Main trade-off
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Analog playback still needs power, unlike standard QuietComfort models.
Head-to-head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen vs MOMENTUM 4: Bose folds, Momentum keeps an unpowered fallback
The short answer
Choose Bose Ultra 2nd Gen for a lighter folding design and immersive modes. MOMENTUM 4 gives more claimed battery life and an unpowered analog fallback.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Plan charging around your listening day
At eight hours of listening per day, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) claims the equivalent of 3.8 days and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 7.5 days in standard ANC mode. Leave headroom for real use.
What this is based on
Claimed ANC runtime / 8 hours per day. Inputs 30 and 60 hours. This is a planning conversion of separate manufacturer maximums, not a measured endurance result.
Main trade-off
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
The earcups turn flat but do not fold inward.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Choose it for
- Pack a folding headphone for travel
- Prefer a lighter over-ear design
- Main trade-off
- Analog playback still needs power, unlike standard QuietComfort models.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Choose it for
- Minimize charging stops
- Keep listening by cable with a flat battery
- Main trade-off
- The earcups turn flat but do not fold inward.
About this comparison
Choose Bose Ultra 2nd Gen for a lighter folding design and immersive modes. MOMENTUM 4 gives more claimed battery life and an unpowered analog fallback.
Bose is easier to pack
Before you choose
How they fit your plans
A work purchase should include a firmware and microphone check
MOMENTUM 4’s guide directly documents computer USB playback and recording. Bose also supports PC USB calls, but its release history makes the installed software relevant, with calling added after launch and application limits still stated. Choose the model whose exact host and meeting app you can verify. Do not decide this work requirement from the presence of USB-C or the advertised lossless playback format alone.
Facts behind this advice
Bose introduced PC USB calls in 8.2.20 and later improved compatibility. Sennheiser specifies selecting MOMENTUM 4 as the recording device as well as playback. These establish routes, not a call-quality ranking.
Bose documents a button route back to the paired phone
For computer music followed by a call on a separate phone, Bose’s guide offers manual switching between USB and a previously connected Bluetooth device. MOMENTUM 4’s USB setup instead begins by disconnecting possible Bluetooth links. Choose Bose if that documented source-switching routine matches your day. Choose Sennheiser for a deliberately single-source USB session, without assuming that its multipoint label guarantees a simultaneous wired-and-phone workflow.
Facts behind this advice
The Bose instruction is explicit button selection, not automatic audio mixing. Sennheiser’s instruction is a setup requirement, not proof that every other USB/Bluetooth arrangement is technically impossible.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Pack a folding headphone for travel
The Ultra folds inward and weighs 264 grams, compared with 293 grams for MOMENTUM 4. Both support USB audio, so that connection alone does not settle the choice.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Better fit
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Depends
Minimize charging stops
It claims up to 60 hours with ANC and supports passive analog playback. Bose requires power even when using its analog cable.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Depends
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Better fit
Check the complete setup
Confirm the exact playback mode for flights or older audio equipment. Ultra 2nd Gen is rated at 30 hours normally and 23 with immersive audio enabled.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Depends
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Depends
Keep analog playback working when the headphone battery is flat
MOMENTUM 4 retains passive analog playback. Ultra 2nd Gen needs power for its analog route despite supporting a physical audio cable.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Not suitable
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Better fit
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Plan charging around your listening day
At eight hours of listening per day, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) claims the equivalent of 3.8 days and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 7.5 days in standard ANC mode. Leave headroom for real use.
How we reached this conclusion
Claimed ANC runtime / 8 hours per day. Inputs 30 and 60 hours. This is a planning conversion of separate manufacturer maximums, not a measured endurance result.
Compare what sits on your head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) weighs 264 grams and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 293 grams, a difference of 29 grams. Clamp force, fit and padding still decide comfort.
How we reached this conclusion
Absolute weight difference = |264 - 293| grams. Manufacturer headset weights exclude cases and most accessories.
A flat battery affects these wired modes differently
MOMENTUM 4 retains passive analog playback. Ultra 2nd Gen needs power for its analog route despite supporting a physical audio cable.
How we reached this conclusion
MOMENTUM 4 supports passive analog playback while Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen requires battery power. Powered USB and analog playback are separate from a passive battery-free circuit.
Check your own setup
Which headphones work with the way you listen?
Start with the way you listen. USB charging is not the same as USB audio, and some headphones need power even with a cable. These choices are examples until you apply yours.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Battery figures are manufacturer claims for the stated mode, not measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not assess sound quality, microphone quality or amplifier power.
Choice A
Bose, QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Choose Ultra 2 over the original Ultra for USB-C listening and the longer 30-hour Quiet-mode claim. Choose QuietComfort 2 instead if a completely flat battery must not stop analog playback.
- Best matched use
- Pack a folding headphone for travel
Checked facts
- Headphone weight: 264 g
- Standard ANC battery claim: Up to 30 h
- USB digital audio: Yes
- Battery-free analog playback: No
Choice B
Sennheiser, MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
A strong fit when charging less often matters more than folding the headphones into a small shape. Its 60-hour ANC claim is paired with USB audio and a passive analog fallback.
- Best matched use
- Minimize charging stops
Checked facts
- Headphone weight: 293 g
- Standard ANC battery claim: Up to 60 h
- USB digital audio: Yes
- Battery-free analog playback: Yes
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headphone weight | 264 g | 293 g | Case, accessories and cables are not included. |
| Standard ANC battery claim | Up to 30 h | Up to 60 h | Volume, calls, codec and special modes can shorten runtime. |
| USB digital audio | Yes | Yes | A charging port alone does not establish audio support. |
| Battery-free analog playback | No | Yes | Passive listening does not provide powered noise cancellation. |
| Folds inward | Yes | No | Folding affects packing shape, not just headphone weight. |
| Two-device Bluetooth multipoint | Yes | Yes | Brand-specific automatic switching is a separate feature. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Immersive Audio has a separate 23-hour battery claim.
If you choose Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- At 293 g, it is 66 g heavier than Accentum Plus.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Bose is easier to pack
The Ultra folds inward and weighs 264 grams, compared with 293 grams for MOMENTUM 4. Both support USB audio, so that connection alone does not settle the choice.
Sennheiser has the stronger battery fallback
It claims up to 60 hours with ANC and supports passive analog playback. Bose requires power even when using its analog cable.
A cable does not always mean battery-free listening
Confirm the exact playback mode for flights or older audio equipment. Ultra 2nd Gen is rated at 30 hours normally and 23 with immersive audio enabled.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- These conclusions use published specifications and the stated calculations. They are not a hands-on performance test.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current headphones comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) |
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| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Pack a folding headphone for travel
See price & reviews on AmazonSennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Minimize charging stops
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