Is the Sony WH-1000XM4 worth the upgrade from the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 3 Wireless?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 3 Wireless to the Sony WH-1000XM4 buys you 10.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (6.0 to 8.0), value (6.5 to 8.0) and noise cancelling (8.0 to 9.0). On paper: weight 305 g to 254 g, battery life (anc on) 17 h to 30 h and wear detection. Worth checking: water resistance goes IPX4 to Not rated and driver size goes 42 mm to 40 mm. That costs $85 more, or about $8 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.59.0
- Noise cancelling8.09.0
- Battery6.08.0
- Calls7.58.0
- Value6.58.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | MOMENTUM 3 Wireless | WH-1000XM4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Weight | 305 g | 254 g | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | Not rated | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 17 h | 30 h | |
| Driver size | 42 mm | 40 mm | |
| Microphones | 4 | 2 | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 1.5 h | 10 min = 5 h | |
| Driver | 42mm dynamic | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 6Hz-22kHz | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "MOMENTUM 3 Wireless to WH-1000XM4". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.