Sennheiser Momentum 3 earbuds review-what-you-didn't-know!

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Review [October 2023]: What You Didn’t Know!

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These are the premium ANC true wireless earphones with some great improvements. In Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Review, we will look at everything you didn’t know earlier.

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Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 Earbuds

The Momentum 3 true wireless earbud is worth considering. The earphone does a good job with iPhone as well. Thanks to the AirPods Pro’s superior connectivity and spatial audio support.

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There are so many models in the true wireless earbuds audio market segment. It is not easy to get the right fit in your pocket and the kind of features you are looking for. It’s sure one will get bored too quickly.

There are very excellent pairs that are hard to ignore when they enter this market segment. And I am sure the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless is one of them.

The brand is entering the third generation here. This is coming two years after starting its second effort.

These wireless noise-canceling earbuds stay at the top of the ever-higher ladder. Thanks to improved performance and a host of personalization features.

I am opening up the box. Very funny hun! I got the taste of truly wireless earbuds. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 delivers better. And there is a significant improvement over the Momentum True Wireless 2.

The predecessor was launched in mid-2020. These premium earbuds deliver better performance.  And have a refined design in comparison to their predecessors.

They have retuned the sound. This ensures a better match to the brand’s audiophile offerings. So as the competition in the premium true wireless earbuds arena.

The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system automatically adjusts to the ambient noise level. So, they have an improved design, support for the aptX, and an Adaptive Bluetooth codec. And promise better sound and ANC performance.

Sennheiser has made some key changes to appeal to music lovers. At the same time meeting modern demands.

Does this give an impression of the best flagship true wireless headset you can buy right now?

Let’s find out in this review.

1. What is in the Box- Sennheiser Momentum 3 True Wireless Earbuds?

When you bring home a pair of Sennheiser Momentum 3 True Wireless Earbuds, you will get the following basic articles in the box with the headset itself.

  • Sennheiser Momentum 3 True Wireless Earbuds
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • Adapter
  • instructions manuals
  • Carry case

2. When Did the Sennheiser Momentum 3 True Wireless Earbuds?

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 True Wireless Earbuds released in April 2022.

3. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless Earbuds Design and Build

When I opened up the box, I found the charging case is more or less the same as its predecessor. It comes with a soft cloth material design. The earbuds have a glossy metallic textured finish that never looks flashy. I like the texture and feel.

The Sennheiser logo is on the top of the case.  It is contrasting and looks great against the gray fabric on the background. This is to remind you that you are holding the premium brand earphone.

There is a USB Type-C charging port and an LED battery indicator at the front. When you open up the case, you will see there is another Sennheiser logo on the cover.

The brand again reinforces the plastic hinges. So, they don’t look sturdy and impressive to me. But, the magnets inside the case are sturdy and hold the earbuds tight in place.

I find the Momentum True Wireless and Momentum True Wireless 2 look very good in many ways. The Momentum True Wireless 3 is a big improvement over its predecessor.

The earbuds feature a smaller and much better form factor. It better suits its premium positioning.

As a result, the earbuds do not protrude from your ears and are lighter and more comfortable.  The Momentum True Wireless 3 has small snug-fitting earwings. It also has silicone ear tips with a layer of foam over the vents.

It’s very interesting, I can customize the logo area in the app. The flat, wide surface makes working with the touch controls especially easy.

As already said, the charging case for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is one of the best. It has a convenient size and shape that fits well in my pocket.

The device supports Qi wireless charging. I missed the pairing button on the case. But, I managed it via touch control.

The earbuds are IPX4 waterproof and each earbud has 3 mics for voice and ANC functionality.

4. Features and Specifications- Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless Earbuds

I did not see much difference in battery life. The Sennheiser  Momentum 3 True Wireless has a reasonable battery backup. More or less the same as its predecessor.

It’s very interesting, the device supports wireless Qi charging. You don’t always need a charging point when run out of battery. Spec sheets aren’t stagnant elsewhere.

Sennheiser has increased Bluetooth codec support from aptX to the new aptX Adaptive. This helps the transfer of 24-bit music files in compressed format.

This also means lower latency, more robustness, and avoiding dropouts. These are impressive features when you take out your phone from your pocket.

There are personalization features with this model. That is to fit every individual ear size. I applaud this effort by the brand. There are other headphones that offer some kind of EQ change. That gives users the freedom to balance the tone.

But the Momentum True Wireless 3 makes the customization more user friendly. It’s by far easier to access.

With Sennheiser Smart Control app, I enjoyed a ‘sound check’. There are 3 options to pick your preferred sound. For example, A, B, or C help measure the sound balance. This provides you with your favorite sound profile at the end. I am very happy I can also create my sound zones with the app.

This let me balance the EQ and noise isolation level when entering or exiting a specific radius.

