I've also been using the Momentum 4s for a few weeks. I find then incredibly comfortable. I have gone up to 6 hours of use at a time, and have not had any discomfort at all. The battery life is absolutely insane, which makes these a win against any of its competition, for now.
@@everythingcanwork5215 Not a single problem. I have travelled multiple times with these, quality just continues to blow me away. Flew for 6.5 hours last week, battery level was an insane 91% left when I landed. I cannot speak more highly of the Momentum 4's, so good.
Listing to this review on my momentum 3’s, berating a sigh of relief that I don’t have to upgrade. The ANC has always been more than enough, I find them comfortable, and I haven’t had any issues with battery life. What I LOVE about my 3’s is the sound quality. When I first got them, it was like listing to my music collection for the first time again. Gilmour’s guitar solos, Sade’s smooth voice, and the thump of the base in Bad Guy… So when I got to the sound quality section of your review, there’s just no way I’d take a pair of headphones that aren’t as good as the 3’s. Thank you for the great review!!
I love the Momentum 3 sound and was kinda disappointed that in M4, it's not even equal to M3... Maybe you know some ANC headphones alternatives that could sound even better than Momentum 3?
@@shakhtyor There really isn't anything that's discernably better than the M3s yet in terms of bluetooth headphones. Sound quality *is* subjective after a certain point, what you like and what music you listen to will always play a part. But for me personally I haven't been able to find anything close.
"But the momentum 4 don't sound as good as the momentum 3". Oh yeah, I'm not the only one... Could you please suggest any headphones that at least equal to the Momentum 3 sound quality?
Best and most complete review. This is what I was waiting for. Problem: I have and love the Momentum 3s, and the EPOSD Adapt 660, which are based on the PxC550IIs I couldn't be parted with either of them for this upgrade, but I really want to hear the Momentum 4s. The battery on yeh Momentum 3s is now about 7-8 hours from about 17 originally. It still works for me, but I have to charge them almost daily. The EPOS Adapt 660 (PXC550II) have an acceptable battery, maybe 70% of what it was when they were new, which is still really good. The sound quality is astounding - they make me stop in the street with how good they are - Fantastic. Are you saying that the upgrade is not worth it? I have always felt like the noise cancelling of the EPOS Adapt 660 is inferior to the Sony, the Bose, or the Airoids Max. U fly quite a to, and they are OK but not brilliant. They do the job, but I know there is better out there. I am stuck. Sound quality is my most significant driver, and I love the Sennheiser sound. Open, detailed, full and balanced. I have Sony XB-950 for when I want to hear Nipsy Hustle and just kill the bass. They are fun. But when I want to really enjoy music - Sennheiser is a good plan for me. I have both Bose and Bang and Olufsen, and they are very good - especially Bang and Olufsen but even then, the Sennheiser gives me more of what my ears appreciate - hence, after waiting for the Momentum 4 - I am somewhat in a stuck place. I have these two headphones because the sound quality is fantastic - especially the momentum 3, which I do NOT fly with. The Momentum 4 has a better battery, noise cancelling and case than either, but the sound quality does not seem superior. I would notice if I had them and would be very bummed indeed if I felt I was looking for my old headphones. Stuck. Any thoughts or advice? Great video as usual. Just the thoroughness I expected,d and I am looking forward to comparisons with XM5, Airpod Max and Bowers and Wilkins PX7-2. Maybe even the Master and Dynamic M67, the new Technics, or the Soundcore Space! 45. Thanks for doing your usual fantastic job, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my predicament.
hahahaha. He will never answer you. Just get over the momentum 3, the 4 is already a worthy upgrade for the noise cancelling, more light-weight and comfortable design, and the touchpad control. You might assume you are not a fan of touchpads based on what some people on youtube say, but try it out for yourself, most of them are on a crazy load of BS.
@@jasonMB999 Yeah sucks that he doesnt reply to comments especially when dude has 90 comments. He just has to take a little time out of his day to reply.
I have the PXC 550 and used them for years now. Always loved the sound - they sound better than any Bose or Sony I tried. Today I got my Momentum 4 and compared them for some time. Suddenly, the PXC 550 sound like Bose to me! There's so much more detail and clarity in the M4's sound! So if you like both your 660 and the M3, I guess you won't feel that the M4 are a downgrade compared to the M3. From what I can remember (don't have the M3 here, but compared in a store), the M3's bass is boosted in the mid/upper punch region, the M4 has more sub bass extension and rumble. This rumble shows less often, so the M3 kick in more tracks. The mids sound similar, but I found them to be a tiny bit cleaner on the M3 when you engaged the High Fidelity Sound Tuning. On my M4, I reduced the mids by about 2-3db, feels more neutral to me. I couldn't hear a noticeable difference in treble. Soundstage on the M3 seemed to be a tad wider, but depth, height and imaging were a little better on the M4. I'd say get the M4, but pay attention to the comfort, the earpads are shallower than the other two. Especially compared to the 550/660. All in all, they combine most of the benefits of the M3 and the PXC 550 and bring them to the present. Also the build is better than the PXC 550. I just think that the look & feel of the M3 was way better...
@@VeitLehmann, I get you. For the money it will cost and the fact that I will lose something from the ones I have - I will wait till Momentum 5. I love the styling of the momentum 3 and the lightness of the 660/550. The sound from both is just amazing, and the idea that I don't get a significant bump and have to deal with some negatives is not worth it. I might get a pair of the 4s to try, but I do NOT think I will be selling or switching out. The ones I have will do me for now. I take several long flights a year, and the 660s are plenty noise cancelling for me - even though I know there is better out there. The sound quality is excellent, and when I want even better, I have the Momentum 3s. If I want to go further, I have a pair of HD650s to count on, but they are more for home and are static. The 4s are a bit of a disappointment. The styling of the 3s was a big selling point, but the planeness of the 4s turns me off. If they were super duper in the sound department, I would have jumped in, but the thought that there would be any compromise fills me with dread. I have kept the M3s over the H95s, the Sonys, the AirPods, and every oncomer because the sound is sublime. I need something objectively better and offer no compromises to make a switch. Looking at the H95 again, the Focal, the ML5909 and some others to see if it is worth making the jump, but the 4s miss it for me. Have to do a detailed listen in a shop but have yet to hold out much hope. So very grateful for your thoughts and advice, though. Really appreciate it. Truly.
@@iu1191 Absolutely, sticking with your current stuff is always the best if you're happy with it. As long as you're okay with switching, the M4 is not better than the M3 and the PXC combined. And I also appreciate when people don't needlessly buy new electronics, it's better for our planet to be mindful about resources. I had to switch because my PXC 550 was unreliable in the end and could suddenly turn off in the middle of a call - that's a no-go. Still keeping them as a backup, and I still think they're something special and still unmatched in certain areas. Same with the M3, both are very unique for their own reasons. You have two real classics, enjoy them as long as you can!
Purposely came to your RUclips from your Amazon page just to leave a comment. Your videos were extremely helpful and I want to thank you for your time, effort, and attention to detail in making them! You've helped me decide which headphones to buy and I've learned a lot just from your explanations. Thank you and best of luck dude 👍
Great to see a comparison to the M3s! In your future vid, it would be interesting to know if the aptX Adaptive codec makes a noticeabke improvement over old aptX to be a reason to upgrade. I know it is technically superior, allowing higher resolution 24bit and higher data rates but is the sensitivity/quality of the M4 high enough to actually discern the resolution difference when playing flacs/HD content? It seems to be glossed over in reviews as simply a spec difference. I held out for the M4s to upgrade my M2s as the M3s didn't have HD codec. I don't like the build quality of my M4s and was considering selling them if I can find some M3 clearance stock. I need to upgrade my phone before I can test the aptX Adaptive differnce myself. But if the M3s sound just as good or better whey plain aptX I wont bother with the phone upgrade yet and try to get some M3s before they are all gone. If it does make a big difference, I'll bear with the M4s. Thanks.
Why do you think there are no other reviews out there comparing the 3 vs 4 with the conclusion being the 3 is still better on a lot of important points...
I’ve had my momentum 3s for 3 years. Over 10000 hours of use, never had an issue with them. But the sliders got worn down so much they wouldn’t stay put. The hand band would stretch out. I have put little black rubber bands on them so they can’t slide.
I just bought the Momentum 4, and they sound AMAZING! However... I often hear creaks and clicks when I am wearing them and moving my head. Have you ever noticed this issue with your unit?
I actually have this issue too. When I'm walking around often this stupid cracks and clicks appears too, but in the left and right ear cup. Not inside the ear it cracks and clicks, but on the outside of the ear cups. Maybe it's due by the plasticy build.
