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Though Sony and Bose are at present forward of the competitors with regards to premium wi-fi headphones with energetic noise cancellation, that hasn’t stopped different headphone producers from giving the phase a shot. We have seen high-end choices from main manufacturers together with Jabra, Skullcandy, Bowers and Wilkins, and Apple in latest months. Now, German audio specialist Sennheiser has gotten into the sport, with its newest pair of headphones, the Momentum Three Wi-fi.
Often known as the Sennheiser Momentum Wi-fi (2019), this pair of headphones is priced at Rs. 34,990 – across the identical as what the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 goes for, and a good bit greater than the asking worth of the Sony WH-1000XM3. For this a lot cash although, Sennheiser gives its basic Momentum sequence design, and guarantees good sound with energetic noise cancellation. Does this headset reside as much as these guarantees? We discover out in our evaluation.
Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi design and specs
The Momentum sub-brand has been profitable for Sennheiser, representing its top-end consumer-grade merchandise with regards to design and performance. Whereas the Momentum sequence cannot be categorised as audiophile-grade equipment, these fashions have been in style with customers for his or her mixture of sound, design, and performance. The Momentum Three Wi-fi is the third wi-fi over-ear headset within the sequence, and sticks to the vary’s basic styling and design.
Essentially the most distinct design function is the headscarf, which attaches to the ear cups in a novel manner that lets them slide and transfer round virtually independently of the headscarf itself. This helped us get a safe and comfy match, which was significantly essential on condition that energetic noise cancellation is determined by it. Nonetheless, the dimensions of the headset meant that we normally needed to modify our eyeglasses to make sure the seal was maintained.
There may be plush padding across the ear cups in addition to on the underside of the headscarf, for consolation in addition to passive noise isolation, and the general aesthetic is an fascinating mixture of retro and fashionable. We did nevertheless really feel that the headphones appeared too massive on the pinnacle, and so they undoubtedly invited numerous consideration. This pair of headphones is considerably much less discreet than the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
The hinges are steel whereas the ear cups are plastic, however regardless of that, the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi undoubtedly appears to be like and seems like a premium and stylish pair of headphones. The ear cups are related to one another by a cable that runs by the headscarf, with small components of it uncovered close to the ends.
There are bodily buttons on the precise ear cup to regulate the amount, management playback, and set off the voice assistant in your smartphone or pill – Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri all labored for us. The USB Kind-C port and a slider swap are additionally on the precise; the latter is used to regulate the noise cancellation and clear modes.
The headset has a mechanism that lets each ear cups fold into the headscarf. The left hinge additionally controls the facility; the headphones will swap on when folded outwards and off when folded inwards, with no separate energy swap. An indicator gentle on the precise ear cup lets you realize the facility standing of the headphones, and in addition offers visible cues for pairing and charging capabilities.
The Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi headphones even have an auto play-pause perform that pauses music when the headphones are taken off, and resumes playback when they’re put again on. This labored properly for probably the most half, however the pause perform was often triggered even when adjusting the headphones on our head or turning our head to at least one aspect. This may be disabled utilizing the companion app – extra on {that a} bit later.
In relation to specs, the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi headphones are on par with different high-end choices on this worth vary. The headphones have a frequency response vary of 6-22,000Hz, and use Bluetooth 5 for connectivity with help for Bluetooth codecs as much as aptX Low Latency. Sennheiser claims that the headphones can run for about 17 hours with noise cancellation on, and we have been in a position to match this determine throughout our testing. The headphones additionally help quick charging, with a ten-minute cost claimed to supply 90 minutes of listening time.
Sennheiser has developed an app for the Momentum Three Wi-fi headphones, referred to as Sennheiser Smart Control. The app – obtainable for iOS and Android – would not do rather a lot, but it surely does have just a few helpful options. These embrace displaying the precise battery stage, letting you set the kind of noise cancellation (most, anti-wind, and anti-pressure), controlling the clear listening to mode and equaliser settings, updating the firmware, linking the headphones to the Alexa app for improved voice management, and turning on or off the good pause perform.
We did not want to make use of the app a lot past the preliminary setup of the headset, but it surely did come in useful once we wanted to examine the exact battery stage on Android. Most helpful capabilities could possibly be managed on the headset itself.
Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi efficiency
At Rs 34,990, the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi is the among the many most costly pairs of headphones within the phase, priced at a good bit greater than choices from Sony, Bose, Jabra, and Skullcandy. Whereas the model and styling would possibly assist justify the value to some extent, the essential factor right here is efficiency. Sennheiser does supply a great total expertise, however we aren’t satisfied that this makes the headphones price such a premium.
We used the headphones with a OnePlus 7T Pro (Review) for many of this evaluation, with the aptX Bluetooth codec. For sources, we used Spotify, YouTube Music, our assortment of high-resolution audio tracks, and Amazon Prime Video. We additionally examined the energetic noise cancellation in a wide range of environments.
No matter whether or not we listened to streaming music or high-resolution tracks, the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi sounded wealthy and detailed with just about each form of style we tried. The dimensions of the ear cups and the overall match offers the headphones an ethereal really feel, however the soundstage wasn’t fairly as large and all-encompassing as we have skilled with different headphones on this worth vary.
The interaction between the left and proper channels was spectacular although, and the headphones have been additionally very detailed and revealing; this was significantly noticeable in a high-resolution model of 9,000 Miles by Pendulum. This wealthy monitor with a vigorous mixture of assorted devices and digital parts sounded significantly clear and spectacular with the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi headphones.
The sonic signature is in contrast to what we’re used to with most consumer-centric headphones, but it surely’s additionally typical of the Sennheiser philosophy, and we have heard this sonic character from different Momentum-branded merchandise such because the Momentum True Wireless earphones as properly. We expectedly heard a lift within the low finish, with a slight drop within the mid-range and considerably flat highs. This suited most tracks we listened to, including a little bit of punch and drive to the sound.
Listening to the bass-heavy Visitors by Thom Yorke, the digital lows and the bass hits of the beat performed collectively properly, giving the monitor a definite rumbling character that mixed properly with the detailed nature of the headphones. Shifting on to the far more vigorous Nearer by Lemaitre, we favored the laid again nature of the highs and mid-range, whereas preserving issues energetic and aggressive within the dubstep-inspired bass drop.
Noise cancellation on the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi was spectacular in most environments. It was significantly efficient on flights, virtually solely shutting out the roar of the engines, and was equally helpful for decreasing background sound in workplace and outside environments.
Nonetheless, we felt that the silence was not fairly as stark and vacuum-like as it may be with the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700; it virtually received there, however the Bose headphones do a barely higher job. We additionally seen numerous sound leakage at excessive volumes, which was a bit bothersome for individuals round us. Name high quality with the Sennheiser headphones was acceptable, however once more not fairly as much as the requirements set by the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
Verdict
Bose and Sony’s dominance over the high-end wi-fi noise cancelling headphones phase is one thing we have began to take without any consideration, but it surely’s good to see different headphone makers providing a problem. The Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi headphones are the closest competitor we have seen this yr, and we really feel that this pair of headphones must be thought-about alongside the 2 present champions of the area. We fairly favored the Momentum Three Wi-fi, largely for its design, consolation, and sound high quality.
Whereas energetic noise cancellation is sweet, it did not fairly match as much as the successful efficiency of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Battery life, whereas acceptable, wasn’t as much as the extent we have seen with the Sony WH-1000XM3. Nonetheless, in all different respects, the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi matches as much as the competitors, significantly with regards to the punchy, detailed, and fascinating sound.
Maybe the largest weak point of this pair of headphones is the value tag. At Rs. 34,990, the Momentum Three Wi-fi is identical worth because the Bose choice, and far more costly than the Sony WH-1000XM3 (though we do anticipate to see the WH-1000XM4 launched at across the identical worth quickly). Sennheiser undoubtedly has the status and legacy to again its premium pricing technique, however a decrease value would have helped on this explicit case.
That stated, in case you do desire a very handsome, well-built, feature-filled pair of premium wi-fi noise cancelling headphones that sound excellent, the Sennheiser Momentum Three Wi-fi is unquestionably price an audition, and completely price contemplating alongside the present leaders within the phase.
Worth: Rs. 34,990
Professionals
- Wonderful design and luxury
- Handy, easy-to-use controls
- Respectable noise cancellation
- Detailed, partaking sound
- Punchy lows, aggressive bass
- aptX Bluetooth codec
Cons
- Costly
- Common battery life
- Under-average soundstage
Rankings (out of 5)
- Design/ consolation: 4.5
- Audio high quality: 4
- Battery life: 3.5
- Worth for cash: 3.5
- General: 4
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