Sennheiser - MOMENTUM 5 Bluetooth Wireless Adaptive Noise-Canceling Over-The-Ear Headphones - Lavender

The headphones themselves look and feel excellent, if a little plasticky for the price. The fabric headband is especially nice, it adds an upscale appearance to the headphones and contributed to my decision to purchase these. On-head detection works well, haven't had a single issue. Touch surface is smaller than expected so I have experienced missed gestures but it's otherwise intuitive to use. They also have the best battery life ever on a pair of headphones I've used, I've used them over 6 hours daily and have only had to recharge them once a week. The noise cancelling is just good, it blocks a substantial amount of noise (especially more droning, constant noises) but it really misses the mark with higher frequencies and voices. Thats not to say it's bad, just that it could be better because both the WH-1000XM5 and QC Ultra perform better in this regard. The standout feature is obviously their sound, it's rich and detailed. The sound personalization feature is ESPECIALLY useful, you can make them sound however you want. They COULD be a little louder but their ANC and passive isolation is good enough that you shouldn't ever really need to raise the volume to its maximum setting. Dolby Atmos is really hit or miss since it appears it's an effect that is applied onboard; they won't actually decode an Atmos signal (obviously, the headphones only have two drivers). Head tracking works well but is honestly a bit of a gimmick included for the sake of keeping up with the competition. The replaceable battery is an amazing inclusion, they should be the sole reason you get these over anything else you're considering. Yes, they sound the best, yes their battery life is the best, but a product that you can maintain and use (theoretically) forever? Fantastic.

I purchased these mainly for the sound quality as that is my main concern, and these are fantastic in comparison to other bluetooth headsets I have tried. A user replaceable battery makes sure that it won’t become ewaste in 3 years which is a big bonus for me. The noise cancellation quality isn’t the most amazing compared to say Bose or Sony or Airpod max, but the transparency mode is still good and the ANC is more than good enough for traveling on the plane or bus. Just wish the headphones turned off when you put them in the case

I'm not a headphone snob, but I must admit this is probably the best pair of headphones I've ever owned. They are lightweight and, out of the box offer a good listening experience. The carrying case is thin as well and will not take up much space. It is a minimal design and can easily fit into a carry-on backpack for travel. The headphones look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They don't look big and bulky, but they look like premium headphones. The genius part of the headphones is you can pop the ear piece off and replace the battery. So you can get a longer longevity out of the Momentum 5. I don't think this is a feature on most headphones, and if so I just learned about it with these. You get a 180-degree swivel if you ever want to take a break and rest them around your neck. The comfort is also top-notch. You get padding along the top portion as well. So for long sessions, this helped and worked very well. I have a large head, so I was kind of skeptical if this would fit well. I'm very happy to say they do fit very well and are comfortable. I do have to extend them to the largest adjustment as I usually do. Fresh out of the box, the Momentum 5 gave me exceptional audio. As soon as I put them on, I noticed a difference. The noise cancelling has to be the best I've tested and used. You can download the app to even enhance the experience. You get more adjustments like Anti-Wind, Immersive Audio, Bass Boost, EQ, etc. I also tested the noise cancelling by turning on a cordless vacuum while listening to audio. You still can hear the vacuum, but the experience was much better than other headphones I've tested. I even tested the Momentum 5 while gaming and again it was an exceptional experience. With Good audio and a clear, fun sound, which made the gaming session more alive. Almost too alive because I kept having to pull one ear off because the Headphones kind of draw you in with the noise cancelling. The Momentum 5 advertises 50+ hours of usage on a full charge. I don't doubt this claim but even if you start to see different results. You can always change the rechargeable battery. The only negative is that the touch keys are kind of sensitive. Sometimes I like to wear one ear out and uncuffed. I like to be aware of my environment. Well, while doing so I was constantly pausing my video. Something I'll have to learn and adjust to in the future. Yet, these are a fantastic pair of headphones. They are now my go-to because they are lightweight, comfortable, and offer a good audio experience.