Yes, any slight movement in the plasic hinges creak and are amplified within the plastic surround. Even from just facial muscular movement. I've found the right side is especially bad on mine. Extreanly annoying. If I can get s hold of a new pair of M3s fire a clearance price, I'll probably grab them and sell the M4s. If not I'll experiment with some lubricants. Maybe a spray of silicon will help. Ive upgraded from 6 year old M2s which are so much better built. I doubt the M4s will last anywhere near as long.
Good review. I have had these for a few weeks now and real happy with the sound. But I fight Bluetooth connections too. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Almost a deal breaker for me, shouldn't have to worry if they are going to connect or not.
I agree, i find the Momentum 3's more comfortable & my ears barely get hot while it can get sweaty with the 4's. However the 4's are amazing, they ooze quality, the ANC & case is finally great, the touch controls are super smooth & the sound is fantastic. The 3's are stronger & louder but the 4's sound more mature & toned down in a good way. Having both i can swap between a more soothing sound vs lively & punchy. Overall though sound wise the Momentum 3's are just so hard to let go off like you said, i actually was disapoointed when comparing them at first. I would say they are like an amplified version of the 4's with extra oumph. The unique amazing base rattling the whole headphones on your head.I havent experienced the disconnection issue with them being upside down in the case btw.
I too found the vegan M4 pads to be immediately hot and sweaty compared to the leather on my M2s which feel cool for a long time, before heat builds up. Then a brief rest would cool them down again. Im really hoping Sennheiser or a 3rd party will bring out upgraded leather replacement psds. They would be well worth the upgrade! Sounds is certainly improvement over my old M2s. I found the leather pads on my M2 provide superior passive isolation of bassy noise such as neighbour's noisy car, which the M4s can't block, even with the superior ANC. But I'm keen to try and get some M3s to replace the M4s! I waited so long for the M4s, hoping they would be equal build quality then M3s, but with aptX Adaptive. Sadly they've taken a step backward in my opinion. Maybe they'll suprise us with a M4 premium edition after everyone has bought M4s. Same soecs, but in metal and leather! Haha.
@@jamiecampbell1271 lol lmao premium M4's would make me so butthurt but if a new color combo pops up that id like or a premium ed i wouldnt be able to resist cuz i love em too much😂 some replacement pads are def something im hoping for too. I havent had the M2's i got the M1s way back then recently the 3's & a couple days after got the 4's locally for 200$ Which i couldnt pass on. Overall i love these sennys & theres just minimal areas left for improvement now so we'll see what the future may hold.
here in the video the noise test is done, but for me it doesn't matter, the most important thing in a headset is the sound quality and here it is not mentioned at all. from the other references the momentum 3 sound better than the other two.
As usual, the best review on RUclips. Shows problems with arguments, in the context of each section. I thought my Momentum 3 was going to lose the position of my favorite headphone, but apparently it won't be that easy.
Don’t like the fact Sennheiser IMO took a step backwards with smaller drivers which effected sound quality and don’t sound as good as the Momentum 3’s, cheap plastic build quality compared to the Momentum 3’s which had real leather and metal, but the case was an upgrade on the Momentum 4.
Question: you said the M3's bass is more punchy than the M4's? How are the M4's bass in terms of detail? How would you compare them to the Airpods Max or even the M2's? I got the Airpods Max after 2 years with my M3's. The M3's mids are amazing with great details in the highs. But the lows aren't good... they're punchy, they're fun, they're a blast when watching movies. But I love detailed bass. The M2's bass is beautiful and the Airpods Max's bass have a lot of detail. But the M3's bass feels muffled at times. So... I want to buy new travel headphones because traveling with the Airpods... They collect my sweat and I've already had one pair replaced (yes I sweat a lot, I don't like the summer). Never had this with the M3's, they're just warm but sweat isn't a problem. The M4's ANC and battery life blows me away. Perfect to travel with! You say the audio quality is worse while others say they're better so it's entirely subjective. I just need a reference for myself.
I found the bass detail of the M4 to be one of their biggest strength! The best when I compared them to lots of other cans (PX7 S2, Sony XM4 and XM5, Momentum 3, PXC 550 and some Bose; I have never tried AirPods Max however). They were the best in terms of instrument separation, so you can really tell what's the bass guitar and what's the kick drum for example. There's even a sense of space, the bass is not happening inside of your head. The only thing to note is that you can sometimes hear a boost in the sub bass. So if there's really deep bass in a track, it can sound more pronounced than intended. Sounds like a subwoofer in a perfectly damped room then, think of cinema sound. So not perfectly neutral, but could be exciting for movies. And even when you can feel that boost, it never gets in the way of the upper bass frequencies, everything stays clean there. Also, I have never encountered the bass bleeding into the mids. The M3 have a similar sense of space, separation and detail in the bass, but they have less sub bass, more a mid bass boost. You can hear that boost more often, which often makes them sound more punchy in comparison. I'd say they are the 2nd best option in terms of bass detail. All the other aspects of the M4's sound are also top-notch - I love them. (disclaimer: I just received them today and tested them for 3 hours now, so I'm still in the honeymoon phase)
Thanks a lot for the great review, I have been looking forward to it! Today I had the opportunity to test the M4 and compared it to my PXC 550 and the Sony XM5. Also checked the M3 for comfort. I found the M4 clearly best for sound and on par with the XM5 for comfort, with the PXC 550 fitting just a bit better around my ears which are pretty large and stick out a little. ANC on the M4 was almost on XM5 level and much better than my PXC 550. I remember the M3's ANC to be a little weaker than the PXC 550, just as your tests show very accurately! But I think the earcups of the M3 might be a little shallower, my ears are touching the drivers on them. For sound, I didn't test the M3 today, but I remember them to be very good, although a bit overwhelming in the bass for certain songs, but with a wider soundstage than the M4. The M4's bass was cleaner and deeper than the one on the PXC 550, without coloring the mids. Also more detail and clarity allover. The XM5 lacked detail, clarity and soundstage and were too dark by default. After some EQ, the timbre can be surprisingly similar. But allover still the worst of the bunch. So for me, the M4 are a great mix between the M3 and the PXC 550. Now I have to compare them to the PX7 S2, my other favorite for comfort and sound so far. Who knows, maybe you'll post your video on the same day as I'm getting to compare them again? 😄
This is very helpful. I use my pxc550 and the soundstage on the default setting is unlike anything. The only pair that will overcome the soundstage is AirPods Max. But they are too expensive and they REALLY have the cabin pressure issue. So I'm not getting them.
@@TheWolod I just received my Momentum 4 and did a sound comparison with my old PXC 550. I'm blown away! The M4 sound so much better! Deeper bass, so much clearer allover, especially in the mids and treble! Suddenly, the PXC 550 sound like a Bose in comparison. And the PXC 550 sound a lot better than any Bose already. One thing that I immediately noticed is that the soundstage on the PXC 550 is way worse on a Mac, but this might be because it only uses SBC there (1st generation). So I did my comparison on my phone using AptX to be fair. Still, the M4 have far better soundstage and especially imaging. I can finally get a sense of depth and height. Maybe the M3 sounded wider, I don't remember, but the M4's soundstage is still bigger in any dimension compared to the PXC 550. Sometimes I can hear the sub bass boost of the M4, sounds like a subwoofer in a perfectly damped room. Think of cinema sound. You can hear frequencies down to almost 20Hz. I can't really tell how high they go, I can only hear up to 16kHz. But I can tell that the treble is a lot less peaky, more tidy and airy compared to the PXC 550. I reduced the mids by about 3db in the app EQ to get rid of the slight mid-forwardness. Now they sound very linear to my ear, with that slight extra power in the lower bass. But this does never get in the way of other frequencies, i. e. it always stays clean and e. g. bass guitars are very well separated from the kick drums and keep their timbre (very important for me, I play the bass guitar). So all in all I'm more than happy with the sound and can say that it's definitely a big improvement over the PXC 550! Usability is pretty similar to the PXC 550, I felt right at home with them immediately. But one issue that I found is that when it's paired with both a Mac and an Android phone, and I'm playing music from the phone, the touch controls for volume up/down and skip tracks don't work. I either have to disconnect the Mac or use the phone to control the playback. As for comfort: The PXC 550 fit my ears better. The earpads are deeper (2cm-3cm, compared to 1.8cm-2.5cm), and that's enough for my ears to slightly touch the drivers. The clamping force is slightly higher on the M4, but I don't feel the extra weight after 3 hours of constant use now. Also, I don't have any pressure on the top of my head. So if your ears stick out a lot, you should pay attention. For me, it's on the limit, only just acceptable. But since I'm so happy with the sound and the usability, I'll learn to get along with it.
@@trebleclef4889 I believe from this selection it should be the Momentum 3. But they have the weakest ANC. Better get something with good ANC and save your ears, you don't need crazy volume then. The M4 easily gets loud enough to really get going! PXC 550 are the quietest of the three.
