Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless headphones

[@thelivingmiracle]

As a long time user of Bose headphones/earbuds. I'm making a switch in headphone brands. These 3 in the video are the exact headphone options im looking at as my next pair. I love the Sennheisers because of the battery life, B&W because of build quality and XM5s because of the ANC and features. So its making choosing just one a bit more difficult for me 😂.

[@devendras601]

Did you buy anything? And wanna share your review here?

[@ColinAdolphson]

Did you decide on a headphone? How are they?

[@hans-jurgenschuster4025]

Yes. I've got all of them. I think the same about the headphone. With the Px7 S2e the sound is in an other dimension. The only headphone who sounds good as this are the Px8 and the Bo H95.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@MatthewRodriguez-j2x]

Dude killer review!!! You are my new go to for audio reviews!

[@vustswe]

Had a pair of Sennheiser PXC 550 II since 2018, their batteries are basically gone and are wore out, loved their sound but will change to a pair of B&W PX7SE for quality and hate touch controls when wearing a hoodie or if i'm at the gym. Thanks for the great vid!

[@Kennardy]

Great review video. I have experienced that I cannot “forever” turn off adaptive ANC on my Sonys. I also find the feature annoying but oddly, the feature will turn back on a few days after turning it off! I also have PX8s and I like the physical control buttons over the touch panel. I find myself skipping a song when I mean to turn up volume or vice versa. Maybe that’s just me though.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

I like the physical controls, too! The touch panel is cool, but the buttons are easier in many ways.

[@8000860]

I love switching on and off on PX8... it feels like weapon reloading 😎

[@EastWood2004]

Very informative review. Thanks for creating this video!

[@michaelknibbs]

Just spent a few hours with both. I have owned a pair of HD600s for a decade (or more) and love their sound. And I've never enjoyed the B&W speaker sound - too bright and clinical for me. So, I was really surprised how disappointing the Sennheisers were. The bass is prominent - but not in a good way. The bottom end has bloom and tramples over the mids. It's not a though they lack detail or presence - but it's tiring trying to get past all that 'Beats teenage' tuning. Then the PX7 S2e (catchy name that) went on and 'Wow!'. They impressed me immediately. Bass on Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" felt solid but not mushy'. I could hear Herbie Flower's twinned bass line clearly and Reed's vocals were warmer than the HD600s - but very well presented. I played a ton of acoustic stuff and they are cohesive and musical. Moving to Janos Starker's excellent recording of Bach's cello suites was equally rewarding. The cello has great timbre and I feel I can hear both the fretting and the woodiness of this gorgeous cello. open.qobuz.com/album/0090266143627 The Momentum 4's went back. I can't afford the PX8 but I'm tempted...

[@scherge]

I really couldn't agree more on your description of how the Px7 S2e headphones sound. You absolutely nailed it, imo. You're also spot on with how the Sonys sound. A muddy base and a very cramped sound stage. Had them for three days and really wanted to like them, but couldn't. I also prefer physical buttons because of less accidental button presses, and I don't get much use out of most of the shenanigans the Sony headphones come with. The Momentum 4 felt uncomfortable after wearing them for roughly 20 seconds. The S2es however sound amazing and they are super comfortable, plus I was able to get them in a super nice Forest Green color for 250€ brand new. Great headphones, couldn't be happier with them :) Edit: The clamping force of the S2es is actually a plus to me. The XM5 always tended to slip towards my forehead when looking down which isn't a problem at all with the Bowers & Wilkins.

[@r1singhigh]

I tried the M4's and B&Ws and went with the Px7's in the end. For my listening preference they tick all the boxes. Warm low end bass that doesn't muddy the mids and a nice clear crisp soundstage. If you want more than the two EQ's in the app then Wavelet is more than enough to get the sound you want. ANC not the best but not poor and if you want the best sound quality these are the ones to get.

[@Markus-GuerillaGames]

I fully agree on your opinion. I sold my sony xm5. Got the sennheisers being very happy with them. Best vocals go to B&W. I also prefer px7se to px8

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

🙌😎 thanks for watching!

[@erikd6124]

What do you think of the S2? I've got m4 and S2 and am able to return them. Is the e version that much better then non e?

[@Markus-GuerillaGames]

@@erikd6124 it is. Keep m4 and probably get the se. Its worth

[@nico77212]

Do the headphones sound better when wired and without a dac at least?

