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Choose the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless if long battery life, an engaging music presentation and extensive equalizer control are your priorities. Choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen) if the strongest noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio matter more than endurance. Both are circumaural wireless headphones with padded contact points, but their strengths are different enough that the right choice depends on how and where you listen.
This comparison covers the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones launched in 2023. Bose announced a 2nd Gen on September 10, 2025; its battery figures are listed separately so a retailer listing does not lead you to compare generations by mistake.
Quick decision: which headphone fits your priorities?
| Priority | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum battery endurance | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | Up to 60 hours of Bluetooth playback with ANC, according to Sennheiser Hearing (2026). |
| Noise cancellation for travel and changing background noise | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen) | RTINGS and SoundGuys comparisons place Bose ahead for ANC effectiveness. |
| Music-focused sound and equalizer control | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | Comparative reviews favor its sound quality and its app provides deeper EQ customization. |
| Spatialized listening | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Immersive Audio is Bose’s defining feature and is available on the original and 2nd Gen models. |
| Comfort on your particular head and ears | No universal winner | Clamp, glasses pressure, pad seal, heat and headband contact vary by listener. |
That is a preference-based recommendation, not a claim that every listener will hear or feel the same result. The most consequential split is simple: Momentum 4 gives you substantially more listening time and more sound-shaping freedom, while QuietComfort Ultra gives you stronger isolation and a spatial-audio mode.
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Specifications at a glance
The table keeps Bose generations separate. Battery figures are manufacturer-rated maximums rather than guaranteed runtimes; playback volume, codec, temperature, microphone use and feature settings can change actual results.
#1 Best Overall
- Seamless Firmware & App Updates: Enjoy a smoother, more reliable experience with the latest firmware and Smart Control Plus app features for your over the ear Bluetooth headphones, including ANC toggle and touchpad off switch for premium music quality
- Audiophile-Inspired Sound : Sennheiser wireless over-ear headphones over with signature sound, 42mm transducers and aptX Adaptive deliver crystal-clear audio and deep, immersive music. Ideal for music lovers and travelers
- Personalized Listening Experience: Tailor your sound on these wireless over ear headphones via the Smart Control Plus app with integrated equalizer, presets, and sound modes for a unique custom audio profile, whether used for music, podcasts, or gaming
- Adaptive Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode: Block distractions or stay aware of your surroundings with these Bluetooth headphones for uninterrupted music enjoyment anywhere, ideal for commuters, students, and professionals
- Exceptional Comfort & Long Battery Life: These Sennheiser wireless noise cancelling headphones are lightweight, foldable and designed with a cushioned headband and ear pads; enjoy up to 60 hours of long-lasting comfort playback with fast charging capability
| Specification | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen, 2023) | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen, announced 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | Over-ear/circumaural; padded headband and deep cushioned earpads (Sennheiser Hearing, 2026) | Circumaural; removable cushions and comfort-focused premium design (Bose, 2023) | Generation announced September 10, 2025; use the current product page for its physical revisions |
| Rated battery with immersive/spatial mode off | Up to 60 hours with ANC on (Sennheiser Hearing, 2026) | Up to 24 hours (Bose, 2023) | Up to 30 hours (Bose, 2025) |
| Rated battery with immersive/spatial mode on | Not stated for an equivalent mode | Up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio on (Bose, 2023) | Up to 23 hours with Immersive Audio on (Bose, 2025) |
| Full-charge time | About two hours | Not stated in the supplied specifications | Not stated in the supplied specifications |
| Five-minute quick charge | Up to four hours of playback | Not stated in the supplied specifications | Not stated in the supplied specifications |
| Noise cancellation result in comparative reviews | Trails Bose in the cited RTINGS and SoundGuys comparisons | Comparative leader against Momentum 4 | Do not transfer 1st Gen review results to 2nd Gen without a current test |
| Sound and app tuning | Comparisons favor sound quality; app has more extensive EQ customization | Immersive Audio and CustomTune-style personalization; conventional EQ controls are less extensive than Momentum 4’s in the cited comparisons | Feature details can differ by generation; confirm the 2nd Gen listing |
Comfort: both are over-ear, but fit decides the result
Both models surround the ear instead of pressing a small pad directly onto it. That generally creates room for the ear and helps form a seal, but “over-ear” does not guarantee comfort for every head shape. A good fit depends on whether the cushions clear your outer ear, how firmly the headband presses, and whether the seal remains stable when you move.