For example, I set the Momentum to auto mode to adopt a bass sound profile in outdoor activities. At the same time, you can also turn on noise-canceling. And turn it back to normal mode when back at home.

The touch controls are easy to access and customizable. They let you tap and tap-hold actions on the earbuds to control music playback and call handling.

You are also able to enable the phone’s voice assistant or its ANC/transparency mode. Transparency mode is a useful option for apps. You can activate it while music is playing or paused.

So, you can have a conversation about the music or keep quiet. I am yet to figure out why sometimes the music paused when asked, sometimes it didn’t.

Active Noise Cancellation is a very good feature with three options. It is very interesting to play with “On”, “Off”, and an “Anti-Wind” setting in middle.

The earbud design is prone to wind noise, so I’m happy with the medium mode. I know it’s not perfect, but it does help reduce annoying wind noise.

So, keep that in mind, especially if you’re wearing it on a windy day. True wireless earbuds may have very good ANC features. But, it’s still a long way for them to come at par with over-ear noise-canceling headphones.

But, it’s impressive that Sennheiser does a good job of blocking outside noise.

5. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds - Battery Life

I am a big fan of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless series.  The cutting-edge technology with great sound and features always impresses me.

These true wireless earbuds are always gems for me. Yet, I find that battery life is not meeting the standard set by its competitors. In that sense, I would say it’s little lagging behind its counterparts.

But, I must say the earbuds are comparable to the AirPods Pro with their battery life. But, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 earbuds are not at par with Sony and Jabra offerings in this respect.

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 delivers a battery life of 7 hours with the earbuds alone. It has 28 hours of total battery backup with the charging case.

This is a very good real number. But turn ANC or Transparency mode on, and the battery life drops a sizeable number.

The earbuds also support fast charging. You can manage one hour of playback on 10 minutes charge. But, again Sony and Jabra beat the Sennheiser Momentum 3 earbuds. It is a little disappointing.

It’s a great addition to the Sennheiser Momentum 3 True Wireless that it supports Qi wireless charging.

You can charge your in-ear earphone with a USB Type-C charger. But they can also be placed on the Qi wireless charging pad for cable-free charging.

I didn’t see this feature in the headphone’s predecessor. Yet, I am happy Sennheiser included it this time around.

6. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds- Wearing Comfort

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 are very comfortable earbuds. The fit is smaller than its predecessor Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2.

This is a welcome improvement as it puts less strain on the ears. These earbuds are lightweight and come with 3 pairs of eartips of different sizes.

Using the controls doesn’t push the buds too deep into the ears. But, the design looks a little bulky and fits very well in the ear.

Stability fins also feel uncomfortable depending on the shape of the ear. For convenient ANC in-ears, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are better options.

It’s indeed the shallowness of ears. This is a deciding factor on how good fit it is in the ear. But then, the earpiece and housing occupy the inner ear.

That said the wearing comfort is there with the in-ear earphones.

There is a small rubber rim that protrudes slightly from the housing. This ensures a tight fit against the ear cartilage.

It’s not as pronounced as the wingtip you get with dedicated wireless sports earbuds. So, it’s not very effective for outdoor activities. Like the ones such as intense sports or physical activities.

7. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Sound Quality

Over the years, the true wireless earbuds delivered excellent performance. These tiny devices are very capable of delivering all-round performance.  And Sennheiser has said it loud and clear.

I am holding a pair of the Sennheiser true wireless earbuds right here. The Momentum 2 True Wireless did the job well. Users wanted clarity, sophistication, and spaciousness. And that delivered.

From setting the benchmark set itself, Sennheiser has taken these talents to new heights. It increased the resolution of detail of the earbuds.

This ensures that the Momentum True Wireless 3 delivers the line’s sonic capabilities. And this goes in the right direction to compete with the best.

For example, I played Tides by Bonobo and Jamila Woods. The opening bass kick has the right amount of punch and shape. It’s a good introduction to the punch and insight that higher frequencies also offer. The synth has a feeling of warmth and flow.

Woods’ vocals took the center stage in the mix. And it came without detracting from the presence of the accompanying synths.

There is a beautiful representation of an open and engaging soundstage. I loved the obvious layers and depth the earphone exhibits.

I also tried Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever’s Tidal River. This also stayed on the top of tides. There is clarity and organization.

I played a few sleepy tunes as well. And there is no downturn in the performance. This is pretty impressive.

I enjoyed more clarity, texture, and dynamic expression, giving them more focus. This is an excellent achievement rarely matched at this level.

8. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Call Quality?

I used the Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds to make phone calls. The call quality for me was good. It’s an average performance on this front.

For me, both high and low frequencies got recorded without any emphasis. I did use these headsets to answer calls in less ideal environments.

For example, in a noisy office or on the street. I am happy the Momentum 3 wireless earbuds keep away a lot of the low-end noise.