[@Crookedcolors]

I have been using the Sony WH-XB900n headphones over anything else for sound quality. But I am upgrading to the B & W headphones. I believe they will even out perform my Sony headphones

[@pablovi77]

The best sounding are the Px7S2e

[@houman2009]

The headband detaches after a few months of use as glue used under it comes out. Google it🎉

[@erikd6124]

Are they match better then S2?

[@pablovi77]

@@erikd6124 didn’t had the S2, but apparently they are.

[@spread888gospel]

Great video bro 😎!

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Thank you!

[@bar1456320]

For sound quality alone, what will you pick for edm music?

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Px7S2e

[@bar1456320]

@@TheSourceAVDesignGroup and if it's the previous Px7 S2 would it still be the B&W? Or the Momentum?

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

I still prefer the Px7S2 over the Momentum.

[@angelmaldonado5657]

@@TheSourceAVDesignGroupwhat about for rock (metal, alternative, punk rock, pop rock) and hip hop?

[@darkphantom8207]

Which one has the best ANC?

[@PeterWhite-q1k]

Listening on my S2e's. I love them! I was ready to go into debt for the PX-8's but was pleasantly surprised I could find little difference in sound quality and comfort so paid only about 1/2 the price for S2e's (on sale for less than $300 USD). But, oh, the feel and look on the PX-8's! I do wish the ANC was better on the B&W's but it is not far off from the Bose QC Ultras but is noticeable. For me the Sennheiser's and the Sony feel cheaply made in comparison to the S2e's. The 2 ounces in weight is worth it to me.

[@mateoziz11]

Where’d you find that sale??

[@PeterWhite-q1k]

@@mateoziz11 It was a Black Friday sale at Best Buy USA. I think thet were $269 or S279. You can find them at that price at the Bowers and Wilkens website as re-furbished I found out later.

[@8000860]

I've tried PX8 and H95... While sound is nice, I've been suprised by the loudness: those 2 are far from loud, which is a problem! I haven't been lucky to try Momentum 4 for more than a year already. You already said previously, that You like B&W for gym more due to bad heat management in Momentum 4. But what about loudness? Is Momemtum 4 louder or on par with PX8 (PX7), H95 and Sony (my curremt WH-1000xm3 is loud enough... but sound is 🤮)

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

I think all of them get plenty of loud; I never listen to any of them at max volume that would damage my hearing. So I think any of them should be able to get plenty loud enough to enjoy.

[@xdt422]

I have tried both px7 s2e and m4. with anc, i dont find volume to be an issue

[@WDGKuurama]

I legit cannot handle the confort of the wh-1000xm5, the issue is the hear depth, it's way too low and my ears are touching the bottom and it gets very painful after 30 min, give it more time and the top of your head gets pain too. Terrible experience for me. It's clearly not for everyone. I'm so sad because i love them, i love how they look, i love the sound with proper EQ, i love the controls and the noise cancelation, but i really cannot. I think i'm returning them and i'm maybe getting the Sennheiser Momentum 4, no clue yet. I still hope there is some replacement hearcups that are wider and it would just fix my problem..

[@AndreyyyM]

Bro get the px7 s2e.I own them and they are comfortable because the headband is wide and the ear cups are spacious and deep,although the ANC is average, if u care about that.

[@WDGKuurama]

@@AndreyyyM Thanks, but actually i bought replacement hearcups from wickedcushion. It fixed all my issues with it. Beside the headband being still not large enough, which i also fixed a bit by bying some tissue covers for it. I cared too much about ANC to switch to another headset.. (i don't put the volume loud so all i hear in average anc is the whitenoise. And oh my god i'm being cazy when i hear it for too long). As a programmer i want to be in silence (environnement wise) but not kill my earing.

[@jgomez3190]

Going on my second paid of px7s, two pairs both had connection issues where the music would just cut out. Firmware up to date and factory reset, will switch to sennheiser , Sonys don’t get loud and sound ok compared to px7

[@dapittbulldragon]

Had same issue untill I went to app and turned of wear sensor

[@brianearle2321]

Great review! Can anyone point me in the direction of the headphone stands?

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Rooms Line Audio

[@Eihei]

I'm looking at the replacement for my broken ATH-DSR7BT, and for now I've only listened to XM5s from the three in the video. To my surprise, they sound REALLY bad compared to what I'm used to. They severely lack detail, all sounds and instruments feel squished together, I really don't like that. Too bad, since they felt really comfortable and they are insanely light for their size.

[@Ffccvvbnmkkmm]

Can px7s2e block most of the noise on the plane or subway？

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

It can block quite a bit of noise and greatly improve the quality of the flight but you will still hear some noise. The best of the group for ANC are the Sony.

