Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Momentum 4 Wireless vs Sony ULT Wear: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 45% of 469 Momentum 4 Wireless owners recommend it, vs 47% of 154 for the Sony ULT Wear.

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

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, and it charges fast
  • 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 →

Sony ULT Wear

47%of 154 owners recommend
47% recommend · 17% neutral · 36% don't
Owners praise
  • Big, punchy bass that owners who like heavy low end love
  • Noise canceling that owners rate highly
  • Strong value, with some owners saying it comes close to Sony's pricier XM models for much less
Owners complain about
  • Plastic hinges that crack or snap, often during normal handling, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year after purchase; some owners had a second pair break the same way, while others say a replacement has held up
  • The sound splits owners: many say it needs EQ tweaks to sound right, some find the bass overblown or muddy, and a few expected more bass than they got
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the Sony ULT Wear if
  • ✓Bass lovers who want heavy, adjustable low end
  • ✓Buyers who want strong noise canceling without paying flagship prices
  • ✓Listeners willing to spend time tuning the EQ in the app
  • ✓People with larger ears who want deep, padded earcups for long sessions
Skip it if
  • Anyone who needs headphones to survive daily handling for years without hinge worries
  • Listeners who don't want to adjust any sound settings

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

What Sony ULT Wear owners say

“I recently purchased the Sony ULT Wear and I love it!”
— @jamesbarlett246 on YouTube
“The bass is honestly pretty fun, sometimes I just wanna press a button and destroy the song I'm listening to.”
— @Pika915 on YouTube
“To be fair, I didn't hear hardly any difference. The ULTs fit my head better, but they looked much chunkier on my ears as the phones stuck out way more. I've decided to keep the XM4s and return the ULTs.”
— @1977ver on YouTube

Momentum 4 Wireless vs Sony ULT Wear: frequently asked questions

Is the Momentum 4 Wireless or the Sony ULT Wear better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 45% of 469 Momentum 4 Wireless owners recommend it, vs 47% of 154 for the Sony ULT Wear.

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.

Who should get the Sony ULT Wear?

Owners point the Sony ULT Wear at bass lovers who want heavy, adjustable low end, and buyers who want strong noise canceling without paying flagship prices.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Momentum 4 Wireless is 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. For the Sony ULT Wear, it's plastic hinges that crack or snap, often during normal handling, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year after purchase; some owners had a second pair break the same way, while others say a replacement has held up.