Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless: Price or performance?

Sony and Sennheiser have long battled for top billing in the noise canceling headphone arena. The WH-1000XM6 are the latest flagship headphones from Sony, but Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is still going strong from nearly three years ago. We’ve spent significant time with both, testing how they handle daily commutes, long listening sessions, and real-world distractions. While Sony refines and refines, Sennheiser provides much value that might be enough to endure the competition.

What’s it like to use the Sony WH-1000XM6 compared to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

The Sony WH-1000XM6 removes pain points from past models — fragile hinges, awkward fold-flat design, and an indistinguishable power button — and replaces them with practical improvements. Pairing is fast, touch controls are predictable, and the headphones fold neatly into a minimalist softshell case. The new hinge design feels more robust, but the thin ear pads and protruding ANC mic inside the earbuds can potentially cause discomfort depending on your ear shape, especially if they brush against your tragus.

Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM 4 Wireless leans into comfort with thicker padding than Sony and a lighter build thanks to its plastic frame. I wore them for hours without fatigue, and the cloth-wrapped headband didn’t dig in. Because these headphones don’t fold up completely like the Sony XM6, the included carrying case is larger but can hold all accessories.

Both headphones have Smart Pause, which automatically halts playback when you take them off, and Adaptive ANC tweaks performance based on your surroundings. Neither headset is water resistant and is unsuitable for rain or the gym.

Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have more features?

Sony stuffed the WH-1000XM6 with plenty of features. You get a full 10-band EQ, spatial audio via 360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme for upscaling, volume limiting, and even head gesture support. You can upmix audio to emulate spatial formats, and while there’s no USB audio, Auracast and LC3 are onboard. Multipoint is supported too. It’s a feature-rich headset aimed at power users, with enough software support to keep tinkerers happy.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless holds its own, offering USB-C and analog listening, ANC customization, geotagging profiles, and call auto-hold with Smart Pause. While it lacks Sony’s spatial audio ambitions, its app provides EQ tweaks, firmware updates, and granular ANC control. If you value simplicity and longer battery life over head gestures and spatial illusions, Sennheiser’s setup is a bit more refined rather than less capable.

How do the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless connect?

Sony supports Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3, but curiously skips USB-C audio — a growing standard among rivals. Auracast is technically supported, though not fully functional in our tests. You’ll need the Sony app or Android developer settings to toggle LDAC settings. Analog connections are handled via 3.5mm TRRS. Multipoint works, but at reduced codec quality.

Sennheiser delivers a wider range of codec options: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive. It also supports USB-C wired listening, which Sony lacks. This gives it a future-proof edge, especially for users who want to ditch Bluetooth when working from a laptop or gaming console. I found switching between codecs and wired modes seamless — a nod to Sennheiser’s connectivity foresight.

Is battery life better on the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

This one isn’t close. In our testing, the Sony WH-1000XM6 clocked 37 hours and 14 minutes of playback with ANC on — beating most competitors, but well behind the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. Sennheiser blew us away with 56 hours and 21 minutes of continuous playback in the same conditions, a result that few other ANC headphones come close to.

Sony does offer quick charging — 3 minutes for 3 hours of playback, which is handy in a pinch. But fewer charge cycles often translate to better long-term battery health, and Sennheiser’s enormous runtime means you’ll plug them in far less often. If longevity and reduced battery wear matter to you, Sennheiser is the clear winner.

Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless block noise better?

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 performs admirably, with excellent passive isolation that supports its ANC system in muting low and midrange frequencies. The Q3 processor adapts quickly to changes, and our simulations showed impressive reductions in sub-1kHz noise. However, glasses wearers may struggle to maintain a good seal, potentially affecting ANC performance, especially with Sony’s thinner pads.

Sennheiser’s ANC isn’t as strong, especially at attenuating low-pitched noise, but it still manages an average 76% noise reduction that is adequate for office use or commuting. The padding is also thicker and more forgiving with glasses, offering a more consistent seal for those users. Still, Sony holds the edge if you need the strongest ANC available.

Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 sound better than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

Sony refined its tuning to near perfection with the WH-1000XM6. These headphones offer a dark but balanced signature, with a tasteful bass boost and extended treble that add atmosphere without harshness. This is the best-sounding WH-series Sony has produced yet, and the 30mm drivers, despite being small, pull off some serious audio clarity.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is no slouch either. Sennheiser sticks closer to our preference curve, avoiding extreme emphasis in the lows or highs. That means the sound feels more natural and is easier to EQ if needed. For vinyl-era recordings or detailed mixes, Sennheiser may actually edge ahead depending on your taste. Both sets handle stereo width well, but Sony creates a slightly more vivid 3D illusion even without spatial audio enabled.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The MDAQS algorithm rates the WH-1000XM6 slightly ahead of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless.

Sony scores a 4.9 in Timbre, 4.3 in Distortion, and 4.6 in Immersiveness, with a strong 4.8 overall — the highest for any WH-series to date. These ratings confirm what I heard: a clean, full-spectrum sound with low artifacts and good stereo depth even without spatial modes engaged.

Sennheiser isn’t far behind, with a 4.8 in Timbre, 3.5 in Distortion, and 4.1 in Immersiveness, netting a 4.6 overall. The slightly lower Immersiveness and Distortion scores reflect a more analytical sound signature and slightly less pronounced soundstage. Still, these scores make the MOMENTUM 4 one of the best-sounding wireless headphones under $400, and they offer a different flavor that some listeners may prefer.

Objective Measurements

Objectively, Sony leans darker, with more emphasis in the bass and a bit of brightness in the treble that can add perceived detail. I measured a strong sub-bass presence, ideal for pop and hip-hop, and a surprising Knowles-like peak around 16kHz. This tuning helps older recordings feel more lively but may be fatiguing for sensitive listeners on tracks with aggressive upper frequencies.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless hews closer to our ideal preference curve, with only a mild sub-bass lift and a restrained treble. Sennheiser’s frequency response avoids the pitfalls of over-enhanced highs, delivering a smoother, less fatiguing listen. In our lab tests, they performed reliably across genres and volume levels, and their out-of-the-box tuning required little correction. This makes them a safer choice for those chasing a balanced sound.

Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have a better microphone?

Sony takes the win here with a 6-mic beamforming array trained by AI to isolate voice from environmental noise. It performed well across ideal, street, and windy conditions in our lab demos, which you can listen to below. Sennheiser’s mic array does a decent job, especially in quiet spaces. However, it struggles more with noise rejection in real-world scenarios. It still delivers usable audio for calls, but I wouldn’t rely on it for remote meetings in busy environments. Sony clearly invested more in voice clarity under duress, and it shows.

Sony WH-1000XM6 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sony WH-1000XM6 microphone demo (Wind conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless microphone demo (Wind conditions):

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless: Price and availability

At $449.99, the Sony WH-1000XM6 sits at the higher end of the ANC headphone market. That price reflects its feature-rich package, flagship branding, and incremental improvements over the WH-1000XM5. It’s available from major retailers and occasionally sees discounts.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless retails for $350, undercutting Sony by about $100. That makes it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers who still want top-tier audio and battery life. For the price, the MOMENTUM 4 punches well above its weight, especially given the inclusion of USB-C audio and 50+ hours of playback.

Should you get the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

If you want the best ANC, top-tier microphone performance, and a feature-packed experience — and you’re willing to pay for it — the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the better pick. It’s the most polished WH-series model yet, with thoughtful design revisions and standout sound quality.

But if value, battery life, and natural sound matter more to you, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is tough to beat. It may lack a few flashy features, but what it offers is practical and long-lasting. For $100 less, you’ll get more listening time, better codec flexibility, and one of the most balanced sound signatures in the ANC space.