Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Cheaper alternatives to the Sony WH-1000XM6
Updated 4 November 2026
Sony WH-1000XM6
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Momentum 4 instead of WH-1000XM6?
Momentum 4 pros
Little over half the price
Sound and comfort close
Nearly double the battery
Fewer charges on trips
Momentum 4 cons
Less cut of rumble
Felt on planes, trains
Weaker calls in wind
Matters for outdoor calls
- Is the Momentum 4 as good?
- Nearly: less rumble blocked, but it lasts far longer.
- What's the difference?
- Sony: quieter, better calls. Sennheiser: nearly double the battery.
- Is the WH-1000XM6 worth the extra?
- Yes for frequent flyers and heavy callers.
What are you actually paying extra for with the WH-1000XM6?
What the extra money buys
- Top-class noise cancelling, even on low rumble
- The clearest calls here, even in wind
- Detailed sound and a 10-band EQ
- Arms that fold up for travel
Worth it if
- You fly or commute a lot
- You take lots of calls outdoors
- You want it small in a hard case
Not worth it if
- You mostly listen at home or a desk
- You rarely fly
Other alternatives
Best on a budget
Sony WH-CH730N
- Up to 50 hours of claimed battery with noise cancelling on
- At 207 g, it weighs about 50 g less than the XM6
Best for: Commuters who want decent noise cancelling and a light, long-lasting pair for the least money
Catch: Chatter and keyboard clatter still come through, far from the XM6's near-silence.
About a third of the WH-1000XM6's price
Good to know
Why we picked the Momentum 4, and our final recommendation.
Only with the Momentum 4
- Nearly double the battery life, so fewer charges
- Wired music over USB-C, which the XM6 can't do
- Thicker ear pads
- Some noise cancelling on low, droning noise
- Folding arms and a smaller travel bundle
- Call clarity in wind and traffic
The Momentum 4 swaps a little silence for a lot of battery and comfort. One head-to-head found the Sony stronger on engine and train rumble and better on calls in noise. Reviewers disagree on calls: a French review found them clear even on a noisy metro. Its touch controls are touchy, and it's heavier at 293 g.
Final recommendation: For most people the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is the smarter buy: comfortable, long-lasting and fine-sounding, for a lot less. Pick the Sony WH-CH730N if you want noise cancelling for the bus and the office without spending much. Pay for the XM6 if you fly often or live on calls, where its noise cancelling and microphones really are a step ahead.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Premium | Affordable | Budget |
| Battery, noise cancelling on (claimed) | Up to 30 hours | Up to 60 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Weight | 254 g | 293 g | 207 g |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folds / case | Folds, hard case | Doesn't fold (cups turn flat), carry case | Folds flat, no case |
| Headphone cable | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm and USB-C audio | No |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 as good as the Sony WH-1000XM6?
For music, it's close. One comparison rated the Sony slightly ahead on sound, but found the Sennheiser more neutral and less tiring. The Sony is clearly better at cutting out low engine noise and at calls in noisy places.
Does the Sony WH-1000XM6 have a better battery than the XM5?
No. Both are rated at 30 hours with noise cancelling on. The XM6 does let you listen while it charges, which the XM5 couldn't. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the cheap WH-CH730N are both rated for far longer.
Is the Sony WH-CH730N good enough for flying?
For short flights, yes, if your expectations are modest. One review found it strong on trains and in cafés, but voices and some engine drone still get through. It has no case, so pack it with care.
Can you use these headphones with a cable?
The XM6 and the Momentum 4 both take a 3.5 mm cable, and only the Momentum 4 also plays music over USB-C. The WH-CH730N is wireless only. One German review found the XM6 sounds poor on a cable when it's switched off.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Sony WH-1000XM6 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Sony UK: WH-1000XM6 specifications, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-1000XM6 review, TechRadar: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5, SoundGuys: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4, Sennheiser UK: Momentum 4 Wireless, Expert Reviews: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review, Sony UK: WH-CH730N product page, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-CH730N review, TechRadar: Sony WH-CH730N review, Tom's Guide: Sony WH-CH730N review.