[ericpalonen]

colour

Hopefully a favourite was picked

 

[Bytor123]

Hopefully a favourite was picked

...you got 'favourite' right...I think I might get the light coloured ones.

 

[ericpalonen]

...you got 'favourite' right...I think I might get the light coloured ones.

I'm trying to be on my best behaviour!

 

[Bytor123]

I'm trying to be on my best behaviour!

...you're learning...I think I'll try these

 

[LoyK]

LDAC maxes out at 990 kbps, but in reality its closer to 660kpbs or even lower, it's a very unstable codec, I also doubt it was Sennheisers decision, more likely to do with Qualcomm.

APTX Adaptive is far superior in its dynamic nature and lower latency. But yeah, if you're stuck with a Samsung phone it can be disappointing.

You can set LDAC to fixed 990/660 kbps in the developer options if you want or otherwise it will automatically scale like APT-X Adaptive. So it is also a dynamic codec

Also I second that APT-X Adaptive is limited to very few users...modern Google and Samsung phones are not supporting it which is a really big chunk of android users.
I have a S21 FE with Qualcom Snapdragon chip and it still doesn´t support it which is kinda sad (It would support LDAC though - so why not have both options?!?)

Still I am going to try these for sure as my trusty WH-1000XM2 are getting a bit out of shape.

 

[C_Lindbergh]

You can set LDAC to fixed 990/660 kbps in the developer options if you want or otherwise it will automatically scale like APT-X Adaptive. So it is also a dynamic codec

Also I second that APT-X Adaptive is limited to very few users...modern Google and Samsung phones are not supporting it which is a really big chunk of android users.
I have a S21 FE with Qualcom Snapdragon chip and it still doesn´t support it which is kinda sad (It would support LDAC though - so why not have both options?!?)

Still I am going to try these for sure as my trusty WH-1000XM2 are getting a bit out of shape.

Just saying that LDAC is very overrated. It also doesn't scale as aptx adaptive, LDAC offers 3 different approaches, whereas Aptx adaptive can make very fine adjustments automatically (along with other benefits as lower power consumption, lower latency etc).

https://www.soundguys.com/ldac-ultimate-bluetooth-guide-20026/

Samsung offers LDAC because its a standard feature of Android, like the regular apex codec. Codes like Aptx HD/Adaptive have licences cost, but most OEMs don't seem bothered by it, so I'm guessing the fee is really low... Shame that Samsung really doesn't care about it, probably because their own products uses a proprietary codec.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Try to sell any BT dongle these days without LDAC support. Who cares about latency when audio quality is at stake?
And how higher supported bitrate can be "overrated".
Aptx just doesn't have bandwidth to push high res material through.
LDAC can do 24/96 compressed and 24/48 lossless, Aptx can only do 24/48 compressed.
When audio quality is concerned LDAC is still the king.
Missing support for this codec looks like a significant oversight (most likely licensing issue) from Sennheiser side.
https://majorhifi.com/what-can-bluetooth-codecs-do-for-you-a-brief-decoding/

 

[MayaTlab]

And how higher supported bitrate can be "overrated".

If comparing different codecs bitrate =/= "sound quality". Regular aptX may have a higher bitrate than BT AAC, yet it's former I'm most confident being able to A/B blind (if I'm given the choice of test signal or tracks ). Actually regular aptX is the only codec I'm quite confident to be able to A/B blind with some tracks / signals.

When audio quality is concerned LDAC is still the king.

I wouldn't mind a push for less lossy codecs, but applying LDAC on most headphones given their basal frequency response is akin to polishing a turd in my opinion. I'd rather take BT AAC (from an iDevice) with a Qudelix 5K and a pair of carefully EQed headphones than LDAC on a pair of WH-1000XM4.

If these Momentum 4 have tight tolerances and are able to deliver the target they aimed at to a wide range of listeners, and if that target is sensible to begin with, that would already be a small miracle given the current BT over-ears market.

FCC internal photos available BTW : https://fccid.io/2A3ULM4AEBT/Internal-Photos/Internal-Photos-5985111
It appears to be using Qualcomm's QCC5141 unless I'm mistaken.
In this documentation it seems that this SOC isn't designed to support LE audio : https://www.qualcomm.com/content/da...qcc5100-series-product-brief_87-cf482-1-h.pdf

 

[nuxos]

I took the black model, never been a fan of white gear, same goes for mouse keyboards or smartphones for instance

Still enjoying my Momentum 3 for music and using it at work for calls and video calls.

