[Soundizer]

Yeah, I've got em with the Bluetooth cipher cable. It doesn't have amazing battery life (just 8 hours), but that's enough to get you through most of the day. What really amazes me is how well the Bluetooth sounds. It's almost as good as the wired cipher cable. Biggest difference I notice is the bass is a little less controlled ( slightly loose but still hits really hard and digs pretty deep). Other than that, they're almost identical. I would love to compare it to the Senns, but it wouldn't really be a fair comparison since the Senns have all that extra tech in them. Then there's the price difference alone and which is a better value for your money, which is more than likely the Senns for most people if you consider them for their Bluetooth only, battery life, being closed back, etc. They have much more practical usage from an every day/average consumer standpoint since they can be used in about any situation, unlike the LCD-i3 (unless you don't care about going around with open backs when you're out and about).

What Source devices are you using with your Lcd i3?

 

[cripple1]

What Source devices are you using with your Lcd i3?

I'm using an iPhone 8, Macbook Pro, and a Sony WM1A, all running Tidal (except the Sony, of course), with the Sony using mostly Flac files. I've also got an old Cayin N3, AK Junior, iPod classic, and a Cowon J3 that I pulled out to give a listen to for nostalgias sake once I got the LCD-i3.

 

[Soundizer]

I'm using an iPhone 8, Macbook Pro, and a Sony WM1A, all running Tidal (except the Sony, of course), with the Sony using mostly Flac files. I've also got an old Cayin N3, AK Junior, iPod classic, and a Cowon J3 that I pulled out to give a listen to for nostalgias sake once I got the LCD-i3.

How do you listen to LCD i3 to Sony WM1A - Bluetooth or physical connection? I like the LDAC Bluetooth output on Sony WM1A. However LCD i3 doesn’t do LDAC from what i know, so you are playing AAC Bluetooth from Sony WM1A to i3 - i think.

When listening via iphone8, via Bluetooth try turning to airplane mode to turn off some radios which can interfere.

 

[cripple1]

How do you listen to LCD i3 to Sony WM1A - Bluetooth or physical connection? I like the LDAC Bluetooth output on Sony WM1A. However LCD i3 doesn’t do LDAC from what i know, so you are playing AAC Bluetooth from Sony WM1A to i3 - i think.

When listening via iphone8, via Bluetooth try turning to airplane mode to turn off some radios which can interfere.

I use both the wired and Bluetooth connection. Wired sounds great, but with the cipher Bluetooth module it sounds even better. The DSP used in the Cipher cables are amazing. When I hook up anything to the WM1A via Bluetooth, if said device doesn't have LDAC support then it defaults to AptX HD, both of which are supported by the WM1A and Audeze Cipher Bluetooth module.

 

[Soundizer]

I use both the wired and Bluetooth connection. Wired sounds great, but with the cipher Bluetooth module it sounds even better. The DSP used in the Cipher cables are amazing. When I hook up anything to the WM1A via Bluetooth, if said device doesn't have LDAC support then it defaults to AptX HD, both of which are supported by the WM1A and Audeze Cipher Bluetooth module.

Awesome. I might purchase the Audeze Sine with both Cipher cable and lightning. Hope it has same Cipher cable.

 

[cripple1]

Awesome. I might purchase the Audeze Sine with both Cipher cable and lightning. Hope it has same Cipher cable.

The i3 come with the cipher cable and cipher Bluetooth module in the box, as well as a standard 3.5mm cable.

 

[egg1111115]

These

Any specific reasons why? I'm curious since I had the Sony XMs until they were stolen from me earlier this year and I'm looking into these and some others (Maybe PXC 550-II?)

 

[marsza11]

Very interesting!!

 

[Soundizer]

How do you put in USB C Direct Audio mode - listening without using Bluetooth?

I would like to check the quality directly from my iPad Pro - USB-C connection.

 

[crhodes64]

Wedemark/Berlin, September 5, 2019 – Sennheiser’s premium MOMENTUM headphone range enters its third generation, with the launch of the new MOMENTUM Wireless at IFA 2019 (September 6-11). The headphones are the latest addition to the audio specialist’s iconic range that offers superior sound, a modern design aesthetic, cutting-edge technology, and a touch of handcrafted indulgence to every moment. Thanks to Auto On/Off and Smart Pause features, the new MOMENTUM Wireless headphones start up instantly when unfolded, and sense when put on or taken off to pause and resume playback, ensuring a world of uncompromised sound is just a heartbeat away. Designed to be supremely comfortable for all-day listening sessions, they feature genuine sheep leather and soft padding on the earpads and headband. Active Noise Cancellation and a Transparent Hearing function allow listeners to experience their audio on their terms, by either blocking out the world or staying aware of their environment. One-touch voice assistant access lets them stay connected on the move.