I've got a question regarding the ANC test - I can see that Momentum 4 hit higher on the noise bar than Monentum 3, e.g. at the simulated coffee shop they hit 20 when Momentum 3 blocked noticeably more than 20. Does it still mean that ANC is better in Momentum 4? Great review as always, thank you 💪🏻
As usual excellent and thorough review, thanks. Think I'll be upgrading to these from my PXC 550-II considering the battery life and AptX-Adaptice support along with other features that are not present in my current headphones.
After few plastic/ fake leather headsets from JBL, Sony, AKG (all of them torn and cracked for 1-2years).., finally got Momentum 3 build strong witn metal and real leather. Perfect sound.
Love them, after my Crusher ANC broke I was looking for a pair of daily drivers, got the XM4s, not for me, got the QC45, also not for me, I finnaly found my soundmate.
8:46 m4 ear pads aren't glued on and can be replaced. sennheiser sell them on the official site. but new ones are pretty expensive comparing to others.
How is the video chat BT connection stability? I have the PXC 550 II but they lose the sound and mic connection when using them for video chat after between 15 & 30 mins. I have to turn them off and on again and sometimes connection won't take. I really like PXC 550 for comfort and sound quality, so am tempted by the M.4s but don't want a repeat of audio loss
at the end i got one more question is there any way that the momentum 4 have a anti wind mode like the pxc 550II cause I love that feature and Im thinking about upgrading from them
Hi, just bought new Momentum4 and have the following issue. I bought a reputable brand "3.5mm to USB-C" adapter (Anker) to hook my Momentum 4 headphones to my Samsung S20+ phone. I know the adapter is good because I compared it to a Samsung genetic "3.5mm to USB-C" adapter and it sounds better than it, but I did this initial comparison with other wired headphones. So, when I tried the new adapter on my Momentum 4 headphones (via the included 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable) they sounded worse than when paired via Bluetooth. The sound is more hollow or muffled. (one note: when listening via this cable and my new adapter the headphones are switched off). Is it possible that via Bluetooth connection the sound is better than via the cable? How is this possible? Everybody says that wired connection is better than Bluetooth connection sound wise. Any help will be highly appreciated.
This is because these are BT Headphones, all Bluetooth Headphones Sounds like ass when they pluged in via cable. Because BT Headphones have a dedicated amplifier built in, so every time you turn on your Headphone the amp will start working. If you leave them off and plug them in, the amp is also turned off. Thats the reason why they sound so Bad. They are tuned with this proper amp inside them, not passively when they're off. Hope that helped you😌
@@Hank_Johnson Thanks for the reply. Yes, I think when I switch them on they sound better with that cable (in both cases I am using a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter to hook them to my phone. And if I want to use the USB-C - USB-C cable with my phone they must be switched on else they don't work at all with that cable when they are off. Also, i just got the BTD600 Bluetooth adapter, and I am trying figure out the best audio connection (and possible the ones that takes less battery on the phone and headphones)
The momentum 4s sound great but I loved my pxc550. They were so comfortable and fit my ears so well. The 4’s start to hurt and I don’t like that I can’t really turn them off and when I bump them next to my couch it reconnects to my phone. I hope they fix this. Felt like they combined the pxc and momentum’s. I wish they came out with a new pxc. That lightweight and egg shaped ear up can’t be beat for my head shape.
I would still go with the XM5 for its app, LDAC and overall stability. To me, firmware and app stability are crucial when sound quality, ANC and comfort have reached a certain high level. When working or travelling, I do not want to be bothered with issues.
I just bought the Momentum 4 but the Momentum 3 is $150 off right now. This is my first pair of Sennheiser headphones. Knowing this, would you stick with the 4’s or go with the 3’s? Great video btw.
i just went from pxc550-II to the momentum 4, actually got them as a warranty replacement for the 550's, i loved the 550's, but to me the momentums felt lika an instant upgrade, the sound is better, there is more depth to the bass and it goes lower, another thing i noticed with the bass is that when playing music on mild volume there is much more bass. i love how they feel, i think they are more comfortable than the 550's where. the earcups are bigger. the weight difference is noticable but it does not bother me. and another thing.. the battery life, that was my main grudge with the 550's, i never felt like they lasted anywhere near the time they where supposed to, i would probably have to recharge them 4 times for every 1 charge in the 4's
@@dsghyghy no discomfort for me, my biggest worry would be that they would stay on my head if i was running.but that maybe goes for all of those big headphones
Awesome Review Man. This is the best review when it comes comparing the momentum 4 vs 3. I am all about sound quality. Had the momentum 3 a while back but also wanted to try the momentum 4s. Your review has helped me decide better. M3s we're available new at an awesome price of 199 recently which seems like a steal in comparison to 349 for M4s. Great review. Keep up the good work.
8:58 "Because these (momentum 4) Earpads are glued on" Mine were not glued on. The cushios were to flat for my taste. So i bought some thicker ThirdParty Cushions at Amazon. And i just replaced it without visible Glue. There are replacable just like the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II that i own for years. Maybe they changed it? I bought mine in Early 2024.
I've had the momentum 2's as my go to for the last 4 years when it comes sound quality. Their only issue is that the headband starts to get uncomfortable after a few hours. Of course there are improvements in comfort and battery life etc, but I'm wondering if you think purely for sound quality, are the M4's better at all?
Just get the M3s if you’re ever planning to upgrade. I think he’s leaning slightly towards the M3s for sound quality and bass. Plus, the M4s look too generic, like the competitors. M2s and 3s carry that old school unique Sennheiser look. I’ve owned the M3s for about a year now and so far they’re the best sounding headphones I’ve ever put on my head.
@@ceezare3039 have you tried the M2's and compared? How much of an improvement are the M3's over the M2's? They're on sale because they're "outdated" now and I'm tempted, but I'm not sure if it's worth spending 200 if they're pretty similar to what I have
@@Odie50000thanks! That's good to know. I guess it probably doesn't make much sense to buy the M3's if my M2 's are still working great. My only problem with them at all is that the head band is pretty hard, with no real cushion
@@michaelminevich1198 Yeah that part does suck. From what I can tell the bands between 2 and 3 are very similar too so there wouldn't be that much of an upgrade either.
Great indepth review, even though the battery life and anc on my momentum 3s is in desperate need of a upgrade I have to skip out ont the 4s. They look and fell cheaper and they sound slightly worse. Can you check out the Master and Dynamic MW75? 600$ is a lot but I want to hear how they proform in your test
Excellent in-depth review. The best yet. Though my conclusion is different than yours re: sound performance on the M4’s, I am in complete agreement re: the software/firmware control issues. It’s like the programmers aren’t headphone users at all. Their half-baked software for this new headphone is at times irritating with it’s errors. Clunky, but I still love that sound. Looking forward to the updates to correct the issues. I think we listen to different music types, so to each his or her own. Great job.
I did a lot of research before buying the Momentum 3s and they seemed to be suffering from a lot of the same software and firmware issues for the first few months of release so they'll probably work that out eventually. They're good headphones but I just really preferred how the M3's feel both in sound and build. I'll learn to live with a 17hr battery.
Great review, despite the result not being what I hoped for. I love my M3s, but they’ve had the Bluetooth stutter for months now, and it’s become almost unbearable. So I was really hoping the M4s would be a step up in all areas, but now I know I’d be taking a step down in sound quality, I’m pretty torn. Tempted to get another pair of M3s, and see if the Bluetooth issues are isolated to my current pair only.
I have been checking youtube every day since these headphones were revealed to watch your review. Very interesting what you said about the comfort of these headphones and how the M3 sound better than them.
Really, I think that recycled plastics are a good thing. Even if they don't feel as 'premium' its still important that these companies make impacts on the planet.
Shame Sennheiser has cramped up all the ports on right earcups. nuts. How awkward, I always carry phone in my left front picket and most of the 3.5 port are on left of laptop (i know these are to be used wireless, still). Hi gymcaddy hoping you will do longterm review of these cans.
Random ,but I knew this was the place.I just picked up a Pulse 4 new for $150 !! Should I keep it for this price if I already own a xtreme 2 or wait for the new upcoming models ?
The new model has been delayed. Idk when it is going to come out. If you’re happy with the pulse 4. Keep it for that price if you want the lights. But if you want better sound at that price, get the charge 5
I had an XM5, to begin with, then i bought the Momentum 3, after that the Momentum 4. (i also had a few headphones before these, so i can compare them with other ones) Everyone on youtube, reddit and other forums are head over heels for the Momentum 4, and honestly i did not get why... I always felt that the Momentum 3 had a better sound, not audiophile, but more fun. just as you described in your video, it feels open and more clear, and a the bass feels better. The momentum 4 has a really strong low bass, but for example the piano sounds on the deep end are better on the M3-s, it feels more realistic? I dont know how to describe, but it feels more impactful. At least with my ears and subjective taste. Im glad that i am not the only one who feels that the M3 sounds better. I think it is a little placebo, and a little hype train, why everyone thinks the M4 is better, it is newer, so it must be better. To me the M4 is a convenient and good to use headphone, but for calls, and work i liked the Sony XM5 better, and the M3 for just having fun listening to music. My unit is also faulty, it doesnt detect when im wearing it, tomorrow im getting a new one, but im considering selling it, and rebuying the XM5 for work.
