Sports headphones put to the test: the best models for training

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With driving bass and fast beats on your ears, training is easier. Sports headphones with Bluetooth are the best choice in this case, because without a cable you have significantly more freedom of movement in the gym, for example. In-ears are the most widespread, and true wireless headphones in particular are rushing ahead. But no matter which style you prefer: headphones for athletes should be particularly robust, fit securely and have no problems with sweat or rain. Clever models even measure the pulse or give training tips. COMPUTER BILD has extensively tested sports headphones.
  • Very clear and precise sound
  • High resolution
  • Complicated relationship
  • Chunky transport box

The KEF Mu3 (price at the time of testing: 230 euros) are mainly known among discerning music fans. The small plugs delivered an excellent sound in the test and convinced with a long battery life of over nine hours. They are not designated sports headphones, but are still ideally suited for jogging, as their housing is waterproof and sweatproof thanks to IPX5 certification. For undisturbed training, they have active noise suppression on board that blocks out ambient noise such as cars driving by. Only the transport box is a bit big and unwieldy.

Price-performance tip: Beats Flex

  • Pleasant sound
  • Light (18 grams)
  • Bass muddy in the depths
  • Inserting fiddly

With a price of just under 50 euros at the time of the test, the Beats Flex are an insider tip despite their name. The neckband headphones deliver a pleasantly balanced sound. They weigh just 18 grams and are therefore hardly noticeable for athletes. Sports activities should not be too wet, because the manufacturer does not provide the Beats with an IP certification and therefore it is not guaranteed how well they can tolerate water.

This is how COMPUTER BILD tests sports headphones

Are they waterproof? Sports headphones are also asked this question in the COMPUTER-BILD test.

Sports headphones have to be particularly convincing when it comes to sound. This test point makes up 55 percent of the overall grade. Two testers listen to the headphones carefully, assessing the balance of the individual frequency ranges, for example. If the plugs have active noise suppression, check them in everyday situations. The testers also take a close look at the controls on the earphones and the smartphone. If the test candidates lack a volume control, for example, points are deducted.

Sports headphones test: This is how Beyerdynamic tests Blue Byrd (2nd gen)

Operation and wearing comfort are also important points in the sports headphone test.

Headphones also have to endure a trip on the scales. In the case of true wireless models, the testers weigh the supplied carrying case. The battery life is also important: the game time can be determined using a smartphone and the IFTTT and Macdroid apps. Last but not least, the COMPUTER-BILD testers test how well the sports headphones sit in or on the ear, both with a lot and with little movement.

Sports headphones: There are these types

The superordinate term sports headphones includes wireless earphones that can also be used for physical exercise. These include headband and neckband models as well as true wireless headphones:

  • Headphone: The headphones, which are usually quite large, sit on or enclose the ears. The models are only suitable to a limited extent for sporting activities, as they often offer little protection against moisture and are quite heavy. They need the right contact pressure and should neither be too loose nor press too hard on the ears. The biggest advantage of headphone headphones is the longer battery life. The devices offer more space for a more powerful battery.
  • Neckband headphones: A hybrid of wired and completely wireless headphones are models with a neck strap. The two earplugs are connected to each other by cable, and the connection to the smartphone is via Bluetooth. The advantages over true wireless models: They can be placed around the neck during listening breaks, they are not lost so quickly when jogging and have larger batteries. The middle piece between the plugs can be either a simple cord or a small bracket made of plastic or metal. The best in its class is the Beyerdynamic Blue Byrd (2nd generation). In the test it delivered a clean sound with finely resolved voices.
  • True wireless headphones: True wireless models also rely on a Bluetooth connection to the smartphone, but dispense with the connection cord between each other. For charging, the earphones come in the box supplied, which also has a battery. So the in-ears can be easily charged. With the AirPods, Apple has probably released the best-selling true wireless models.

The sports headphones with the best sound

  • Good fit
  • Noise canceling
  • Short battery life
  • Small buttons

Sure, sports headphones have to withstand a lot, but they should still sound good. In the test, the Bose SoundSport Free and Beats Powerbeats Pro were among the best sports headphones with their powerful and balanced sound, followed by the very pleasant-sounding Bose SoundSport Pulse and the Jabra models. The Sony WF-SP700N also convinced in the listening test. The bass of the small true wireless headphones is a bit cheeky, but quite motivating. The same applies to the new Sennheiser CX Sport, which also attracted attention with its emphasized low frequency range.

