After Sennheiser released its premium over-ears, the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones in 2022, the brand kept users waiting until a couple of months ago for the sequel, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless. Here’s all you need to know.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Design
The large oval earcups of the new headphones aren’t worlds away from the previous model — the design identity is recognizable at once — but there are details that differ, such as the fabric exterior to the headband.
The headphones come in three colors, black, white and denim, to suit those with quiet tastes through to those wanting more striking looks.
The earcups can be used to navigate the system, such as swiping up to change the volume, though the Smart Control Plus app offers more granularity.
Sennheiser also designed the new cans to be comfortable, to avoid the sensation of compressed ears after a long listening session, though they exert enough pressure to hold them in place securely.
At 290g, the headphones aren’t the lightest around but they are poised to stay comfortable for lengthy sessions.
The headphones come with a slim hardshell case, designed to make travelling with the headphones easy.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Audio And Call Quality
Headphones have to do so much more nowadays, whether that’s advanced audio or effective call quality.
Noise-cancelling on the latest headphones uses twice as many microphones as before, eight in total. ANC is a key headphone feature, with Sony, Bose and Apple continuing to lead the way. Sennheiser is no slouch in this department, with these headphones tuned to improve midrange noise cancellation, so background voices needn’t intrude. In public places, real-world sounds are reduced without being completely obscured.
Call quality is optimized so that wind and traffic noise is reduced, even muted, to allow the voice at the other end of the line to shine through.
When it comes to listening to music, the focus is on ensuring strong bass, relaxed overall sound and emphatic mid-range detail.
There are controls for EQ, which may appeal to those who find the increased bass register compared to the more neutral Momentum 4.
There are cables for USB-C and 3.5mm connections, to improve audio quality further.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Battery Life
Battery life for these headphones is a long way ahead of most rivals. With ANC on, Sennheiser promises around 57 hours between charges, which seems to be about right from my testing.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Pricing
Sennheiser has deliberately priced these headphones lower than its major rivals. At $399.90 (£329.99 in the U.K.), they are more affordable than the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2 and noticeably less than Apple’s AirPods Max 2.
The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones don’t have the anodized aluminum of Apple’s AirPods Max 2, favoring a largely plastic build, which some will feel makes them less premium than, say, the deluxe Sony WH-1000X The Collexion. Both those headphones cost more.