Here’s why Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 are my go-to wireless earbuds

The wireless audio category has matured over the past three years, and you can now find reliable picks for as little as $50 that offer good audio and a slew of extras. That makes it harder for high-end products like the Momentum True Wireless 3 to stand out, but true to form, Sennheiser has managed to deliver wireless earbuds that tower above the rest of the field.

I’ve used more than a dozen wireless earbuds and just as many wired IEMs this year, starting with the $50 Nord Buds and all the way up to the $1,300 Audeze Euclid. Of all the wireless earbuds I’ve used this year, the Momentum True Wireless 3 is my favorite for sound quality and comfort – Sennheiser outdid themselves this time.

The Momentum True Wireless 3 debuted in May for $249 and is currently selling for $195 on Amazon (opens in new tab), contrary to that of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. I’ve already talked about what makes the Buds 2 Pro so great, but after using the Momentum True Wireless 3 alongside Samsung’s offerings, it’s clear that Sennheiser has delivered a better balance when it comes to sound.

Of course, the Momentum True Wireless 3 aren’t the lightest wireless earbuds out there, but they are lighter and smaller than their predecessor, and you’ll notice that right away. They fit my ears better and do not cause fatigue even after several hours of use. That’s largely thanks to the new design where the mouthpiece points down, where it sniffs into your ear canal, and provides a snug fit that doesn’t put pressure on the outer ear.

The snug fit is useful for passive noise isolation, and these earbuds also offer active noise cancellation that’s some of the best of any wireless earbud I’ve used this year. The earbuds do a fantastic job of blocking out wind and other ambient sounds, and they were very effective at tuning out the air conditioner’s hum. They’re equally great in noisy environments like a cafe, and like other high-end wireless earbuds, you get a good transparency mode here. These earbuds are also great for audio calls.

Sennheiser has also done a great job with the controls and you can easily configure the controls on each earbud through Sennheiser’s Smart Control utility. You also get a decent amount of adjustability when it comes to noise isolation, and there’s even a three-band EQ available if you want to tweak the sound balance.

Then there’s the sound quality itself. The Momentum True Wireless 3 uses Sennheiser’s custom 7mm dynamic drivers, and they are phenomenal. The same driver is used in Sennheiser’s $700 IE600, and after using those IEMs for nearly six months, I knew the True Wireless 3 would excel in this area. And that’s exactly what they do: they deliver an exquisite sound signature with powerful bass, crystal clear mids and refined highs. The wide soundstage is captivating, and you get resolution and clarity here that’s better than just about any other wireless earbud.

You get detailed bass with a great rumble, but it’s tightly controlled and doesn’t get overbearing. The True Wireless 3 is much more accurate in this regard, again thanks to the driver and tuning on offer. Likewise, mids are clear with compelling vocals, and there’s no harshness in the highs at all. Sennheiser has struck the balance here and the Momentum True Wireless 3 are the best sounding wireless earbuds I’ve used to date.

As for connectivity, you get the standard SBC and AAC codecs, and you’ll also find AptX Adaptive, making the earbuds a good choice when playing through Tidal or Qobuz.

Each earbud contains a 77 mAh battery and I have more than six hours of battery life between charges. The case has a 950 mAh battery and lasts for another 24 hours, so you only have to charge the case once a week on average. Battery life wasn’t an issue at all with the Momentum True Wireless 3, and a full charge takes just over an hour and a half.

On that note, I like the design of the case and how it’s pocketable, and while I don’t use wireless earbuds while working out, the fact that you get IPX4 water resistance here is an added bonus.