“Our MOMENTUM range has been synonymous with a unique blend of superior sound quality, progressive technology and remarkable craftsmanship, and with the third generation, we are bringing this contemporary classic into the always-on, connected age,” said Stephane Hareau, Global Head of Products Consumer at Sennheiser. “The new MOMENTUM Wireless is a smart headphone that gives you fast, effortless control: whether enjoying entertainment or making calls, escaping it all or staying connected – it anticipates your needs and lets you interact intuitively and instantly,” added Sebastian Rodens, Product Manager at Sennheiser.

Never Lose your Rhythm Again
With the new generation of MOMENTUM Wireless, interaction is supremely intuitive thanks to a unique combination of features that offer fast access to one’s music. Auto On/Off instantly turns on or off playback as the earcups are folded open or closed, while Smart Pause uses proximity sensors to pause audio when the headphones are removed and to resume playback when they are slipped back on. Just as effortless is a three-button interface that gives control of audio or calls – all without the need to consult a manual. Via a dedicated button, the MOMENTUM headphones feature one-touch access to voice assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant, while Amazon Alexa integration will be available soon with a firmware update via the Sennheiser Smart Control app. Pairing is effortless as well, thanks to NFC and an automatic pairing mode that makes setting up on initial activation a breeze.

Hear the Difference
Sennheiser’s new MOMENTUM Wireless headphones offer outstanding sonic performance. The high-quality speaker system is powered by 42mm transducers to reproduce the balanced depth and precision of a studio recording. This flawless audio performance is ensured by Bluetooth 5 compatibility and support for codecs including aptXTM, AAC, and SBC, as well as aptXTM Low Latency for perfectly synchronising audio with onscreen visuals. Whether listeners are enjoying music, movies or podcasts or simply want to fine-tune the audio experience to their taste, it is possible to tailor the audio experience with the built-in equalizer via Sennheiser’s Smart Control app.

Perfectly in Tune, Wherever, Whenever
No matter where the MOMENTUM Wireless headphones are being enjoyed, they are able to adapt to every environment. When on the go, Active Noise Cancellation with three different modes blocks out the outside world. Alternatively, the Transparent Hearing function lets listeners enjoy their music and still be aware of ambient sounds in their surroundings – perfect for environments that require greater situational awareness.

A Sophisticated Harmony of Form and Function
Like all MOMENTUM headphones, the new generation model offers a sophisticated harmony of form and function. While the genuine sheepskin leather of the earpads and pearl-blasted stainless steel sliders express a subtle luxury, they also functionally enhance every interaction. The leather on the padded ear pads and headband is ultra soft for improved wearing comfort, even for longer listening sessions made possible by the 17-hour battery life. Meanwhile, the strong yet lightweight stainless steel sliders and hinges maintain a purity of design while also ensuring the headphones remain robust enough for a lifetime of listening on the move. The folding headband design allows the headphones to fold away in their fashionable fabric carry case.

Hard to Put Down, Difficult to Lose with Tile
With the new MOMENTUM Wireless, it is easy to lose oneself in the music, but thanks to smart Tile technology, the headphones are almost impossible to misplace. The integrated Bluetooth tracker ensures users can find their headphones via the Tile app.

The new MOMENTUM Wireless is available in black as of now for $399.95 (MSRP). A sandy white color variant will be available from November.

Folks, listen, 99.9% of music produced is still 16/44 with no signs of changing. Why add cost to implement LDAC or APX HD when the vast majority of users will never use the feature? Besides, the Momentums have always been OTG headphones, and I doubt your notice a difference between standard and hi-rez when out and about.

 

[crhodes64]

Hi- I'm an electronics engineer and an audiofile but I'm new to the world of headphones.

I've been trying a bunch of bluetooth over ear headphones - all the usual suspects Sony XM3, Bose 700 and I tried the Senn Momentum 3's with my iphone7 and I was impressed.

Next step was to try to find out if I really wanted bluetooth headphones or of what I really wanted were wired audiofile phones. Que the demo room at Richer sounds along with my Laptop, Foobar2000 and a ton of uncompressed FLAC content. I normally play my audio content from my PC into a DAC Magic codec and then have balanced XLR's feeding a pair of Active ATC SCM50 studio monitors - I find this produces excellent results.

