If you want over-ear comfort, long battery life, and a foldable design, choose Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum; if you need compact true wireless earbuds with spatial audio and multipoint, choose Technics Reference Class HiFi. For swimming, neither is a suitable pick based on the listed features: both use Bluetooth, but neither product’s information describes a swimming-oriented design.
• Sennheiser’s biggest strength: Over-ear listening with adaptive noise cancellation, a 42 mm driver, and up to 60 hours of battery life. Its main trade-off is its headphone form: it folds for carrying, but it is not a small in-ear option.
• Technics’ biggest strength: True wireless earbuds with Dolby Atmos head tracking, adaptive noise cancellation, and connections for three devices. Its main trade-off is shorter listed playback time: up to 10 hours with noise cancellation, or 28 hours with the charging case.
• Choose Sennheiser if you want an over-ear headset for travel, work, or long listening sessions, with a supplied audio cable as another listening option.
• Choose Technics if you want earbuds for everyday portable listening and value spatial audio, a lower-profile fit, and multipoint connections.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone built around extended listening. Its 42 mm dynamic drivers, adaptive noise cancellation, and transparency mode give it two useful modes of everyday listening: reduce surrounding distractions when you want to focus, or let more of your surroundings through when awareness matters. The Smart Control Plus app adds an equalizer, presets, and sound modes, so listeners can adjust the audio for music, podcasts, or gaming rather than being limited to one profile.
Battery life is a major part of its appeal. Sennheiser lists up to 60 hours of playback, plus fast charging. That long stated runtime makes the Momentum 4 a practical fit for people who would rather charge less often, including travelers and listeners who use headphones through a workday. The foldable design and included carry case also make it easier to pack than a non-folding over-ear model. A USB-C charging cable, airplane adapter, and audio cable with 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm connectors are included, giving it more than one way to connect or charge.
For calls, four digital beamforming microphones are designed to pick up speech, suppress wind noise, and support voice assistant access. Touch controls handle playback and noise-control functions, and the touchpad can be switched off in the app. Its listed Bluetooth range is 30 meters. These features make it a thoughtful option for someone who moves between music, calls, commuting, and focused work without wanting a separate device for each.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-17 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the Momentum 4 if you specifically want small, in-ear earbuds or a product described as suitable for swimming.
The Technics Reference Class HiFi is a true wireless earbud set for listeners who want a compact, cable-free format and more than basic stereo playback. Its headline feature is Dolby Atmos with head tracking: the sound presentation is designed to respond to head movement, which may appeal to people who watch movies or listen to spatially presented music. The product information also describes magnetic fluid drivers intended to support accurate bass, low distortion, and smoother mid-to-high frequencies.
Adaptive noise cancellation is included, with the system described as adjusting to the listening environment. For calls, Technics lists a Voice Focus AI chip aimed at clear voice pickup. The earbuds also support a three-device multipoint connection with manual device prioritization. That setup may suit someone who switches among a phone, computer, and another compatible device and wants to manage those connections without repeatedly starting over.
The design is described as 10% smaller and 16% lighter than the earlier EAH-AZ80, with a lower-profile shape intended to follow the contours of the ear. That gives the Technics a clear portability advantage over an over-ear headset, though fit is personal and the supplied information does not establish that they will suit every ear. The earbuds list up to 10 hours of music playback with noise cancellation, with up to 28 hours when the charging case is included. The case supports wireless charging; a 15-minute charge time is also listed.
The main trade-off is runtime. Even with the case included, the listed 28-hour total is lower than the Sennheiser’s stated 60 hours of headphone playback. The two figures are not measured on the same basis, so they should not be treated as a direct battery test. Still, someone who prioritizes long stretches between charges may prefer the Sennheiser. The Technics also has no headphone jack, unlike the Momentum 4’s included wired audio option.
Who should skip it: Skip the Technics if you need an over-ear design, a headphone-jack connection, or the longer stated playback figure of the two.
• Best for long listed playback without relying on a charging case → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. It lists up to 60 hours, while Technics lists up to 10 hours with noise cancellation on the earbuds. - Best for pocketable everyday listening → Technics Reference Class HiFi. It is a true wireless in-ear set, while Sennheiser is an over-ear headphone weighing 293 g. - Best for spatial audio with head tracking → Technics Reference Class HiFi. Dolby Atmos and head tracking are explicitly listed features. - Best for a supplied wired listening option → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. Its package includes an audio cable with 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm connectors; Technics lists no headphone jack. - Best for switching among three devices → Technics Reference Class HiFi. Its multipoint feature supports three devices and manual prioritization. - Best for adjusting sound through an app → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. Its Smart Control Plus app includes an equalizer, presets, and sound modes. - Best for over-ear listening and a foldable travel design → Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum. It combines an over-ear format, adaptive noise cancellation, and a carry case.
First, decide whether you want over-ear headphones or in-ear earbuds. That is the biggest practical difference in this comparison. Sennheiser covers the ear and folds for storage; Technics sits in the ear and comes with a wireless charging case. Neither form is automatically more comfortable for everyone, so think about what you normally prefer for a commute, desk session, or trip.
Next, consider how you connect. The Momentum 4 includes an audio cable and airplane adapter, as well as Bluetooth. The Technics is wireless and lists no headphone jack. If a cable matters to your routine, that distinction may settle the choice. If you routinely move among multiple devices, the Technics’ three-device multipoint support is the more specific fit.
Battery figures need a little care. Sennheiser lists up to 60 hours of headphone playback. Technics lists up to 10 hours with noise cancellation and up to 28 hours with its charging case. Since one figure is for the headphones and the other also counts case charging, they are not a like-for-like measurement. They still show different priorities: a long stated runtime for Sennheiser, and a case-backed portable setup for Technics.
Finally, be realistic about swimming. Searches for over ear headphones for swimming, the best bluetooth earbuds for swimming, or the best headset for swimming can lead to products that look convenient but are not described for that job. These two products’ listed information does not establish swimming suitability. I would choose a product explicitly designed for swimming rather than infer that either one can handle it.
My Verdict
In my opinion, I would choose the Sennheiser Consumer Audio Momentum for everyday listening because its 60-hour listed battery life, foldable over-ear design, app-based sound adjustment, and included audio cable cover more of my ordinary travel and work needs.
Neither product’s listed features describe it as swimming-oriented. Bluetooth connectivity and noise cancellation do not establish suitability for swimming, so I would not select either for that purpose.
Sennheiser lists up to 60 hours of playback for the Momentum 4. Technics lists up to 10 hours with noise cancellation on the earbuds, or up to 28 hours including the charging case; those figures use different bases.
The listed features describe call-focused technology on both. Sennheiser has four digital beamforming microphones with wind-noise suppression, while Technics lists a Voice Focus AI chip. The specifications alone do not establish which will sound better in every call environment.
Choose Technics if Dolby Atmos with head tracking is a priority, especially for spatially presented music or movies. Choose Sennheiser if you prefer an over-ear design, app-based equalizer and sound modes, and the option to listen through the included audio cable.
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