Sennheiser HDB 630 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless: A really tough decision

As with all headphones that aim to surpass their predecessors, the Sennheiser HDB 630 will be the subject of numerous comparisons to its predecessor. So who wins when we go blow-by-blow in the Sennheiser HDB 630 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless matchup? Let’s ring the bell.

What’s it like to use the Sennheiser HDB 630 compared to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

Both the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are extremely similar headphones, built with very similar parts and design ethos. In fact, you could be forgiven for mistaking one for the other because they’re largely the same shape and appearance. Really, the main difference between the two models at first glance is the Sennheiser HDB 630’s thicker padding and use of fake leather instead of a cloth wrapping on the headband. Beyond those external cues, the headphones look and operate nearly identically.

Upon putting either set of headphones on your dome, the main difference between the two is the fact that the Sennheiser HDB 630 is slightly heavier at 311g versus the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless’s 293g. Both headphones have a friction-rod design for the band, meaning that those with long hair shouldn’t have to worry about getting their locks caught in a non-existent hinge. Having used both sets of headphones for extended periods of time, you shouldn’t find either uncomfortable.

Though neither headphones fold up, they both can rotate the ear cups to fold flat in their respective travel cases. Speaking of travel cases, each set of headphones has its own durable case to store the included cables, adapters, and dongles you might need. Both look quite similar in the inside because, well, the headphones are virtually identical. But the case of the Sennheiser HDB 630 has a lot harder material hidden in there, and a more robust look to it. Both cases zip closed, and are easily stowed in a bag for flights or commutes.

Do the Sennheiser HDB 630 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have more features?

Both the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have an extremely similar feature set, as they both use the same exact control app for smartphones that connect to the headphones. Both offer the best of what Sennheiser offers its mobile customers, including:

1. EQ presets.
2. ANC adjustment.
3. Source device management.
4. Find headphones.
5. Sound zones.

However, as the Sennheiser HDB 630 is newer than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, it comes with a few features not enjoyed by the older headphones. Namely, they center around the BTD 700 wireless dongle that allows you to use any digital source with a USB port with ideal settings, and the HDB 630’s ability to use the in-app parametric equalizer. Though the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless can use a simple graphic EQ, the parametric EQ allows users of the Sennheiser HDB 630 to make more exact changes to the sound without having to be confined with obscure adjustments. Though the Sennheiser HDB 630 gets the clear win on features, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless isn’t poor in this area by any stretch.

How do the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless connect?

Both the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have no shortage of options when it comes to connecting to devices. Both headphones have:

1. Wired analog connectivity.
2. Wired USB-C connectivity.
3. Bluetooth 5.2+.
4. Support for SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD.

What the Sennheiser HDB 630 has over the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless:

1. A dongle that can make any digital source work with the best version of aptX supported by the headphones.
2. Newer version of Bluetooth 5.
3. Support for aptX Adaptive.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless does not have any connection methods that I’d characterize as “better” than those of the Sennheiser HDB 630. However, as both headphones are quite good here, there’s really not a lot to gripe about. Really the main worry I have about the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is that the Bluetooth version, 5.2, is a bit on the old side now and will not be getting upgrades that are baked into newer BT versions like Auracast.

Is battery life better on the Sennheiser HDB 630 or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

Usually when we say that a product lasted a few hours longer than the other, it’s a clear win. However, when you consider that the Sennheiser HDB 630 was able to withstand our test for 53 hours and 46 minutes and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless lasted 56 hours and 21 minutes — there’s really not a clear winner here. Both headphones have insane battery life, and both should last you quite a while before that battery starts to degrade. You can’t go wrong here.

Do the Sennheiser HDB 630 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless block noise better?

This is a tough one, because the ANC effect is virtually identical for each of these headphones, but the Sennheiser HDB 630 is easier to get a good seal with, which then enables better isolation. So if you wear glasses, it’s entirely possible that you won’t notice a huge difference between the two headphones when it comes to attenuating outside noise.

Both headphones struggle at getting rid of noise in the mids, which can be an issue, but in ideal conditions, the Sennheiser HDB 630 has the advantage. More people will have better results with the Sennheiser HDB 630 over the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless.

Do the Sennheiser HDB 630 sound better than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

Both the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are excellent-sounding headphones that don’t beg much for equalization. However, when paired with the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app, you can make pretty much any adjustment you’d like to the sound of each. That said, it’s hard to get a better starting point.

Objective Measurements

Sennheiser tweaked the sound of its flagship headphones for the new release, and its very consumer-friendly response doesn’t beg for much equalization at all. The sound of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless isn’t even bad — it’s much closer to our preferences — but the Sennheiser HDB 630 is a little easier to get the results you want personally than the older headset. Each set of headphones has similar performance when it comes to predicted listener preference, and each set of headphones has access to higher-bitrate Bluetooth codecs and USB-C digital audio decoding. There’s no clear advantage for lossless audio lovers.

That said, there are some key characteristics that could guide your decision-making. For example, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has a little more bass and treble than our preference curve, and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is a bit less extreme in its emphasis choices overall. Both are excellent-sounding headphones, and there’s no clear winner here.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

Do the Sennheiser HDB 630 or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have a better microphone?

As these products are meant to be your daily driver, able to handle any task from calls to music, the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have some serious microphone arrays. Rather than tell you what we think of the microphones, we’d like you to listen for yourself. Just remember that call quality can vary significantly based on your network and client, so these exist as a performance ceiling.

Sennheiser HDB 630 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sennheiser HDB 630 microphone demo (COMPARISON conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless microphone demo (COMPARISON conditions):

Sennheiser HDB 630 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless: Price and availability

I get the feeling that most people comparing these two models will find the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless on a deep discount, as it’s very old now, and often goes on sale. Although the full MSRP for both headphones is very high — and climbing depending on tariffs — the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is now so old that many retailers are looking for ways to clear their stockrooms. In fact, even as recently as a year ago, you could find the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless on sale during the holidays. That trend seems likely to continue, given that the same company has released a successor in spirit, if not by name.

With that in mind, the $499.95 asking price for the Sennheiser HDB 630 may be a little tough to accept when the two products are so similar. Even if you get unlucky with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless and can only find it at the full list price of $449.95, that’s still $50 in savings at the tradeoff of the dongle, and slightly different sound. Though the Sennheiser HDB 630 will be easier to find than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless as time goes on, both headphones are currently still in big box stores and online.

Should you get the Sennheiser HDB 630 or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

At the end of the day, you’re going to be the only person who can decide which headphones are right for you, and the question is very tough when you’re picking between options as similar as these. The main questions you have to ask yourself are:

1. How much does price matter to you?
2. Are you willing to forgo an adapter that can override compatibility issues with your headphones?

It’ll be tough to square with wildly shifting prices and the like, but consider this: on its own, the BTD 700 adapter is $59.95. If you can get the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless on discount for $300 or under, you’re still saving about $100 on headphones that are very similar to the Sennheiser HDB 630. Some might elect to go this route, knowing that the sound of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is pretty good on its own. This matchup is going to depend largely on price for most, as the headphones are just too similar to give a clear winner.