When it comes to mic quality, the headphones come with 3 beamforming mics per earbud. And noise canceling feature does its job well.

The voice of the person on the other end is very clear and loud. Yet, it’s clear to hear with little distortion. The ambient noise during calls is significantly reduced.

Comparing the call quality with the AirPods Pro, may not be a justified comparison.   The AirPods are far superior. But Sennheiser’s offerings aren’t far behind either.

Voice call performance is also improved. Each earbud has three microphones. They all did a good job of reducing the background noise when speaking from a noisy street. There was a little white noise, but you can hear your caller very clear and loud.

The voice call performance is very well improved over the True Wireless 2. The second-gen model offered improved voice calls over the original.

But it still isn’t in the same league as the AirPods Pro. The latter delivers better performance in noise cancellation and mic pickup during calls.

9. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds- App Use and its Features

Every other high-end wireless earbud has a control app. So as the Momentum 3 true wireless earbud has its Sennheiser Smart Control app.

The is compatible with iOS and Android. The app functionalities are easy to access and use. I found them very useful for my headphone management.

Using the app you have access to controls and settings. For example, you can tweak equalizer, transparency, ANC mode, touch controls, and more.

You can also update the firmware, and enable or disable smart pause and auto-answer calls. Besides, the app lets you set a time when the earbuds automatically turn off when not in use.

Customization of the controls on the Sennheiser Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds is very impressive. This allows you to set specific functions for different gestures.

I played around with single tap, double tap, triple tap, tap, and hold, features. This allowed me to assign a different set of functions to the individual earpiece.

It is very interesting, I was able to create a set of controls.  I did enable playback, active noise cancellation, ask voice assistant, and volume.

These controls are direct from the headset. Thus, the Sennheiser Smart Control app has very good features. These are easy to access and customize.

10. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Wireless and Bluetooth Review

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds feature Bluetooth version 5.2. They have reasonably smooth and seamless Bluetooth connectivity.

Yet, I am a little disappointed that it doesn’t support NFC or multi-device pairing. So, you can’t stay connected to your PC and phone at the same time.

I could also feel the higher latency on the PC when connecting with SBC or aptX codecs. An improvement on aptX is the Momentum supports aptX Adaptive. The company claims this is to reduce latency and improve sound quality.

But, for now, we don’t have device measures that latency. These earbuds have low latency when connected to iOS and Android. So, your audio and images stay in sync when watching videos.

Some devices and apps may compensate for latency. Thus, actual experience may vary for every individual.

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds work with only Bluetooth connectivity. They include USB-A to USB-C charging cable for the case.

These headphones connect to any Bluetooth-enabled PC with full compatibility. But, you cannot connect to your PC in any other way.

11. How Do Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Pair with Devices?

Sennheiser Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds are filled with features. The aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs are the ones to name a few.

You can check which codec your device is using in the Settings of the Smart Control app. I did all tests using aptX which gave the best audio quality the Momentum 3 earbuds can offer.

The aptX Adaptive is a good option for users with Android devices. This is very useful for those who watch a lot of videos or deal with unstable internet connections. This is because aptX is more likely for data transfer. It also generally has less latency. So, it’s better for video.

On the other hand, aptX Adaptive adjusts audio quality and delivers low latency. At the same time maintains a strong Bluetooth connection.

I have a Samsung smartphone and by default, the earbuds connect via aptX.  Using the Apple iPhone aptX didn’t have a very exciting performance.

Yet, it does an average job with a PC and an iPhone if your PC has aptX capabilities. The connection is fairly stable over aptX up to a distance of about 8 meters. Going beyond this distance, I did face connectivity issues with my headsets.

Sometimes, I found connectivity issues within a radius of even less than 1 meter. This is little annoying. It’s not a problem for most users, but it’s not as stable as it should be.

12. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds- the ANC Review

The Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds cancel noise very well when fitted snugly in the ear. Passive isolation impressed me, with over 45dB of attenuation around 10kHz. It looks good on the charts.

The noise cancellation capabilities in low frequencies around 1kHz is even more impressive. This is where a lot of ambient noise is there.

In my experience, low noise levels are usually there where passive isolation struggles. And some earbuds block zero lows, but that’s not the case here.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also very good. With Momentum 3 ANC mostly fluctuates between 20dB and 30dB of cancellation. This is particularly true when it goes below 1000Hz.

There is an exception though. For the narrow band of 400Hz both isolation and ANC fall to just over 10dB attenuation.

This is enough for commuting, focusing on the office, or switching off.  I am happy, the device keeps away my buzo’s very high decibel bark.

13. Control and Portability- Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 earbuds feature excellent touch-sensitive control functionalities. It’s quite easy to learn and operate, but with a few tricks.

You can learn the tricks with the use of the control buttons. You also use the companion app to customize the controls.

