Sennheiser have long set the standard for headphone excellence, while the new 686 range is their latest product aimed at making a serious impression in the sports market.
As you would expect from a company with their track record, some serious research and design has gone into getting these on to the retail shelves, and the end product is suitably impressive.
Sennheiser commissioned research studies with leading universities to best understand the impacts that extreme sports movements have on the sound and fit of headphones.
On the back of that, high-tech materials were carefully selected to ensure comfort, water resistance, durability and maximum hygiene.
On all these fronts they seem to have cracked it. As you would expect with a Sennheiser product the sound quality is excellent, with performance punching well above what you might expect from the relatively small unit.
But the real test is when you start going for it with your training as there is nothing more annoying or distracting when your headphones slip or the wire catches.
These, it has to be said, stay pleasingly secure, allowing you to relax and focus on getting the most out of your work out.
They come in four styles for your preferred fit. The OCX (main picture) which clip behind the ear; the PMX (above left) which wrap around the head; and the MX and CX (above right) which have a slide to fit mechanism.
Meanwhile, the MX and CX are optimised for Android and Windows smart devices. The PMX and OCX will come in two variants, optimised for either Apple iOS (available from April) or to work with Android and Windows smart devices.
VERDICT: 9/10
Sennheiser, as per usual, delivers quality.
WHERE TO BUY: Jumbo Electronics
PRICE: MX & CX (Dh299); OMX & PMX (Dh449)
