Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed Oct 21, 2019 at 10:21am
Retest Jan 05, 2024 at 12:38pm
Tested using Methodology v1.5 
Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

Track

0.0
Neutral Sound 
0.0
Commute/Travel 
0.0
Sports/Fitness 
0.0
Office 
0.0
Wireless Gaming 
0.0
Wired Gaming 
0.0
Phone Calls 

Track

 2
Notice: These headphones were replaced by Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are good noise cancelling headphones with a balanced sound and a sleek retro look. They're a nice improvement over the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless, thanks to better sound quality, a more comfortable design, and an improved microphone. Thanks to their ANC, they can isolate a great amount of noise around you; however, they're quite a bit leakier than their predecessors, which won't be ideal in quiet environments. Nevertheless, they're very versatile headphones with a decent overall performance.

Our Verdict

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Neutral Sound 

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 are good for neutral sound. These are a welcomed improvement over the previous model. Thanks to their High-End Fine Tuning feature, they have a fairly neutral sound profile that delivers adequate thump, rumble, and boom. Vocals and lead instruments are also accurately reproduced. However, they have a dip in the treble range, which dulls sibilants like cymbals. Still, they're versatile for a wide variety of music genres and are great for listening to your favorite tracks while on the move.

Pros
  • Comfortable and very well-built design.
  • Versatile and balanced sound profile.
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Leaky at high volumes.
  • Bulky design.
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Commute/Travel 

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 are good for commuting. These headphones are quite comfortable and have a decent noise isolation performance. They also do a great job at blocking out bass frequencies like the rumbling of a bus engine. They have a long battery life that will last you long enough for your daily commute and a full workday, or even long flights.

Pros
  • Comfortable and very well-built design.
  • Versatile and balanced sound profile.
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Leaky at high volumes.
  • Bulky design.
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Sports/Fitness 

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 are satisfactory for sports. They're quite bulky headphones and the cups trap a lot of heat and don't allow for airflow, especially with leather padding. They will make you sweat more than usual and aren’t the most stable option. They aren’t designed for this use.

Pros
  • Comfortable and very well-built design.
  • Versatile and balanced sound profile.
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Leaky at high volumes.
  • Bulky design.
0.0
Office 

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 are good for the office. They do a great job at isolating against work environment noises like ambient chatter and A/C systems, but they can get quite leaky at high volumes. Be sure to control your listening volume to not disturb surrounding colleagues. They're comfortable to wear for a while, and their battery lasts you for a full workday without a problem. They can also connect to two devices simultaneously, which is useful.

Pros
  • Comfortable and very well-built design.
  • Versatile and balanced sound profile.
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Leaky at high volumes.
  • Bulky design.
0.0
Wired Gaming 

Pros
  • Comfortable and very well-built design.
  • Versatile and balanced sound profile.
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Leaky at high volumes.
  • Bulky design.
0.0
Phone Calls 

Pros
  • Comfortable and very well-built design.
  • Versatile and balanced sound profile.
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Leaky at high volumes.
  • Bulky design.
  • 0.0
    Neutral Sound
  • 0.0
    Commute/Travel
  • 0.0
    Sports/Fitness
  • 0.0
    Office
  • 0.0
    Wireless Gaming
  • 0.0
    Wired Gaming
  • 0.0
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jan 05, 2024: We incorrectly reported that there was no mic mute control. We've updated Controls to reflect the correct results.
    2.  Updated Oct 11, 2022: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless in Noise Isolation.
    3.  Updated Sep 28, 2022: We've retested passive playback in Battery, but the results haven't changed.
    4.  Updated Sep 14, 2022: We've added a comparison to the Avantree HT5009 Wireless in the 'Leakage' test.

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    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The Sennheiser Momentum 3 are good headphones that stand out by their unique retro style. They're also comfortable to wear for a while and have an improved sound over their previous model. They also have a great ANC feature that makes them suitable for a wide variety of uses, but come with a premium price tag.

    See our recommendations for the best noise canceling headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200, and the best travel headphones.

    Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

    Track

    The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are the next generation of the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. The fourth generation have a different look than their predecessor, and their battery life lasts roughly four times as long. They support aptX Adaptive, and they come with a sturdier carrying case. By most measures, they're better. You might, however, prefer the mic performance on the third-generation model.

    Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

    Track

    The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are slightly better headphones for most uses than the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable, have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and have a longer continuous battery life. However, the Sennheiser have a flatter sound profile out of the box, which some users may prefer.

    Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless

    Track

    The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless and the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are similarly performing headphones with different strengths. The Sony offer features such as 360 Reality Audio, which can help create a more immersive audio experience. They also have a slightly better overall noise isolation performance, and a longer continuous battery life. On the other hand, the Sennheiser are more comfortable and have a better build.

    Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless/HD1 Wireless

    Track

    The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are a nice improvement over the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless/HD1 Wireless. They're noticeably bulkier and the cups are larger with better padding, making them a bit more comfortable overall. They also have a more neutral sound profile. The microphone recording quality is also improved on the new model. On the other hand, the Momentum 3 are noticeably leakier than the previous version.

    Show more 
    How We Test Headphones: Over 800 And Counting!
    How We Test Headphones: Over 800 And Counting!

    Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.

