Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless vs Momentum True Wireless 2 Review

Sennheiser has released a new version of their original true wireless model, the Momentum True Wireless. The original model received mixed reviews, specifically because of certain shortcomings in design. But most people agreed that the sound was fantastic. So, the company went back to the drawing board to improve on some of the problems with the original model and came up with a refreshed and improved edition. There are already plenty of reviews written about both the Momentum True Wireless 2 and the original. So, this review is instead a comparison between both models. For those who own the original Momentum True Wireless, is the Momentum TW 2 worth the upgrade? Let’s find out in this Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless vs Momentum True Wireless 2 Review.

FIT

The first problem that many people had with the original Momentum TW was the fit. The shells of the original model are on the larger side, and folks with smaller ears found that the earbuds wouldn’t snugly fit in the contours of their ears. I think for this reason, Sennheiser has improved the ergonomics and reduced the size of the shells on the Momentum TW 2. Personally, my ears are about average in size, and I didn’t have much problem fitting the original earbuds in my ears. But often they required some fiddling to really get them in snug and secure. And I have to admit, the new model does feel more comfortable to wear overall.

DESIGN

Active Noise Cancellation

Unlike the original model, the Momentum True Wireless 2 implements active noise cancellation technology. To be honest, I thought the first model did a fine job of naturally isolating sound. And my impressions of the newer model were that the ANC didn’t greatly improve on the natural sound isolation provided by the original edition. So, I wouldn’t base your decision to upgrade on this department.

True Wireless 2 has also included a transparent hearing mode, which lets in the sound from the outside environment. But this feature is already available on the original model.

Functionality

Though the controls and functionality remains mostly the same in the newer model, one major upgrade offered by the Momentum TW 2 is the ability to manually turn off the earbuds. A huge problem I had with the first model was that the earbuds only turned off when you put them in the case. And if there was no charge left in the case, the earbuds would stay turned on, and the battery would subsequently drain. So, you actually wouldn’t get the full 12 hours of usage as advertised. I don’t know if that was a problem specific to only some pairs, but it seems that I wasn’t the only one with this issue. Luckily, Sennheiser has finally addressed this flaw by allowing you to manually turn off the earphones via the accompanying app. They have also implemented an automatic “idle mode,” which switches off the earbuds after 60 minutes of idle time. In theory, the 60 minute automatic shutoff was is also available on the original. But my personal pair seemed to just drain till it was empty.

Accompanying Apps

Like the original model, the Momentum True Wireless 2 comes with the Smart Control App. It offers an equalizer, as well as some added control over you headphone settings. In addition, it provides periodic firmware updates to keep your earbuds current. And as mentioned above, the app also allows you to switch the earbuds off (on into idle mode).

Battery Life

One of the most significant improvements to the new Sennheiser earbuds is the battery life. It now offers an impressive 7 hours of usage at a time with an additional 21 hours of charge in the charging case. This is makes the Momentum True Wireless 2 a huge upgrade from the original model, which only offered a mediocre 12 hours of total playtime. And as mentioned above, battery reliability also seems to have improved in this department.

Calls Clarity

I couldn’t discern any difference in call clarity.

Water Resistance

Nothing has changed in this category. As in the original Momentum TW model, the new earbuds offer an IPX4 rating, which means they can withstand a significant amount of sweat and rain.

SOUND

Luckily, the sound hasn’t changed since the first Momentum TW. And why should it? Personally, I think it’s the best sounding true wireless earphone on the market today. But if you’re new to the sound signature and want to get a better idea of what the sound offers, click here to read my full review on the Momentum True Wireless 2.

SUMMARY

Though the sound remains the same, theres no denying that some major improvements have been made with the Momentum True Wireless 2. The fit is more ergonomic, the battery life is infinitely longer, and the technical design flaws have finally been fixed. I also appreciate the fact that Sennheiser has resisted the temptation to raise the price point from the previous model. And for those who own the original model and love the sound but are tired of the design shortcomings, the newer version should solve all your issues. That being said, for first time buyers, the original Sennheiser Momentum TW can be bought at a significant reduction in price on some websites. Still, I’d rather pay the extra 100 bucks or so and get the newer and more reliable model, which I think is truly worthy of the brand name.

You can find both Momentum True Wireless models for the best price here:

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless at Audio 46

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 at Audio 46

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless on Amazon

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 on Amazon

SPECS

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