Waterproof and sweatproof: models for jogging and training

  • Very long battery life (11 hours 22 minutes)
  • Very good quick charge function
  • Charging case very large and heavy

If you want to be on the safe side when training, you should look for sports headphones that don’t mind water and sweat. The so-called IP ratings are a good starting point. For example, IPX4 means protection against splashing water from all sides. “But it’s raining” is no longer an excuse to skip jogging. The higher the number at the end of the IP class, the better the protection against moisture. IPX4, for example, offer models such as Beats Powerbeats Pro, Bose SoundSport Fri.e and Sony WF-SP700N – an in-ear with an electronic filter against ambient noise (noise-canceling). Promise even higher protection KEF Mu3, Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 and Plantronics BackBeat Fit 305 (all IPX5, protection against water jets from any angle) and JBL Reflect Flow Pro (IPX8, protection against immersion). When it comes to water resistance, the small print is always important: the headphones shouldn’t be more than a meter deep, and bathing fun shouldn’t last longer than half an hour, otherwise the water might seep through the seals. Headphones don’t like salt water and, more importantly, they don’t like washing-up liquid or shower gel either. This would allow the water to penetrate through the cracks. If you want to listen to music in a price-conscious way, the Taotronics TT-BH16 is an in-ear with IPX5 for less than 30 euros – but with significant reductions in sound.

Training with heart: sports headphones with pulse measurement

  • Very good fit with many fitting pieces included
  • Heart rate measurement right in the ear
  • Fiddly first installation in the ear

One person doesn’t need it, the other cannot do without it: when it comes to pulse measurement, opinions differ. If you want to monitor your heartbeat while exercising, you don’t necessarily need a sports watch or a chest strap. Some headphones can do that too, but these models are slowly becoming rare. For example, measure Bose SoundSport Pulse, Jabra Sport Pulse and Jabra Elite Sport determine the heart rate – all of them very precisely. The associated smartphone apps show the pulse, the Jabra app also offers fitness tests and training programs including tracking of the running or bike route and live coaching via headphones.

Headphones for training: also with a headband

  • Very long battery life (43:06 hours)
  • Washable upholstery
  • Press something on the ears
  • A little too bass-heavy, few details

Most sports headphones are in-ear headphones, but you can also see Bluetooth headphones with a headband in the gym. While the fitness of a Beats Studio3 Wireless for sports can be discussed, a Plantronics BackBeat Fit 505 with a special nano-coating or an Urbanears Hellas with washable upholstery specially designed for this use. The new Adidas RPT-01 is also washable – in the typical athlete knitting pattern and quite bass-heavy. There are recommended models that are not waterproof or do not have a heart rate measurement, but are still well suited for sports, for example the fine Sony WI-SP600N.

Testing Bluetooth headphones for sports

Sports headphones: the perfect training partner with Bluetooth

Sports headphones test: conclusion

There are suitable headphones for almost every sport. Joggers and cyclists who are also out and about in the rain use the Beats Powerbearts Pro. The true wireless headphones sit firmly and comfortably on and in the listeners thanks to the bracket. There is also an excellent battery life. the JBL Reflect Flow Pro Due to their waterproof housing (IPX8), they are also suitable for all types of water sports and have active noise suppression. For price-conscious athletes, Beats has exactly the right model: The Beats Flex deliver a decent sound and a good battery life. The neckband headphones are only suitable for indoor sports due to their lack of an IP protection level.

Sports headphones: you need to know that!

Which sports headphones are the best?

At the top of the sports headphones leaderboard are the KEF Mu3which impressed above all with their sound and long battery life. Joggers and cyclists who are also out and about in the rain are better off using them Beats Powerbearts Pro. The true wireless headphones have small arms with which they sit firmly in the ear without being uncomfortable.

Which headphones are suitable for jogging?

They are suitable for jogging Beats Powerbeats Pro due to their high wearing comfort and the water and sweat-repellent housing. If you also want to hide your surroundings, you can choose the test winner KEF Mu3. Thanks to the active noise cancellation, annoying street noise is barely audible. The Bose Soundsport Pulse.

Are sports headphones waterproof?

Only sports headphones with IP protection level X7 (maximum 30 minutes immersion up to one meter) or X8 (unlimited immersion up to one meter) are waterproof. These include, for example JBL Reflect Flow Pro.

Can you jog with big headphones?

As long as the headphones sit comfortably and firmly on the head, they are suitable for jogging. Models like Urbanears Hellas and Adidas RPT-01. Both headphones have washable ear pads, making them easy to clean after a very sweaty workout.



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