How the Momentum 4 approaches comfort
Sennheiser specifies a padded headband and deep cushioned earpads. The combination is aimed at distributing pressure over a larger area rather than concentrating it at the crown or ear. Deep pads can be helpful for larger ears, but the actual opening and your ear position determine whether the cushion touches the ear. If your ears are tall or protrude, check the fit during a return period rather than assuming the specification guarantees clearance.
Momentum 4 comfort also depends on clamp and heat. A secure seal benefits ANC and bass response, while excessive clamp can create pressure around the jaw or behind glasses arms. Thick cushions may retain heat during long sessions. These are individual variables; there is no population-level comfort statistic establishing a universal winner.
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How the QuietComfort Ultra approaches comfort
Bose describes the original QuietComfort Ultra as a premium circumaural design with removable cushions and an emphasis on comfort and stability. Removable cushions are useful for maintenance or replacement, but they do not eliminate the need to check ear clearance, clamp and headband contact. A stable seal is particularly important when you are using ANC on a train or aircraft, because a small leak can make low-frequency noise more noticeable.
People who wear glasses should pay attention to the temple arms. Any gap under a cushion can reduce passive isolation and may change the apparent bass level. Try each model with the glasses you actually wear, not only with bare ears. Likewise, a listener who is sensitive to warmth may prefer the model whose pads and headband feel cooler in a 30-minute trial, even if specifications appear similar.
A practical comfort test
- Set the headband so the pads surround, rather than sit on, your ears.
- Wear your usual glasses or hearing accessories.
- Listen for at least 30 minutes while sitting and walking. Note crown pressure, jaw pressure, ear contact and heat.
- Turn your head and look down. If the seal breaks or the headphones shift, stability may be inadequate for commuting.
- With ANC enabled, compare whether outside sound changes when you adjust the pads by a few millimetres. A large change indicates that fit is affecting isolation.
ANC: Bose is the safer choice for difficult noise
The cited RTINGS and SoundGuys comparisons place the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ahead of Momentum 4 for noise cancellation. That advantage matters most when the background is loud, low-frequency or variable: aircraft engines, train rumble, road noise and busy office sound. Bose is therefore the more defensible choice when your primary goal is reducing the outside world rather than maximizing playback time.
Momentum 4 still provides ANC, and its over-ear seal contributes passive isolation. The comparisons, however, report that its ANC trails Bose. If your environment is mostly a quiet home or a library, the gap may matter less than sound preference and battery life. If you fly often or work beside changing voices and machinery, stronger cancellation can reduce the amount of volume you need to overcome the environment.
ANC does not remove every sound
Active cancellation is most effective against steady, predictable components. Sudden nearby speech, keyboard clicks, a child calling your name or a chair scraping the floor can remain audible. The physical seal, the way your glasses interrupt the pad and the fit of the headband all influence the result. Do not treat a comparison ranking as a guarantee that every voice will disappear.
