Comparison: Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3

Today, we are going to talk about two premium models in the market. They are the Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3 headsets. Sennheiser units are top-rated in the market. These units have been sold in impressive figures in the segment for several decades now.

It is not surprising that their sales have witnessed a decent increase. The Shure model is good. However, they are not very popular in the market, making lower sales in this segment. However, many gamers & users alike are extremely satisfied using their products.

According to the reviews that we read before having this review, most of them were positive, claiming that they are almost on par with the Bose, Sony & Apple models. That is right. Well, there is no doubt that the Sennheiser models are a splendid lot, but the Shure is good enough too.

Well, Shure is an American manufacturer of electronic devices and are based in Chicago. They began operations in 1925 and have been running since then, and apart from headsets, they produce PC devices.

The Shure Aonic 50 headset is a top-end model that comes with a slim design. The build quality of the unit is quite unique. You can easily see that thanks to the design & tone present in the model.

It has an exquisite fit. Not to mention, the model has a barrage of connectivity options. Consumers will be glad to know that the audio performance is eloquent and has depth in them. It is possible due to the parametric EQ feature that is infused in them.

The headset is a decent choice for listening to music from several genres. Sadly, they do not come portable because of an integrated microphone. Due to the ANC feature that is present in them, the audio profile gets immensely blocked.

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset is a sterling unit that comes with a sleek design. As you know, the build quality of the Sennheiser units is quite robust. You may like the new comfortable look and the microphone that is stupendously designed.

Its ANC works just fine, and you can notice that the noise gets isolated instantly. The headsets can leak the audio every now & then. However, the model is a good option with unique specifications in them.

How do you know which unit is the best? You will have to read the post to find out the winner.

Shure Aonic 50	Sennheiser Momentum 3
PROS	PROS
The design of the headset has a comfortable fitting to it. The noise cancellation is stunning for gaming & other purposes. It comes with a dazzling battery working life. It has a parametric EQ in a dedicated companion app. The product is much cheaper than the Sennheiser model.	The headset has a very comfortable feel to it. The unit is robust in design. It comes with exceptional audio reproduction. It has remarkable noise isolation performance. The microphone usage is exceptionally splendid.
CONS	CONS
It has a compact soundstage.	It has a bulky design that might not suit some users.

SPECIFICATIONS	Shure Aonic 50	Sennheiser Momentum 3
Name	AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones	MOMENTUM Wireless Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones
Brand	Shure	Sennheiser
Noise Cancelling Active	Yes
Connection Type	Wireless	Wired, Wireless
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth	Bluetooth
True Wireless	No	No
Built-In Microphone	Yes	Yes
Carrying Case	Yes	Yes
Microphone Features	Adjustable, Noise cancelling	Fixed
Headphone Fit	Over-the-Ear	Over-the-Ear
Adjustable Headband	Yes	Yes
Warranty	2 Years	2 Years

Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Design & Comfort

The design & comfort of the headset has always been a known feature in the Shure models. Let us read and find out whether the Aonic 50 unit maintains it. Well, the moment you look at the headset, you are reminded of a top-end headset like the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless.

Its large earcups have a closed-back design and are produced from premium materials. However, they come in black and brown faux leather. There is something about leather units. They manage to have a good appearance.

You can use them in any situation, be it in your home, office, or the subway when you are headed back home. Now, the comfort factor is sublime. There is no doubt with that because you have a model with years of experience to back it up.

You can find that the headset is cushioned beautifully. They also are quite broad in design. You can notice the weight is balanced well on your head, and you do not feel distortion whatsoever. Our tester did not find them stressful wearing them for lengthy gaming sessions.

But when you compare the headset to an under $500 model, you may not get the same feel. We now come to the control scheme of things that seem quite reasonable. They come infused, having significant functions present on them.

The buttons are operational in the fantastic surrounding. Besides, they are touch-sensitive controls and are not very reliable. You can skip the tracks as and when you want to. Additionally, you can also access the buttons quite effortlessly.

You can make use of the ANC effortlessly. Though the earcups can be folded, they are not portable. You need to take in a separate bag if you want to. You can remove the padding when you want; as you know, leather can trap heat nicely.

Similarly, Sennheiser models are also known for their extreme comfort & design. You cannot find better models in the market when it comes to this aspect. Let us find out more about the Momentum 3 design quality.

Sennheiser models have this unique feature like Logitech or Corsair that they can be identified from far away. They are nicely cushioned and come infused with premium leather on them. These models appear quite genuine and elegant.