With the abundance of excellent noise cancelling wireless headphones available, making the “right” choice is daunting. I think the Sennheiser Momentum 5 makes this task a bit easier though. It has just about everything higher-end headphone should; clean audio, solid noise cancellation, adequate comfort and other interesting features. I’m fond of its understated design too. The kicker is the Momentum 5’s battery is user replaceable so the headphones can remain useful well past its essentially disposable and more expensive competitors. That’s good for the wallet and reduces e-waste. MOMENTUM 5 OR HDB 630? Technically, the Momentum 5 falls in the middle of Sennheiser’s wireless NC line up, but it’s really a unique product rather than a hobbled underling. The Momentum 5 even has features and codecs absent in the 630. So, if you are wondering which model best suits you, understand it’s not the usual “better,” “best” comparison. It really comes down to use case. I’m fortunate to own the 630 too and with months experience to understand the key distinctions between the two models. Surprisingly, the price gap isn’t that large. I think it’s because the sound difference between the two is narrow except if listening critically, which is the 630’s forte. The two really cater to different uses. I can’t go over all the differences here, but here’s a few of my key deciders. Where the 630 is authentically neutral out of the box the Momentum 5 comes ready to rock. The 630’s 5-band parametric equalizer helps users precisely adjust frequencies for critically listening. Momentum users get a more user friendly 8-band dynamic equalizer aimed at casual listening. There’re other ways to tweak the Momentum 5’s sound too, which I’ll note in the “App” section below, but nothing that can micro adjust like the 630 has. The flagship 630 includes Sennheiser’s BTD 700 Bluetooth dongle, giving wireless lossless audio capability to devices, like the iPhone, that natively are wireless lossy only. That’s not included with Momentum 5. Fortunately, the BTD 700 is sold separately and Momentum 5 compatible, so it’s an option. It’s been transformative in my in-home listening, but I’ve yet to use the BTD 700 with the Momentum 5 simply because I wear them during travel and walking around town and I find a dongle inconvenient in those situations. Then there’s the comfort factor. The Momentum 5 is comfortable to point but its compactness has a negative impact here, and I’ll detail in the “Fit” section below. For me, it does not compare to luxuriousness of the 630 with its bigger ear cups. The 630’s plushness has a cost in its scaled-up footprint. Its larger size looks goofy on my small head and bulky to wear in public or pack for travel. In sum, the Momentum 5 is an excellent “all around” headphone. It’s terrific for walking around and travel, and home too if it will be your only pair of headphones. The 630 shines at home when you want to enjoy each music note exactly as the artist intended. BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN Construction materials differ between the two, but both have suburb build quality. They also share a similar design, with the Momentum 5 being more compact. I really dig my Momentum 5’s metallic Navy Blue “Denim” color with gray ear pads. It’s a dose of eye candy that sets the stage for the ear candy I’m about to experience. Blue is my favorite color so I’m biased here. The headband’s topside is knit fabric rather than faux leather. On the Denim Momentum it’s a fun, but stylish, black and blue pattern. I suspect the textured fabric is more difficult to clean. Smartly, the earpads and bottom of the headband is vinyl. The rest of the Momentum 5 is plastic, I’m guessing ABS. Overall it’s a joyful colorway. Pricier headphones employ plastic too so I can’t fault the Momentum 5 for matching industry standards here. The supplied zippered case is covered in a matching fabric. The Momentum 5 drops into place, no origami needed. This may seem like a minor point until you are in a rush and can’t remember which direction to fold a convolutedly designed headphone to get them to fit in the case. Included in the case are USB and 3.5mm headphone cables, each in their own compartment for a clutter-free experience. FAIR-ISH FIT & COMFORT My head is oval and small. I wear a size 6 7/8 or 7 baseball cap and only needed to slightly raise the Momentum 5’s yokes for a no-slip fit. They have plenty of extension. I measured a bit more than 1.25” per side. Widthwise, max spread from edge of the left cup to the edge of the right is about 6”. The headband is comfortable, but I’d prefer more padding. Clamping force is gentle; my head doesn’t feel like an orange being squeezed. During walks, workouts, or even a happy dance there’s little movement. However, they might shift during a run. They also are neither water nor sweat resistant. Any discomfort comes from heavy-ishness of the ear cups. I always know they are on. Fit and comfort is subjective though since everyone’s head and ears are different. This is my experience. While head is small, my ears didn’t get the bulletin. They stick out like Alfred E. Neuman’s. As such, my ears fit like they “just” fit. They aren’t used to such a cozy interior space. It not a deal killer but maybe don’t expect ultimate comfort here. I received the Momentum 5’s in the middle of heatwave and took them for a leisurely three mile walk in 93-degree heat, 80% humidity. Minutes after being outside my ears heated up ahead of the rest of my body and stayed warmer for the entire walk. It never became unbearable, but there is appreciable heat retention. I can’t wait to wear them in winter. CONTROLS AND USE Headphones are one device I detest touch controls. Unfortunately, that’s what the Momentum 5 offers, except for a single physical “multi-use” button for power, summoning a device’s voice assistant, and hear the battery level. There is also an LED battery indicator on the right earpad. All transport controls are by tap and gesture. My 630 works similarly, and Sennheiser did a laudable job. The gestures are all intuitive. For example, swipe up to increase volume or down to decrease. Incidental touching, like when I adjust the headband or lift the earpads to wipe some sweat, can trigger unexpected actions, but usually it just “beeps,” nothing more. Activating a voice assistant, like Siri is on par with my other non-Apple headphones/buds. There is a 10-20 second delay between pressing the multi-use button and hearing the Siri tone. After that Siri works like Siri. I have not come across an auto-pause setting. Music continues when I remove the headphones. However, when I set them down it does automatically power off. BATTERY The 57 hours battery life is impressive because it includes noise cancellation. Many headphones boast incredible battery life with a “noise cancelling off” asterisk. No hiding the ball here. I quasi-tested performance myself by letting it play for a day to see where the battery indicator would line up afterwards. No surprise it was near the middle. Of course, it’s not scientific proof, but I’m confident it’s accurate enough. Replacing the battery is child’s play. I tried it and if you can use a screwdriver, you have the skills to replace the battery. It literally involves pulling off the ear pad and removing four screws. It takes minutes. I posted a pic to give a visual of the replacement process. INITIAL SETUP Bluetooth pairing to my iPhone was no different than other Bluetooth devices. The SmartControlPlus app is not required for installation, so bonus points for that. I do recommend installing it though. It’s packed with useful features, not a portal for advertising and personal data. My Momentum 5 arrived with Bluetooth 5.4 installed. However, Sennheiser says Bluetooth 6.0 is coming in a future firmware update. Coupled with the replaceable battery, this makes it even more “future proof.” Multipoint pairing is supported to connect two devices. APP AND AUDIO QUALITY To my ears, the out of the box sound has slightly elevated bass and treble tuned for pop/rock music. It’s not “boomy” or over bright, so if you are looking for exaggeration, it might not suit you. It’s even hard to simulate the signature glass breaking bass of some other brands using the equalizer. But if you are looking for clean, tight bass, clear vocals, detailed string instruments with noticeable separation keep reading. That is how I’d characterize the Momentum 5’s native profile and app’s “Neutral” preset. It’s not “Neutral” in an audiophile sense, but a marker to return to the default sound. The 8-band dynamic equalizer allows customization from the default sound within limits. It’s an invigorating Sunday walk rather a risky adventure. A customization can be saved as a preset. For non-DIY people there’s presets for most genres along with a neat custom sound helper Sound Personalization that guides the user to an individual sound. There’s lots more but word count limits me. In short, the Momentum 5 + app makes customization easy, both in finding the right frequency levels and general functions. Lossy ACC files from my iPhone are enjoyable and some Android phones can take advantage of the 5’s Lossless codecs. While many devices, like the iPhone, don’t support wireless lossless playback it is available wired, using the supplied USB cable or wirelessly with the optional BTD 700 dongle. NOISE CANCELLATION & TRANSPARENCY MODE I’m no technician, but anecdotally, with noise cancellation at 100%, volume at 40%, virtually all outside sound is imperceptible. Only a jackhammer, church bel or overhead jet penetrated and then it was slight. Audio remains clean and appropriately vibrant to the song. There’s no artificial white noise permeating quieter sections or gaps being songs. Noise cancellation and transparency are customizable. An alternative automatic mode is also available.

