Sennheiser sucks now they moved their manufacturing to China because I have two products by them and they both failed within a year with extremely low usage, and very well taken care of. I noticed the plastic was fraying off and melting down on my HD800S and then my Momentum True Wireless 3 have a terrible known issue wherein the right earbud just dies within a month of use. the HD800S sounds good still but I have to use a third party cable.
Every pair of buds has its own issues. I bought a pair of Sony WF-1000XM4's. They just didn't sound as good as all the reviews. Perhaps my earshape is wonky. Moreover the ANC was non-functional so I returned them. I read the reviews about thd new Technics eah-az80 v2 but I got a discounted deal on the Seinnheiser Momentum TW3's. Their sound quality is far superior to Sony but the connection, the app & range are wonky. I realised that you just have to live with the trade-off of what brings you the greatest utility. I also have a pair of Panasonic RW300's. They are an "el cheapo" however they are reliable. No connection loss, good listening time etc. However they will fall off your ears & need constant adjustment to stop them from falling out. Charging is also an issue as they have to line up perfectly in their case. You pay for what you get. Thank you for the heads up.
I've owned Bose soundsport free and Jabra elite active 75t Today I received the Sennheiser momentum true wireless 3 Honestly I was expecting to be blown away but no It sounds very average Build quality feels cheap Bulky I'd much rather stick to the Jabra elite active 75t Great sound Superior build quality Smaller and lighter and cheeper
Do you have any comment on the Bose SoundComfort Earbud II which whilst more expensive than the Apple AirPods Pro2 seem, according to other reviewers, are on a par with sound quality, noise cancelling and call quality?
The Sennheiser is made to be compatible with Android since it supports Aptx, which the Airpods cannot have (different hardware). It just makes no sense to get the Airpods if the phone/tablet operates in Android with developer options. BTW, thanks for the video, extremely well done as always!
I picked up the TW3s this afternoon. I'm very impressed. I wanted a pocketable BT/ANC device for commute/exercise/cafe use because I just don't find my older WH-1000XM3s quite as convenient on-the-go as I'd originally hoped. They still have a bit of a "I'm lugging a thing around" quality to them (for me). It just so happens these little Sennheiser in-ears sound better than the full-size XM3s, having greater detail, separation, and a more natural tonal balance. The Sony sounds a bit bloated and muffled by comparison. Great recommendation!
Exactly, exactly, exactly. You are bang on John. I recently bought iPod Pro 2, Bose QE2 but returned both of them after I bought/tried Sennheiser Momentum TW 3s. They just sound so much better. They offer all the key features of TWS and cherry on top is they recently also updated the firmware to provide multipoint connectivity which I was looking for. This is the best product if anyone is looking for better sound from TWS earphones in the market. Crazy thing is they were launched a while ago, yet few people are aware of this product.
to me, first and foremost when choosing a pair of headpones/earphones. sound quality. everything else is 2nd or a bonus. and i'm not surprised the sennheiser is significantly better.
Great video John but let's now elevate to what is better than Sennheiser MT3 The B&O EX. Do a side by side comparison of the two. Should be quite interesting
I really appreciate your deep dive into the features and technology and comparing them side by side to help with my purchasing decisions. This is something we all can't do ourselves. Thanks!
I was about to get the airpod pro2’s and was taking a flight before that and saw the sennheiser at the airport so picked it up as i didnt wana dive completely in the apple ecosystem and try something diff. I’m glad i made that choice and since I’m an audiophile this was all the better !
You’re killing me, your iPod pro 2 review nearly had me pull the trigger, until the end. I’ve always been a Sennheiser earphone fan, my original momentum wireless broke recently. The form factor of the case on the iPods, plus functionality with my iPhone seemed like the ticket. But sound quality is the be all and end all for me, and the Sennheiser sound is too enjoyable. Seems the bulky case on the Sennheiser will have to go ignored and they’ll be the replacement.
Sennheiser don't often make bad products. I'm interested in their new over-ear noise cancellers, Momentum 4, I believe. Would love to hear them compared to the Sony XM3/4.
Hi John, great video. I would love you to try B&Os Beoplay EX. I don’t know if you’re done with wireless IEMs, but they might be the king of them… or maybe not?
Awesone comparison! Thank you. I would really appreciate if the same could be done for Sennheiser CX Plus. In many videos they are completely comparable with the top of the line in-ears… but for less than half of the price for the top end :)
I wonder how these wireless IEMs compare to price-equivalent wired IEMs in which the wires can be swapped with a portable over the neck bluetooth adapter. I feel they offer a bit more security when it comes to IEMs possibly dropping out of one's ears whilst on the move (it has happened to me), but they also give one the flexibility to plug the wires in when power is an issue.