You will note that the leather on the earcups generates some amount of heat from them. However, they are pretty cushioned and nicely done. You instantly feel that you are looking at a top-end model, which you should consider at the price point of under $400.

Its earcups ideally distribute the weight on your head. The clamping force is just right, and you can feel the fit solidly. Our tester thought that the model resembled the previous Momentum 2. The design can be bulky and may be uncomfortable to wear for long hours.

Likewise, the control scheme on the model is finely placed as always. Sennheiser models were known for the placement of the buttons. Users can now play or pause, do anything very quickly. They also come with the button for ANC and talk-through.

The closed-back design on this model is not going to help things for breathability. You may find yourself struggling to use it because the heat is trapped efficiently. The leather padding on them causes some issues and may not be ideal for exercising also.

Shure Aonic 50 Vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Build Quality

The build quality of the Shure Aonic 50 unit is phenomenal. Though they are produced from plastic, it is notably robust. It cannot get damaged that easily. The earcups can be removed when you want to.

You can also change the earcups if you require. It helps in the durability of the headset. They come infused with faux leather, as we mentioned in the previous segment. You can notice that the hinges feel quite robust.

It remains on your head for a lengthy period of time. It is a wireless design that helps you get rid of the high clamping force of the model. You can wear them for those casual listening sessions. When you wear them for any longer, they can slip off from your head easily.

Overall, the build quality of the Aonic 50 is astonishing. On the other hand, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 model comes with outstanding features for a headphone. You can notice that the frame comes produced from metal and the leather padding is good.

This aspect of it gives it an elegant look and feel. The build quality is mostly the same as most of the Sennheiser units that are exceptional in many ways. As you know, the Sennheiser models are tremendous in design and can easily withstand falls.

There is not a lot of damage to it. When you are looking for a sublime designed headset, you will want to use the top-end Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless. The unit can remain on your head for a long time without much hassle.

However, we cannot recommend them for exercising and sports as they may fall off quickly with fewer movements. Not to mention, thanks to the wireless design, you do not have to worry about the cable wiring.

Shure Aonic 50 Vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Audio Performance

The audio quality of the Shure and Sennheiser models can decide on the outcome of this review. The models come with an accurate audio profile from our research done on them. Shure Aonic 50 headset is a neutral sound unit that has a stunning bass.

You can find a slight dip in the frequency of the songs with some punch in them. There is also more intense in high bass in some genres. You will want also to notice that the mids are nicely balanced.

The treble is quite overemphasized and not very even; that is an excellent option for providing immense details in their audio. It means that there is no intense sound quality in them. However, the unit comes with the parametric EQ providing you with the dedicated companion app.

Its response consistency is good, and the mids are quite phenomenal regarding the positioning of it. You can notice that the treble is not that great, though. Users can find some changes in their deviation them when listening to the low frequencies.

This means the sound in the bass can be heard awkwardly on a separate hearing factor. The bass is just fine, and the sounds come underemphasized. If you are somebody keen on listening to hip-hop, then you might be left annoyed.

On the other hand, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset sound quality is quite good. The audio delivery is consistent with what you can find in most of the models. Thankfully, you should use the ANC feature in them.

You can note some variation in hearing the headset at the low treble. However, it is not that noticeable. The headset is consistent when you are listening to songs of various genres and songs as well.

You will want to know that the bass performance of the model is splendid. The noise is nicely balanced to the core. They can quickly reproduce the thump that is constantly heard in most songs opulently.

But when the response of the headset is not up to the mark. When you are somebody who wants to hear bass-heavy music, the treble of the model is good too. You can listen to the lead nicely, which should not sound very sharp, which is excellent.

Overall, the fit and positioning of the headsets play a vital role in both the models. The Sennheiser & Shure have ensured that they provide you with a tremendous audio performance in them.

Shure Aonic 50 Vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Microphone Performance

The microphone quality is not something that the Shure models are generally known for. However, the Shure Aonic 50 headset provides you with an integrated microphone. We instantly noticed that the recording capability of the model was not up to the mark.

Your voice quality is quite muffled and lacks detail. This was quite a surprise for us because the price point of the headset was close to $300. The person on the other end might not be able to hear you well clearly.

Better quality can be expected to form it. The noise isolation was sound, and you can make out from the ambient noise. That was a perfect sign from the microphone. Having said that, when you are making a call from a café or a loud surrounding like an office or a subway train, your voice might not sound as it should.

On the other hand, the microphone performance of the Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset was sublime. The sound was good, and we felt that it was more opulent in the crispness of your voice. When you compare them to other wireless models, it sounded excellent & clear.