The control has quite a few tones and voice prompts to let you know you’ve registered a command.

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 true wireless earbuds are very portable. And this is normal for any in-ear headphones.

I am more than happy that these are more compact than their predecessor. Called Sennheiser Momentum 2 true wireless earbuds. The successor is easier to fit in most pockets and bags.

The left earbud has the following functionalities:

  • Single tap lets you enter transparency mode
  • Double tap lets you go back to the previous track
  • Triple tap lets you turn ANC on and off
  • Press and hold lets you lower the volume

On the other hand, the right earbud has the following controls:

  • Single tap allows you to play and pause audio
  • Double tap lets you jump to the next track
  • Triple tap lets you activate voice assistant
  • Press and hold lets you increase the volume

14. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds- Frequency Response

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 true wireless earbud comes with a bass-heavy sound profile. Thanks to the recessed treble. The bass performance is much better than its predecessor.

They add a touch of boom and warmth to the mix, but vocals and lead instruments are not at par with other competitors.

Luckily, you can use the companion app’s 3-band graphic EQ to customize the sound to your liking.

The frequency response consistency of the Sennheiser Momentum 3 earbuds is excellent. A consistent fit with the included eartips provides consistent bass and treble response. Bass precision is outstanding.

The response is very flat. But, mixes have an excellent boom, rumble, and thump. I didn’t see the bass overwhelming vocals or lead instruments.

I completely enjoyed the mid-accuracy of the Sennheiser Momentum 3 delivers. Both the low and high frequencies are flat and neutral.

So, vocals and lead instruments are clear and present. Yet, a small mid-mid dip pushes these sounds further back of the mix. The Sennheiser Momentum has below-average altitude accuracy.

15. Is Sennheiser Momentum 3 Earbuds Audiophile Headphone?

After using it for quite some time, I am impressed the Momentum 3 is a little more balanced than the Sony WF-1000XM4.

I also have a view that it has a more audiophile sound profile.  Both have a very open and loud sound with a quite wide soundstage.

Sennheisers has a little more clarity. So, I used the app’s Sound Check feature to find custom preset equalizer settings based on my listening preferences.

The bass is powerful, yet tight and clear. All in all, the Momentum 3 wireless earbud meets very few likings of audiophile headphones.

Pros
  • Very good design and build

  • Excellent and enough controls
  • Good noise cancellation
  • Supports aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, and SBC

Cons
  • Average EQ setting options

  • Not suitable for the true audiophiles
  • No multiple connectivity
  • Price come on a little higher side

Conclusion: Helping You Make Informed Decision Easy

I used this pair of in-ear headphones for quite some time. Tried on different genres of music, vocal to instrumental. They did deliver pretty well for me.

They have a refined design and build. Active noise cancellation is very good as well.  The price tag of a true flagship wireless headset may still be a problem for some buyers.

But if you’re on the budget and don’t mind shelling out a few bucks, the rewards are well worth it.

With sound, ANC, personality, and flair deliver good performance. The device offers decent battery life. Much better than its predecessor.

I must say, these are great true wireless earbuds. The lack of  LDAC Bluetooth codec support doesn’t let it sound accurate and analytical. So, it lags behind the Sony WF-1000XM4. I find this is the only competitive headset in this market segment.

I have an Android device that supports aptX Adaptive. The Momentum 3 did its job to ‘tweak’ my audio to a great extent.

The Momentum 3 true wireless earbud is worth considering. The earphone does a good job with iPhone as well. Thanks to the AirPods Pro’s superior connectivity and spatial audio support.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Things You Must Know Before Buying

A: To pair your Momentum 3 earbuds, make sure they’re charged, then activate Bluetooth on your device. Open the charging case and the earbuds will enter pairing mode automatically. Look for “Sennheiser Momentum 3” in your device’s Bluetooth settings and select it to complete the pairing process.

A: The earbuds have touch controls. Tap the right earbud once to play/pause, twice to skip forward, and three times to skip backward. Use the left earbud to adjust volume – tap once to increase and twice to decrease. Experiment with the touch areas to get comfortable with the controls.

A: The Momentum 3 earbuds are not fully waterproof, but they are rated as sweat and splash resistant. This means they can handle some moisture, but they shouldn’t be submerged in water. Avoid using them in heavy rain or during intense workouts where excessive sweat might be an issue.

A: Sennheiser occasionally releases firmware updates to improve performance and add features. To update your earbuds, ensure they’re connected to your device via Bluetooth and then use the Sennheiser Smart Control app (if available). The app will notify you if there’s an update and guide you through the process.

A: Yes, the Momentum 3 earbuds have built-in microphones and can be used for making calls. When a call comes in, you can answer by tapping the touch-sensitive area on either earbud. To end the call, tap again. Note that call quality can vary based on your environment and the strength of your Bluetooth connection.

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