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Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are two of the top flagship true wireless earbuds on the market in 2024. Both carry a $299 price tag and offer top-tier features like excellent active noise cancelation (ANC) and high-quality audio codecs. But which one is the better buy for your needs?
Editor’s note: this article was published on April 12, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 have a fashionable, jewelry-like design with metallic accents. Though on the larger side, Sennheiser includes three sizes of concha fins to help get a secure and comfortable fit. The ovoid nozzles don’t need to be jammed deep into your ear canals.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds also use an ovoid nozzle shape that sits nicely in the ear without pressure on the ear canal. For some people, this shape fits ears better than cylindrical nozzles. The earbuds themselves have a chunky, futuristic design reminiscent of Star Trek props.
How do you control the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Both earbuds use touch capacitive touch panels for controls to avoid breaking the ear tip seal when inputting commands.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 default controls are:
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Single tap | Left earbud Transparency mode | Right earbud Play / Pause |
| Input Double tap | Left earbud Track backward | Right earbud Track forward |
| Input Triple tap | Left earbud ANC | Right earbud Voice assistant |
| Input Long press | Left earbud Volume down | Right earbud Volume up |
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds’ default controls are:
| Gesture | Playback function | Call function |
|---|---|---|
| Gesture Swipe up | Playback function Volume Up | Call function N/A |
| Gesture Swipe down | Playback function Volume Down | Call function N/A |
| Gesture Tap | Playback function Play / Pause | Call function Answer call / Answer second call |
| Gesture Double tap | Playback function Track Forward | Call function End / Reject call |
| Gesture Triple tap | Playback function Track backward | Call function N/A |
| Gesture Long tap | Playback function Mobile device control / User control preset | Call function N/A |
You can customize the long press control on either earbud using the Bose app.
Should you use the apps of either Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
For the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4, you’ll want to use the excellent Sennheiser Smart Control app. It offers an equalizer, sound personalization, firmware updates, and the ability to program the earbuds for different scenarios based on location.
The Bose Music app is essential for enjoying features like the immersive audio mode, customizing control gestures, and firmware updates. Still, the in-app EQ isn’t all that useful for tuning the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
How do the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds connect?
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 uses Bluetooth 5.4 and supports SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, and, after a firmware update, LE Audio with the LC3 codec. They can also connect to Auracast broadcast audio if available.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codec support. They also offer Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless for high-res, low-latency audio on compatible devices.
Is battery life better on the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
In standardized testing, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 provided 7 hours and 45 minutes of battery life on a single charge, outperforming the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which lasted 6 hours and 11 minutes.
However, both have additional charges provided by their respective cases and support fast charging to extend battery life throughout the day.
Do the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds block noise better?
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Both earbuds offer excellent active noise cancelation performance. In testing, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds provided slightly better overall noise canceling, reducing perceived loudness by up to 90% in some ranges. They can silence noise above 1kHz by up to 39dB, which is outstanding.
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The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 were still highly impressive though, with 83% average noise attenuation and even physically blocking almost 50dB in the higher ranges. Like all earbuds, they require a good ear tip seal to realize their full noise canceling potential.
Do the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 sound better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
Based on their objective scoring from the MDAQS algorithm, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 provides better overall sound quality out of the box compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
The MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 earned an overall MDAQS score of 4.8 out of 5, with excellent marks for Timbre Reproduction (4.9) and Immersiveness (4.4). In comparison, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds scored 4.4 overall, with lower Distortion (2.2) and Immersiveness (3.9) scores.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the earbuds reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.
Objective Measurements
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Compared to our headphone preference curve, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds show a strong over-emphasis in bass and treble, potentially leading to sounds that can feel overwhelming and less natural. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 features a slight low-end boost and a manageable high-end underemphasis, making them more versatile and suitable for a wider range of music. Both can be tweaked with EQ settings.
One advantage of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is support for Snapdragon Sound. While it might sound trite, having this compatibility opens the door to a much better Bluetooth codec than previously available aptX Lossless. This codec has some serious bragging rights in its latency and data transfer rate (even though some compression is necessary).
Do the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have a better microphone?
Neither earbud delivers exceptional microphone performance. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 mic quality is highly variable, with poor wind noise rejection.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds mics performed slightly better for calls, though the small size limits fidelity compared to dedicated mics.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 microphone demo (Wind conditions):
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds microphone demo (Wind conditions):
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Price and availability
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299 at Amazon) were released in the fall of 2023. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 ($269.95 at Amazon) was released in the spring of 2024. Both earbuds can be purchased for the same price of $299 wherever audio electronics are sold or directly from the manufacturer.
Should you get the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
If you are an Android user with a focus on future technological relevance, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the safer pick between these two. Their excellent noise canceling, Snapdragon Sound support, and bass-heavy sound profile make them crowd-pleasers.
However, audio quality purists will likely prefer the more balanced, high-fidelity sound tuning of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4. Their support for multipoint connectivity is also an advantage if you use multiple devices.
Ultimately, both are outstanding flagship earbuds from respected audio brands. Deciding between them comes down to prioritizing sound quality and style versus noise canceling performance and bass emphasis. These are both among the best wireless earbuds on the market, each with unique features-proofing capabilities that will remain relevant for the next few years.
Auracast and LE Audio support
Sound quality
Immersive audio
Customizable fit
Frequently asked questions: Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
No, neither model is fully waterproof. The MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, while the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are IPX4 rated for water resistance.
Yes, both earbuds work with iPhones and Android phones via Bluetooth connectivity. However, iPhone users will be limited to the AAC Bluetooth codec.
Yes, both models feature active noise cancelation (ANC) technology to reduce ambient noise during listening.
The IP54 and IPX4 ratings provide some water/sweat resistance, making them viable for running or working out. However, more rugged sports earbuds may be better suited.
No, PS4 and PS5 consoles do not natively support Bluetooth connectivity, so you cannot use these earbuds with the consoles unless you use a third-party adapter.