Even when you call up somebody in a crowded environment, they can easily hear you well. We can say that the integrated microphone of the Sennheiser model did a splendid job here. The voice quality was top-notch, and it did a moderate job in loud surroundings.

Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Compatibility

The compatibility of the Shure Aonic 50 headset can be done through the in-app audio player. Users can use the ShurePlus Play companion software and utilize it. The maker has provided consumers with the parametric EQ and audio presets.

It also comes with a built-in audio media player. You can also find 10 modes of adjustment. There is also a slider for ANC intensity. With the EQ, you can find that it has a massive impact on the audio performance of the music that being played on the unit.

The unit is compatible with the LDAC wireless codec. You will be delighted with the Bluetooth connectivity options. They can be compatible with SBC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX-LL when you want to stream a video when wearing the headset without the aptX-LL compatible receiver.

It comes with LDAC-compatible and can ably support the pairing of several models. They do not support non-Bluetooth wireless connections. It does not come with 1/8″ TRRS cable, but a 1/8″ TRS cable.

The Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset is compatible with the Sennheiser Smart Control app. If you have worked on it before, then you would know how excellent it is. You can make use of the parametric EQ and work on the presets.

You can connect using Bluetooth 5.0. Not to mention, you can also connect with two devices continuously. This helps you to switch between your smartphone and PC easily. With the help of the unit, you can also have adequate support from the NFC.

The unit supports aptX and aptX-LL that provide you with low latency. Usually, you may not find any delay in using the headsets while watching a video. The headset also supports an AAC codec. Users can make use of the USB-C to USB-C cable for receiving audio on the smartphone.

You can plug the headset on the 1/8″ TRS cable into the Xbox One Series if you want. Additionally, you can use the Xbox Series X and make use of the audio feature only because the microphone won’t work as they don’t come with a dock.

Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Price

The Shure Aonic 50 headset is priced under $300. It has fantastic features like passive noise reduction, a neodymium magnet, more battery life, and voice commands. The build quality and the design are good too.

It comes in brown, black & white colors. You can choose from any of the 3 options. We liked the brown color as it looked elegant and stunning. The Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset is priced under $400.

It comes in black & white colors. We liked the black color on the headset as it appeared elegant and dazzling. It has splendid features like 14Hz lower low frequency, 1.5dB/mW higher sound pressure level, and almost 30grams lesser than the Shure model.
The Sennheiser unit has an excellent comfort feature, and fitting is simply mind-blowing. You got to try it out actually to believe it. However, users might think about whether the unit is really worth that much money.

Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3: Verdict

We have ended our review on the Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3 headsets. They both are stunning units that have their features. Though not familiar, the former among many users is a decent bargain and comes with flawless abilities.

The Shure Aonic 50 headset is suitable for neutral audio, and the out-the-box sound profile is embedded with an overemphasized treble and bass that is quite noisy. However, it comes with the parametric EQ infused with a dedicated companion app.

Its bass response is not up to the mark and comes good, only if they are placed rightly on your head. The model does not provide you with the ideal listening as you may have liked. But it is acceptable for closed-back design models in the market, and they behave similarly.

However, our tester did notice that the critical listening aspect of it was stupendous. It is much better than the earlier unit that was sold. It has a bit of a heavy bass noise profile. The headset provides you with optimum balance.

Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset requires proving itself in front of the Shure unit. The pricing itself is a big let-down, unlike some users who say the price point is the same. It is not. The Shure model is almost less than $100 than the Sennheiser unit that is discussed here.

Consumers would be delighted to know that the Sennheiser unit is much better than the Shure unit in comfort, design, audio profile, and controls capabilities. The Shure Aonic 50 headset is the better unit because it has passive noise reduction, a neodymium magnet, and a 3h longer battery life.

It has 61 Ohms lower impedance, an 8mm bigger driver unit, and voice prompts, and has voice commands. The Sennheiser Momentum 3 headset is the better unit because it comes with a 14Hz lower low-frequency, 1.5dB/mW higher sound pressure level, and is 29g lighter.

It is also 1 more microphone, can be folded, 10°C higher maximum operating temperature, and has an L-shaped plug. Our winner between the Shure Aonic 50 vs Sennheiser Momentum 3 headsets is the Sennheiser Momentum 3 unit.

Its audio performance, separation of the bass and instruments is good. You can make use of the ANC system that decreases the volume of the noise system efficiently. This was our opinion about the models.

However, it is going to lie in your hands about which top-end model that you would like to own. When you are particular about the design, sound profile, and controls, then Aonic 50 unit is a good option, otherwise use the Momentum 3 unit.