I really love your reviews. Could you review the YAMAHA YH-L700A - I'd love to get your views on them - if they're better or comparable to Sennheiser for sound quality.
Thx for the in depth comparison. Was looking into buying the Momentum 3's and was very disappointed when I saw the new design and thought "that shit is in no way as durable as the Momentum 3's" I'll skip the Momentum 4's and hope I can find the Momentum 3's since they clearly seem superior in design and build quality, which is very important factors at this price point.
I agree with most his points. The sound of my m3's is superior to m4, battery is amazing but feel sleek premium that the m3's. The m4's have become my go to for work and commuting around but I love the sound of the m3's and use thos more when not traveling as I'm m precious about damaging them so the m4's get the more sturdy treatment days
I have both and tend to go for the sennheiser m4. The sound is alot better and I find the comfort similar. Anc is similar but the sound is just something else. I use them mainly for commutes and flights
I bought these Momentum 4 and returned these. I have the older model of pxc-550 II, pxc-550's and they are just so much more comfortable than these Momentum 4. I am very sad that that's the case, I liked the sound of the momentum 4's but I couldn't just wear them and I kinda take that as a bad trait in a headphone.
Excellent review. I had the M2s and I've now the M3s but personally I think these M4s have lost the essence of the momentum series. To me these are a step backwards in almost every way
I just received my Momentum 4 and did a sound comparison with my old PXC 550. I'm blown away! The M4 sound so much better! Deeper bass, so much clearer allover, especially in the mids and treble! Suddenly, the PXC 550 sound like a Bose in comparison. And the PXC 550 sound a lot better than any Bose already. One thing that I immediately noticed is that the soundstage on the PXC 550 is way worse on a Mac, but this might be because it only uses SBC there (1st generation). So I did my comparison on my phone using AptX to be fair. Still, the M4 have far better soundstage and especially imaging. I can finally get a sense of depth and height. Maybe the M3 sounded wider, I don't remember, but the M4's soundstage is still bigger in any dimension compared to the PXC 550. Sometimes I can hear the sub bass boost of the M4, sounds like a subwoofer in a perfectly damped room. Think of cinema sound. You can hear frequencies down to almost 20Hz. I can't really tell how high they go, I can only hear up to 16kHz. But I can tell that the treble is a lot less peaky, more tidy and airy compared to the PXC 550. I reduced the mids by about 3db in the app EQ to get rid of the slight mid-forwardness. Now they sound very linear to my ear, with that slight extra power in the lower bass. But this does never get in the way of other frequencies, i. e. it always stays clean and e. g. bass guitars are very well separated from the kick drums and keep their timbre (very important for me, I play the bass guitar). So all in all I'm more than happy with the sound and can say that it's definitely a big improvement over the PXC 550! Usability is pretty similar to the PXC 550, I felt right at home with them immediately. But one issue that I found is that when it's paired with both a Mac and an Android phone, and I'm playing music from the phone, the touch controls for volume up/down and skip tracks don't work. I either have to disconnect the Mac or use the phone to control the playback. As for comfort: The PXC 550 fit my ears better. The earpads are deeper (2cm-3cm, compared to 1.8cm-2.5cm), and that's enough for my ears to slightly touch the drivers. The clamping force is slightly higher on the M4, but I don't feel the extra weight after 3 hours of constant use now. Also, I don't have any pressure on the top of my head. So if your ears stick out a lot, you should pay attention. For me, it's on the limit, only just acceptable. But since I'm so happy with the sound and the usability, I'll learn to get along with it.
@@alexpapas99 That sounds a bit harsh to me. Sure, he's not overly focused on sound, he is not an audiophile reviewer. But I like that he evaluates a lot of important aspects, all in the same way and detail in every video, and he doesn't hype the products. That's why I always like to watch his videos. And they give you at least a basic idea of the sound. But in the end you have to try headphones on your own head anyway. If that's not possible, there are better channels out there for sound quality for sure.
I bet to differ that m3s are better than m4s sound wise but the only way to find out is to listen for yourself as it is with all the headphones. They should have them now in stores to demo.
They have different characteristics. M3 has clear, punchy, good bass that pop your eyes out, but sometimes it can block little details from mids and highs. M4 doesnt have that kind of bass, but you can hear everything. It's matter of what characteristic you love. Thus, you should listen both to decide.
I think m4 has a bit better separation in my taste, but it's not like that simple. Sound is subjective. They both sound fantastic with different charateristics. If you don't understand this, you didn't experience it yet, so don't go blind. I really recommend you to listen both devices before buying.
In terms of design, not different from all others in the market.. plastic all over... and on top of that , fabric LOL... I will keep my momentum 3, he has a flawless design and its sound is terrific!
You are just about the only person on RUclips doing a proper comparison between the M4 and the old M3s. Thanks!
…and PXC 330 which I have hahah
I've also been using the Momentum 4s for a few weeks. I find then incredibly comfortable. I have gone up to 6 hours of use at a time, and have not had any discomfort at all. The battery life is absolutely insane, which makes these a win against any of its competition, for now.
I’m glad you like them
What do you think of the build quality? Have you ever noticed creaking around the plastic ear pieces whenever you are wearing the headphone?
@@AmericanRoads no it aint no sony
Any updates for the headphones guys. I saw many reviews have problems after 1 month use.
@@everythingcanwork5215 Not a single problem. I have travelled multiple times with these, quality just continues to blow me away. Flew for 6.5 hours last week, battery level was an insane 91% left when I landed. I cannot speak more highly of the Momentum 4's, so good.
I have the sennheiser momentum 4 and I am really digging the sound. They never disappoint when it comes to sound
do you have the m3s as well tested ?
I agree so many good software updates have made them better and better equalizer too
Listing to this review on my momentum 3’s, berating a sigh of relief that I don’t have to upgrade. The ANC has always been more than enough, I find them comfortable, and I haven’t had any issues with battery life. What I LOVE about my 3’s is the sound quality. When I first got them, it was like listing to my music collection for the first time again. Gilmour’s guitar solos, Sade’s smooth voice, and the thump of the base in Bad Guy…
So when I got to the sound quality section of your review, there’s just no way I’d take a pair of headphones that aren’t as good as the 3’s. Thank you for the great review!!
I love the Momentum 3 sound and was kinda disappointed that in M4, it's not even equal to M3... Maybe you know some ANC headphones alternatives that could sound even better than Momentum 3?
@@shakhtyor There really isn't anything that's discernably better than the M3s yet in terms of bluetooth headphones. Sound quality *is* subjective after a certain point, what you like and what music you listen to will always play a part. But for me personally I haven't been able to find anything close.
@@eiatos I have the M3. And love them. However I find they sound bit boxed in compared to sound stage on m4.
"But the momentum 4 don't sound as good as the momentum 3". Oh yeah, I'm not the only one... Could you please suggest any headphones that at least equal to the Momentum 3 sound quality?
I'm going to stick with my M3s for now, I really love the premium feel they have in comparison to pretty much anything else on the market.
Finally! But I will still wait for the XM5 vs M4s review of yours, just to be sure 😅. Good review as always!
That review is coming next
@@GYMCADDY Would be nice to hear mic quality difference, especially in noisy environments, with people voices
Best and most complete review.
This is what I was waiting for.
Problem: I have and love the Momentum 3s, and the EPOSD Adapt 660, which are based on the PxC550IIs
I couldn't be parted with either of them for this upgrade, but I really want to hear the Momentum 4s.
The battery on yeh Momentum 3s is now about 7-8 hours from about 17 originally. It still works for me, but I have to charge them almost daily.
The EPOS Adapt 660 (PXC550II) have an acceptable battery, maybe 70% of what it was when they were new, which is still really good.
The sound quality is astounding - they make me stop in the street with how good they are - Fantastic.
Are you saying that the upgrade is not worth it?
I have always felt like the noise cancelling of the EPOS Adapt 660 is inferior to the Sony, the Bose, or the Airoids Max.
U fly quite a to, and they are OK but not brilliant. They do the job, but I know there is better out there.
I am stuck.
Sound quality is my most significant driver, and I love the Sennheiser sound. Open, detailed, full and balanced.
