Bowers & Wilkins vs Sennheiser Consumer: Which Is Better?

If you want over-ear headphones with adaptive noise cancellation and flexible wired listening, choose Bowers & Wilkins FP39691; if you need compact true wireless earbuds with a charging case, choose Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. For glasses wearers, I’d lean toward the Bowers & Wilkins design because it avoids an earbud tip pressing inside the ear canal, though comfort around glasses depends on the fit of its ear cups.

Bowers & Wilkins FP39691 vs Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum at a Glance

• Bowers & Wilkins FP39691: Over-ear design, adaptive noise cancellation, and up to 22 hours of Bluetooth listening with ANC; the trade-off is a bulkier headphone format.

• Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum: Small true wireless earbuds with ANC and up to 28 hours total when the charging case is included; the trade-off is just 7 hours on a charge and the need for a secure ear-tip fit.

• Bowers & Wilkins FP39691 is for listeners who want over-ear coverage, automatic wear detection, and a wired option.

• Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum is for listeners who prioritize pocketable earbuds, touch controls, and listening without a headband.

Bowers & Wilkins FP39691: Who It's For

The FP39691 is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone with adaptive noise cancellation. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers are subtly angled, a design choice intended to create a more natural stereo perspective. It also offers a wired connection, so you can listen without relying on Bluetooth. The included headphone cable makes that option practical rather than hypothetical.

The battery figures depend on how you listen. Bowers & Wilkins lists up to 22 hours with Bluetooth and ANC, up to 29 hours with Bluetooth and ANC off, and longer options for wired listening. If you expect to use wireless noise cancellation throughout a travel day, the 22-hour figure is the one to focus on. Wear sensors add a useful everyday touch: lifting an ear cup pauses playback, while setting the headphones down puts them into a power-saving sleep mode.

How We Research

We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.

Updated: 2026-10-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison

I’d consider these for someone who wants over-ear headphones for music, commuting, or working in shared spaces, and who values adaptive cancellation and a wired fallback. They may suit glasses wearers better than in-ear buds if ear tips are uncomfortable, but over-ear headphones still put cushions around the ears and arms of glasses. If you want something tiny to pocket or prefer keeping your ears uncovered, this is not the format I’d choose.

Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum: Who It's For

Momentum True Wireless 2 earbuds trade the headband and ear cups for a compact in-ear design. Each earbud uses a 7 mm dynamic driver, with active noise cancellation and a transparency feature for bringing outside sound back into your listening. The Smart Control app includes equalizer adjustments, while touch controls on both earbuds handle audio and calls.

The battery is rated for up to 7 hours of playback from the earbuds, with the charging case extending total listening time to up to 28 hours. That distinction matters: the case adds power between listening sessions, but it does not turn a single charge into a full day. Smart Pause stops playback when you remove an earbud and resumes when you put it back in. Bluetooth 5.1 and a stated 10-meter Bluetooth range round out the listed connectivity details.

These are a sensible fit for someone who wants true wireless convenience for a walk, a commute, or listening around the house. Their compact format can be appealing if you dislike wearing a headband, but fit is central: the manufacturer notes that tips need to match your ear canals for proper sound and call performance. For glasses wearers, the absence of an over-ear cushion avoids pressure from a headphone cup against glasses arms. Still, anyone who finds in-ear tips irritating should skip this design.

Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?

• Best for over-ear listening → Bowers & Wilkins FP39691. Its ear cups cover the ears, while Momentum sits inside them.

• Best for a compact, cable-free carry → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. The earbuds and charging case avoid a full-size headband.

• Best for glasses wearers who dislike in-ear tips → Bowers & Wilkins FP39691. Its over-ear format avoids placing a tip in the ear canal, although the fit around glasses still matters.

• Best for glasses wearers who dislike pressure around the ears → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. It has no over-ear cushions, but comfort depends on the ear-tip fit.

• Best for long Bluetooth listening with ANC on → Bowers & Wilkins FP39691. Its listed figure is up to 22 hours in that mode; Momentum’s earbuds list up to 7 hours per charge.

• Best total playback with a charging case → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. The combined figure is up to 28 hours, compared with up to 22 hours for the Bowers & Wilkins headphones using Bluetooth and ANC.

• Best for wired listening → Bowers & Wilkins FP39691. It includes a headphone cable and supports a 3.5 mm connection; Momentum has no headphone jack.

• Best for choosing between ANC and awareness → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. Alongside ANC, it offers Transparent Hearing. The Bowers & Wilkins model emphasizes adaptive noise cancellation.

The “best deep bass headphone for glasses wearers” is not an automatic win for either product based on format alone. Momentum specifically describes deep bass, while the Bowers & Wilkins model emphasizes its angled drivers and stereo perspective. If bass is your main priority, the Sennheiser description is more explicit; if the fit of in-ear tips is a dealbreaker, the over-ear Bowers & Wilkins model may be the more practical choice.

Neither is a conventional gaming headset based on the listed features. The “best gaming headset for glasses wearers” depends on whether you value an over-ear fit and a wired connection or a lightweight earbud format; these product details do not establish gaming-specific features. Likewise, the phrase “best long battery life bluetooth earbuds for glasses wearers” points toward Momentum’s earbud form, but its 7-hour single-charge figure is important if you listen for long stretches without returning the buds to their case. For extended wireless listening with ANC, the Bowers & Wilkins figure is more compelling.

My Verdict

In my opinion, I’d choose the Bowers & Wilkins FP39691 for its over-ear design, adaptive ANC, and wired option.

Its up-to-22-hour Bluetooth-and-ANC figure also makes it the stronger fit for long listening sessions without a charging case.

For glasses wearers who find ear tips uncomfortable, that format is the more appealing starting point, though the ear cups still need to sit comfortably around the frames.

I’d pick Momentum instead if compact true wireless earbuds matter more than single-charge runtime.

FAQ

Which is better for glasses wearers, Bowers & Wilkins or Sennheiser Momentum?

It depends on what causes discomfort. The Bowers & Wilkins headphones avoid in-ear tips, while Momentum avoids over-ear cushions pressing around glasses arms. Consider whether you prefer pressure around the ears or inside the ears.

Which has longer battery life?

For one wireless listening session with ANC, the Bowers & Wilkins FP39691 lists up to 22 hours. Momentum lists up to 7 hours from the earbuds and up to 28 hours total with the charging case.

Can I use Bowers & Wilkins FP39691 with a cable?

Yes. It includes a headphone cable and has a 3.5 mm jack connection. Momentum is wireless and has no headphone jack.

Which has better noise cancellation?

Both models include active noise cancellation. Bowers & Wilkins describes its system as adaptive; Momentum also offers Transparent Hearing, which lets you bring surrounding sound back into your listening.

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