Sennheiser’s flagship wireless headphones have received an update to the third version. The second generation was successful for my taste: comfortable fit, high-quality sound, decent autonomy, and effective noise reduction, except I wanted to reduce the cover for complete happiness.
However, Sennheiser did not keep up with the competition and ended up selling its consumer electronics business for €200 million to Sonova in May last year. She specializes in medical equipment – hearing aids.
Let’s see how the direction of Sennheiser headphones will develop further – it’s a pity that the legendary brand could not stand the race with young players. In the meantime, it’s time for the hot news Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. Further in the text, I plan to use the abbreviation MTW 3 – it will be easier.
The case is nice but bulky.
Acquaintance begins with a case for storing headphones. It deserves special attention for several reasons. Firstly, it has an exciting fabric coating. Against the background of the general plastic monotony, it looks original, and the sensations from it are pleasant. According to personal experience of using other Sennheiser models, the cover does not lose its original appearance. With careful use, it does not get greasy, and dirt does not accumulate.
Secondly, the case is large, and the shape of the case raises questions. It has shrunk slightly compared to the previous generation headphones but is still plump and voluminous. He sticks out of his pocket in shorts or jeans. He is not the most welcome guest. I would like to see it flattened so that it would be more convenient and comfortable.
The third point is related to charging: the case supports wireless Qi-charging. At the same time, the port for connecting the USB cable has moved to the front side. There are no particular inconveniences, just unusual.
Otherwise, this is still the case with a tight lid and a juicy click when closing. Magnets fix it thoroughly. The light indicator on the front surface will show the approximate charge level of the headphones: green – fully charged, yellow – there is enough energy in reserve, but it’s time to recharge the case, red – it’s time to charge. For a more accurate status display, use the application.
Fitting comfort depends on attachments.
The design of the headphones has been redesigned. They are now more reminiscent of the junior CX series than the old flagship series. Gone is the shiny metal overlay – the MTW 3 case looks more modest, and the headphones are no longer so eye-catching. Headphones come in three colors: dark gray, like mine, black or white.
At the same time, the headphones have become more compact, protrude less from the ears, and look neater from the side, but their individuality has disappeared. As a user, I don’t care what others think about them, as long as they sit in my ears as they should. And with landing, there is complete order. The main thing is to choose comfortable nozzles. The smallest size, XS, fit me, and other measures are included with them: S, M, L. In addition, you can now get additional silicone “expanders” in three sizes for a tighter fit of the headphones. They will come in handy if you run or do other sports activities.
The headphones and case also offer IPX4 splash protection, which was the case with the previous generation model. Swimming in MTW 3 is not allowed, but it is enough for sports.
I will also add that with prolonged use, the ears do not get tired, and there is no desire to remove the headphones and get rid of them. Of course, this is a very emotional moment related to the individual characteristics of the structure, but I cannot use the same Sony WF-1000XM4 for more than one and a half to two hours. It becomes uncomfortable.
Management and connection
There are no physical keys; MTW 3, as before, offers complete touch control. Conveniently, all actions are configured through the Smart Control application, and you set the necessary functions for one, two, or three taps.
When you remove one of the headphones, the music will pause, and if you return it to its place, the song will play again. You can also receive calls automatically.
Through the application, the firmware of the headphones is updated, and the process goes twice as fast as before. There was also a sound setting by zones: for example, come home, noise reduction is turned off, audio settings are changed, and noise reduction and another profile for music are automatically activated in the office.
The quality of communication via Bluetooth 5.2 is excellent. I did not notice any failures. There is no out-of-sync when watching a video, either. However, given the status of the flagship model, it would be strange. You can scold the lack of Multipoint – the function would be helpful.
musical pleasure
I wanted to listen to the new product because the MTW 2 were my favorite TWS headphones, and I wanted to understand how much the third generation stepped forward relative to the second. According to my feelings, the default sound settings have become even more natural. They removed the bass and widened the mids, while the top, on the contrary, was slightly muffled.
