Bose QuietComfort 45 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

With so many high-end active noise canceling (ANC) headphones on the market, it can be hard to figure out what best suits your needs. If you’re in the market for a pair, you may weigh the pros and cons of the Bose QuietComfort 45 compared to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. These two sets of wireless headphones fill the same niche, but come at different prices and with different features. After spending at least a week with each headset, we put them head to head to see which comes out on top.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on August 8, 2023 to note the updated Sennheiser software.

What’s it like to use the Bose QuietComfort 45 compared to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

Both headphones have plastic builds with leatherette ear pads and comfortable padding on the headbands. The QuietComfort 45 comes in a bit lighter at 240g (8.5oz), while the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is 293g (10.3oz). Both headsets charge using USB-C and support fast charging. Neither headset is water resistant, so taking either of them out in the rain is a bad idea.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 is, as the name states, comfortable. You should be able to wear the QC 45 for hours on end, making it a great headset for intercontinental flights. Each ear cup rotates flat, and you can compact the headset further by pushing the ear cups toward the headband. Notably, the QC 45 has physical buttons on the ear cups, and lacks a touch panel like its sleeker sibling the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (more on the controls later). The design is largely based on its predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has touch gesture controls, bringing more of a modern touch to its design. The ear cups don’t fold, but they still swivel enough to fit your head. The headband of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has a more stylish design than the QuietComfort 45, and it has a fabric coating across the top of the headband. The look differs quite a bit from its predecessor, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 3 Wireless, which has a foldable, metal construction with hinges, making the third-generation headset heavier than the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless.

How do you control the Bose QuietComfort 45 and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

The Bose QuietComfort 45 uses physical buttons on the ear cups for controls. While the tactile technology seems dated, some people prefer buttons because touch controls can easily misfire, get oily, or simply not work in colder conditions. The back of the right ear cup features playback buttons, and there’s a power/Bluetooth switch on the face of the right ear cup. The left ear cup has an Action button that toggles listening modes, activates voice assistant, and mutes calls.

Bose QuietComfort 45 controls

In contrast to the QuietComfort 45, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless supports touch controls. The gestures are easy to figure out and remember. The headset does have a button on the right side for power on/off, but it has some other functions too, like holding it down to enter pairing mode, or tapping it once in a call to mute your microphone.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless audio controls

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless call controls

Should you use the apps of either Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

The Bose Music app (iOS/Android) helps you get the most out of the Bose QuietComfort 45, but it’s still fairly barebones relative to competitors’ apps. In the Bose Music app, you can access firmware updates, voice assistant settings, and an equalizer. While you can alternate between ANC and Aware mode, you can’t make granular adjustments to the ANC intensity. Another quirk: turning off ANC automatically enables Aware mode. There’s no “off” option. You’ll also be asked to share a lot of personal information such as location, call and message history, which is quite common with headphone apps.

The Sennheiser Smart Control app (iOS/Android) for the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is also a helpful app to have and offers a bit more control over noise canceling. You can adjust the ANC intensity, toggle adaptive ANC on/off, install firmware updates, and access a fairly expansive equalizer. Adaptive ANC is a cool feature that allows you to set ANC levels for different locations, though this does require location permissions to work. The Smart Control app generally asks for a ton of data, making both apps pretty similar on the data privacy front.

Installing firmware updates may not seem like a big deal for headphones, but recent models like the ones discussed here have significant potential for improvement over this function. For example, in May, Sennheiser improved the firmware of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless to enable aptX Adaptive and its best data transfer rate for compatible source devices.

How do the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless connect?

Both the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless support Bluetooth and wired connectivity.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 uses Bluetooth 5.1, and includes the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. It doesn’t support aptX or any other high-bitrate codecs. The headset comes with a 2.5mm to 3.5mm TRS cable for wired listening if you prefer that.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless supports the SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs, giving Android users more high-quality Bluetooth codecs to choose from. The headset also comes with both a 2.5mm to 3.5mm TRS cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable for wired listening. The audio over USB option is great for people with phones lacking headphone jacks that want to listen using a wired connection. Overall, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has more versatile options for connectivity and competes more closely with the Shure AONIC 50 in this department.

Is battery life better on the Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

We subjected both headsets to our standard battery test, with continuous music playback peaking at 75dB(SPL). The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is by far the better performer, coming in at 56 hours, 21 minutes with ANC on. This is better than all the closest ANC headset competitors, not just the QuietComfort 45. In comparison, the Bose QuietComfort 45 has a battery life of 24 hours, 49 minutes with ANC on.