So, after liking the sound of the Momentum 3's with my iphone 7 on bluetooth - I then set-about tryng these and a bunch of other headphones as wired headphones - I tried the Momentum 2.0 and the Momentum 3 and then also tried a £2000 set of Sennheiser 820's with a headphone £2000 Senn pre-amp - Oh and I also tried the Momentum 2.0 and Momentum 3.0 with the Dragonfly Cobalt.

What I found out - unsurprising that the Sennheiser 820's sounded best - but for £4000 what did I expect?
What really surprised me was how good the momentum 3's were in wired config - either using the analogue out of my laptop or connecting to them directly via the USB so they turn up and appear directly in Foobar2000 as a valid playback device.

I could not detect any benefit of using the Dragonfly cobalt which surprised me - if anything the Dragonfly appeared to reduce the volume of the headphones making them less loud and it did not appear to deliver any noticable improvement in sound clarity or quality. Surprising - why would anyone use this thing?

I was also surprised by how good the £99 Momentum 2.0 headphones are - But in the end decided on the momentum 3's mainly due to comfort and build quality and the sound stage being better and overall the sound was just - well better.

I find the bluetooth performance is good but the wired performance is significantly better - What is frustrating me is that I can find nobody who seems to review the Momentum 3's as wired phones? Also, I'm annoyed that I can't seem to find any information about using these headphones in a wired configuration - For example if I use the analogue input and the CODEC in my laptop and connect to the Momentum 3's this way - the headphones appear to disable bluetooth - meaning that I cannot see the headphones from the Sennheiser app on my phone. What are the benefits of using them with analogue input as opposed to using them with a USB connection to my laptop? I guess this comes down to the difference between the Codec in the Laptop and the Codec in the headphones?

If I use the USB connection I seem to get excellent results but I'm unsure what the bit rate is or what format the codec in the Senn Mom 3's defaults to when in USB input mode? Any ideas?

Based on the Audio quality - I'm guessing that using the codec in the headphones provides the best quality but which codec and what mode? what chip? what bit rate? Anyone out there in Head-Fi land able to offer any assistance - I'd love to know the answers and also if it is possible for me to install a better driver for the Senn Codec or config Foobar2000 to deliver higher quality audio via USB? ASIO? WASPI?

In my listening test I found the Sennheiser 820's were very good but not that much better than the wired Momentum 3's - in my opinion.

Thanks for any advice about using these phones in the different wired modes.

Anyone out there in Youtube review land - how about a more complete and technically detailed review of these excellent headphones, including using them as wired headphones please - Everything I see on Youtube around these headphones is really shallow content wise and all seems to be missing the key point that they are in fact an excellent hybrid solution - Bluetooth 5.0 + Noise cancelling and Brilliant wired headphones. - Or maybe it should be teh other way around.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Mark Up]

Sennheiser 820's were very good but not that much better than the wired Momentum 3's - in my opinion.

The 820 were the best closed I've ever heard, all around (spacious sound, least resonant, bass extension without bloat, detail without harsness or peaks, etc.). The closed only headphone I had heard with midrange as good (very well defined and present, yet not "mid forward" in an annoying way as some cans are) paired with no major mid bass bloat - and great high end detail is the Samson Z55, with NVX Standard (non angled) pads, an improved clone of the Brainwavz HM5, more comfortable and more ear space, and the stock Samson pads are too small, and fragile. I'd be interested in hearing how these Momentum 3 can stack up against those now. The only thing lacking in the Samson is sub bass levels (it's extended but just not enough level under 40 to 50 hz) and it has a rather clunky aesthetic design.

 

[soundblast75]

Sennheiser just updated the M3 and no more issues with smart pause, still think it sounds awesome

 

[AudioJunki3]

Just got my M3's, coming from the M2 wired. Jesus, what an upgrade, such an engaging sound. Absolutely stunning build quality too. Getting rid of my HD58X because I can't see any reason to keep them now all my listening will be done on these bad boys. Who need's APTx anyway, its all Patato/potato.

 

[iamwilf]

Just got my M3's, coming from the M2 wired. Jesus, what an upgrade, such an engaging sound. Absolutely stunning build quality too. Getting rid of my HD58X because I can't see any reason to keep them now all my listening will be done on these bad boys. Who need's APTx anyway, its all Patato/potato.

How do they compare to HD58X? I'm surprised Bluetooth closed back are even in the same league