Rank #2
- Seamless Firmware & App Updates: Enjoy a smoother, more reliable experience with the latest firmware and Smart Control Plus app features for your over the ear Bluetooth headphones, including ANC toggle and touchpad off switch for premium music quality
- Audiophile-Inspired Sound : Sennheiser wireless over-ear headphones over with signature sound, 42mm transducers and aptX Adaptive deliver crystal-clear audio and deep, immersive music. Ideal for music lovers and travelers
- Personalized Listening Experience: Tailor your sound on these wireless over ear headphones via the Smart Control Plus app with integrated equalizer, presets, and sound modes for a unique custom audio profile, whether used for music, podcasts, or gaming
- Adaptive Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode: Block distractions or stay aware of your surroundings with these Bluetooth headphones for uninterrupted music enjoyment anywhere, ideal for commuters, students, and professionals
- Exceptional Comfort & Long Battery Life: These Sennheiser wireless noise cancelling headphones are lightweight, foldable and designed with a cushioned headband and ear pads; enjoy up to 60 hours of long-lasting comfort playback with fast charging capability
Choosing ANC by environment
- Aircraft and long rail trips: QuietComfort Ultra has the evidence-backed ANC advantage; its shorter battery may require more frequent charging on multi-day travel.
- Open-plan office: Bose is the stronger noise-control pick when voices and equipment vary. Momentum 4 can still be suitable if you value endurance and music tuning more.
- Home and occasional commuting: The practical difference may be smaller, making Momentum 4’s 60-hour rating and EQ flexibility more persuasive.
Sound: Momentum 4 for music tuning, Bose for spatial presentation
Momentum 4’s conventional listening advantage
In the cited comparisons, Momentum 4 is favored for overall sound quality and described as having a more engaging stock presentation. Its companion app also offers more extensive EQ customization. That combination suits listeners who move between genres, want to correct a bright or bass-heavy recording, or prefer to save a personal tonal balance rather than accept a fixed house sound.
EQ flexibility is valuable because recordings, hearing and preferences differ. A listener who finds a vocal too recessed can adjust the balance; another can reduce bass for acoustic music or increase it for electronic tracks. The important distinction is control: the app gives Momentum 4 owners more room to shape the result than the Bose controls evaluated in the cited comparisons.
Bose Immersive Audio
QuietComfort Ultra’s defining sound feature is Immersive Audio. Bose presents it as a way to spatialize compatible playback, creating a presentation that can feel less like sound is centered inside the head. It is a feature choice rather than a universal upgrade: some recordings and listeners benefit from the sense of space, while others prefer conventional stereo for a direct, consistent presentation.
Immersive Audio affects endurance. Bose rates the 1st Gen at up to 24 hours with the mode off and up to 18 hours with it on. The 2nd Gen is rated at up to 30 hours with the mode off and 23 hours with it on. Keep the mode setting in mind when comparing a product description that advertises only one battery number.
Personalization and consistency
Bose also promotes CustomTune-style personalization, which adapts the experience to the listener. Personalization can be useful when two people perceive the same frequency balance differently, but it does not make the headphones objectively better for every recording. For a library of mixed genres, Momentum 4’s deeper manual EQ may be the more predictable tool; for listeners who want a spatial effect with minimal adjustment, Bose’s Immersive Audio is the more distinctive option.
Battery and charging: Momentum 4 wins endurance by a wide margin
Sennheiser publishes up to 60 hours of Bluetooth playback with ANC enabled. A full charge takes about two hours, and a five-minute charge can provide up to four hours of playback. The quick-charge figure is especially useful when you discover an empty battery before a commute or flight.
The original QuietComfort Ultra is rated for up to 24 hours with Immersive Audio off and 18 hours with it on. Those figures are less than half of Momentum 4’s headline rating when comparing the modes as closely as the specifications allow. Bose’s 2nd Gen improves the rating to up to 30 hours, or 23 hours with Immersive Audio enabled, but it remains a separate product generation.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat the ratings mean in practice
- “Up to” is a maximum claim under specified conditions, not a guaranteed number at high volume or with every feature active.
- ANC-on playback is the relevant Sennheiser figure for a fair everyday comparison because ANC is a central use case for both models.
- Bose’s Immersive Audio mode has its own lower rating, so decide whether you intend to leave it enabled before estimating travel time.
