Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM3: ANC Earbuds Shootout

Ever since Sony launched the WF-1000XM3 true wireless earbuds in 2019, they’ve been the “buds to beat” in virtually each sense. With killer sound, battery life, and lively noise cancellation, there may be little or no these earbuds don’t get proper.
However private audio tech — particularly within the true wi-fi class — is on hyperdrive proper now, and even the most effective don’t get to remain on the high for lengthy. So now that Sennheiser has released an ANC-equipped second version of its pricey-yet-powerful Momentum True Wireless earbuds, the query is: Has Sony met its match?
We put these kings of true wi-fi audio head-to-head to search out out. Right here’s what we’ve discovered:

Value

Sony’s top-of-the-line true wi-fi earbuds began life promoting for $230, which put the WF-1000XM3 in one thing of a candy spot. It made them $19 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods Pro (one other nice ANC possibility) and $30 costlier than the Jabra Elite Active 75t — an outstanding alternative for non-ANC true wi-fi. Nonetheless, a current value drop to $200 makes them much more attractive.
Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wi-fi 2, at $300, are available at very almost the prime quality for these devices. It’s the identical value as the wonderful Master and Dynamic MW07 Plus, which we’ve beforehand known as the most effective sound you will get in a set of true wi-fi buds. So far as we all know, solely Bang and Olufsen’s sky-high Beoplay E8 value extra at $350.
Sony positively has the sting right here with a $70-$100 financial savings over the Momentum True Wi-fi 2, however maybe Sennheiser can justify its increased value with higher efficiency.
Winner: WF-1000XM3

Design, consolation, and match

So far as true wi-fi earbuds go, Sony’s WF-1000XM3 are outliers design-wise. Their outer shell — the half everybody sees — is an elongated oval and it seems extra like the primary hands-free Bluetooth headsets that hit the market greater than a decade in the past.
For some, that makes them a bit onerous to like. However there’s no denying that regardless of the clunky look, they match very comfortably and their bigger dimension really makes them a bit simpler to insert and take away than different designs. Their contact/tap-sensitive surfaces are straightforward to make use of.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 2 preserve the identical design as the primary technology, however with a barely smaller general dimension. It’s a extra widespread method to earbuds nowadays with its compact, spherical form. Nonetheless, regardless of the smaller physique, the brand new Momentums nonetheless protrude from the ears fairly noticeably. Consolation and match are higher now that the earbuds are smaller, nevertheless it’s not a major change.
In a subjective class equivalent to this, it’s all the time onerous to declare a winner. Provided that neither product has any obtrusive points or any excellent options, we’re calling this one a draw.
Winner: Tie

Battery life

Usually a simple class to assign, the query of battery life will get difficult when evaluating the WF-1000XM3 and Momentum True Wi-fi 2.
Sennheiser claims seven hours of battery life for the Momentum True Wi-fi 2, a quantity that would seem to finest the WF-1000XM3, which solely claims six hours. However there’s extra to the story.
That seven-hour quantity is predicated on conserving noise-canceling turned off when utilizing the Momentum True Wi-fi 2, versus Sony’s quantity, which is predicated on having ANC turned on. When you activate ANC on the Momentums, their longevity drops to about 5.5 hours. Sennheiser doesn’t really state this on its product web page, so there’s a little bit of purchaser beware at play right here.
Not solely does WF-1000XM3 ship higher battery life with ANC turned on, but additionally with ANC turned off: The WFs can ship as much as eight hours, in comparison with the Momentum’s seven.
Once you issue within the capability of the charging instances, these gaps develop bigger: With ANC off, Sony guarantees 32 hours of complete listening time, and Sennheiser claims 28 hours. Turning ANC on, Sony delivers 24 hours, and we extrapolate that the Momentums gives you 22 hours, assuming that the ratio of recharges stays the identical.
Whether or not you select to make use of ANC or not, there’s no denying that the WF-1000XM3 can last more for those who want them to.
Editor’s word: In an earlier model of this comparability, we picked the Momentum True Wi-fi 2 because the winner of the battery life class; nevertheless, that was primarily based on a perception that Sennheiser’s claimed variety of seven hours was an ANC-on worth. As an alternative, it’s an ANC-off quantity.
Winner: WF-1000XM3

Options

sony-wf-1000xm3 — Dan Baker/Digital Tendencies

One other powerful one. Whether or not it’s the power to summon voice assistants with a faucet, management quantity and playback, or immediately be capable of hear the surface world, these two true wi-fi fashions are nearly neck-and-neck. Each have elective apps that allow you to customise controls, EQ, and extra. Each can provide you 90 minutes of listening time after 10 minutes of charging. Even their charging instances are remarkably related in that neither presents wi-fi charging and each use USB-C.
Nonetheless, there are just a few small variations. The WF-1000XM3’s charging case is a tad smaller and extra pocketable, and they're appropriate with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa (the Momentums don’t work with Alexa). However Sennheiser has given the Momentum True Wi-fi 2 an official IPX4 score and the earbuds have built-in equalizers.
We don’t assume these make for compelling causes to go along with one over the opposite.
Winner: Tie

Noise cancellation

We’re lastly on the level the place Sony’s once-dominant WF-1000XM3 at the moment are paying the worth for being one of many first true wi-fi earbuds with ANC. They’re nonetheless glorious, however Apple’s AirPods Pro are a bit better, and the Momentum True Wi-fi 2 are higher nonetheless.
In some methods, Sennheiser was naturally higher suited to reap the benefits of ANC. Once you begin with excellent sound high quality as Sennheiser has performed, any stage of ANC high quality will solely make it higher. Because it seems, Sennheiser’s ANC isn’t simply any stage of high quality — it’s excellent.
Sony, you had a great run, and we acknowledge that for those who hadn’t set the bar so excessive, others may not be nearly as good at present. However Sennheiser is superb — adequate, the truth is, to take this spherical.
Winner: Momentum True Wi-fi 2

Sound high quality

Right here’s one other class the place Sony has reliably stood as much as most challengers. However after we say “most,” we don't imply Sennheiser. Sennheiser’s authentic Momentum True Wi-fi had been our prompt favorites for sound high quality after they launched and solely the Grasp and Dynamic MW07 Plus ever posed a reputable risk. This, even supposing Sony’s DSEE HX audio upscaling expertise is often touted as a game-changer for lossy digital music.
The Momentum True Wi-fi 2 didn’t do a lot to enhance on the unique’s excellent acoustics, however they didn’t should. With a stage of element throughout each audible frequency — together with highly effective but balanced bass — the Momentums are true wi-fi audio bliss. Android customers can even be comfortable to know they assist aptX along with AAC, to maximise on their spectacular capabilities.
Winner: Momentum True Wi-fi 2

Conclusion

Momentum True Wi-fi 2

WF-1000XM3

Should you’re in search of the present state-of-the-art in relation to true wi-fi sound high quality and ANC, it’s no contest: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 2 are superb.
Nonetheless, if the concept of saving some cash whereas nonetheless getting glorious audio and noise-cancellation, don’t neglect it wasn’t that way back that the WF-1000XM3 had been the king of the true wi-fi hill. And in relation to battery life, they’re clearly greater than a match for many (if not all) of the present batch of true wi-fi earbuds.

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