Sennheiser’s Momentum 5 Wireless headphones are a 4.5-star, “Recommended” pair of over-ear headphones priced at £329. They are considered the best over-ears yet in the Momentum series, according to reviewer Kob Monney.
The design largely carries over from the Momentum 4 Wireless, featuring subtle changes such as the removal of the circular inner-ring on the earcup and a power button positioned closer to the battery indicator. Other aesthetic updates include more visible microphone placement and new silver accents, including a “Momentum 5” logo.
The headphones are available in black, white, or a standout denim finish. They weigh 290g and remain comfortable due to soft synthetic earpads and light clamping force.
Some functional changes include the touch controls being inconsistent and the headphones now folding flat instead of folding up small. A new, 20% slimmer carry case is included.
For the first time, the batteries are user-replaceable using just a Philips screwdriver, although Sennheiser had not finalized replacement battery pricing at the time of review.
On the software front, the headphones connect to the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app. This app offers features like an 8-band graphic EQ, a Sound Check feature for personalized EQ presets, geo-fenced “Sound Zone” profiles, and toggles for touch controls, on-head detection, and auto-answering calls.
The headphones support Dolby Atmos with head-tracking and Bluetooth 5.4, including aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound.
Wireless stability was excellent during testing, although minor soundstage narrowing occurred under interference.
Battery life dropped slightly to 57 hours compared to the Momentum 4, a reduction attributed to improved ANC and extra microphones. However, real-world testing suggested actual battery life could exceed the rated figure, and fast charging provides roughly seven hours of playback from just ten minutes on the charger.
The noise cancellation utilizes a new 8-microphone hybrid system that outperformed the previous Momentum in pink-noise testing. It proved competitive with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2.
Despite the improved ANC, very loud transient noise (such as fast trains or bus jolts) occasionally caused distortion in the left earcup. Call quality was rated merely fine, trailing the Sony in busy outdoor environments.
Sound quality is characterized by a warmer, more mainstream, bass-rich tuning compared to the HDB 630. The reviewer described the overall sound as smooth, spacious, and natural, offering more clarity and definition than its predecessor despite a slight loss of smoothness.
In comparisons with rivals, the Sennheiser sounded more natural and better shaped tonally against the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, even though it was less energetic. The USB-C wired audio delivered the best version of the sound.
The reviewer concluded that the Momentum 5 Wireless and its main rivals are closely matched at this price point. While the Sony offered better ANC and call quality, the Sennheiser won on comfort and battery life. Sennheiser fans are suggested to find this an incremental upgrade over the Momentum 4 Wireless.
Source: Trusted Reviews