Jada Jones/ZDNETSony’s flagship earbuds, the WF-1000XM6, have been out for some time now, rounding out the catalog with Sony’s WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones. But it’s not the only player out there. While the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) get all the attention, there’s another pair of earbuds worth considering, too: the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5.
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Both are premium, full-featured earbuds, but they take different approaches. Sony leans on noise cancellation, a mature companion app, and strong call performance. Sennheiser offers things that almost no one else does: user-replaceable batteries. Additionally, the Momentum True Wireless 5 has AptX Lossless support, IP54 dust and water resistance, and a warmer, more bass-forward sound.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 lists at $329.99, while the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 comes in at $299.95 — roughly $30 cheaper. So which should you buy? It depends on what you value, and frankly, on what phone you use. Here’s how the two stack up.
You should buy the Sony WF-1000XM6 if…
1. You want the strongest noise cancellation
Sony claims the WF-1000XM6 cuts 25% more noise than the WF-1000XM5, thanks to its new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3e, an adaptive optimizer, and four microphones per bud instead of three. I can’t verify if it cuts exactly that number of noise than the last-generatio, but indeed, its ANC is very good. The buds are particularly strong at suppressing low rumble and the frequencies where conversations live, provided you get a good seal. Some midrange office chatter can still sneak through, but not much.
Review: Sony WF-1000XM6
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5’s hybrid adaptive ANC, which monitors surrounding noise and adjusts automatically, is a real improvement over its predecessor and handles engine drone and commute noise well — and in some situations, like with consistent background noise, can perform as well as the Sony buds. But voices and higher-frequency sounds slip through a little more than they do on the Sony buds.
2. You want a mature, deeply customizable app and ecosystem
Sony’s Sound Connect app is one of the most complete companion apps out there. You get a 10-band EQ, Adaptive Sound Control that changes settings based on what you’re doing, scene-based Auto Play, Quick Access shortcuts, Speak-to-Chat, granular ambient sound controls, and fit testing.
The WF-1000XM6 supports Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, plus LDAC, LE Audio, and Auracast, which lets you tune into public audio broadcasts in places like airports where they’re offered. There’s hands-free Gemini integration too, though that requires a compatible Android phone.
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Sennheiser’s Smart Control Plus app is solid, with an 8-band EQ, Sound Personalization, Sound Check, and location-triggered Sound Zones. But it’s not quite as deep as the Sony app, even if it looks a little cleaner.
3. You want a longer battery life
Sony rates the $329.99 WF-1000XM6 at 8 hours per charge with ANC on, and 12 hours with it off. Sennheiser’s equivalent numbers are 6 hours on and 12 off. So with ANC engaged, Sony holds a two-hour lead in continuous use.
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Sony also wins at total playback time with the charging case, too. Sennheiser doesn’t publish the total time with ANC on, but we know you’ll get 40 hours with it off, representing three-and-one-third full charges. By that math, with ANC on, you’ll get around 20 hours total, compared to Sony’s 24 hours. With ANC off, Sennheiser takes the lead. As mentioned, you’ll get 40 hours with the Momentum buds, and around 36 hours with the Sony buds, based on the math.
You should buy the Sennheiser Momentum 5 earbuds if…
Jada Jones/ZDNET1. You want battery replaceability and stronger weather resistance
Sennheiser’s big move here is user-replaceable batteries in both the earbuds and the charging case. It’s genuinely rare in true wireless earbuds. Usually, a worn-out battery turns an otherwise-working product into e-waste. To be clear, the ability to self-replace is not a guarantee of indefinite repairability, as you’ll need to source replacement cells, and ongoing parts availability from Sennheiser is an open question.
Review: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
However, user-repairability is a meaningful step that Sony simply doesn’t offer. Sony’s environmental pitch is different, claiming roughly 25% circular plastic content and plastic-free packaging, which is nice but doesn’t help you five years from now when the battery fades.
The Sennheiser buds are also rated IP54, meaning they’re protected against dust ingress and water splashes. Sony’s IPX4 rating covers sweat and splashes but offers no dust protection. If you work out outdoors or in dusty conditions, that difference matters.
You want a warmer, more bass-forward sound
The Momentum True Wireless 5 goes the other way. Sennheiser’s 7mm TrueResponse drivers are warmer and more energetic, with bass that carries real weight and punch without burying vocals and the midrange, and a wide soundstage. Some listeners will want a small treble lift from the 8-band EQ, but the out-of-the-box tuning is engaging in a way Sony’s more neutral profile isn’t.
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Sony’s tuning leans neutral and precise. Sony’s new driver pairs a soft edge for bass with a rigid dome for highs, and the V2 chip enables 32-bit processing, resulting in clean, detailed, and spacious sound.
You want lossless audio (with the right phone)
The Momentum True Wireless 5 supports AptX Lossless, which offers true CD-quality 16-bit/44.1kHz playback with no lossy compression over a Bluetooth connection. Sony’s WF-1000XM6 opts for the company’s LDAC codec, a lossy standard, even though it’s pretty close to AptX Lossless in practice.
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There’s a catch, though — AptX Lossless is a Qualcomm technology, which means it only works with a Snapdragon Sound phone. On a Samsung flagship with an Exynos chip, cheap Androids, or any iPhone, it simply doesn’t exist. Thus, the Sennheisers fall back to another standard, which will likely be AAC or SBC, depending on your phone.
While LDAC might not be as high-quality as aptX Lossless, its advantage is that it works on more devices. It still doesn’t work on all devices, so you won’t get high-res audio with either of these earbuds on an iPhone.
Writer’s choice
If I had to live with just one, I’d take the Sony WF-1000XM6, and my reasoning mostly comes down to fit. The Sony buds sit in my ears more securely and comfortably, and given that they both sound great and have solid ANC, fit is the deciding factor. Sony’s stronger ANC and longer battery life are nice to have, but the fit is what makes them the pair I’d reach for if I weren’t using the AirPods Pro 3.
Still, I genuinely like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5. I love the idea of replaceable batteries, and I appreciate that Sennheiser’s app is clean and easy to live with, even if it isn’t as feature-rich as Sony’s. If they fit my ears like the Sony buds do, this would be a much more difficult decision.