Bar none, this is the worst earbuds that I have ever owned, and I’ve owned several sets. The sound is great. Just do not be prepared to listen to anything but “recharge headset” damn near everytime you pull them out of their docking station. Don’t think it is me letting the DS battery go dead. You can have them plugged into the wall, and pull them out a day later, with a green light shining on the DS signaling full charge. Pull them out and what do you know. RECHARGE HEADSET!
Regarding wind noise, it is easy to cut it down in a ‘listening device’ but impossible to eliminate it completely in a microphone which is what the other party is hearing. In order to diminish wind noise for you phone conversation partner you would need to rig up a small foam wind screen over the part of the IEM which is not in the ear canal, where the microphone is located to pick up your voice. I am an audio engineer and made several for lavaliere mics and also my Etymotic (wired earbuds) also tried to make a tiny wind sock for my AirPods, as I like to take phone calls when bicycling around, but most of the time I will go back to my wired IEM when on the bike or in windy situations. Thank you for your nice reviews!
I don't care about the Airpods at all. I wear buds for music not for calls. I'm very happy with my Sennheiser TW3's. Better not play the Jazz Maffia Horns. Play Wynton Marsalis from the Jazz at the Lincoln series. The acoustics of that venue are so good. Better music better sound.
What IEM would you recommend for someone who listens to : Max Richter Schindlers' List theme Jóhann Jóhannsson Peter Gregson Ludovico Einaudi Novo Amor Scott Buckley.
can anyone explain if TWS 3 has some kind of factory issue as my TWS tends to stop charging my left bud and this my 3rd piece and this has gone bad as well. Please help.
I have never bought any audio equipment (the past 3 years) before knowing your POV. I am not always aligned with your review, but it's always beneficial to understand where you are coming from. Respect from Singapore.
I have a pair of Momentum 4 full size wireless headphones. Xmas gift. I was thinking about exchanging for TW3 because i like the smaller size. Do you think they are similar in sound and quality?
I’m on my second pair. Left ear bud AGAIN, acting up. Very low volume and constant rhythmic beeping. The app is so buggy. Yes, sounds great, but what a PIA.
Excellent review. Thank you. Are the Sennheiser 3 earbuds good for listening to on a smart TV, via Bluetooth? That'll be my main use for them. (to help block out the noisy neighbours at night)
Sennheiser from what i own makes grat headphones 🎧 i own HD650's and run them through a Ifi dac and amp and my god do they ever sound amazing 😍 they are only seconded to my Audeze LCD2 as far as my collection goes phenomenal headphones
I’m not surprised. No matter where I roam, I always come back to Sennheisers. I do have a pair of Beyerdynamic closed backs for neutrality, but they aren’t as “fun” as the HD series. I do have and used AirPods Pro for general use (walking) and they are fine, especially with memory foam tips. I’ll consider the MTMs, but, honestly, I’m fine with the Apples for now. Since I’ve discovered global adjustments (EQ) in Accessibility on the iPhone, the next set will be the Momentums. Great, concise review, John.
I think the momentum 3 is the best sounding set of wireless ear buds I've ever heard. But the bose quiet comfort 2 have the absolute best noise cancelation on any earbuds.
Hello John, this may be late in coming as I meant to ask the question the other day, so hopeful that you might find time to respond. My quandary/question is simple, could you please share what MTW3 default equaliser setting you use (which I don’t think I have missed) as for the life of me I cannot find one that sounds as you describe! Great channel and love your style of review, Jason
Bought a pair of APP2's to replace my MTW2's and as soon as I heard them back to back I missed the sound of the MTW2's. I sold the MTW2's and tried to push through the APP2's but they just didn't fit right in my ear. I ended up returning them and ordered MTW3's and so far I am in love. My biggest issue with the APP2's is that no one really tells you that they are just normal air pods with a gel tip slapped on the end and because of that they just didn't stay in my ear and go in deep enough.
Ahhh, finally. You've seen the light. Note: overall sounding (and function)much better with foam eartips. I hate the silicones that comes with it. The ANC works better with the tight seal of the foam tips.