I have Sony XB-950 for when I want to hear Nipsy Hustle and just kill the bass. They are fun. But when I want to really enjoy music - Sennheiser is a good plan for me. I have both Bose and Bang and Olufsen, and they are very good - especially Bang and Olufsen but even then, the Sennheiser gives me more of what my ears appreciate - hence, after waiting for the Momentum 4 - I am somewhat in a stuck place.
I have these two headphones because the sound quality is fantastic - especially the momentum 3, which I do NOT fly with.
The Momentum 4 has a better battery, noise cancelling and case than either, but the sound quality does not seem superior.
I would notice if I had them and would be very bummed indeed if I felt I was looking for my old headphones.
Stuck.
Any thoughts or advice?
Great video as usual. Just the thoroughness I expected,d and I am looking forward to comparisons with XM5, Airpod Max and Bowers and Wilkins PX7-2.
Maybe even the Master and Dynamic M67, the new Technics, or the Soundcore Space! 45.
Thanks for doing your usual fantastic job, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my predicament.
hahahaha. He will never answer you. Just get over the momentum 3, the 4 is already a worthy upgrade for the noise cancelling, more light-weight and comfortable design, and the touchpad control. You might assume you are not a fan of touchpads based on what some people on youtube say, but try it out for yourself, most of them are on a crazy load of BS.
@@jasonMB999 Yeah sucks that he doesnt reply to comments especially when dude has 90 comments. He just has to take a little time out of his day to reply.
I have the PXC 550 and used them for years now. Always loved the sound - they sound better than any Bose or Sony I tried. Today I got my Momentum 4 and compared them for some time. Suddenly, the PXC 550 sound like Bose to me! There's so much more detail and clarity in the M4's sound! So if you like both your 660 and the M3, I guess you won't feel that the M4 are a downgrade compared to the M3.
From what I can remember (don't have the M3 here, but compared in a store), the M3's bass is boosted in the mid/upper punch region, the M4 has more sub bass extension and rumble. This rumble shows less often, so the M3 kick in more tracks. The mids sound similar, but I found them to be a tiny bit cleaner on the M3 when you engaged the High Fidelity Sound Tuning. On my M4, I reduced the mids by about 2-3db, feels more neutral to me. I couldn't hear a noticeable difference in treble. Soundstage on the M3 seemed to be a tad wider, but depth, height and imaging were a little better on the M4.
I'd say get the M4, but pay attention to the comfort, the earpads are shallower than the other two. Especially compared to the 550/660. All in all, they combine most of the benefits of the M3 and the PXC 550 and bring them to the present. Also the build is better than the PXC 550. I just think that the look & feel of the M3 was way better...
@@VeitLehmann, I get you. For the money it will cost and the fact that I will lose something from the ones I have - I will wait till Momentum 5. I love the styling of the momentum 3 and the lightness of the 660/550. The sound from both is just amazing, and the idea that I don't get a significant bump and have to deal with some negatives is not worth it. I might get a pair of the 4s to try, but I do NOT think I will be selling or switching out. The ones I have will do me for now. I take several long flights a year, and the 660s are plenty noise cancelling for me - even though I know there is better out there. The sound quality is excellent, and when I want even better, I have the Momentum 3s.
If I want to go further, I have a pair of HD650s to count on, but they are more for home and are static.
The 4s are a bit of a disappointment. The styling of the 3s was a big selling point, but the planeness of the 4s turns me off. If they were super duper in the sound department, I would have jumped in, but the thought that there would be any compromise fills me with dread. I have kept the M3s over the H95s, the Sonys, the AirPods, and every oncomer because the sound is sublime. I need something objectively better and offer no compromises to make a switch. Looking at the H95 again, the Focal, the ML5909 and some others to see if it is worth making the jump, but the 4s miss it for me. Have to do a detailed listen in a shop but have yet to hold out much hope. So very grateful for your thoughts and advice, though. Really appreciate it. Truly.
@@iu1191 Absolutely, sticking with your current stuff is always the best if you're happy with it. As long as you're okay with switching, the M4 is not better than the M3 and the PXC combined. And I also appreciate when people don't needlessly buy new electronics, it's better for our planet to be mindful about resources. I had to switch because my PXC 550 was unreliable in the end and could suddenly turn off in the middle of a call - that's a no-go. Still keeping them as a backup, and I still think they're something special and still unmatched in certain areas. Same with the M3, both are very unique for their own reasons. You have two real classics, enjoy them as long as you can!
Purposely came to your RUclips from your Amazon page just to leave a comment. Your videos were extremely helpful and I want to thank you for your time, effort, and attention to detail in making them! You've helped me decide which headphones to buy and I've learned a lot just from your explanations. Thank you and best of luck dude 👍
Awesome! Thank you! 🥰
Great to see a comparison to the M3s! In your future vid, it would be interesting to know if the aptX Adaptive codec makes a noticeabke improvement over old aptX to be a reason to upgrade. I know it is technically superior, allowing higher resolution 24bit and higher data rates but is the sensitivity/quality of the M4 high enough to actually discern the resolution difference when playing flacs/HD content? It seems to be glossed over in reviews as simply a spec difference. I held out for the M4s to upgrade my M2s as the M3s didn't have HD codec. I don't like the build quality of my M4s and was considering selling them if I can find some M3 clearance stock. I need to upgrade my phone before I can test the aptX Adaptive differnce myself. But if the M3s sound just as good or better whey plain aptX I wont bother with the phone upgrade yet and try to get some M3s before they are all gone. If it does make a big difference, I'll bear with the M4s. Thanks.
Hands down for the little details that you noticed during use. Most reviewers just talk specs and sound. This is very user friendly review. Big up!
"Because most of the reviewers are just disguised salesman that work in partnership with these brands"
Why do you think there are no other reviews out there comparing the 3 vs 4 with the conclusion being the 3 is still better on a lot of important points...
I’ve had my momentum 3s for 3 years. Over 10000 hours of use, never had an issue with them. But the sliders got worn down so much they wouldn’t stay put. The hand band would stretch out. I have put little black rubber bands on them so they can’t slide.
I just bought the Momentum 4, and they sound AMAZING! However... I often hear creaks and clicks when I am wearing them and moving my head. Have you ever noticed this issue with your unit?
I actually have this issue too. When I'm walking around often this stupid cracks and clicks appears too, but in the left and right ear cup. Not inside the ear it cracks and clicks, but on the outside of the ear cups. Maybe it's due by the plasticy build.
Yes, any slight movement in the plasic hinges creak and are amplified within the plastic surround. Even from just facial muscular movement. I've found the right side is especially bad on mine. Extreanly annoying. If I can get s hold of a new pair of M3s fire a clearance price, I'll probably grab them and sell the M4s. If not I'll experiment with some lubricants. Maybe a spray of silicon will help. Ive upgraded from 6 year old M2s which are so much better built. I doubt the M4s will last anywhere near as long.
Return and get the M3. Far higher quality imo
@@chefgav1 why would anyone buy the M4 if the M3s are better? Aren’t the M4 supposed to be a better and upgraded version?
Good review. I have had these for a few weeks now and real happy with the sound. But I fight Bluetooth connections too. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Almost a deal breaker for me, shouldn't have to worry if they are going to connect or not.
I agree, i find the Momentum 3's more comfortable & my ears barely get hot while it can get sweaty with the 4's. However the 4's are amazing, they ooze quality, the ANC & case is finally great, the touch controls are super smooth & the sound is fantastic. The 3's are stronger & louder but the 4's sound more mature & toned down in a good way. Having both i can swap between a more soothing sound vs lively & punchy. Overall though sound wise the Momentum 3's are just so hard to let go off like you said, i actually was disapoointed when comparing them at first. I would say they are like an amplified version of the 4's with extra oumph. The unique amazing base rattling the whole headphones on your head.I havent experienced the disconnection issue with them being upside down in the case btw.
I too found the vegan M4 pads to be immediately hot and sweaty compared to the leather on my M2s which feel cool for a long time, before heat builds up. Then a brief rest would cool them down again. Im really hoping Sennheiser or a 3rd party will bring out upgraded leather replacement psds. They would be well worth the upgrade! Sounds is certainly improvement over my old M2s. I found the leather pads on my M2 provide superior passive isolation of bassy noise such as neighbour's noisy car, which the M4s can't block, even with the superior ANC. But I'm keen to try and get some M3s to replace the M4s! I waited so long for the M4s, hoping they would be equal build quality then M3s, but with aptX Adaptive. Sadly they've taken a step backward in my opinion. Maybe they'll suprise us with a M4 premium edition after everyone has bought M4s. Same soecs, but in metal and leather! Haha.
@@jamiecampbell1271 lol lmao premium M4's would make me so butthurt but if a new color combo pops up that id like or a premium ed i wouldnt be able to resist cuz i love em too much😂 some replacement pads are def something im hoping for too. I havent had the M2's i got the M1s way back then recently the 3's & a couple days after got the 4's locally for 200$ Which i couldnt pass on. Overall i love these sennys & theres just minimal areas left for improvement now so we'll see what the future may hold.
is ear cup size the same? or momentum 3 bigger?
here in the video the noise test is done, but for me it doesn't matter, the most important thing in a headset is the sound quality and here it is not mentioned at all. from the other references the momentum 3 sound better than the other two.
