Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: Elevating True Wireless Experience with Enhanced Design and Sound Quality

The current top-tier true wireless earphones are expected to meet exceptionally high criteria in terms of design, functionality, and performance. Only a select few brands have distinguished themselves in this arena by offering products whose price tags exceed Rs. 20,000. Sennheiser was among the pioneers in providing a standout product in this market with its Momentum True Wireless earphones. Although brands like Apple and Sony have recently gained ground, Sennheiser has responded by releasing the Momentum True Wireless 3 earphones in India, aiming to compete with the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Apple AirPods Pro.

With a launch price of Rs. 21,990, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is said to offer enhancements over the Momentum True Wireless 2, which debuted in mid-2020. Featuring an upgraded design, compatibility with the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec, as well as promises of enhanced sound and active noise cancellation (ANC), is this the ultimate flagship true wireless headset available today? Discover the answer in our review.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earphones rival the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Apple AirPods Pro

Design and Features of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

While the previous models, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless and Momentum True Wireless 2, were quite impressive, they did exhibit a bulky design that fell short of contemporary flagship TWS aesthetics. The Momentum True Wireless 3 rectifies this issue with a sleeker and more refined form that aligns better with its premium status. Consequently, the earpieces no longer protrude from the ears as prominently, making them significantly lighter and more comfortable to wear.

Fortunately, this improvement has not compromised the overall design; the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is aesthetically pleasing. The earpieces feature a sizeable and recognizable Sennheiser logo on their smooth outer surfaces, additional ear wings for a secure fit, and silicone ear tips topped with foam to enhance comfort. The area surrounding the logo is touch-sensitive, allowing for customizable controls via the app. The large, flat surface facilitates easy access to these touch controls.

The charging case of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is among the finest I’ve encountered, boasting a fabric-covered exterior and a compact, pocket-friendly shape. It includes a USB Type-C port and supports Qi wireless charging. Notably, there is no pairing button on the case (the earbuds activate pairing mode via touch controls), and the USB Type-C port is positioned at the front of the case, next to the indicator light.

The sales package contains four pairs of silicone ear tips, three pairs of ear wings, and a charging cable. Each earpiece is rated IPX4 for water resistance and incorporates three microphones for voice and ANC functions.

The earpieces of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 carry an IPX4 water resistance rating

Each earpiece weighs 5.8g, while the charging case comes in at 66.4g. I found that the Smart Pause feature, which is designed to automatically pause playback when any earpiece is removed, didn’t function as well as I’d hoped. It often continued to play music even when one or both earpieces were not being worn. At launch in India, the Momentum True Wireless 3 is available in two colors: Black and Graphite (the color of my review unit), with a third White option expected to be released soon.

App and Specifications of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

As is the case with all of Sennheiser’s premium wireless offerings, the Momentum True Wireless 3 is compatible with the Sennheiser Smart Control app, which is accessible on both iOS and Android platforms. This app is among the best headphone management tools I’ve utilized, providing settings and controls for the equalizer, transparency and ANC modes, touch controls, as well as firmware updates, Smart Pause activation, and options for automatic call acceptance. You can also configure a timer for the earphones to automatically shut off when not in use.

The control customization available on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is particularly impressive, allowing users to assign specific functions to various touch gestures, including single tap, double tap, triple tap, and tap-and-hold actions, with different settings for each earpiece. I was able to set up a configuration that permitted playback control, active noise cancellation, voice assistant activation, and volume adjustments directly from the earbuds. This level of customization surpasses what’s offered by most other high-end true wireless models.

Powered by 7mm dynamic drivers, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 has a frequency response range of 5-21,000Hz and a sensitivity rating of 107dB. The earphones leverage Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity and support the SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs.

Support for aptX Adaptive marks an improvement over the Momentum True Wireless 2, which only had the aptX codec. However, it’s worth noting that aptX Adaptive has limited compatibility within the Android ecosystem as of now, functioning only on devices with select hardware such as Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. On devices lacking aptX Adaptive support, the Momentum True Wireless 3 defaults to either the more widely compatible aptX or AAC codecs (for iOS devices). This specific feature enhances the appeal of the Momentum True Wireless 3 for Android users.

