SennheiserConsumer Audio Momentum True Wireless 2 - Bluetooth in-Ear Buds with Active Noise Cancellation, Smart Pause, Customizable Touch Control and 28-Hour Battery Life - Black (M3IETW2 Black)

I guess I'm what you'd call an "audiophile". I own multi-thousand $ headphones like the Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC, RAAL SR1a, Abyss Diana Phi, Audeze LCDi4, Sennheiser HD800S, and JH Audio Layla custom IEM played through even more expensive DACs and amps. But I'm also a very mobile kinda guy who spends hours at the gym and going on long hikes on a daily basis. I can't use those things for such endeavors. I wanted the "best-of-class" for my daily gym workouts and I had owned the original Sennheiser MTW for some years but decided I could use an upgrade. I also own the AirPods Max for business travel for trans-Pacific and cross-country flights in the US.My use of the MTW2 is limited to gym usage but I can compare how these NC earbuds sound compared to the MTW and the WF-1000XM3 which I've now passed on to my wife and son, respectively, as well as the TOTL audiophile headphones and IEMs. First off, the Sennheiser "voicing" has always been pleasant to my ears. Every headphone/IEM manufacturer has their own "house sound" and Sennheiser's sound has always sounded better *to me* than that of other "mainstream" brands like Sony, Bose, AKG, Beyerdynamic, etc. It isn't a bass-heavy sound and that's good because I don't like hip-hop, rap, synth-pop, EDM, etc. The Sennheiser house sound is more suited for a more natural, neutral and balanced sound for classical, jazz, acoustic, rock, and genres using acoustic and electric (not electronic) instruments.If you need lots of boomy bass, I'm sure there are better options. This is not to say that the MTW2 is "bad" for hip-hop, EDM, and synth pop. I like good tight and punchy bass as well but I simply want it balanced with the mids and treble, not stand out on its own. With the stock ear tips, the MTW2 sounds a bit thin and lacking body so I use the Comply TrueGrip tips and I get the fullness in the lows without losing the clarity and transparency in the mids and the highs.I only use the MTW2 for the gym and occasional outdoor outings. For hiking and most outdoor usage, the Audeze LCDi4 has no peer but it only sounds its best with its own CIPHER cable with built-in DAC. The LCDi4, even with the BT module, is too cumbersome for gym usage. For intense physical activity, only wireless in-ears will do and that's why I had the MTW and why I upgraded to the MTW2. I'm only focused on sound quality for what I do with it, which is gym usage - including playing racquetball. I do not use the MTW2 for anything else. I don't use it for phone calls or for watching videos, etc. So, I cannot comment how it performs for such usage cases.I'm only going to comment on the sound quality for the money and I can say that it sounds really, really good for $250. In-ears won't have the "big sound" factor of over-ears but I actually prefer the sound of the MTW2 over the AirPods Max. For me, the AirPods Max is mainly about having a comfortable ANC headphone for long flights and the occasional hot tube usage. But, if I had a choice for "pure" music listening experience, I'd choose the MTW2 over the APM. The MTW2 has clearer and more transparent highs even though the APM has the bigger sound and deeper bass.Obviously, the MTW2 is not going to compare to the $2500 LCDi4, $5000 Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC ($3000 more for their TOTL cable option) or the $2700 JH Audio Layla and other "audiophile" headphones and IEMs that often require DAC/amps that cost even more but I can say that I'm quite impressed with the sound quality - especially for gym and mobile usage. It has a very balanced sound (especially with the bigger and better sound-isolating Comply ear tips) that has a wide soundstage (if not in depth and height) with good imaging and separation of instruments across the stereo spectrum. For $250, it really delivers an excellent sound. I have a home setup that costs more than a nice car and I never feel like I'm "lacking" when listening through the MTW2.Although I mainly listen to classical, jazz and acoustic, for gym workouts I'll play energetic rock, metal, synth pop and EDM because, well, you need energetic music to get you pumping iron and running around in the racquetball court to whack the ball against the wall. Beethoven's string quartets and Diana Krall jazz crooning just won't do. So, with the MTW2, I'm blasting Meshuggah, Prince, Grimes, Zeppelin, Korn, Orbital, Armin van Buuren, etc. to get through the workouts. After the workouts on the way home from the gym, I'd play relaxing classical stuff to unwind through the MTW2 and I can say it all sounds great.I'm very happy with MTW2 and I had the MTW for years. I wouldn't say the improvement is night-and-day or anything like that but it's enough to justify the upgrade. The soundstage is wider, the highs and the mids are clearer with improved imaging and the bass is tighter and punchier. I recommend different tighter-fitting ear tips to improve the bass response and better sound isolation to complement the "okay" ANC. With the Comply ear tips and loud energetic music playing, I can be inside the deafening racquetball court and not hear the ball bouncing and be immersed in the music. Most of all, the MTW2 delivers excellent sound quality for the money. If the SQ is the most important factor in your decision for BT in-ears, I highly recommend the MTW2.

Edit.. We are going in for a third time on these boys. Not because I want to, but because they deserve it.!Using the personalized sound profile EQ is REQUIRED to get these to perform at their full potential but once you do, they open up beautifully like a decanted wine and turn into a different set of buds entirely. So my first impressions weren't spot on with just the normal EQ. (the other review clearly didn't take the time to use this feature and neither did I at first, they sound gorgeous afterwards.)After well over 30 hours listening time with these and going back to back to back repeatedly with Bose QC ultras and Jabra 10 elites... These are relentlessly impressive. I'm going all in, 5 stars.I will find myself saying, I want to know what this song sounds like with the momentum 4s if I'm using anything else.. So even my second impressions weren't spot on. The sound is just so crisp and clean with a stark separation between vocals and each instrument with sharp notes and rumbling bass (although i still wish we had an extra click or two of bass). You can hear every little detail perfectly. The jabras give you more bass, a more full bodied intense harmonious and louder sound but its not as clean and distinct. while the jabras have the passion, the momentums have the precision. the bose are just meh by comparison in everything except ANC and honestly dont compete well with either after extensive testing.These sound clean, crisp, tight, and full. It's like the artist is playing the music next to you rather than through a speaker. You can hear delicate parts of the music Bose and Jabra can't even touch. The momentum 4s give you a very pretty, intricate sound where the jabras give you a powerful bold sound, so depending on your taste and type of music you like, jabras may be your preference.The momentum 4s kind of dominate on pure sound with the extra EQ although I stand by that the ANC is average like sony/apple etc and isn't a huge difference between it being on and off. The fit and passive noise cancelling is phenomenal so you get pretty great performance overall, just not like Bose which is like turning the world off. Maybe someday other companies will crack the code like Bose did. The software is beautifully designed with lots of customization features, a very cool personalized sound profile which drastically changes the sound potential of these buds and you need to take the time to use it! Fully changeable touch features, other audio goodies people like.they are extremely comfortable over long periods, have a nice masculine clean look, touch controls are great and responsive, they connect to 2 devices seamlessly. zero connectivity issues, solid battery life, beautiful english accent to the voice prompts. case is great and i like how its not slippery as its covered in weaved fabric.they are encroaching on perfection. They could use a little more bass and ANC needs work. They don't get quite as loud as others but I just turn them up higher? You won't be maxing them out I can't imagine.if you really appreciate music and want to feel like the music is in the room with you and hear every detail clearly, these are a winner.Easily in the fight for the top ear buds in 2024. They could be the best for you depending on your taste.