Sennheiser Smart Control Plus

Definitely in love with these headphones. I was initially skeptical about having to download an App just to listen, but I now understand it's an enhancement, and not just a data-grab. The noise canceling is really great and effective. I was a litte disappointed with the "Neutral" sound setting, but that was before I downloaded the app and explored all the mixing options. 100% satisfied with sound quality now. Although I rated 5 stars, I just have a few recommendations: 1. the sliding scale buttons (Transparency, etc) on the app could be a little larger, my thumb misses them often. 2. The external contols on the right earpiece are not very intuitive and not designed for fine-tuning. Best reserved for making something Way-louder or way-softer. 3. The Quick Start instructions are terrible, where are the words? The infograms are not as decipherable as you think. 4. I think you need to create a "priority connections" option under the list of known devices. I like the multi point connection, but I can't reorder the list. 5. Lastly, I would love an iphone homescreen widget. Thanks!

THIS is how apps that control headphones should be designed. Using it with the HDB 630 is such a joy. If you want it simple, you can get simple. However, if you want expert with precision, they say, “Here you go!” instead of “We know better.” PEQ is such a joy to use. If you’re comfortable and familiar, the controls are super accessible. I was initially concerned about dialing parameters on a small smartphone screen, but the UX team has done a great job making the controls super smooth to use. I appreciate having a way to just enter numbers, too. Thanks, Sennheiser, for setting the bar high. Other headphone app product teams have a long way to go to catch up.

The Smart Control Plus app is really one of the best headphone companion apps I have ever used. It has a very clean, sleek, and modern design. The feature settings are straightforward to locate and adjust; I really appreciate the broad range of options I am able to change. This app gives me most of the options I want without being cluttered. That said, the one thing that I find sorely missing is, hopefully, something Sennheiser is listening to: a real 10-band parametric EQ. The 5-band design does much to remind us of the possibilities, but it feels like a system without enough levels of control for any user wanting something a little more refined. To add to this is the problem that the app does not display the Q value of each of the bands, which makes it hard to know just how narrow or how wide each adjustment is. For someone attempting to nail down a more precise or Harman-target-like sound signature, this is paramount. These headphones are definitely pitched at the audiophile crowd with features such as an audiophile-grade sound mode. It's downright shocking to consider that you might need to get a Qudelix 5K just to have EQ control that really ought to be at the fingertips of a product at this price point and for this target market. Please take into consideration the addition of a 10-band parametric EQ for a future update-the demand for such is clearly there among your more audio-conscious users. If this happens, my rating for this app will easily be a 5/5!