The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 are the successor to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. The brand hasn't changed their formula much, sticking with what works for these casual, over-ear headphones, so their design and features remains largely the same: the MOMENTUM 5 have active noise cancelling (ANC), an expansive app, and a hard-shell case. But incremental improvements like a user-replaceable battery and Dolby Atmos virtual surround may be enough to set the successor apart.
Our Verdict
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 aren't designed for sports and fitness use. They're comfortable and stable enough to take a casual walk with, and you could potentially use them in the gym if you don't move around much. That said, they'll likely slip off your head if you try to run with them on the treadmill. There's also no IP rating, so we don't recommend exposing the headphones to dusty hiking trails. On the plus side, the headphones have great noise isolation, so you likely won't hear chatty gymgoers while you concentrate on your lifts.
Comfortable fit.
Great noise isolation.
No IP rating.
Not stable for vigorous movement.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 are great for travel. They have an ANC system that helps isolate you from plenty of background noise, including airplane engines, hissy bus brakes, and talkative travelers. You also get an over 50-hour battery life that'll sustain the headphones for long intercontinental flights or airport layovers. The headphones are also comfortable to wear for long periods of time, thanks to their lightweight design and moderate clamping force. And when you need to stow them away, you can pop them in the included hard case.
Comfortable fit.
Great noise isolation.
Comes with a hard case.
Not stable for vigorous movement.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 are good for office work. They have an integrated microphone, so you can take work calls. Plus, there's support for Bluetooth multipoint, so you can stay connected to your personal device and a work laptop at the same time. If you commute to a busy open-concept office or enjoy the ambiance of a cafe but not the noise, you can still work in peace thanks to the headphones' ANC system, which mitigates noise like background chatter.
Great noise isolation.
Supports Bluetooth multipoint with two devices.
Mic doesn't sound natural.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 don't have a low-latency wireless dongle for gaming. That said, you can use the aptX Adaptive codec in Low Latency mode to minimize audio latency if you have a supported device. For most people, this reduces codec audio/visual desync enough for casual gaming.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 are decent for wired gaming. They have low latency when wired via their analog or USB connections. That said, you may prefer to use the USB connection when possible, as it keeps your mic input usable on non-Xbox devices like a PlayStation or PC. The mic doesn't sound as good or reject noise as well as other gaming headsets with a dedicated boom mic, but the combination of very good audio reproduction and great noise isolation performance still make the headphones a solid option, especially if you don't need the microphone for Discord calls or in-game comms.
Comfortable fit.
Great noise isolation.
Mic doesn't sound natural.
Mic doesn't work wired with Xbox consoles.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 have very good audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response doesn't deviate significantly from the headphones' warm sound profile, though a minor dip in the low-treble can reduce the intelligibility of vocalists. The L/R drivers are also very well matched, so you won't notice instruments biased toward the left or right from where they're positioned in the stereo image.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 have great noise isolation performance. They come equipped with an ANC system that actively reduces bass and some mid-range noise. Coupled with the earpads' passive isolation, the headphones solidly mitigate engine rumble, ambient chatter, and screeching car brakes. The headphones don't leak much audio, too; someone sitting beside you in the library likely won't hear what you're listening to.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 have an adequate microphone. It reproduces your voice intelligibly, but you won't sound particularly natural on phone calls. Things don't get better when you have background noise, either. Consistent sound like a fan or ventilation system won't prevent your voice from being picked up, but loud noises like a vacuum cleaner will overwhelm the mic system and cause your speech to sound incoherent.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 have poor frequency response consistency. Your listening experience will likely differ depending on your head shape, with reduced bass delivery if you wear glasses or have features that interrupt the earpads' seal. There's also a lot of variation between seatings on the same person, particularly in the treble range, so it's worth taking the time to adjust the headphones' fit each time you wear them.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wireless come in 'Black,' 'Denim,' and 'White' colorways. We tested the 'Black' version and took a photo of the label.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the comments below, and we'll update the review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 represent only an incremental upgrade over the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. There's marginal improvement in noise isolation performance, with slightly better attenuation of mid-range noise like chatter, a user-replaceable battery, and a new Dolby Atmos virtual surround feature. Unfortunately, this puts the Sennheiser behind mainstream flagships like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Sony WH-1000XM6. Both competing flagships have noticeably better noise isolation performance and a similar wide feature set; the Sony has a much more effective mic system, while the Bose is significantly more comfortable, too. With this iteration, Sennheiser has launched their MOMENTUM lineup into the same price bracket as Bose and Sony, but value-wise, the gap in performance makes them a less compelling option. Still, they have a longer battery life than either competitor; it's also user-replaceable, removing battery health as a concern for product longevity.
Check out our recommendations for best noise cancelling headphones, best headphones, and best noise cancelling earbuds if you're considering in-ears, too.
The Sennheiser HDB 630 are better headphones than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5. The MOMENTUM 5 have a warm tuning that emphasizes the low-bass rumble of movie soundtracks more than the balanced HDB 630, but one tuning isn't necessarily better than the other and comes down to preference. The HDB 630 stands out thanks to their better noise isolation and microphone noise handling. They also have a longer battery life, though both headphones have over 50-hours with ANC on. You also get the Sennheiser BTD 700 wireless dongle so you can listen to high-quality audio streams on devices like iPhones without worrying about Bluetooth codec compatibility. Still, the MOMENTUM 5 are in a lower price tier and have Dolby Atmos support, while the HDB 630 don't.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are better all-rounder headphones than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5. The Sony have significantly better noise isolation that mitigates a lot more noise in the mid-range, affecting voices, cars revving, and clicky keyboards more effectively. Their microphone also captures your voice more naturally and prevents loud noise from affecting intelligibility. You also have access to the more accessible LDAC codec and LC3 for lower latency. That said, the Sennheiser have a longer-lasting and replaceable battery, and support wired USB audio.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 are a marginal upgrade over the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4. The noise isolation performance and microphone noise handling are slightly better on the newer MOMENTUM 5. The successor also have a user-replaceable battery; while it doesn't last as long as the MOMENTUM 4's, it's still over 50 hours, which is plenty for multi-day travel. The newer version also introduces Dolby Atmos virtual surround for more immersive listening and an upgrade from aptX Adaptive High-Quality to Lossless. That said, the MOMENTUM 5 are significantly more expensive than the now-discounted MOMENTUM 4, so if you can get the older pair on sale, they're likely better value for most people.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are better than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 in most respects. As you'd expect from the name, the Bose are much more comfortable to wear. And they have similar feature support: virtual surround, wired USB, and aptX Adaptive. While the Bose's mic isn't much better than the Sennheiser's, the Bose isolate you from noise much more effectively across audible frequencies, so you'll hear less rumble from engines, chatter from coworkers, and hissing from ventilation. That said, there's still some reasons you might prefer the Sennheiser; they have a longer battery life and their controls are more comprehensive, allowing you adjust transparency strength and switch on virtual surround with a double-tap.
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