Important question: which is better for hot weather 4 or 3?
The review that only counts is finally out. Enjoy !!!
🥰🥰🥰
As usual, the best review on RUclips.
Shows problems with arguments, in the context of each section.
I thought my Momentum 3 was going to lose the position of my favorite headphone, but apparently it won't be that easy.
Don’t like the fact Sennheiser IMO took a step backwards with smaller drivers which effected sound quality and don’t sound as good as the Momentum 3’s, cheap plastic build quality compared to the Momentum 3’s which had real leather and metal, but the case was an upgrade on the Momentum 4.
I've been waiting for your review to make a decision on these 👍🏼
I’ve got 3 more videos in the way
@@GYMCADDY looking forward!! Honestly I was dayly checking your channel to see this, whilst watching other reviews.
Question: you said the M3's bass is more punchy than the M4's? How are the M4's bass in terms of detail? How would you compare them to the Airpods Max or even the M2's?
I got the Airpods Max after 2 years with my M3's. The M3's mids are amazing with great details in the highs. But the lows aren't good... they're punchy, they're fun, they're a blast when watching movies. But I love detailed bass. The M2's bass is beautiful and the Airpods Max's bass have a lot of detail. But the M3's bass feels muffled at times.
So... I want to buy new travel headphones because traveling with the Airpods... They collect my sweat and I've already had one pair replaced (yes I sweat a lot, I don't like the summer). Never had this with the M3's, they're just warm but sweat isn't a problem. The M4's ANC and battery life blows me away. Perfect to travel with!
You say the audio quality is worse while others say they're better so it's entirely subjective. I just need a reference for myself.
M4 sounds better than M3? Then why is everyone criticizing their sound quality?
I found the bass detail of the M4 to be one of their biggest strength! The best when I compared them to lots of other cans (PX7 S2, Sony XM4 and XM5, Momentum 3, PXC 550 and some Bose; I have never tried AirPods Max however). They were the best in terms of instrument separation, so you can really tell what's the bass guitar and what's the kick drum for example. There's even a sense of space, the bass is not happening inside of your head.
The only thing to note is that you can sometimes hear a boost in the sub bass. So if there's really deep bass in a track, it can sound more pronounced than intended. Sounds like a subwoofer in a perfectly damped room then, think of cinema sound. So not perfectly neutral, but could be exciting for movies. And even when you can feel that boost, it never gets in the way of the upper bass frequencies, everything stays clean there. Also, I have never encountered the bass bleeding into the mids.
The M3 have a similar sense of space, separation and detail in the bass, but they have less sub bass, more a mid bass boost. You can hear that boost more often, which often makes them sound more punchy in comparison. I'd say they are the 2nd best option in terms of bass detail.
All the other aspects of the M4's sound are also top-notch - I love them. (disclaimer: I just received them today and tested them for 3 hours now, so I'm still in the honeymoon phase)
@@VeitLehmannon point!
Sir, your favorite between momentum 4, PX7 S2 And B&O H95? I dont know wich one choose. Thank you!
Hi good review👍 out of all the headphones you mentioned what ones have the highest volume levels? thanks🙂
thanks man, i already have momentum 3 and i will stay here. sound quality
Totally agree. Will do the same.
Thanks for making me appreciate my M3's just a little more :)
Thanks a lot for the great review, I have been looking forward to it! Today I had the opportunity to test the M4 and compared it to my PXC 550 and the Sony XM5. Also checked the M3 for comfort.
I found the M4 clearly best for sound and on par with the XM5 for comfort, with the PXC 550 fitting just a bit better around my ears which are pretty large and stick out a little. ANC on the M4 was almost on XM5 level and much better than my PXC 550. I remember the M3's ANC to be a little weaker than the PXC 550, just as your tests show very accurately! But I think the earcups of the M3 might be a little shallower, my ears are touching the drivers on them.
For sound, I didn't test the M3 today, but I remember them to be very good, although a bit overwhelming in the bass for certain songs, but with a wider soundstage than the M4. The M4's bass was cleaner and deeper than the one on the PXC 550, without coloring the mids. Also more detail and clarity allover. The XM5 lacked detail, clarity and soundstage and were too dark by default. After some EQ, the timbre can be surprisingly similar. But allover still the worst of the bunch.
So for me, the M4 are a great mix between the M3 and the PXC 550. Now I have to compare them to the PX7 S2, my other favorite for comfort and sound so far. Who knows, maybe you'll post your video on the same day as I'm getting to compare them again? 😄
This is very helpful. I use my pxc550 and the soundstage on the default setting is unlike anything. The only pair that will overcome the soundstage is AirPods Max. But they are too expensive and they REALLY have the cabin pressure issue. So I'm not getting them.
@@TheWolod I just received my Momentum 4 and did a sound comparison with my old PXC 550. I'm blown away! The M4 sound so much better! Deeper bass, so much clearer allover, especially in the mids and treble! Suddenly, the PXC 550 sound like a Bose in comparison. And the PXC 550 sound a lot better than any Bose already.
One thing that I immediately noticed is that the soundstage on the PXC 550 is way worse on a Mac, but this might be because it only uses SBC there (1st generation). So I did my comparison on my phone using AptX to be fair. Still, the M4 have far better soundstage and especially imaging. I can finally get a sense of depth and height. Maybe the M3 sounded wider, I don't remember, but the M4's soundstage is still bigger in any dimension compared to the PXC 550.
Sometimes I can hear the sub bass boost of the M4, sounds like a subwoofer in a perfectly damped room. Think of cinema sound. You can hear frequencies down to almost 20Hz. I can't really tell how high they go, I can only hear up to 16kHz. But I can tell that the treble is a lot less peaky, more tidy and airy compared to the PXC 550. I reduced the mids by about 3db in the app EQ to get rid of the slight mid-forwardness. Now they sound very linear to my ear, with that slight extra power in the lower bass. But this does never get in the way of other frequencies, i. e. it always stays clean and e. g. bass guitars are very well separated from the kick drums and keep their timbre (very important for me, I play the bass guitar).
So all in all I'm more than happy with the sound and can say that it's definitely a big improvement over the PXC 550!
Usability is pretty similar to the PXC 550, I felt right at home with them immediately. But one issue that I found is that when it's paired with both a Mac and an Android phone, and I'm playing music from the phone, the touch controls for volume up/down and skip tracks don't work. I either have to disconnect the Mac or use the phone to control the playback.
As for comfort: The PXC 550 fit my ears better. The earpads are deeper (2cm-3cm, compared to 1.8cm-2.5cm), and that's enough for my ears to slightly touch the drivers. The clamping force is slightly higher on the M4, but I don't feel the extra weight after 3 hours of constant use now. Also, I don't have any pressure on the top of my head. So if your ears stick out a lot, you should pay attention. For me, it's on the limit, only just acceptable. But since I'm so happy with the sound and the usability, I'll learn to get along with it.
Volume level? Which one louder?
@@trebleclef4889 I believe from this selection it should be the Momentum 3. But they have the weakest ANC. Better get something with good ANC and save your ears, you don't need crazy volume then. The M4 easily gets loud enough to really get going! PXC 550 are the quietest of the three.
You gave solid points, but also sounded a bit biased about towards the m3’s. Good review tho
I've got a question regarding the ANC test - I can see that Momentum 4 hit higher on the noise bar than Monentum 3, e.g. at the simulated coffee shop they hit 20 when Momentum 3 blocked noticeably more than 20. Does it still mean that ANC is better in Momentum 4? Great review as always, thank you 💪🏻
been waiting for you review you’re the best on youtube
As usual excellent and thorough review, thanks. Think I'll be upgrading to these from my PXC 550-II considering the battery life and AptX-Adaptice support along with other features that are not present in my current headphones.
Are you satisfied with momentum 4? I’m now using pxc 550ii and thinking go to momentum 4, did you fell better sound quality?
Very comprehensive review. Smaller earpads and unstable on/off status, stop me thinking about it.
After few plastic/ fake leather headsets from JBL, Sony, AKG (all of them torn and cracked for 1-2years).., finally got Momentum 3 build strong witn metal and real leather. Perfect sound.
I love your channel and reviews man!
glad to see a review between these and the pxc since my pxc550ii's just took a shit
Love them, after my Crusher ANC broke I was looking for a pair of daily drivers, got the XM4s, not for me, got the QC45, also not for me, I finnaly found my soundmate.
thank you for this amazing review. is the opening on it’s own issue with the case solved? I can imagine that would annoy me a lot.
