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Head-to-head · Best Over-ear Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Headphones vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.0 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about value-conscious commuters — read the strengths below before deciding.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Ranked #8 in Best Over-ear Headphones
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
4 sources$359as of Aug 1

Bose's QuietComfort Headphones (2023) replaced the QC45 as the company's mainstream over-ear, one tier below the QuietComfort Ultra. TechRadar gave them 4 stars for 'flagship noise-cancelling for less,' and SoundGuys clocked 27 hours of real-world battery along with excellent ANC. There is no Immersive Audio and no high-res codecs, but at 240g they are the most comfortable headphone in this guide and the easiest recommendation for long-haul flights.

Strengths
  • — Plush memory foam earcups, only 240g — the most comfortable pair in this guide
  • — Excellent Bose ANC, only narrowly behind the QuietComfort Ultra
  • — Tested ~27 hours real-world battery life
Watch-outs
  • — Only SBC and AAC codecs — no aptX or LDAC
  • — 3-band EQ is more limited than rivals' parametric tools
  • — No spatial audio (saved for the QuietComfort Ultra)
$359 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Over-ear Headphones
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
6 sources$217as of Aug 1

SoundGuys and What Hi-Fi? both point to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless for battery life and sound quality that beats much of what else sells at this price. Active noise cancellation works well without matching the top-tier models from Bose and Sony. What Hi-Fi? called it 'one of the best-performing ANC over-ears at their price today,' while lamenting the departure from the brand's previously classy design aesthetic. Commuters and frequent travelers who want performance and value in one package are the target; audiophiles may find the ANC short of premium offerings.

Strengths
  • — Excellent battery life with up to 60 hours of playback
  • — Superior sound quality that's ahead of the pack according to SoundGuys
  • — Effective active noise cancellation for the price point
Watch-outs
  • — Middling ANC performance compared to top-tier competitors like Bose or Sony
  • — Drops predecessors' classy aesthetic for a more generic design
  • — Mic noise rejection is subpar according to SoundGuys
$217 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

The QuietComfort sits below the Sony WH-1000XM6 on sound and feature depth but matches it on ANC and beats it on raw comfort thanks to a 240g chassis. Versus the AirPods Max 2 it is roughly $200 cheaper, lighter by nearly 150g, and platform-agnostic — but gives up Apple's H2 chip integration, spatial audio, and lossless USB-C playback.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless excels in battery life and sound quality compared to the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Apple AirPods Max, though it doesn't match the ANC performance of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X. Unlike the Sony WH-1000XM5, it lacks IP rating and is less premium in build quality, but offers better value for money than the Apple AirPods Max which is more expensive and ecosystem-dependent.

Specs side-by-side

SpecBose QuietComfort HeadphonesSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Driver40mm dynamic42 mm dynamic
Weight240g295 g
ANCAdaptive ANC with Aware mode and adjustable Quiet modesYes
CodecSBC, AAC—
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.1 with multipoint, USB-C, 3.5mm5.2
Battery Life24 hours rated (~27 hours measured)60 hours
Charging Method—USB-C
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