Hi sir ! So happy to see your comment! I searched for comply foam tips for my momemtum 3 tws on amazon and i found anything :( Nothing fit on momemtum 3, only on momemtum 2 or iems for Sennheiser. Do you have a suggestion for me? Thank you and sorry for bad english i speak french
John, absolutely love that you cover all price points and ranges with your audio reviews! I also tremendously value your opinions on all of these products. There is however one glaring omission over the years that I've noticed from your wireless iem reviews. The (AKG tuned) Samsung Galaxy Buds series. The latest Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (I know confusing naming with the rest of the line up) and previous Buds Pro absolutely blew my mind when it comes to quality of sub and mid bass. And offer this extra clarity that you spoke of with the Senns here. As an avid listener of the CA Andromedas with the Dragonfly Cobalt, the Samsung Buds were the first to offer any resemblance of that super wide sound stage and placement for me. Would absolutely love to hear your opinion on these!! The Buds 2 Pro are much more comfortable this year and have a unique feature in that they will support 24 bit playback through their wireless codec, and they're also one of the few wireless IEMs that offer a "dual driver" setup (I believe one DD and one BA). Anyhow sorry for the rant. Please review these next if at all possible!!! Cheers!
the galaxy 2 buds pro are very well balanced, especially in the treble; they have a bit of a dip in the mid-mid and high-mid....so if he thinks the momentums have a nice airy top end he's going to think the Samsung are overly bright 😝
Great video. My main takeaway is to get the Apple Pro 2 for daily use and a pair of wired EIMs for hifi music listening outside (camfire, audeze, etc). I am looking forward to a review of the new Campfire Orbit wireless.
Just ordered these after misplacing my CX Plus ones. I enjoyed the ANC on those ones, I feel everyone never gets a good seal for earbuds usually so the ANC doesn’t seem that great. I ride the bus a lot and the CX Plus ANC are phenomenal to me.
Yes I can attest the Sennheiser MW are fantastic, I’ve the 1st generation and they’re my go-to earphones when exercising (road cycling, gym)… cheers! As always thank you so much for the outtakes 😉
Bought the second Gen based on reviews, My god. The worst in ear I've ever spent money on. Returned them for 1st gen AirPods Pro and really happy now. Im going to give these a shot based on this review.
the reason other people hear wind is because the microphone is on the outside of the earbud, the noise cancelling is applied by picking up the wind noise and applied inside to your ears. during calls it is just picking up whatever it can hear from its mic on the outside
Or put another way: the processing of the sound from the microphone has a hard time to distinguish between the voice of the user and the wind, so how could it suppress the wind without suppressing the voice? It’s not impossible but requires some heavy DSP lifting.
Please can you talk about spatial audio though? Listening to “spatialize stereo” on music albums not in Dolby atmos for example, and the whole controversy over different streaming service implementation of Dolby atmos, where Apple Music streams the raw 3D object audio files and the phone does the head transfer function, compared to the other services which actually stream Dolby atmos in stereo with a studio adjusted head transfer function already encoded. That’s why tidal Dolby atmos on iPhone with AirPods sounds nothing like Apple Music Dolby atmos for example, and why AirPods don’t sound the same as other headphones. If spatial audio for headphone listening is the future, these details are important, no?
Spatial audio is NOT the future.. recording studios don't like it. Had the opportunity to talk with some people in a mastering studio.. they laughed at the idea. The amount of resources required for it to be done properly so that less than 2% of the listeners use it it is the equivalent of 3D glasses.
Pfieuw, made the right choice! Love the MTW3! Not perfect but best comfort in any earbuds I owned and the sound is just so good for hours of listening. Downside is that with my first pair the right bud went silent, which apparently happens a lot according to internet. Got a new pair whitin a week though. Your on a roll John, on to the next! :)
It’s a shame you didn’t test the Sennheiser iPhone app on ver 4.1.5 and firmware 2.10.19…..I got to say android version is trash. Not sure why they included 96khz /24bit HRA over APTX on the iPhone app if apple doesn’t support it.
The MTW2 are far far far superior for comfort, fit and touch controls. The MTW3 don't fit snug, fall out, too sensitive. But features, software and sound are all better. Love the 3s but mine are all chipped and scuffed from falling out too often and the 2s are so unreliable and one always fails.
Thanks John, for all the hard work you put in this channel. Content keeps on coming! I value your opinion on hifi very much (that doesn't sound right, but you catch my drift).
Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch. Best wireless iem for sound only. Amazing value for money, can be found for £100. No noise cancellation but passive is excellent
Can you make a video of the best (highest end) closed back / open back / Bluetooth headphones for specific music genres. Eg: techno/EDM/disco, instrumental, vocals, orchestral etc?
