Sennheiser is back with the Momentum 3 TWS this is an upgrade from the Momentum 2 that was released back in 2020 when the Covid Pandemic was at its worst and we were told to all stay at home or go for a nice walk in the countryside. 

 

Fast Forward 2 years and Sennheiser released the Momentum 3 TWS on first impressions you can see subtle changes to the design when you listen to them and then you can say these are the brand’s most advanced pair to date.

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 TWS cost £219.99 and comes in three colour options Black, White & Grey. In this review, we have been sent the white option.

The Key feature of these earbuds includes:

• Adaptive Noise Cancellation

• High-Quality Voice Pick Up

• IPX4 splash resistance

• 28 hours of playtime

• Wireless Charging

• Sennheiser Award Winning signature sound

 

Unboxing

 

Sennheiser keep things simple you get fully recyclable packaging and inside the packaging, you are greeted with the buds inside the charging case. in addition to all of that given 4 sets of silicone ear adapters from extra small to large (Note the medium pair are already on the buds). You also get 3 sets or ear fin sets ( Small, Medium & Large) last but not least you get the user guide and some additional documentation. 

Design

When you have taken these buds out of the packaging you can see the changes especially compared to the Momentum 2.

 

First up you will notice the size difference Momentum 3 is smaller and the buds are slender in design. In terms of the case, and the style of the earbuds you could be mistaken for the Sennheiser CX True wireless.  The result of the design change is they now feel lighter at 5.8g. This has made the buds more comfortable to wear for long periods. 

If you find the fit a little unforgettable as we all have different ear shapes then Sennheiser provides you with four different size eartips plus detachable silicone fins that tit around the buds and you can also add a wingtip if required. I have mainly used these buds on my daily commute to work but when I had a chance to get the bike out for a ride I was impressed with the fit not at any point was I concerned that would fall out of my ears. 

 

I was also pleased with the fact they are IPX4 rated meaning they can handle sweat from the gym and being caught in the rain as we are in the UK and since winter arrived I have forgotten what the sun looks like. 

 

The Momentum 3 TW use touch controls very much like the previous model but I was very impressed with just how responsive they can be. Below is a list of the controls and how many holds and taps are required for each control: 

 

Left Bud controls

Transparency Mode	Single  tap
Previous track	Double tap
ANC Switch	Triple tap
Volume decrease	Hold

 

Right Bud Control

 

Play/Pause	Single tap
Next track	Double tap
Voice Assistant	Triple Tap
Volume Increase	Hold

 

You will also notice that the charging case has seen a few changes it’s now reduced in size compared to the Momentum 2 before them. Other changes include the USB-C port and battery indicator moved to the front of the case. However, with all these changes the battery life remains the same 7 hours on a single charge & 28 hours with a charging case battery life. 

 

The battery indicator also keeps the same functionality in terms of using the traffic light system to indicate the battery level. The case still keeps its design fairly similar to the previous model by using the fabric wraparound that just adds a level of class and a premium feel to the overall build.

 

Battery Life

 

Sennheiser has improved the battery life when ANC is switched on and when you compare this to the previous Momentum 2TW you will see our point. When using the buds with ANC on we got 6hrs and 50mins when ANC is switched off you get 7 hrs so there is barely any difference. Plus the case charge gives you a total of 28 hours of battery life. It’s not the best on the market but it’s very close and provides more battery compared to the likes of the Jabra Elite 85t (5.5hrs with ANC On).  

 

You also get fast charging so 10mins of charging gives you 1 hour of playtime and when it’s time to fully recharge the case and the buds this can be done in just 1hr & 30 minutes. The charging case is also Qi-compatible which will allow for wireless charging. 

 

Features

 

The main feature Sennheiser has focused on is that of noise cancellation it now has adaptive ANC which means it will automatically adjust the strength of noise cancellation in real time. I was impressed as a few people in the office are quite loud and these buds did well to reduce that unwanted noise significantly.  

 

I also found it reduced the unwanted conversations on a train it’s not 100% gone but does a fantastic effort in reducing unwated sounds. It also performed very well at reducing other environmental noises to a minimum such as the sound of traffic or the sound of a big crowd when Christmas shopping was hushed. 