An important factor here apart from the short-term battery life consideration is the actual life of the battery. Longer battery life means fewer charging cycles, which means your battery can hold its charge for longer overall. With battery e-waste being a major issue, you’re generally better off going for more eco-friendly options that have longer battery life.

Does the Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless cancel noise better?

While both headphones cancel noise really well, the Bose QuietComfort 45 does a better job of canceling out noise in pretty much every range, particularly low and midrange frequencies. Both headsets effectively block out high-pitched noises, with the QuietComfort 45 winning out. It’s no surprise that Bose makes its way onto our best noise canceling headphones list.

To ensure the best ANC performance possible, make sure you have a good seal around your ear, by adjusting the headband and moving the ear cups to get a secure fit. If you have gaps around the ear cups, outside noise will leak in, rendering the ANC and isolation much less effective. Sound leaking in can also lead you to turn up the volume to potentially dangerous levels, which can cause hearing loss.

Does the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless sound better than the Bose QuietComfort 45?

While both the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have pretty similar sound profiles in our testing, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless measures a bit closer to our consumer target curve, especially in the highs, when compared to the QuietComfort 45. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless does have a bit of an extra boost in the bass range compared to our consumer curve, but it’s nothing too wild. Most people will enjoy the sound of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, and both headsets’ sound profiles can be modified in the respective app.

Some music will not sound great through the Bose QuietComfort 45 with that boost in the highs, especially busy tracks with lots of high-pitched sounds. Music filled with incidental high sounds like strumming or breathing, punk music, and some pop will fare worse due to this frequency response. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless’s most noticeable deviation is in the lows, where that bass boost may not be desirable, depending on your own personal preferences. Both headsets have high speech intelligibility, making spoken word content like podcasts great to listen to.

Does the Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have a better microphone?

The Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless both have mics embedded in the headsets. While convenient and unobtrusive, this design doesn’t always yield the best sound, but will be good for phone calls. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless does come across better than the Bose QuietComfort 45, sounding louder generally, and less muffled in ideal conditions. With street noise, neither one exhibits the best noise suppression, but voices are audible for the most part. If you need high-quality microphone audio (for recording or podcasting), you’ll need to look for a dedicated microphone. Regardless, both of these are totally fine for phone and video calls. Take a listen:

Bose QuietComfort 45 Mic sample (Ideal conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Mic sample (Ideal conditions):

Bose QuietComfort 45 Mic sample (Street conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Mic sample (Street conditions):

Should you get the Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

Even though the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are similar in many ways, the ideal headphones for you will depend on your needs and preferences.

If you want the better-performing ANC, your best bet is Bose. The QC 45 is better at canceling out noise, especially in the low and mid ranges compared to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. The sound profile issues can be fixed with the in-app equalizer, and the battery life is still great, even if it’s not as long as the MOMENTUM 4. It’s also extremely comfortable, and the physical buttons are a good feature for people who want to avoid misfires or cold weather issues.

On the other hand, if you want aptX support, a better default frequency response, and superior battery life, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has you covered. The ANC is still good even if it isn’t as good as the QuietComfort 45. Though it’s $30 USD more expensive than the QC 45, many people will be drawn to Sennheiser’s headphones.

What should you get instead of the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

If the Bose QuietComfort 45 sounds nice to you overall, consider its predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. It’s very similar to the QuietComfort 45 in many ways, including how comfortable it is, and it costs $374 at Amazon. Bose also makes the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, which has a more minimalist design, a slightly better sound profile than the QuietComfort 45, and you can find it for $379 at Amazon.

When you want to spend a bit more for the very best, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best choice. It has top-of-the-line noise canceling, a great sound profile and app where you can adjust your EQ, and Bluetooth multipoint. It’s much more expensive at $387 at Amazon, but it’s worth it. For a bit less, you can get its predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM4, which is still a fantastic noise canceling headset with lots of the same features. It goes for $348 at Amazon nowadays, but it can be found on sale for much cheaper from time to time. We recommend comparing the WH-1000XM4 to the XM5 headset before you spend though.

For more affordable noise canceling, the Monoprice BT-600ANC is an incredible option at $84.99 at Amazon. It somehow has excellent noise canceling, aptX HD support, and a long 36-hour battery life, all for under $100 USD.

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