Ever since the original couple’s debut back in 2018, Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earphones have received plenty of praise for their sound quality. After releasing a sequel in 2020, Sennheiser announces the third product in the series today – and this time they have received a major redesign. They will be available from May 10 in black, graphite and white for $ 249.95.
The Momentum True Wireless 3 knobs look closer to the CX and CX Plus True Wireless than they do their direct predecessors. Clearly, Sennheiser has stuck to a universal design language of its kind for its headphone line, and that is reflected here. Momentums give a slimmer and more premium impression than the company’s cheaper buds.
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The fabric-covered case is similar in shape and size to previous versions, though Sennheiser has moved the USB-C charging port to the front. This is becoming more and more common where companies like Jabra have recently made the same change. It looks a little strange at first, but may be more practical in some charging scenarios. This new case also supports wireless charging, a feature that was absent from previous models – and hard to accept given the price.
Aside from the refreshed style, Sennheiser says their latest earphones offer improvements in comfort, active noise reduction and call quality. But in two key areas – sound quality and battery life – they are no major upgrades. Momentum True Wireless 3s continues to use the company’s manufactured in Germany, 7-millimeter drivers. Sennheiser’s mobile app now allows you to take a listening test to better personalize bass, midrange and treble, but at least judging by the press release, I expect the overall sound profile to be similar. True Wireless 3s supports AAC, SBC, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs. The latter should reduce any noticeable latency when using the knobs with devices that also use aptX Adaptive, while reaching higher bit rates than AAC.
Sennheiser has implemented adaptive noise reduction, which enables Momentum True Wireless 3s to automatically adjust how much noise reduction is used based on your changing environment. The company says its “system continuously observes ambient noise to suppress it in real time”, though users still have the option to manually adjust it to their preferences.
Each of the two earphones now features three microphones, which Sennheiser says have led to noticeable improvements and “crystal clear quality” for both voice and video calls. Battery life remains at seven hours of uninterrupted playback, while the charging case lasts an additional 21 hours. Momentum True Wireless 3s are IPX4 certified for waterproofing, making them suitable for training and light rain.
Apart from a renewed look, Sennheiser is not making any radical changes with the Momentum True Wireless 3s. They lack e.g. still Bluetooth multipoint. It seems that the company is convinced that these will appeal to the same market as previous models in the series: people who prioritize sound quality above all else.
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Sennheiser also recently introduced the $ 199.95 Sport True Wireless earphones to compete with the Beats Fit Pros. The unique aspect of the sports knobs is that the Sennheiser includes both open and closed ear tips, so owners can switch between the two depending on the activity and how aware of their surroundings they need to be. The open adapters will reduce the intensity of body noise like breathing and footsteps, while the closed tips will give you more insulation. Sport True Wireless also adds dust resistance to the equation with an IP54 rating.