Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Nothing Headphone (1) vs Sony WH-1000XM5
I’m trying to decide between the Sennheiser Momentum 4, Nothing Headphone (1), and Sony WH-1000XM5. Where I live, all three are available for roughly the same price, so price isn’t really helping me decide, plus they are on sale so have to decide quickly.
I’ve wanted the Nothing Headphone (1) for quite a while because I really like the design and the physical button/roller controls. From what I’ve read, people generally seem to prefer those over touch controls. But I keep seeing people say that the Momentum 4 has noticeably better sound quality, which is making me reconsider.
The problem is that I don’t know whether I would actually notice or care about the sound-quality difference. I haven’t used any premium headphones before, so I have no reference point. I’m not an audiophile, but obviously if the difference is genuinely noticeable even to a normal listener, that matters.
My main concerns/questions are:
- Sound quality: How big is the real-world difference between the Momentum 4 and Nothing Headphone (1)? Is it something a non-audiophile would immediately notice, or more of an enthusiast-level difference?
- ANC: I’ve heard the Momentum 4 has weaker ANC. But how much weaker is it actually? Slightly worse than Nothing/Sony, or bad enough that it defeats the point of buying premium ANC headphones?
- Controls: The physical controls on the Nothing seem much better to me than touch controls, at least on paper. For people who have used both styles, is this actually a meaningful advantage in daily use?
- Water/dust resistance: Nothing has IP52, while the Momentum 4 doesn’t have an official IP rating. How much should I care about this? I assume the Momentum 4 won’t just get damaged from a tiny bit of sweat or light moisture, but I’m not sure how cautious I’d need to be.
- Build quality and durability: I don’t know much about the long-term durability of the Nothing or Momentum 4. I’ve also heard about hinge issues with the XM5, which concerns me.
- Sony XM5: My brother already owns the XM4, and from what I’ve heard, the XM5 isn’t a massive upgrade over the XM4. Since I can already use/experience the XM4, I’m wondering whether buying the XM5 even makes sense for me.
I’ll mainly use them for music, general everyday listening, studying, travel, and probably some movies/videos. I care about sound quality, but I also care a lot about convenience, controls, ANC, comfort, durability, and the overall experience of actually owning and using them every day.
Right now I’m emotionally leaning toward the Nothing Headphone (1). But I’m worried I might be choosing them over a clearly better headphone in the Momentum 4 just because of aesthetics and buttons.
For people who have actually used two or more of these: which would you choose at the same price, and why?