- Neither Bose generation has a full-charge or five-minute-charge figure established in the supplied specifications; do not infer one from Momentum 4’s charging data.
Features that change the buying decision
For listeners who adjust sound frequently
Momentum 4 is the better fit when equalizer control is part of your routine. More extensive app EQ lets you create a sound that works for different genres, hearing preferences and listening levels. This is a practical advantage, not merely a specification: the ability to tune a headphone can matter more than a small difference in a default profile.
Rank #3
- brand: Sennheiser
For listeners who want a ready-made spatial mode
Bose makes Immersive Audio central to the QuietComfort Ultra experience. It is a straightforward way to try spatialized playback without manually building an EQ profile. Use it when the expanded presentation appeals to you, and switch it off when you prefer the longer rated battery or a conventional stereo image.
For travel simplicity
Bose combines the stronger cited ANC result with a comfort-focused circumaural design, which makes the 1st Gen a compelling travel-oriented choice despite its shorter battery. Momentum 4 reduces charging anxiety and leaves more freedom for long listening days, but it does not match Bose’s cancellation result in the cited comparisons.
Generation check: do not mix the two QuietComfort Ultra models
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen) launched in 2023 and are rated for 24 hours with Immersive Audio off or 18 hours on. Bose announced QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) on September 10, 2025, with ratings of 30 hours off or 23 hours on. A current listing may omit “1st Gen” in a headline, so inspect the model name, announcement year and battery specification before buying.
Reviews of the original cannot automatically establish the ANC, comfort or sound performance of the 2nd Gen. Treat the generations as separate products unless a current test explicitly evaluates the newer model. The same caution applies to a comparison table: every Bose battery and feature cell should carry its generation label.
Which one should you buy for common use cases?
Choose Momentum 4 for frequent, long listening
Pick Sennheiser when you may go days between charges, listen with ANC enabled for extended periods, or want to tune the sound in an app. Its 60-hour rating, two-hour full-charge estimate and four-hour five-minute top-up directly address endurance. The cited comparisons also give it the sound-quality and EQ advantage.
Choose 1st Gen QuietComfort Ultra for the noisiest trips
Pick the original Bose when reducing aircraft, train or office noise is the main reason you are buying. The comparative ANC evidence favors Bose, and Immersive Audio adds a mode that Momentum 4 does not match. Accept the 24-hour or 18-hour rating depending on whether Immersive Audio is off or on.
Consider 2nd Gen QuietComfort Ultra when the listing is current
The 2nd Gen raises the published battery ceiling to 30 hours, or 23 hours with Immersive Audio on. That narrows—but does not erase—the endurance gap with Momentum 4. Because the model was announced in 2025, confirm that a review, specification sheet and retailer listing all refer to the 2nd Gen before using a 30-hour figure in your decision.
Buying checklist
- Identify the exact model: The Bose name must say QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and specify 1st Gen or 2nd Gen where the listing provides it.
- Decide whether Immersive Audio will stay on: Use the 18-hour 1st Gen or 23-hour 2nd Gen rating if it will be enabled regularly.
- Rank your main environment: Flights, trains and variable office noise favor Bose’s cited ANC result; long, less interrupted listening favors Momentum 4.
- Test fit with your real accessories: Wear glasses or hearing accessories and check for gaps, pressure and heat.
- Use the return window for a real comfort trial: No supplied study establishes a universal comfort winner, so personal fit is decisive.
- Verify live price and stock: Prices, bundles and availability change; the supplied specifications do not establish a current retail price for either model.
Bottom line
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is the stronger all-round value for music listeners who want exceptional endurance and meaningful EQ control. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen) is the more specialized choice for travelers and commuters who will benefit from stronger ANC and Immersive Audio. The 2nd Gen Bose improves battery figures, but it must be evaluated and priced as a separate 2025 generation. If comfort is your deciding factor, compare the seal, clamp, glasses pressure and heat on your own head rather than relying on a universal ranking.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