    You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    TypeLockedOver-ear
    EnclosureLockedClosed-Back
    WirelessLockedYes
    TransducerLockedDynamic

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    0.0
    Comfort
    WeightLockedLock lbs
    Clamping Force
    LockedLock lbs

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    0.0
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    LockedLocked
    Ease Of UseLockedLocked
    FeedbackLockedLocked
    Call/Music ControlLockedLocked
    Volume ControlLockedLocked
    Microphone ControlLockedLocked
    Channel Mixing
    LockedLocked
    Noise Cancelling ControlLockedLocked
    Talk-Through
    LockedLocked
    Additional ControlsLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Breathability
    Avg.Temp.DifferenceLockedLock °C

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    0.0
    Portability
    LLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    WLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    HLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    VolumeLockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)
    Transmitter RequiredLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Case
    TypeLockedLocked
    LLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    WLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    HLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    VolumeLockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)

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    0.0
    Build Quality

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    0.0
    Stability

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    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
    Top
    In The Box

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    Sound
    Sound Profile
    Bass Amount
    LockedLock dB
    Treble Amount
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Frequency Response Consistency
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    LockedLock dB

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    Raw Frequency Response
    0.0
    Bass Accuracy
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock Hz
    Low-Bass
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Bass
    LockedLock dB
    High-Bass
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Mid Accuracy
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Mid
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Mid
    LockedLock dB
    High-Mid
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Treble Accuracy
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Treble
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Treble
    LockedLock dB
    High-Treble
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Peaks/Dips
    Peaks
    LockedLock dB
    Dips
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Imaging
    Weighted Group Delay
    LockedLock
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    LockedLock
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    LockedLock
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    Passive Soundstage
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    LockedLock dB
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    LockedLock dB
    PRTF Distance
    LockedLock dB
    Openness
    Locked
    0.0
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    Locked
    0.0

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    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    LockedLocked
    Speaker Modeling
    LockedLocked
    Room Ambience
    LockedLocked
    Head Tracking
    LockedLocked
    Virtual Surround
    LockedLocked
    0.0
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    WHD @ 90
    LockedLock
    WHD @ 100
    LockedLock

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    Test Settings
    Firmware
    LockedLocked
    Power
    LockedLocked
    Connection
    LockedLocked
    Codec
    LockedLocked
    EQ
    LockedLocked
    ANC
    LockedLocked
    Tip/Pad
    LockedLocked
    Microphone
    LockedLocked

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    Isolation
    0.0
    Noise Isolation
    Isolation Audio
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    Overall Attenuation
    LockedLock dB
    Noise CancellingLockedYes
    Bass
    LockedLock dB
    Mid
    LockedLock dB
    Treble
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Leakage
    Leakage Audio
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    LockedLock dB

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    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    LockedLocked
    In-Line
    LockedLocked
    Boom
    LockedLocked
    Detachable Boom
    LockedLocked
    MicLockedYes
    0.0
    Recording Quality
    Recorded Speech
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    LFE
    LockedLock Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    LockedLock dB
    HFE
    LockedLock Hz
    Weighted THD
    LockedLock
    Gain
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Noise Handling
    SpNR
    LockedLock dB
    Noise Gate
    LockedLocked
    Speech + Pink Noise Handling
    Locked
    0.0
    Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    Speech + Subway Noise Handling
    Locked
    0.0
    Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
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    Active Features
    0.0
    Battery
    Battery Type
    LockedLocked
    Continuous Battery Life
    LockedLock hrs
    Additional Charges
    LockedLock
    Total Battery Life
    LockedLock hrs
    Charge Time
    LockedLock hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    LockedLocked
    Audio While Charging
    LockedLocked
    Passive Playback
    LockedLocked
    Charging PortLockedLocked

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    0.0
    App Support
    App NameLockedLocked
    iOSLockedLocked
    AndroidLockedLocked
    macOSLockedLocked
    WindowsLockedLocked
    Equalizer
    LockedLocked
    ANC Control
    LockedLocked
    Mic ControlLockedLocked
    Room Effects
    LockedLocked
    Playback Control
    LockedLocked
    Button MappingLockedLocked
    Surround Support
    LockedLocked

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    Connectivity
    0.0
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    LockedLocked
    Multi-Device Pairing
    LockedLocked
    NFC Pairing
    LockedLocked
    Line Of Sight Range
    LockedLock ft (Lock m)
    PC Latency (SBC)
    LockedLock ms
    PC Latency (aptX)
    LockedLock ms
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    LockedN/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    LockedLock ms
    iOS Latency
    LockedLock ms
    Android Latency
    LockedLock ms

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    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    LockedN/A
    Non-BT Latency
    LockedN/A
    0.0
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    LockedLocked
    USB Audio
    LockedLocked
    DetachableLockedLocked
    LengthLockedLock ft (Lock m)
    Connection
    LockedLocked
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    LockedLock ms

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    PC Compatibility
    Analog
    LockedLocked
    Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    PlayStation Compatibility
    PS4 Analog
    LockedLocked
    PS4 Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Analog
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    LockedLocked
    Xbox One Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Analog
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    LockedLocked
    USB Input
    LockedLocked
    Line In
    LockedLocked
    Line Out
    LockedLocked
    Optical Input
    LockedLocked
    RCA Input
    LockedLocked
    Dock Charging
    LockedLocked
    Power Supply
    LockedLocked

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