Like Sony with the WF-1000XM4, Sennheiser has embarked on the perilous exercise of replacing a reference product, without spoiling the recipe while bringing it what is needed for renewal. Improved comfort and autonomy, active noise reduction more efficient, still high-end audio quality and lower price. These are the promises of the new headphones Bluetooth Momentum True Wireless 3. Can they worthily succeed the Momentum True Wireless 2 and remain among the elite? No need to prolong the suspense, the answer is “yes” and we will explain why in detail.
For this test, we connected the Momentum True Wireless 3 to a Pixel 6 Pro using the services of streaming Qobuz and Spotify.
A flawless finish and comfort
The Momentum True Wireless 3 perpetuate the reputation for quality finish and ergonomics of their predecessors. The design of the headphones has been judiciously retouched to round out and gain in discretion. Sennheiser has added a stabilizer in silicone removable which improves support. The TW3s come with three pairs of these stabilizers and four pairs of silicone tips. Enough to allow everyone to find the most suitable fit.
As a result, the comfort of these headphones is simply excellent. They fit naturally without causing any discomfort or pressurestay in place and ensure good insulation passive. Rarely have we experienced so much satisfaction slipping headphones into our ears and keeping them for long periods of time listen to musiccall and watch streaming videos.
Like the 2020 version, the Momentum True Wireless 3 have an IPX4 rating that allows them to resist splashes and sweat. The charger box that accompanies the headphones retains the design of the TW2 with a fabric covering. It incorporates a port USB-C and it is also compatible with wireless charging, an option that was missing on the previous version. Nothing to complain about the quality of finish of this case which remains however always a little too bulky in a trouser pocket.
Audio quality: finesse and precision
Audio quality has always been the strong point of the Momentum series and these new models confirm it. Sennheiser provides us with earphones with precise, detailed, natural and immersive sound, which we can use and abuse without the slightest weariness. The German brand has been able to improve the audiophile qualities of these TW3 which offer excellent separation instruments and a convincing stereo reproduction. Headphones are compatible with codecs aptX Adaptive audio, aptX, AAFC and SBC, which is very comprehensive.
With between them two, by Mélody Gardot accompanied by Philippe Powell, they render the singer’s delicate and intimate voice admirably well, going so far as to make us hear slight sighs at the end of certain notes.
At Gathering of Friends, bringing together John Williams, Yo-Yo Ma and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in high resolution 24-bit 96 kHz on Qobuz, was a delight in the precision and clarity of each instrument. Again, we were able to appreciate the stereo separation and a nicely wide soundstage for this type of orchestral music.
And what about the pleasure of listen to the voice blues-tinged soul of Mavis Staples and theenergy by Levon Helm on drums on trouble in my mind. The intro of Should I Stay or Should I Go of The Clash announces the color and grabs us right at the collar.
The quality of the bass that the TW3 know how to produce is fully expressed on an album like 55.4 by Sly Johnson: punchy and deep but never intrusive. The masterful slap of I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself (The White Stripes) is at the rendezvous.
L’application Smart Control offers an equalizer as well as a bass boost mode, but the basic settings seemed quite adequate to us. Finally, the True Wireless 3 gave us great hours of listening and a real pleasure to navigate between musical genres and artists.
Significant improvement in noise reduction
The effectiveness of the active noise reduction (RBA) was the main weak point of the True Wireless 2. Sennheiser corrects the situation by adopting an adaptive RBA which takes care of adjusting its intensity according to the surrounding noise. Although not as effective as that found on the Sony WH-1000XM4s, the TW3’s active noise reduction ranks among the best, offering a cocoon of silence in the environments the noisiest. Only certain voices manage to break through this bubble, but the immersion effect is very present.
The TW3 also offer a mode transparency (a tap on the left earpiece), which allows you to hear what’s going on around you without removing the earphones. It works properly but produces a fairly audible hiss. About the touch interface, it offers common commands (adjustment of the volumeplay/pause, next/previous track, voice assistant) and can be customized via the Smart Control app.
The Bluetooth 5.2 connection is perfectly stable and robust. We were able to move a good ten meters away from our Pixel 6 Pro, changing rooms and even floors without lamenting any loss of connection. We did not notice any audiovisual latency when watching content on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Premium Video or Youtube. Too bad the multipoint connection, which allows you to associate the headphones with two devices simultaneously, is not part of it. However, Sennheiser promises that it will be introduced later in an update.
The True Wireless 3 each have three noise-canceling microphones that provide good clarity for phone calls. Conversations are sometimes a little more difficult in very noisy environments, but nothing too serious.
Sennheiser announces up to 7 hours of autonomy without active noise reduction and around 6 h 30 min with the RBA. Our daily use over several weeks has regularly approached these values. The box can charge the headphones three times. It takes 90 minutes for a full charge, but 10 minutes is enough to save an hour of use.
Futura’s opinion
The Momentum True Wireless 3 are a great success. They remain faithful to the excellence to which Sennheiser has accustomed us on this range while correcting the main weak points of their predecessors. The manufacturer has also made a significant price effort, lowering the price from 299 to 250 euros. Certainly, the TW3 remain high-end headphones, but we have plenty for its silver. If you subscribe to a high quality music streaming service like Deezer Premium, Qobuz or Tidal, investing in this model will allow you to enjoy it in the best conditions. And even with a “basic” streaming subscription, the audio quality provided by the Momentum True Wireless 3 will delight even the most demanding. We recommend them without reservation.
WE love
- Impeccable build quality
- Excellent comfort, suitable for prolonged use
- Audiophile-grade sound
- Effective adaptive noise reduction
- The satisfactory autonomy
We don’t like less
- The charger case still a bit bulky
- Slight audible hiss in transparency mode
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