaceable, so it's definitely a big plus. The donut shape of earpads is not symmetrical where the thicker part is faced toward the back making fitment more comfortable. This also means that you can't flip left/right sides and always have to put headphones one way. The L/R marking is inside of the headband, right underneath of the hinges, and you also get 3 dimples on the outside of the left side at the folding edge, though I wish those dimples would be a little bigger for a “blind” id.
Looking closer at earcups, you will find the Left one having NFC pair up area and what appears to be a two microphone grills. A spec of M2 Wireless lists NoiseGard hybrid feature using 4 mics where I assume these are two of them. Right earcup is where you will find the actual controls. First of all you have a port for 2.5mm cable with twist-on lock, and also micro-usb port for charging and USB DAC input (more about it later). As a right handed person, I prefer cable attachment on the left side, but it’s not an issue moving forward since I’m planning to use these headphones mostly wireless. Right next to it you have another long microphone grill and 2 control buttons. One is a Power button (with led next to it) which also serves a purpose of initiating BT pair up once you hold it down. The other control has a spring-loaded rocking multifunction push button where you push it once for Play/Pause/Call and rock it up/down for a volume control. Furthermore, double and triple click while playing audio will trigger skip track next/prev, and double click and hold or triple click and hold will trigger a fast-forward/-back transport control. In idle, triple click informs you about battery status.
Design details.
Moving on to Bluetooth functionality of these new Momentum beauties, let me first start with a "digital" domain of the design. As it was mentioned before, Momentum 2 Wireless supports BT4.0 and aptX codec which is among the latest Bluetooth standards that enables high definition sound without lossy compression of the source. Pair up was effortless and headphones connected to phone and media audio without a problem. As an alternative you can also use NFC pair up. Keep in mind, with power on, ANC will be enabled automatically and you can’t disable it. Also, I had no issues making/receiving clear phone calls, though it was a bit of a new hearing experience considering ANC noise isolation.
Another way to connect to your source is wired, using detachable cable. With wired connection you have an option to use headphones in passive mode (with power off) or active mode (with power on). According to Momentum 2 spec, this will change input impedance (where btw, the packaging box has a typo so please refer to a spec on the web), thus you will be able to drive Momentum 2 wired with power off like a regular pair of cans, even with addition of external portable amp if you prefer to. With a power on, I would recommend direct connection without any external amping to avoid sound artifacts. I don’t know the exact chipset inside of these earcups, but once you turn the power on sound becomes wider/deeper, more textured and better balanced (especially when it comes to bass) - suggesting a high quality of internal DAC and maybe some amplification stage. Furthermore, with addition of ANC you will also hear a cleaner black background.
Now, here comes a total undocumented surprise! You can push Momentum 2 wired performance even further by using a direct USB connection to your smartphone or laptop/PC. Yes, in a typical fashion of USB OTG connection (to your smartphone) or USB DAC connection (to your computer) you can now bypass analog HO driven by low quality internal DACs inside of your phone or laptop. It’s hard to quantify the level of improvement since with some of the latest phones, like my Note 4, I find a lot of USB OTG DACs to offer only a marginal step up, but when it comes to laptops – you can expect a better wired sound through usb cable.
USB OTG / USB DAC functionality.
Before I proceed to a more detailed sound analysis, I want to bring up another key feature of these headphones – Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). I typically don’t require ANC in my everyday routine since I don’t take public transportation or work in a noisy environment. As a matter of fact, I probably wouldn’t even take these headphones outdoors. But I’m well aware that a lot of people rely on it during their daily activities and very serious about the quality of ANC implementation. I have briefly tested ANC offered by other headphones, and a lot of you probably will agree that Bose is at the top of that game, but I also found Momentum 2 Wireless to be not too far behind and sometimes even better than others (such as noisy hiss of Beats Wireless Studio). Personally, I was pleased with a quality of noise reduction implemented in Momentum 2, and found no annoying hissing or periodic pulsating white noise. There were some occasional bursts, but it happens rarely. I’m not going to carry on about these having the best ANC in the world, and in my opinion if this is your only top priority – Momentum 2 Wireless is not for you. But considering everything else these headphones have to offer and their outstanding performance, ANC implementation is just an icing on a cake!!! And just to be clear, ANC implementation in Momentum 2 Wireless doesn't feel like an afterthought feature added to make them look complete. This is actually a well functioning active noise cancellation!