Performance and Battery Life of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

The pricing and market positioning of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 position it directly against the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Apple AirPods Pro, both priced around Rs. 25,000. However, the inclusion of aptX Adaptive means that the Momentum True Wireless 3 is particularly optimized for use with Android smartphones, enhancing its competitiveness against the WF-1000XM4.

The charging case of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 enables USB Type-C and Qi wireless charging

I tested the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 with both an iPhone and several Android smartphones to observe how the various supported codecs impacted sound quality. Unsurprisingly, the best results were achieved with aptX Adaptive. While listening to «Glitter» by Keys N Crates, I was immediately struck by the richness of the audio; the bass was tight and powerful without becoming overwhelming, and the vocals remained clear and distinct against the lush melody of the track.

This well-rounded and genre-agnostic sonic signature defined my listening experience with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, demonstrating that quality tuning can significantly elevate the performance of earphones. Whether listening to energetic tracks like «The Great Divide» by Velvetine or calmer pieces such as «Truth» by Kamasi Washington, the Sennheiser earphones adapted seamlessly to the rhythm and intricacies of the music.

The jazz composition «Truth» by Kamasi Washington also highlighted the impressive detail and clarity of the sound delivered by the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, as it adeptly tracked the various instruments while maintaining a captivating soundstage that allowed each layer of this mesmerizing piece to shine. From the expansive percussion to the resonant double bass, the audio was distinct and crisp.

While I found that these earphones did not match the analytical depth and detail of the LDAC-enabled Sony WF-1000XM4, the aptX Adaptive codec compensated for this shortfall with its versatility and embellishment of the audio quality due to its operation at a significantly lower bitrate compared to LDAC. Even with the less flexible, older aptX codec, the listening experience remained gratifying, though I did notice a notable dip in detail and soundstage.

aptX Adaptive support enhances the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3’s enjoyable audio output

This characteristic of adding some personality to the sound led me to perceive the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 as slightly less tonally robust compared to its competitors, and at times, I picked up on moments of inconsistency in its cohesiveness. However, it took a significant effort to disrupt the performance of the Momentum True Wireless 3, which predominantly excelled in delivering detail, flavor, and enjoyment across diverse musical genres.

The active noise cancellation mechanism in the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 was notably effective, arguably outpacing the capabilities of its direct competitors from Apple and Sony in certain scenarios. It performed particularly well against wind noises, making it adept at filtering outdoor ambient sounds—including the breeze from a ceiling fan.

Whether indoors or outdoors, the earphones provided a remarkable reduction in external sound, often achieving a level of silence typically reserved for high-end over-ear headphones. Connection stability and call clarity were also commendable, with no significant issues encountered during my testing period.

Battery performance on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 was quite satisfactory. Each earpiece offered just under six hours of playtime per charge, supplemented by the charging case, which could provide three additional full charges. This combined for approximately 23 hours of total runtime per charge cycle under regular usage conditions, which included having ANC activated most of the time, utilizing aptX or aptX Adaptive codecs, and maintaining the volume around 60 percent.

Conclusion

The hefty price tag of premium true wireless earphones may deter many potential buyers in India, but for those with the budget, the value is truly inherent. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 stands out as an exceptional model, merging rich and detailed sound with character and panache, remarkable ANC, an enhanced design, and solid battery life.

The absence of LDAC Bluetooth codec support means that its audio precision might not compete with the Sony WF-1000XM4, which I believe stands as the primary alternative to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. If you own an Android device compatible with aptX Adaptive and enjoy slightly tailored audio, the Momentum True Wireless 3 deserves your consideration. The effective active noise cancellation is an additional benefit. However, iPhone users may find that the AirPods Pro better suit their needs, given its superior connectivity features and Spatial Audio support.