Hey How does it sounds With Rock music?
is ear cup size the same? or momentum 3 bigger?
8:46 m4 ear pads aren't glued on and can be replaced. sennheiser sell them on the official site. but new ones are pretty expensive comparing to others.
How is the video chat BT connection stability?
I have the PXC 550 II but they lose the sound and mic connection when using them for video chat after between 15 & 30 mins. I have to turn them off and on again and sometimes connection won't take. I really like PXC 550 for comfort and sound quality, so am tempted by the M.4s but don't want a repeat of audio loss
Do the headphones have the 3.5 jack twist locking mechanism like the Momentum 3 did?
Thank you! I was going to buy pxc 550 II but wasn't sure but I am now!
at the end i got one more question is there any way that the momentum 4 have a anti wind mode like the pxc 550II cause I love that feature and Im thinking about upgrading from them
I love my mom 3! Im sticking with them.
Hi, just bought new Momentum4 and have the following issue. I bought a reputable brand "3.5mm to USB-C" adapter (Anker) to hook my Momentum 4 headphones to my Samsung S20+ phone. I know the adapter is good because I compared it to a Samsung genetic "3.5mm to USB-C" adapter and it sounds better than it, but I did this initial comparison with other wired headphones.
So, when I tried the new adapter on my Momentum 4 headphones (via the included 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable) they sounded worse than when paired via Bluetooth. The sound is more hollow or muffled. (one note: when listening via this cable and my new adapter the headphones are switched off). Is it possible that via Bluetooth connection the sound is better than via the cable? How is this possible? Everybody says that wired connection is better than Bluetooth connection sound wise.
Any help will be highly appreciated.
This is because these are BT Headphones, all Bluetooth Headphones Sounds like ass when they pluged in via cable. Because BT Headphones have a dedicated amplifier built in, so every time you turn on your Headphone the amp will start working. If you leave them off and plug them in, the amp is also turned off. Thats the reason why they sound so Bad. They are tuned with this proper amp inside them, not passively when they're off.
Hope that helped you😌
@@Hank_Johnson Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I think when I switch them on they sound better with that cable (in both cases I am using a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter to hook them to my phone. And if I want to use the USB-C - USB-C cable with my phone they must be switched on else they don't work at all with that cable when they are off. Also, i just got the BTD600 Bluetooth adapter, and I am trying figure out the best audio connection (and possible the ones that takes less battery on the phone and headphones)
Does ANC affect how Momentum 4s sound? If so, then an ANC off mode would be in dire need
Sounds the same to me either way. I tend to keep anc off tho so I can still be present
The momentum 4s sound great but I loved my pxc550. They were so comfortable and fit my ears so well. The 4’s start to hurt and I don’t like that I can’t really turn them off and when I bump them next to my couch it reconnects to my phone. I hope they fix this.
Felt like they combined the pxc and momentum’s. I wish they came out with a new pxc. That lightweight and egg shaped ear up can’t be beat for my head shape.
Thanks for the review, now I'm convinced that I should go for the 3's.
I would still go with the XM5 for its app, LDAC and overall stability. To me, firmware and app stability are crucial when sound quality, ANC and comfort have reached a certain high level. When working or travelling, I do not want to be bothered with issues.
Did u experience low max volume out of the box?
did they fixed this issue of no turning off ?
Last time that I checked, no
Maybe there are benefits of not being able to turning off noise cancelling
I just bought the Momentum 4 but the Momentum 3 is $150 off right now. This is my first pair of Sennheiser headphones. Knowing this, would you stick with the 4’s or go with the 3’s? Great video btw.
Return them and get the M3. Far better quality imo
@@chefgav1 I returned them and I got the AirPods Max. I absolutely love them.
Is it sweat proof ? Thankyou
i just went from pxc550-II to the momentum 4, actually got them as a warranty replacement for the 550's, i loved the 550's, but to me the momentums felt lika an instant upgrade, the sound is better, there is more depth to the bass and it goes lower, another thing i noticed with the bass is that when playing music on mild volume there is much more bass.
i love how they feel, i think they are more comfortable than the 550's where. the earcups are bigger. the weight difference is noticable but it does not bother me.
and another thing.. the battery life, that was my main grudge with the 550's, i never felt like they lasted anywhere near the time they where supposed to, i would probably have to recharge them 4 times for every 1 charge in the 4's
Can we use them for running..like are they comfortable for head or they cause discomfort?
@@dsghyghy no discomfort for me, my biggest worry would be that they would stay on my head if i was running.but that maybe goes for all of those big headphones
Awesome Review Man. This is the best review when it comes comparing the momentum 4 vs 3. I am all about sound quality. Had the momentum 3 a while back but also wanted to try the momentum 4s. Your review has helped me decide better. M3s we're available new at an awesome price of 199 recently which seems like a steal in comparison to 349 for M4s. Great review. Keep up the good work.
Would love to see a shoot out between the momentum 4s, px7 S2 and HX.
Px7 s2 coming.
@GYMCADDY which one should i buy now momentum 4 or 3
My priority sound and anc
I have been waiting alot for this video
You managed to made my mind to NOT upgrade from my 550 II :) Thank you for making me save some buckets :)
8:58 "Because these (momentum 4) Earpads are glued on" Mine were not glued on. The cushios were to flat for my taste. So i bought some thicker ThirdParty Cushions at Amazon. And i just replaced it without visible Glue. There are replacable just like the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II that i own for years.
Maybe they changed it? I bought mine in Early 2024.
Are these any good for the gym?
I've had the momentum 2's as my go to for the last 4 years when it comes sound quality. Their only issue is that the headband starts to get uncomfortable after a few hours. Of course there are improvements in comfort and battery life etc, but I'm wondering if you think purely for sound quality, are the M4's better at all?
Just get the M3s if you’re ever planning to upgrade. I think he’s leaning slightly towards the M3s for sound quality and bass. Plus, the M4s look too generic, like the competitors. M2s and 3s carry that old school unique Sennheiser look. I’ve owned the M3s for about a year now and so far they’re the best sounding headphones I’ve ever put on my head.
@@ceezare3039 have you tried the M2's and compared? How much of an improvement are the M3's over the M2's? They're on sale because they're "outdated" now and I'm tempted, but I'm not sure if it's worth spending 200 if they're pretty similar to what I have
@@michaelminevich1198 the M2 and M3 sound identical.
@@Odie50000thanks! That's good to know. I guess it probably doesn't make much sense to buy the M3's if my M2 's are still working great. My only problem with them at all is that the head band is pretty hard, with no real cushion
@@michaelminevich1198 Yeah that part does suck. From what I can tell the bands between 2 and 3 are very similar too so there wouldn't be that much of an upgrade either.
Great indepth review, even though the battery life and anc on my momentum 3s is in desperate need of a upgrade I have to skip out ont the 4s. They look and fell cheaper and they sound slightly worse. Can you check out the Master and Dynamic MW75? 600$ is a lot but I want to hear how they proform in your test
Hi I just wanted to know where can I find replacement ear pads ?
Amazing review ❤
Great review as always, but wasn’t expecting to see a reference to Ric Flair’s last match jajaja
Wooooo!
Great review, as always. Thanks
Connectivity issue fixed though update yet?
nope. still having that issue.
Excellent in-depth review. The best yet. Though my conclusion is different than yours re: sound performance on the M4’s, I am in complete agreement re: the software/firmware control issues. It’s like the programmers aren’t headphone users at all. Their half-baked software for this new headphone is at times irritating with it’s errors. Clunky, but I still love that sound. Looking forward to the updates to correct the issues. I think we listen to different music types, so to each his or her own. Great job.
I did a lot of research before buying the Momentum 3s and they seemed to be suffering from a lot of the same software and firmware issues for the first few months of release so they'll probably work that out eventually. They're good headphones but I just really preferred how the M3's feel both in sound and build. I'll learn to live with a 17hr battery.
They resolved most of these issues in recent software update. Also introduced 5 band equalizer. I prefer the sound on m4 over my m3.
@@stephenknight6562 So they already improved the momentum 4 or were you referring to the momentum 3???
Great review, despite the result not being what I hoped for. I love my M3s, but they’ve had the Bluetooth stutter for months now, and it’s become almost unbearable.
So I was really hoping the M4s would be a step up in all areas, but now I know I’d be taking a step down in sound quality, I’m pretty torn.
Tempted to get another pair of M3s, and see if the Bluetooth issues are isolated to my current pair only.
can you provide any updates? how did the new pair performed?
Any update?
Any update?
@Brice Rosa Well I personally just got some M3s and the Bluetooth connection is impeccable. Get them.
@@Odie50000 thank you. I'm actually leaning to them as I heard you can turn off anc vs the m4s
Has the QC45 but now got the XM5. Are the Momentum 4s better than XM5 for ANC?
