Sennheiser Momentum Sport

Fantastic ANC and nifty Polar health tracking are finally getting the software support they deserve, but the sound still can't hang with Sony or Technics. If you care about music first, look elsewhere.

What surprised us is the gulf between the ANC and sound quality. The noise cancellation is stellar, easily top-tier, but the 10mm dynamic driver sounds flat and uninspiring. In our testing, the Momentum Sport posted some of the weakest audio scores we've recorded for a set of $200+ earbuds. Bass lacks punch, and the volume ceiling is frustratingly low—multiple owners report struggling to hear their podcasts over moderate wind noise. For a workout bud, that's a dealbreaker.

Stacked against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Sennheiser wins on ANC and the added Polar health sensors, but Sony's sound quality is in a different league—crisp, dynamic, and consistently loud. The Technics EAH-AZ100-N offers a more refined, detailed sound signature that embarrasses the Momentum Sport, though it lacks fitness tracking. Google's Pixel Buds Pro deliver tighter bass and better integration if you're in the Android ecosystem, but no heart rate data. If you're a runner who values heart rate data above all else, the Momentum Sport has a niche, but for everyone else, the Sony, Technics, or Google are the safer, better-sounding bets.

Pricing is still erratic, but the ceiling has dropped from absurd to just annoying. We've seen these listed from $119 to $450. If you can snag a genuine new pair near the low end, the fitness tracking and ANC alone justify the cost. But at the typical $200-$300 range, the sound performance just doesn't compete with the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Technics EAH-AZ100-N. Skip the overpriced listings; a reputable seller with a solid return policy is non-negotiable here given the quality control gamble.

Sennheiser's Momentum Sport earbuds try to do it all: solid audio, best-in-class ANC, and built-in Polar fitness tracking. The result is a wildly uneven product. The adaptive noise cancellation is some of the best in any true wireless earbud—our database puts it in the 97th percentile, meaning it smokes nearly everything else. But the actual sound signature is shockingly weak for a Sennheiser, landing in the bottom third of our rankings. Add in a user sentiment score that's among the lowest we've seen, and you get a pair of earbuds that feels like it forgot what its primary job is.

If your priority is music quality, skip the Momentum Sport. The sound is muddy, quiet, and a far cry from what Sennheiser used to deliver. Grab the Technics EAH-AZ100-N, Sony WF-1000XM6, or Google Pixel Buds Pro instead—all three sound dramatically better and don't suffer from the same Bluetooth drama.

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds are a high-concept experiment that's slowly finding its footing. The Polar integration and class-leading ANC are genuine breakthroughs, and user sentiment is climbing as firmware updates smooth out early bugs. But the sound still lags behind the best in this price range. Unless you're a hardcore fitness tracker who refuses to wear a watch, save your money and buy the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Technics EAH-AZ100-N—you'll get far better audio and fewer frustrations.