Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Momentum 4 Wireless: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Momentum 4 Wireless: 45% of 469 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 474 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

35%of 474 owners recommend

35% recommend · 23% neutral · 42% don't

Owners praise

Exceptional comfort for long sessions, owners repeatedly say they "disappear" on your head and can be worn for hours or all day, often rated more comfortable than the Sony XM6, Bose QC45, and even AirPods Max
Best-in-class active noise cancelling, especially for steady low-frequency noise like airplane engines, HVAC, and trains
Rich, detailed sound with punchy bass that many say sounds great right out of the box without needing EQ

Owners complain about

A persistent white-noise/hissing sound from the ANC circuit that owners describe as annoying during quiet moments, calls, and pauses in audio
A firmware update stripped out features many relied on, including cycling between paired Bluetooth devices via the headphone button, multipoint switching, and battery-percentage announcements on power-up
Creaking, popping, or clicking noises from the hinges and headband, plus a jarring "thump" when the adaptive ANC reacts to sudden noises like a door slamming

Full owner report →

Momentum 4 Wireless

45%of 469 owners recommend

45% recommend · 27% neutral · 28% don't

Owners praise

Sound quality is the headline strength, owners repeatedly call it the best-sounding wireless headphone in its price bracket, often preferring it over Sony WH-1000XM4/XM5, Bose QuietComfort, and even AirPods Max for clarity, bass, and soundstage
Battery life holds up for years of daily use with minimal degradation, charges fast, and the user-replaceable battery is praised as a rare feature at this price
Great value for the price, especially now that it's discounted since the Momentum 5 launched, described as unbeatable price-to-performance and a steal around $150-200

Owners complain about

ANC is consistently rated weaker than Sony (WH-1000XM3/4/5/6) and Bose competitors, usable for daily commuting but inadequate on planes for some owners
Build quality and durability complaints, the fabric headband covering comes loose or peels within months, glue fails after about a year, and units crack or break under normal use
Software/app bugs and Bluetooth connectivity issues, dropped connections, multipoint pairing problems, and headphones randomly turning on/off or losing pairing

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if

✓Frequent travelers who want top-tier ANC and all-day comfort on long flights
✓Glasses wearers and long-session listeners who prioritize a soft, low-clamp fit
✓Upgraders from Bose QC35/QC45 who value premium build over Sony's plastic feel
✓Listeners who want strong out-of-the-box sound without needing an EQ

Skip it if

People who make lots of calls, since mic and call quality draw frequent complaints
Anyone needing to fully disable ANC, since wind noise and hiss bother some owners

Get the Momentum 4 Wireless if

✓Sound-quality-first listeners who'll trade top-tier ANC for richer, fuller audio
✓Frequent travelers who want multi-day battery life and decent (not best) noise cancellation
✓Remote workers on long calls who need all-day comfort and clear mic quality
✓Budget-conscious buyers wanting near-flagship sound without flagship pricing

Skip it if

Frequent flyers who need best-in-class ANC, since Sony and Bose noticeably outperform it
Gym-goers or heavy sweaters, since moisture repeatedly causes malfunctions and shorted circuits

What Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) owners say

“My ultra used daily for over a year is still working great. Had some firmware issue at the start but currently it is Ok. Good anc, great sound and sturdy.”
— GrumpyBitFlipper on Reddit

“I come from the xm5 earbuds and just bought the QC Ultra 2nd gen’s because even though I loved the Sony’s, I don’t like wearing them knowing there’s too much toxic chemicals in them.”
— therealpurpledolpin on Reddit

“but not the Ultras (not worth the price increase imo)”
— xolavenderwitch on Reddit

What Momentum 4 Wireless owners say

“Thats unfortunate. I've been using mine for about 2 and a half years daily, and the only problem I've had is the earpads deteriorated and I had to get replacements.”
— Randy265 on Reddit

“i bought M4 last year and i'm fully satisfied”
— zeldafr on Reddit

“Verdict: Not very good”
— thogor on Reddit

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Momentum 4 Wireless: frequently asked questions

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Momentum 4 Wireless better?

Real owners lean toward the Momentum 4 Wireless: 45% of 469 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 474 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Who should get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?

Owners point the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at frequent travelers who want top-tier ANC and all-day comfort on long flights, and glasses wearers and long-session listeners who prioritize a soft, low-clamp fit.

Who should get the Momentum 4 Wireless?

Owners point the Momentum 4 Wireless at sound-quality-first listeners who'll trade top-tier ANC for richer, fuller audio, and frequent travelers who want multi-day battery life and decent (not best) noise cancellation.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is a persistent white-noise/hissing sound from the ANC circuit that owners describe as annoying during quiet moments, calls, and pauses in audio. For the Momentum 4 Wireless, it's aNC is consistently rated weaker than Sony (WH-1000XM3/4/5/6) and Bose competitors, usable for daily commuting but inadequate on planes for some owners.