The most I’ll spend on wireless IEM is $200, because they’re 1) all hobbled in SQ by v-shaped tuning and the limitations of Bluetooth tech 2) a consumable product liable to loss and battery depletion 3) typically of poor build quality. Why did I chose the Bose QC earbuds as an audiophile? They’re $200 on Amazon, have the best ANC of any headphones I’ve heard, and have good build quality compared to others. Getting slightly better sound from another model is irrelevant to me because none of them sound that good and my critical listening is done at home. For everywhere and everything else: noisy airplanes, mobile zoom calls, whatever, I’ll take the Bose because they’re fit for that purpose.
Sold. 😁 My Mrs has the previous gen Sony’s, great but bulky for me. I was drawn to the AirPods 2 for the functionality… but to be honest I’m only after new headphones because my ME2’s have stopped working again. I’ve run Sennheiser for years, you can’t beat the sound. So clear and deep like you said. I’m coming from no noise cancelling and the like… so I’m sure they’ll be great for me. Only thing is my ME2’s packed in a few times during exercise, replaced under warranty also but never as good awards. Just hope these hold up better for sweaty runners. 🥵😅
No way, this is the one i own. And i aint super happy with it. It's the reason i want to switch to expensive wired iems. Sure its the best in ear/over ear i've had in terms of sound quality but it doesn't feel good enough. The highs and the mids are really meh. Bass and subbass is good. I've had connectivity problems with my old phone, with my new one works just fine. Except when i connect them to my PC through a 5.2 bluetooth dongle. They stutter and pop randomly. I can tell when it has bad connection, because i can put my hand over the left bud and the sound playback cuts off. I take the right off, then the left. Then i put them back in my ears and it's fixed. I've had issues with them not wanting to charge at all, even though i had cleaned the connectors with a brush and fully charged the case. I couldn't charge them for 2.5 days then randomly they're fine again. I installed the app and did the firmware update which takes like 20-30 mins, then every time the buds went to sleep and i wanted to use them again, they would connect just fine, but literally no playback at all, only the touch sounds and connection cues. Had to do factory reset and they work just fine.
I want to add a suggestion: please stop calling these IEMs, as they're not IEMs but TWS earbuds (the manufacturer website calls them "earbuds" as well). That is the case will all in-ear headphones of this type, including the Apple AirPods you previously reviewed. The reason I ask for this is because it can create confusion: IEMs are wired only and they are designed only for critical listening/monitoring (hence they're called monitors), so they won't include microphones, noise cancellation or any other feature that is standard on any TWS nowadays. The 2 types of in-ear headphones also target completely different markets: the TWS buds are a consumer product, designed as an all-in-one (hence the microhphones for calls, noise cancellation, etc.), while IEMs are a more professional/prosumer product designed for monitoring sound: for example a DJ while mixing, a singer on the stage or an audiophile wanting the best sound (so a device dedicated for one task only). The fact that a pair of TWS earbuds sounds good does not make it an IEM (otherwise there would not be a clear distinction between the 2).
The app is dreadful and the battery life is dodgy. You may be luckier than me. The Amazon reviews are mixed too. I have the Airpods Pro 2 and Sony XM4s. I slightly prefer the Sony's but I use Android.
Sorry John, have to also mention a VERY honorable mention to the AKG N-400 (RU-vid's channel 'Crinacle+' (he's tested & ranked 1000+ headphones/IEMs, plus more BT headgear too), he recommended them top purchase for the price point (currently £75/$83 new) with excellent sound characteristics... Worth looking into.. 🤔😏 😎🇬🇧
Exactly my experience. I have both AirPods Pro 1 and Momentum TW2. I have my AirPods Pro with me everywhere and always. They are perfect for calls, podcasts and nearly everything except listen to music. Music sounds like crap with absolutely no satisfaction or enjoyment. Ok the other hand with the Sennheisers I love to listen with music. But for everything else the AirPods are just so much better. Better fit, lighter, smaller size of case, connectivity with Apple ecosystem, and so on. The question is, would I buy the Sennheisers again? I don’t know. I never use them outside my house because the Airpods are so much more convenient. In-house I could switch to Overears in the future? But on the other hand I also haven’t send them back. I couldn’t because they sound so damn good compared to the AirPods. So I kept both although mostly I use the AirPods. Maybe a bit stupid but that’s how it is.
Very interesting. The original momentum's were pretty mediocre. Would highly suggest the Galaxy Buds pro 2, best true wireless IEMS I've heard; having heard the original momentum's, every rendition of airpods and both Sony's and a fair few sport true wireless buds. Curious to try the Momentum 3's now to see if they best the Galaxy
A surprise finding that Sennheiser makes better sounding headphones than apple, really? If you know anything about sound(I know you do) that should not be a surprise, AT ALL. Sennheiser is king when it comes to sound.