So how do these sound? I tested them both wired and wireless, and found some interesting differences. As it was previously mentioned, in wired mode you have an option of passive mode (w/power off) and active mode (w/power on and ANC enabled). In passive mode the input impedance is 28 ohms and headphones function just like a regular wired set of cans which you can drive directly from HO of your audio source or through external amp. Even so stock OFC cable does its job well, I was testing these using Whiplash Modular Cable (Pure Silver Litz cable) with a custom 2.5mm connector that plugs right into earcup without a need for a twist-on lock.
Whiplash modular cable.
In this passive mode I found sound to be well balanced and with just slightly overwhelming mid-bass hump. What is interesting, the impact of this bass enhancement only comes out to play in the tracks with a strong 4x4 kick/bass drum, while it was hardly noticeable in mellow tracks. In general, wired passive mode is OK if you completely drained your battery, but I personally prefer to keep active mode always on. As soon as you turn on the power of active mode, you are greeted with an improved sound tuning and an expanded soundstage. One interesting phenomenon, most likely due to internal DAC, in active mode the input impedance goes up to 480 ohms (!!!), and it becomes quite noticeable since the volume drops and you need to compensate it from your source.
In active mode with a stock cable sound signature was close to a wireless mode performance. It was a very impressive comparison since this is a truly best audiophile quality wireless sound I heard to date. When I switched to Whiplash Pure Silver cable, level of detail retrieval went up and sound became just a little bit brighter and crispier. That was also expected and I was very pleased with a level of improvement using a custom cable. But for the sake of my testing, I will refer to how Momentum 2 sounds in a wireless mode of operation since I consider it to be the most important characteristics of these headphones.
So, overall I found Sennheiser Momentum 2 Wireless to have a balanced sound signature with a smooth warm organic tone and moderately enhanced bass.
Starting with a low end, you have a good extension down to a sub-bass layer which is smooth and well balanced with a mid-bass punch. The bass presence is excellent and builds a strong warm foundation without muddying the sound or overwhelming the rest of the frequency range. Also, it is well controlled without spilling too much into lower mids. The mid-bass hump I experienced in passive wired mode was completely gone and smoothed out as soon as you enter active mode.
Mids are warm and smooth, maybe just slightly recessed. They contribute to a full body sound starting with a thicker lower mids and going into a detailed lush of upper mids. Both male and female vocal delivery was very smooth and organic with an intimate feeling. Even though mids are warm and smooth, they still have an excellent retrieval of details without being harsh or analytically bright.
Treble is relaxed, detailed, organic, not too crisp or grainy and without any sign of sibilance. These are definitely great for extended listening period without ear fatigue. Some might perceive treble extension as a bit rolled off, but after a closer listening you realize that it's just a warm nature of the sound.
As I mentioned before, in passive mode soundstage was just average, controlled by your source, but once you put it in an active mode - soundstage expanded to a 3D depth and width with an amazing separation and layering of sounds.
Conclusion.
Overall, I know that wireless experience can vary depending on the make and the vintage of your phone or tablet, BT version and aptX support, Android vs Apple (where aptX is not even supported by iDevices), and perhaps your location due to surrounding that can interfere with a signal. But in my everyday use during a test period I experienced a flawless performance with a wireless sound quality that rivals some of the top wired headphones I’ve tested. Of course a big factor in sound quality has to do with a great job Sennheiser team done in tuning of these headphones to have a warm and natural full body sound that oozes with a high level of detail retrieval. When people think of wireless headphones, usually convenience of cutting a chord is at the top of their list. With Momentum 2 Wireless you don’t have to compromise a sound quality and can add it at the top of your priority list as well. On top of that Momentum 2 Wireless has a remarkable 22hrs battery life, a choice of wired or wireless connection, USB DAC support to connect to your smartphone or PC/laptop, very high quality build and comfortable fitment, convenience of foldable design, latest Bluetooth with aptX support and also NFC pairing, 2 year extended warranty, and of course a bonus of very capable Active Noise Cancellation making Momentum 2 Wireless a complete package with a great value even at its premium price.
smatree said:
seems great
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It's the BEST!!! Pure Sennheiser sound quality in BT wireless with aptX audio codec.
Great review.