You can watch my versus video where I compare the momentum 4 to both of Sonys headphones
I have been checking youtube every day since these headphones were revealed to watch your review. Very interesting what you said about the comfort of these headphones and how the M3 sound better than them.
Listening to this review on my 598 Cs :)
Really, I think that recycled plastics are a good thing. Even if they don't feel as 'premium' its still important that these companies make impacts on the planet.
Then charge accordingly then
I love the M4 design and ANC, but the M3 were more mid forward that I miss on the M4.
Shame Sennheiser has cramped up all the ports on right earcups. nuts. How awkward, I always carry phone in my left front picket and most of the 3.5 port are on left of laptop (i know these are to be used wireless, still). Hi gymcaddy hoping you will do longterm review of these cans.
Random ,but I knew this was the place.I just picked up a Pulse 4 new for $150 !! Should I keep it for this price if I already own a xtreme 2 or wait for the new upcoming models ?
The new model has been delayed. Idk when it is going to come out. If you’re happy with the pulse 4. Keep it for that price if you want the lights. But if you want better sound at that price, get the charge 5
Was Waiting For This THANK YOU
Lemme get my snacks
Did they fix the issue with auto turn on while its upside down in the case ?
Nope
@@GYMCADDY 😭😭😭
I had an XM5, to begin with, then i bought the Momentum 3, after that the Momentum 4. (i also had a few headphones before these, so i can compare them with other ones)
Everyone on youtube, reddit and other forums are head over heels for the Momentum 4, and honestly i did not get why... I always felt that the Momentum 3 had a better sound, not audiophile, but more fun. just as you described in your video, it feels open and more clear, and a the bass feels better. The momentum 4 has a really strong low bass, but for example the piano sounds on the deep end are better on the M3-s, it feels more realistic? I dont know how to describe, but it feels more impactful. At least with my ears and subjective taste.
Im glad that i am not the only one who feels that the M3 sounds better. I think it is a little placebo, and a little hype train, why everyone thinks the M4 is better, it is newer, so it must be better.
To me the M4 is a convenient and good to use headphone, but for calls, and work i liked the Sony XM5 better, and the M3 for just having fun listening to music. My unit is also faulty, it doesnt detect when im wearing it, tomorrow im getting a new one, but im considering selling it, and rebuying the XM5 for work.
I really love your reviews. Could you review the YAMAHA YH-L700A - I'd love to get your views on them - if they're better or comparable to Sennheiser for sound quality.
Which one has better SOUNDING SENNHEISER M4 vs APPLE AIRPODS MAx SIR ❤️
Still trying g to decide
Great review! Can you do a review for headphones Mark Levinson 5909?
Thanks for the throough review, in particular mentioning that you cant turn the ANC completely off. This is a big deal.
and in m3 you can?
Thx for the in depth comparison.
Was looking into buying the Momentum 3's and was very disappointed when I saw the new design and thought "that shit is in no way as durable as the Momentum 3's"
I'll skip the Momentum 4's and hope I can find the Momentum 3's since they clearly seem superior in design and build quality, which is very important factors at this price point.
Glad you liked the video
I agree with most his points. The sound of my m3's is superior to m4, battery is amazing but feel sleek premium that the m3's. The m4's have become my go to for work and commuting around but I love the sound of the m3's and use thos more when not traveling as I'm m precious about damaging them so the m4's get the more sturdy treatment days
How are the m3s better than M4? Isn’t M4 supposed to be better? Which is louder?
What do you recommend bose qc45 or Sennheiser momentum 4 ?
Bose. But mainly for tracking.
I have both and tend to go for the sennheiser m4. The sound is alot better and I find the comfort similar. Anc is similar but the sound is just something else. I use them mainly for commutes and flights
I have them both sound momentum 4 but ANC Bose 45 all day
@@GYMCADDY sorry, but what do you mean exactly by tracking?
I bought these Momentum 4 and returned these. I have the older model of pxc-550 II, pxc-550's and they are just so much more comfortable than these Momentum 4. I am very sad that that's the case, I liked the sound of the momentum 4's but I couldn't just wear them and I kinda take that as a bad trait in a headphone.
Excellent review
I lost my pxc 550s and was looking at tbr momentum 4s but the inability to turn off noise canceling is a bummer
Excellent review. I had the M2s and I've now the M3s but personally I think these M4s have lost the essence of the momentum series. To me these are a step backwards in almost every way
I’ll admit, I have been a sennheiser fan boy for the last few months. But I feel the Momentum 4’s were over hyped.
@@GYMCADDY I agree
I think they prioritized functioning over style with the momentum 4
I just received my Momentum 4 and did a sound comparison with my old PXC 550. I'm blown away! The M4 sound so much better! Deeper bass, so much clearer allover, especially in the mids and treble! Suddenly, the PXC 550 sound like a Bose in comparison. And the PXC 550 sound a lot better than any Bose already.
One thing that I immediately noticed is that the soundstage on the PXC 550 is way worse on a Mac, but this might be because it only uses SBC there (1st generation). So I did my comparison on my phone using AptX to be fair. Still, the M4 have far better soundstage and especially imaging. I can finally get a sense of depth and height. Maybe the M3 sounded wider, I don't remember, but the M4's soundstage is still bigger in any dimension compared to the PXC 550.
Sometimes I can hear the sub bass boost of the M4, sounds like a subwoofer in a perfectly damped room. Think of cinema sound. You can hear frequencies down to almost 20Hz. I can't really tell how high they go, I can only hear up to 16kHz. But I can tell that the treble is a lot less peaky, more tidy and airy compared to the PXC 550. I reduced the mids by about 3db in the app EQ to get rid of the slight mid-forwardness. Now they sound very linear to my ear, with that slight extra power in the lower bass. But this does never get in the way of other frequencies, i. e. it always stays clean and e. g. bass guitars are very well separated from the kick drums and keep their timbre (very important for me, I play the bass guitar).
So all in all I'm more than happy with the sound and can say that it's definitely a big improvement over the PXC 550!
Usability is pretty similar to the PXC 550, I felt right at home with them immediately. But one issue that I found is that when it's paired with both a Mac and an Android phone, and I'm playing music from the phone, the touch controls for volume up/down and skip tracks don't work. I either have to disconnect the Mac or use the phone to control the playback.
As for comfort: The PXC 550 fit my ears better. The earpads are deeper (2cm-3cm, compared to 1.8cm-2.5cm), and that's enough for my ears to slightly touch the drivers. The clamping force is slightly higher on the M4, but I don't feel the extra weight after 3 hours of constant use now. Also, I don't have any pressure on the top of my head. So if your ears stick out a lot, you should pay attention. For me, it's on the limit, only just acceptable. But since I'm so happy with the sound and the usability, I'll learn to get along with it.
Thank you so much for this comment. It's so helpful. I'm upgrading from the PXC 550s too. The Sony mx5 was so uncomfortable and I had to return them.
Ikr the guy in this review doesn't know what he's talking about regarding sound. There is a big difference.
@@alexpapas99 That sounds a bit harsh to me. Sure, he's not overly focused on sound, he is not an audiophile reviewer. But I like that he evaluates a lot of important aspects, all in the same way and detail in every video, and he doesn't hype the products. That's why I always like to watch his videos. And they give you at least a basic idea of the sound. But in the end you have to try headphones on your own head anyway. If that's not possible, there are better channels out there for sound quality for sure.
So iPhone users will have worse sound quality?
Sound quality or convince
Momentum 3 or Momentum 4
I bet to differ that m3s are better than m4s sound wise but the only way to find out is to listen for yourself as it is with all the headphones. They should have them now in stores to demo.
They have different characteristics. M3 has clear, punchy, good bass that pop your eyes out, but sometimes it can block little details from mids and highs. M4 doesnt have that kind of bass, but you can hear everything. It's matter of what characteristic you love. Thus, you should listen both to decide.
@@razielucard2292 so m4s have better separation that m3s?
@@razielucard2292 I was saving up to buy one and I'm all about sound quality the others don't Matter so tell me
I think m4 has a bit better separation in my taste, but it's not like that simple. Sound is subjective. They both sound fantastic with different charateristics. If you don't understand this, you didn't experience it yet, so don't go blind. I really recommend you to listen both devices before buying.
How would you compare the Senheiser to the B&O H95?
H95 cause they’re more comfortable
13:20 I have the momentum 3, the position of the USB-C port does bother me so I end up buying a 90 degree usb C adapter. Best $1 purchase ever.
I love your reviews! Subscribed... 👍
In terms of design, not different from all others in the market.. plastic all over... and on top of that , fabric LOL... I will keep my momentum 3, he has a flawless design and its sound is terrific!
What about the sound compared with the H95 from Bang and Olufsen?
I tried them in different stores. I like m4 sound more. H95 is only better crafted.