Yet the Momentum 4 raises the limit even higher by fixing all the issues I have with the M3 :

- huge battery life. It will become essential at the end of the year when I’ll have many calls at work and also to isolate myself with music. I expect big days and with such a battery life it’s really handy.

- lighter, more confortable and more compact model. I have a smaller than average size and always found the M3 too big especially the headband. The M4 seems much better from what I want (similar to XM4) according to my morphology. The M3 is still confortable but for longer listening periods, a bit tiring as it’s heavier.

- Can’t fold flat around the neck. But also the carrying case was way too bulky. I am very glad with the M4 transportability! The case is much more compact in width and will be easier to put in a average backpack. M3 case was annoying to carry, clearly.

- A better ANC. In the train, plan, crowdy bus, in an open space, many occasions to benefit from the improvement in this area. The M3 was ok but not as impressive as Sony models. The M4 doesn’t look ridiculous at all comparing to the XM5, not so far behind.

- the same excellent sound quality of course. Not surprised as the M3 was already great.

- finally better mic efficiency. I always have professional calls in quiet environments so I will be fine with it.

Overall it seems like an awesome package for 350€ and can’t wait to have mine !

 

[hldn]

Ordered! (Black, from my official retailer in Sweden). @ericpalonen can you comment on this?

the wireless sound has a dotted line to the classic HD 25 sound (full, detailed, and non-fatiguing) but with a much "taller" image and a very fun L-C-R soundstage

I'm a loyal HD-25 commuter, been using them for like 6 years now mostly everyday and have never been able to replace them or switch to wireless because I love their signature sound too much.

 

[ericpalonen]

Ordered! (Black, from my official retailer in Sweden). @ericpalonen can you comment on this?



I'm a loyal HD-25 commuter, been using them for like 6 years now mostly everyday and have never been able to replace them or switch to wireless because I love their signature sound too much.

The HD 25 is also my deserted island headphone for those same reasons. It is one of the few closed headphones that doesn't have the excess resonance "honk", and when turned on, the M4W is just like that. It's oh so smooth. Soundstage is more enjoyable and immersive than the 25, too.

 

[nuxos]

I Remember when 10 years ago exactly I had a Sennheiser Amperior, special aluminium with low impedance version of the HD25. I sold it in 2014 I think

Then I had the first Momentum Over ear in its brown color to compensate

 

[ericpalonen]

Sennheiser Amperior

Ahh yes I remember quite fondly. I helped launched that series and have a funny story to tell about them sometime at a CanJam.

 

[LTDJ]

I took the black model, never been a fan of white gear, same goes for mouse keyboards or smartphones for instance

Still enjoying my Momentum 3 for music and using it at work for calls and video calls.

Yet the Momentum 4 raises the limit even higher by fixing all the issues I have with the M3 :

- huge battery life. It will become essential at the end of the year when I’ll have many calls at work and also to isolate myself with music. I expect big days and with such a battery life it’s really handy.

- lighter, more confortable and more compact model. I have a smaller than average size and always found the M3 too big especially the headband. The M4 seems much better from what I want (similar to XM4) according to my morphology. The M3 is still confortable but for longer listening periods, a bit tiring as it’s heavier.

- Can’t fold flat around the neck. But also the carrying case was way too bulky. I am very glad with the M4 transportability! The case is much more compact in width and will be easier to put in a average backpack. M3 case was annoying to carry, clearly.

- A better ANC. In the train, plan, crowdy bus, in an open space, many occasions to benefit from the improvement in this area. The M3 was ok but not as impressive as Sony models. The M4 doesn’t look ridiculous at all comparing to the XM5, not so far behind.

- the same excellent sound quality of course. Not surprised as the M3 was already great.

- finally better mic efficiency. I always have professional calls in quiet environments so I will be fine with it.

Overall it seems like an awesome package for 350€ and can’t wait to have mine !

Did you get to demo them, if yes how long did you have them on loan? From the tone of your post it sounds like you clearly had a chance to hear them already.

 

[nuxos]

Did you get to demo them, if yes how long did you have them on loan? From the tone of your post it sounds like you clearly had a chance to hear them already.

No I just watched already many YouTube videos and made a summary of its strengths haha

I admit the way I wrote it was ambiguous That I already own it but unfortunately, not yet