Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless review: Keeps the momentum going

Sennheiser Momentum series has a loyal following among personal audio enthusiasts. But the company takes its sweet time releasing new wireless headphones. About four years after the Momentum 4, the 5th edition recently arrived in India, bringing a new eight-microphone system, updated audio hardware, spatial audio support, and improvements to the companion app. In my first impressions, I was particularly interested in testing these familiar yet more repairable flagship headphones, thanks to their user-replaceable battery.

After spending considerably more time with the headphones, I have a better understanding of their sound signature, battery life, and everyday usability. The design has also grown on me. So, in this Sennheiser Momentum 5 review, I have useful insights to share and tell you if it’s worth the asking price of Rs 39,990.

Good, recognisable design

I have already covered the design and build in my first impressions of the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless. Rather than repeat those details, I want to focus on how I have liked the headphones’ design more with regular use.

I received the blue Denim finish, which gives the headphones a distinctive fabric-like appearance. The matching carrying case carries the same design language, while the cream-coloured details on the headband, ear cushions and bundled cables provide contrast. It is a more characterful look than the usual black or silver headphones, without appearing excessively flashy.

And it is not just me; people around me also commented positively on both the headphones and the carrying case. That shows that Sennheiser has created a good, recognisable product.

The headphones weigh 290 grams and use a largely polycarbonate construction. The padded ear cushions sit closely around the ears and provide passive isolation. The case is also relatively compact for travel, although the headphones themselves do not fold into a smaller shape.

The Momentum 5 has no official IP rating for dust or water resistance, so it is not a pair I would recommend for use in rain or during workouts where sweat exposure is a concern. But for commuting, office use and listening at home, the design makes sense.

And a very sensible decision by Sennheiser, albeit because of regulatory pressures, is the allowance of a replaceable battery. You have to remove the left ear cushion and unfasten four Phillips-head screws for this. This could elongate its life by several years, provided other parts also stay functional. At present, the brand has no plans to extend the repairability support to other components like ports. But a repairable battery is a good start. I love that brands are focusing on improving the core experience, like in this case, replaceable batteries.

Lively, engaging sound with room for customisation

Sennheiser has equipped these headphones with a 42mm dynamic driver. The company says it draws on the principles behind its audiophile headphones and is designed to deliver a detailed, natural presentation.

In our testing, we found that even with the Neutral EQ preset, the Momentum 5 does not have a perfectly neutral sound signature. There is a slight boost in the bass, which adds weight to low-frequency sounds, such as basslines and kick drums.

That said, the frequency response stays relatively close to the reference level through much of the midrange, while the rise in the 4kHz to 6kHz region helps vocals and lead instruments sound clear and prominent. In my listening, snare drums, brass instruments and more aggressive vocal notes did not sound particularly piercing, though.

Then there is a drop in the upper treble region, which may mean less sparkle and air in cymbals and other high-frequency sounds. If you find certain vocals or treble elements too sharp, you can fine-tune the sound using the eight-band EQ in the Smart Control Plus app.

You can also enable Bass Boost in the app for a more pronounced low-end response. It gives the bass a more physical, almost resonant quality, with the sensation extending towards the back of the head and neck.

The headphones also support Dolby Atmos-based Immersive Audio with head tracking. The head-tracking part works, but the soundstage isn’t that wide or open. Overall, I didn’t feel like keeping the spatial audio feature on.

Ample noise reduction and transparency

The Momentum 5 uses hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation with eight microphones, four on each earcup. Sennheiser claims that its noise cancellation suppresses midrange noise up to three times more effectively than the Momentum 4.

In real-world situations like office, home, and cabs, the Momentum 5 offered good noise cancellation. Surroundings don’t become dead silent but could effectively reduce constant background noises. The wind noise reduction was also working well, which is a must-have if you don’t like wind interference.

The headphones also include a transparency mode, which uses their external microphones to let surrounding sounds through. This does a fair job, but it doesn’t enhance sounds like some of its competitors do. Also, there is no conversation awareness feature here.

Well-equipped for calls and connectivity

Momentum 5 offers comprehensive connectivity support. The headphones feature Bluetooth 5.4 and work with AAC, SBC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless. They also support multipoint connectivity, allowing them to remain connected to two devices at once.

I paired the headphones with a MacBook Air, iPhone Air and Nothing Phone 4a. The initial pairing process was straightforward, and I did not encounter connection problems during my use.

Wired listening is also supported. I tried USB-C audio and the bundled 2.5mm-to-3.5mm analogue cable with the MacBook Air, and both worked. Sennheiser specifies support for USB-C digital audio at up to 24-bit/96kHz, making the wired connection a useful option for compatible high-resolution sources.

You can also connect the Momentum 5 to Sennheiser’s BTD 700 dongle to enable aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive on compatible computers and other devices, allowing for high-resolution wireless audio. The dongle also offers a low-latency audio for gaming and video playback.

Call quality-wise, I had no issues. The other party could also hear me properly. The Momentum 5 uses beamforming microphones and includes voice-related processing features.

Also Read: JBL Live Beam 4 review: Punchy sound with smart features

Smart Control Plus app is fine but I want more

In Sennheiser’s Smart Control Plus app, you can adjust the equaliser, Dolby Atmos-based spatial sound, switch between ANC and transparency modes, learn about touch controls, find headphones, change audio quality, etc.

The eight-band equaliser is useful for those who want more control over the sound than a simple bass or treble adjustment. Similarly, the Sound Personalisation feature lets you create a sound profile based on your preferences.

The app also supports Sound Zones, which can automatically apply selected sound and noise-control settings at configured locations. But I wish this geolocation setting could be set for a smaller radius. For instance, this could have enabled different sound profiles for office meetings.

I love the various touch controls, but I wish the app allowed me to change or configure some of these gestures.

So on one hand, the Smart Control Plus app provides plenty of scope to adjust its sound and behaviour, but one could wish for more controls.

Substantially long endurance

Sennheiser claims up to 57 hours of playback with ANC enabled. In my test, the Momentum 5 lasted 48 hours with ANC switched on. It is shorter than claimed but should be enough for several days of regular listening before you need to charge them.

The company also claims that a 10-minute charge can deliver up to seven hours of playback. The headphones charge through USB-C, and a full charge takes approximately two hours as per the company.

And since the battery is replaceable, you can extend the overall life of the headphones.

Should you buy the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless?

Right off the bat, I appreciate the design and, especially, the thought Sennheiser has put into battery replacement. It is a sensible step towards making premium headphones last longer, and I would like to see more brands take the same approach.

But there is more to the Momentum 5 than its replaceable battery. The sound is lively, with added weight in the bass and clear, prominent vocals. The battery lasted 48 hours with ANC enabled in my test, and I had no complaints about call quality. Noise cancellation also works well for everyday use, although it doesn’t block out everything around you.

There are a few areas where I would have liked more. Immersive Audio didn’t convince me to keep it enabled; the transparency mode could do a better job of making outside sounds clear, and the Smart Control Plus app could offer greater flexibility with touch controls and location-based settings. These are areas Sennheiser could improve in future iterations. Speaking of which, I also look forward to the company extending its repairability support to other components.

Overall, the Momentum 5 gets the fundamentals right, with no major shortcomings in my experience. If your priority is the strongest possible noise cancellation, a more neutral sound, or a more convincing spatial audio experience, it is worth comparing it with competing flagship headphones before buying. But the Momentum 5 makes a good case for itself, and it is good to see Sennheiser introduce a meaningful feature like a replaceable battery rather than focus only on incremental audio upgrades.

Keep reading Digit.in for similar reviews.

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