Got two questions tho:
1. How can you tell that aptX mode is enabled and working. Is there any notification icon on Android device?
2. Is it possible for you to receive record your voice? I am heavy phone call and Lync/Skype/Hangous user and the quality of my voice is extremely important for me.
Thank you for a really good review.
These headphones are really really good, bought them during a 1 hour sale for around 360 bucks, money that I dont reaaaaally had for the moment but it turned out to be worth it .
1 question. In one of your pictures you have connected the phones to your computer via usb and it shows up as an input/output device, do you need to do something with the headphones to do that or?
sorcgsdf said:
Thank you for a really good review.
These headphones are really really good, bought them during a 1 hour sale for around 360 bucks, money that I dont reaaaaally had for the moment but it turned out to be worth it .
1 question. In one of your pictures you have connected the phones to your computer via usb and it shows up as an input/output device, do you need to do something with the headphones to do that or?
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You need to have the power on (so that internal usb dac is powered) and just connect it. If I remember correctly, it was recognized by Win7 as is.
I know this is pretty old, but I came here from google looking for info and your review its much better than browsing 200 pages of head-fi.
thanks for it, appreciated.
Headphones
The best headsets under Rs.1000 is definitely the Boat Rockerz 510. It comes with an exceptional build quality and marvellous sound perfect for Gaming. It is designed specially to run for long hours. I bought these headsets from VPLAK as they offered me the headsets at a much reasonable rate compared to other websites.
Insanely good review! This is how all reviews should be!
I can add to your excellent review that trying to connect the Momentum 2 AEBT to the Sennheiser Smart Control app is a friggin' mega-pain.. (if even possible). I can connect them to my phone without any problems at all, but it's impossible to get the sennheiser app to find any device AT ALL.. tried everything and the app just won't find my headphones. I have followed every guide, checked compatibility with my phone and still no success. I have seen that some people even reinstalled the app 10 times before they got it working..
Exanimus said:
Insanely good review! This is how all reviews should be!
I can add to your excellent review that trying to connect the Momentum 2 AEBT to the Sennheiser Smart Control app is a friggin' mega-pain.. (if even possible). I can connect them to my phone without any problems at all, but it's impossible to get the sennheiser app to find any device AT ALL.. tried everything and the app just won't find my headphones. I have followed every guide, checked compatibility with my phone and still no success. I have seen that some people even reinstalled the app 10 times before they got it working..
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Thanks! I shared this review 7 years ago which considered to be ancient I moved on to review high end audiophile equipment on Head-fi years ago as well as mirroring everything between Head-fi and my own review site.
If you don't need ANC and ok with TWS earphones, my favorite is still Hiby WH2 (DD version). Was the first pair of TWS to feature LDAC last year, even before Sony introduced it in their wf-1000xm4, not to mention it cost 1/3 of WFs.
Here’s my review on Choetech’s Wireless Bluetooth Audio Transmitter/Receiver
Product link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDV9ZHC
UPDATE: I just realized they have a PROMO code for $10 OFF to! ENTER this at amazon checkout: B8FC6Z6Q:good:
First off, this wireless bluetooth audio unit is truly a unique device. I love the ability to use it as a receiver and a transmitter! This device is about the size of a Gatorade cap - that’s nice. I can tell you that it also does exactly what it says, and it does it well!
I've used many different Bluetooth audio devices over time including big name devices like the Soundsports by Bose, Jawbone's Big Jambox, and many, many more. As far as it’s ability to respond to your needs, Choetech’s 2-in-1 Wireless Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver is right up there with the more expensive units. For me to be happy with any Bluetooth device it had better be able to produce one thing - this can be summed up in a word like 'reliability' or 'consistency'. After all, if a Bluetooth device can't be found or can’t connect, what good is it? Choetech's Bluetooth 4.1 drivers are solid. I've had no issues with connectivity.
Secondly, I don't respond well at all to choppy or finicky audio connections. As a wedding DJ, I can say there is simply no room for that type of trouble! I didn't expect anything less than perfect when it came to the build quality of this Bluetooth transmitter. After all, Choetech have always produced some of the best wires and connectors in the game when it comes to devices and accessories.
If they would add an optical in/out port to it, that would be incredible. Maybe on the next one?
Anyways, if this device looks like it'll do the trick, and suit your needs, I'm here to say this is the one. If you're torn between brands, I can tell you Choetech's the way to go! I hope this helps someone! Thanks!