Thanks John, another insightful vid. I’m not a headphone user at all, but I enjoy listening to your thoughts on what’s out there, just in case I were. I have a 2ch and a 5.1 set up, so Spatial Audio/Atmos is of great interest to me. Spatial Audio when streamed from Apple Music via my ATV 4K to my AV amp, transcodes to 5.1 and can sound stunning. But also, fairly flat and or gimmicky, depending on the music. For example, Kendrick Lamar’s vibrant and soulful recent album sounds so much better in 2ch stereo. It doesn’t sound quite right in 5.1. Whereas, the recent Talking Heads Atmos releases, are fascinating and highly enjoyable, they feel really opened up and layered. This may be because they have had a previous incarnation as dedicated surround mixes, as you mention, in the DVD-a/CD double packs, 10-15 years ago. (It’s the primary reason I subscribe to Apple alongside Qobuz).
IEMs fall out of my ears - wired or wireless. I bought some expensive wired IEMs and their biggest advantage was that they were safely connected to the wire. And yes they were so heavy that one falling out would pull the other one out. Watching you walk around with these wireless buds reminds me of how all the wireless buds I have tried keep me focused on the dratted things falling out rather than the music. Still an informative video as always. Thanks!
Same here, only thing that works are iem's with comply tips but then only for a while and i have to keep adjusting them. Also they need to go deep inside the ear canal which causes other problems with earwax buildup and increases chance for an ear infection, not a big deal if you're hygienic but still.
Had the same problem, but recently stumbled upon first pair that fits my ears and doesn't fall out or move at all even if I am running. The only exception is exercising with weights - during harder moments my ear canals apparently shrink and push the earbuds out. If I found a pair that works, maybe you will too one day ;)
Will this be better than the first galaxy buds. I got them back in 2018. I really liked they stay on my ears. Order a refurbished momentum 3. Sounds were good on the galaxy buds. I hope the hype are real on this sennys
Yea im rockin the originals and they are killer man. The 3's you can get cheaper then the airpods pro and they arent even comparable sound wise. Get some foam tips and your good to go.
Sennheiser is famous for high-quality sound headphones, but Apple is not. Apple is not an Audio brand, so what you can expect from someone that takes a no-name china maker and put a sticker on it. That is why Samsung is giving AKG headphones, they do not want to invent hot water and sell under stickers like Apple.
Sounds like the same ANC setup and issues with my old HD450BTNC, sound is great but the ANC is really weak in the mid range and the mic is terrible for calls. Still really decent for the price, just wish they could catch up with Apple and Sony on the ANC and mic.
My problem with these is that I can’t quite work out how to put them in my ear. The manual is rubbish in that regard. Can anyone help. I’ve tried inserting and twisting. They stay in but I don’t feel comfortable
If Airpods 2 pro don't block wind noise, they're useless!!! So Senhaiser is no better. The Sonys do this satisfactorily well. I know what I'd pick, I'm looking for the best of the best overall. BTW: BT headphones (in-ear or on-ear) don't really sound audiophile compared to dedicated wired ones (also in-ear...), so the sound isn't that decisive!
I haven’t had great luck with these. Picked up 2 pair for the wife & I and right away we were off to a bad start. She complained about being kicked out of meetings and dropped calls because when she brushed her hair out of her face the earbuds would hang up the call. She tried to fix it by turning off tap features then the right earbud stopped responding to everything. As for mine I just sent them back because the left ear cracks loudly (painfully) any time noise canceling or pass through is turned on. Yea the sound quality does seem to be better than the AirPods but the AirPods work…
After this review and as a fan of Sennheiser if I buy a pair of True Wireless IEMs I'll go for the Sennheiser CX Truw Wireless as I don't care for ANC. IEMs block more than enough noise for me ;)
I was hoping to find a review of the B&W Pi7's but I guess you haven't tried them yet. Any plans?
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At last, someone that speaks the necessity of up volume for those great quieter recorded 80's songs, but with lot of headroom and lot of dinamic range! Fortunately i had listening daily for a year with the Huawei Freebuds 3 and they are fantastic in every aspect of SQ, plus with a loudness capacity for those quieter masters full of headroom and DR. Although no efective ANC or passive isolation (that I don't care of it). Even tryed the Freebuds 4 and the Freebuds Pro, but these are not on pair.