I used to think that MTW 2 played right, but after listening to MTW 3, my opinion changed in favor of the latter. At the same time, I can’t say that the sound is better – it’s just a little different. However, this is not surprising: the same dynamic drivers are used. The headphones received a Bluetooth 5.2 profile and support for aptX and aptX Adaptive.
If desired, equalizer sliders are available – move as you like, add lows or even start the Bass Boost mode if you can’t live without bass. I found this setting unnecessarily tedious for constant use, but surprisingly it does not lead to distortion. The juicy and clear bass is undoubtedly impressive.
The headphones also impress with an impressive volume margin. If you wish, you can turn it up almost to the maximum, but take pity on yourself and your hearing.
Noise Reduction Features
You can start with the most straightforward – passive noise isolation. She is good here; everything depends on the competent selection of suitable nozzles. As for active noise reduction, everything is more enjoyable with it. Headphones can automatically adjust the strength of noise reduction, analyzing the surrounding environment: where necessary, the noise canceling works harder, and if you are in a quiet place, the power is reduced.
The system does not affect the quality of music, it will not be possible to achieve a feeling of complete vacuum in an urban environment, but even large headphones do not always cope with this. The noisy subway still won’t turn into a quiet park with squirrels, but moving around in the restless subway has become more comfortable.
Two modes are available in the application settings: wind suppression and adaptive noise reduction. In the first case, it helps against unpleasant high-frequency wind sounds in my ears, but I didn’t understand the second profile with changing settings depending on the situation. It is suitable for enclosed spaces, but torment begins on the street, and the sounds of the wind are annoying. And these are not some hurricane gusts but typical weather on hot Moscow days at sunset.
The “Transparency” mode is provided when you hear what is happening while music plays in the headphones. I have no questions about it. I tried it several times, and it works fine, but I don’t use it all the time. I don’t like talking to people in headphones.
Checking for running time
The declared figures relative to the previous generation have not changed: these are the same 7 hours of operation without active noise reduction. Considering additional recharging from the case, we get a solid 28 hours.
I had one charge for 5-5.5 hours using noise reduction, but it depends on the volume level. If you make it quieter, reducing the volume to 50% or less, you get factory results.
To the pleasant innovations, I will add support for wireless Qi-charging. And to speed up the process, it’s easier to use a USB cable. It is included in the kit, and the power supply needs to be bought separately or found suitable in stocks.
Criteria of choice
The new third-generation has become even cheaper than the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2. However, it is still one of the most expensive headphones in the class of wireless models. The example of Sennheiser perfectly shows the situation in the market: industry veterans can not cope with pressure from all sides. There are a lot of wireless headphones. You can’t leave on one former manufacturer’s reputation – you need something even more substantial.
You want a top in every sense for a special price, but what is there? The cover is gorgeous but bulky. Noise cancellation is good but not the best. The sound is also delightful, but I can’t say it has become much better compared to the second generation. Autonomy is decent but without severe differences from the old model. At first, you unpack the novelty, listen and think that here they are, the perfect headphones, doing it on emotions. And then the feelings become dull, and you already look at the price and competitors and think carefully.
For example, I like the Sony WF-1000XM4 – I periodically take them out of the case, put them in my ears, walk with them for several hours, and then return them to the box for a couple of months. Excellent sound, modest noise reduction, but the fit in the ears is precise. I can’t use them.
From the point of view of the owner of Apple technology, you can not forget about AirPods Pro. Yes, they don’t sound nearly as cool as Sennheiser or Sony. They have a very average sound. But they bribe because it is easy and straightforward to switch between different devices, have a small case, sit comfortably in the ears, and feel no fatigue.
I also wanted to give Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 as an example, but they are few and far between and are already out of the sale. But in place of users, I would not change the second to the third – unless I want to. Otherwise, it’s more interesting to try something new.
According to my feelings, the headphones turned out to be not ideal, but worthy of attention if the price does not bother. If a couple of years ago, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 were excellent, now they are not so impressive against the background of competitors. I am not indifferent to them, and I can still recommend them for purchase, but this will not be a rational but an emotional choice. As, however, happens with music – it is not necessary to listen to what the majority chooses.