Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2: A closer match than you might think

If you’re spending around $400 on wireless headphones, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are two popular options. They share a lot in common, but they also have different strengths, and depending on what you’re looking for, those differences are important. Here’s how they compare and which one is right for you.

Both headphones are made mostly of plastic with a few metal accents, and they don’t carry an IP rating, so you’ll want to keep them out of the rain. The MOMENTUM 5 opts for a flat, ultra-thin profile, with a non-slip sliding strap that adjusts to fit your head without clicking the notch you find elsewhere. The Bose is very familiar, with a yoke-bound earcup design that folds up for storage, and when lying down, automatically pauses playback.

Comfort is strong in both. The MOMENTUM 5 ear cups fit snugly and shouldn’t be squeezed by most pins, while the QuietComfort Ultra’s ample padding makes it easy to wear for extended periods of time. And it will not fall on your head, and it will not hurt to wear a long flight.

Where the MOMENTUM 5 clearly excels is in design. Remove the four Philips head screws, and the entire speaker assembly slides out, giving you direct access to the user-replaceable battery. That’s a rare feature at this price, and it changes the long-term equation of ownership.

Both headphones have accompanying apps with EQ presets, ANC controls, and connectivity management. The Sennheiser app offers an 8-band EQ, while the Bose app’s EQ is more limited, offering only a 3-band connection that won’t satisfy anyone looking for precise control over their tuning.

The Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app adds GPS-activated automatic profile switching, which is great, as your headphones can switch to your commute settings as soon as you walk out your front door. They also have an optional hearing test that generates a personalized EQ. Battery saver mode, which includes 80% charging to extend cell life, is available here and pairs well with the replaceable battery case.

The Bose app has a feature called CustomTune that plays a preset tone to adjust the response in your ears. Bose has also added a Cinema surround mode aimed at movie content, although its results are hit or miss, depending on your preference for processed sound.

How do Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 connect?

The contact information is the same for the most part. Both use Bluetooth 5.4, support multipoint, SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive, and are Snapdragon Sound certified — meaning users with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or newer can take advantage of the full aptX Adaptive codec stack. The wired options are also the same: both include a 3.5mm-to-2.5mm TRS cable and USB-C audio.

Another difference here is that the MOMENTUM 5 is listed as “Bluetooth 6.0 ready,” which means its hardware could support the standard with a future firmware update.

Is the battery life better on the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2?

Sennheiser claims more than 50 hours of ANC listening on the MOMENTUM 5 — and based on the MOMENTUM 4’s track record of matching or exceeding its ratings, that number is credible.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) lasted 27 hours and 12 minutes in our standard test, beating Bose’s claim of 24 hours. That’s a solid result by many standards, but the MOMENTUM 5 is in a completely different category. If battery life is more important – especially for long trips or infrequent charging – the Momentum 5 has the advantage, hence the name.

Both headphones have strong ANC performance, with the Bose QuietComfort headphones reducing external ambient noise by an average of 87%, and the MOMENTUM 5 by an average of 86%, with ANC enabled. That difference isn’t very noticeable in everyday use.

Bose headphones have an easy-to-reach icon, which contributes to better isolation without turning on ANC. It also includes an ActiveSense feature in transparent mode that automatically dims loud sounds.

Does the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 sound better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2?

Both headphones are aimed at a consumer audience – the bass is emphasized in both, and neither will satisfy listeners who prefer to stand out out of the box. The MOMENTUM 5 leans dark and heavy in the high end, which works well for most music but can sound a bit heavy depending on your taste; just make sure bass boost isn’t turned on in the app before you judge it. Bose has the same consumer-friendly slant but benefits from CustomTune, which measures the sound in your ears when you first start and results in a consistent experience from the moment you put them on.

Objective Measurements

Both headphones have significant bass emphasis relative to the curve we like – the MOMENTUM 5 is about 6-7dB in sub-bass, the Bose is slightly lower at about 4-5dB. Both will sound full and weighty in the low end, and the MOMENTUM 5 leans more towards that end. In the middle, the two track closely, which is a good story of vocals and instruments. The MOMENTUM 5 shows significant compression around 1–2kHz, which can pick up the presence of certain sounds. Both headphones hover in the high end around 8–10kHz, with the MOMENTUM 5 being sharper before it rolls off to the top – meaning it can sound a little less airy at the high end compared to the Bose, which sticks closer to that range.

How would most people rate sound from 1 to 5?

Both headphones score 4.7 out of 5 overall according to our listener simulation panel. The MOMENTUM 5 stands out with an unusually high distortion ratio of 4.6 for wireless headphones, while Bose leads well in immersion. Most listeners will appreciate the sound of either.

Does the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 have a better microphone?

No microphone will replace a dedicated conference microphone, but each has its strengths. The MOMENTUM 5 handles wind and changing environments well, but struggles with office noise, which isn’t easy considering that’s where you’d expect to use an ANC headphone for phone calls.

The Bose microphone is generally effective at rejecting external noise, although aggressive noise reduction can sometimes cause an audible dip in the speaker’s sound. In most call situations, such as outdoors, in transit, and in noisy rooms, Bose delivers consistent results.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 microphone demo (Effective conditions):

At $400 vs $450, these headphones are close enough in price that the decision comes down to what you want the most. The MOMENTUM 5 is better if you don’t want to buy another pair of headphones for another decade, with a replaceable battery, excellent battery life, and solid connectivity at a slightly lower price. Bose is a more polished package with better balanced sound out of the box, less powerful ANC, and a few years of proven performance behind it.

Both headphones are strong contenders for their prices and will serve most people well. The MOMENTUM 5 is a better investment if you’re in it for the long haul; the Bose is a better fit if you want something practical.