 

Sennheiser has even thought about the wind causing damage to the overall sound and in the Sennheiser smart control app, you have an anti-wind setting that I was surprised actually worked and reduced the wind turbulence to barely anything really useful when on the bike or running. 

 

In addition to the adaptive ANC and anti-wind setting you also have transparency mode this effect provides superb clarity and detail as if you weren’t wearing the buds at all. Outside noises passed through in a natural way and the app allows you to adjust the level of transparency.    

 

Moving on to the connectivity you have Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX adaptive connection which is Sennheiser’s best effort to date. In testing the connection stayed without any signs of distortion even when walking around London Liverpool St station which many buds have failed this test. 

Additional features also include smart pause which is become a more popular feature to have in buds at this price point. The smart pause will automatically pause and restart music when you physically remove the bud from your ear which I found helpful as some people in the office like to talk to me when they can see I have a bud in my ear. 

 

The Sennheiser Momentum 3TW also comes with three microphones built in that are useful for speaking to your smart assistant but also allow you to make and receive calls. In testing the call quality was acceptable it picked up my voice well but the person I was speaking to felt my voice was a little suppressed but apart from that had no real complaints. 

 

Sennheiser Smart Control App

 

When you buy the momentum 3TW do me one small favour and download the smart control app you will thank me for it! 

 

The app has seen significant changes from before such as the layout looking more throughout you could even say they were inspired by Jabra’s MySound app. You will also notice firmware updates are faster than ever before.  

 

Jumping back to the layout you will find the EQ adjustments with a range of presets and you can customise your own EQ settings if you wish. You can also dig deeper into the ANC & Transparency modes, and adjust the touch controls there is also a news section from Sennheiser but in this review, I did not take too much notice of that.

 

The App also comes with two fantastic features sound check & sound zones. The Soundcheck allows you to tailor the audio to your hearing ability. The sound zone feature will pick up your location and provide a specific sound mode for that location such as a train station or the gym. In order to gain access to these two features you need to signup for an account Sennheiser says the account will save the features and personal settings so if you switched phones the settings will all be stored. It’s a nice idea but some might question the real reason they are being asked to sign up.

 

Sound Quality

When you open a box that consists of a pair of Sennheisers nine times out of ten you will be pleased with the audio quality and the same can be said with the momentum 3TW. They come with a 7mm dynamic driver with a TrueResponse transducer which provides you with a rich performance.  

 

The Soundstage is smaller but that is a positive as instrumentals are now clearer and come with more energy. I have been listening to the theme songs from James Bond films such as “Another Way to die by Alica Keys & Jack White”. 

 

The opening bars on this song will keep you hooked and the richness in the instrumental and the vocals make you want to come back for more. The vocals of Alica Keys are brought forward and sound smooth but natural at the same time. The mid-range comes with vibrancy especially when you hear that electric guitar. 

 

When listening to more bass-heavy tracks Sennheiser does not go overboard the bass depth and extension add plenty of vibrancy and dynamic range to the song you listening to and this is a real bonus. 

 

Moving to the highs the range is bright adding more shine and clarity and this is shown when listening to “Skyfall by Adele”. The overall sound is emphasised with more confidence. The Momentum 3 offers a vibrant and smooth delivery that can also make your music sound fun Sennheiser does an excellent job in this department.  

 

Verdict

 

The Sennheiser momentum 3TW will provide you with that rich and appealing sound but pair that with impactful bass and a warm mid-range and sweet highs and you have quite the combination.  

 

If your looking for a strong noise cancelling experience but do not want to pay for the likes of Bose or Sony then the Sennheiser momentum 3 is an excellent option and to be honest the ANC quality is not that far away from the likes of Sony. 

You will also notice that the overall design and features have improved and the app is far better than before. Comparing them to the Momentum 2 you can see a clear improvement but that is what you want they are the upgraded model. At £219.99 you have got a premium pair of true wireless headphones that you will not want to put down for hours.  

 

Product Rating: 

Design/Fit: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0   

Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Features: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0  

Smart Control App: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 

Audio Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0      

Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0    

 

Overall ranking: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0  

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