[@snappertiger]

Momentum 4 has fantastic and exciting sound by it is very uncomfortable and has a painful clamp force and cushion on earcups cause kind of irritation which might be caused by clamp force.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

If it doesn't fit right for you maybe try the Focal Bathys?

[@snappertiger]

@@TheSourceAVDesignGroup Nope, but i have tested Bose QC Ultra, Sony xm5 and xm4 and some others and Momentum 4 8s better than all of them in bass and even instrument separation. You are right, i might be to sensitive but clamping force of Momentum 4 is more tha Bose and Sony and actually some people do not have problem with that.

[@erikd6124]

​@@snappertigerclamping force with px7 is strong. Much stronger then Momentum 4

[@levil4012]

I swear people act like BASS is a bad thing, for me if my earbuds or overheads don’t have the THUMP along with the clarity and other features they’re a waste of money..this is how Apple destroyed the BEATS line by removing the majority of the bass from them

[@buttoxbrown]

I had the xm3 headphones, great sound but the earcups were just too small, the xm4's were better for size. Looks like the xm5's are just too small again. I had the bose 700's, the soundstage was just too flat and boring so I bought the momentum 3's, they are great but the battery life is not that good, I chose something special for my up and coming 50th, I'm getting the b&w px8 headphones. Looking forward to it.

[@8000860]

XM3? Great sound?! 😂

[@buttoxbrown]

@@8000860 they are is you go into your phone and change to ldac in the developer options and change the bandwidth then use qobuz or tidal. Not so much if you've got an apple phone and your stuck with aac

[@bigttoe101]

I tried them all and I kept the SENS the sound quality is way better then the muddy Sonys but don’t get me wrong the Sonys are the best for anc but I love the senns audio quality that’s my opinion of course

[@8000860]

I just can't understand how people still buy Sony! Sound is just 🤮

[@icentuche90]

Momentum 4 for sound quality

[@sebastiannowakowski5084]

To me the momemtums were a huge disappointment . Muffled and no soundstage. Sony were nice SQ but can be an issue with large ears as they are more shallow than the 4’s. BW nice but heavy and after hearing the px8 which are the bare minimum SQ a accept I stick to my wired cans with dac/amp

[@AkerfeldtTveitan-yi4xm]

How do you hate the Momentums but like the Sony XM10005s? The Sennehsiers are leagues above the Sonys in terms of sound quality.

[@sebastiannowakowski5084]

@@AkerfeldtTveitan-yi4xm I’m talking about the wireless momentum’s which i found severely lacking compared to the Sony at that price point. Mind you in general i find wireless lacking. Even 700 euro b&w. To me the Sony hits the sweet spot price vs quality when using hi res streaming. At home I have a tube amp and planar headphones formreference ;)

[@AkerfeldtTveitan-yi4xm]

@@sebastiannowakowski5084 You haven't really addressed my comment. I realize you were talking about the wireless Momentum 4s which is why I don't get the opinion. I've owned both and the Sony 1000 XM5s sound really bad. The Sennheisers are way better.

[@sebastiannowakowski5084]

@@AkerfeldtTveitan-yi4xm well I tried a shitload of them streaming Qobuz when I was buying one for my wife and didn’t like the sound of the momentum’s and neither did she. Did like the wired ones some years back but she even preferred the xm4’s

[@overdoseoflaught]

this video is so Biased ...dude u spoke 6 min about Sony and u left nothing for the other two ...Sony only win in the price comparison for what they have to offer but Bowers destroy on sound quality ....i recommend to do a clean ear clean wax

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Did you watch the video? Lol 😆 we prefer the sound of the Bowers & Wilkins.

[@jeid3822]

AMONG THE THREE FOR SOUNDING SENNHEISER IS THE BEST❤😮😅😊

[@sebastiannowakowski5084]

I’ve found the momentum’s not even being close the the Sony 4’s Huge disappointment if you ask me while I really like the original cable momentum 2. I was very surprised by price:quality of the Sony 5’s

[@ColinBenjamin]

@@sebastiannowakowski5084I have the XM3s and think they sound absolutely awful. I was so disappointed in them. The bass has no depth or feeling yet there’s no detail in the midrange either. Just terrible.

[@sebastiannowakowski5084]

@@ColinBenjaminstill the reason I’m using wired with a audio quest red usb dac

[@Markus-GuerillaGames]

​@@ColinBenjaminmaybe try sony ult. I like their Bass