I have been using the latest Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones for everything from long commutes during the day to deep work sessions at my desk and they have been a godsend in the wear I’ve been able to put them through. Looking for the short answer: Sennheiser simply doubled down on what made the previous model great, addressed my number one gripe, and now packaged it in an amazing design that looks immacate in the real world. Talk about Denim, which is the best looking version of these types of headphones. The standard black and white versions might have a slightly corporate look and feel to them, while the Denim version features rich and deep blue denim on the headband and matching tan faux-leather ear-cup cushions. Has a very premium wellgroomed smart casual vibe without being too loud. They weigh 290g which gives them a nice weight for your head but not too much. The clamping force is adjusted beautifully not so tight as to cause a headache and not so loose as to fall off while walking or tilting the head. The ear cups are just a little bigger than on the older Momentum 4s and the soft padding makes for an exceptional passive seal. An eco-friendly gear featuring adaptive noise cancellation for a pleasant listening experience. If you were the owner of the previous model your aware that the sound was wonderful, but the noise canceling was "okay". Sennheiser definitely got the message and incorporated it into their design. They packed eight microphones into this chassis and ran a full-blown adaptation on that already with an active enhancement. It's a huge difference. The Momentum 5 was very good at eliminating midrange sounds, such as the low buzz of an airplane engine, an office, AC unit or the background noise in a busy coffee shop, among other things. The Momentum 5 is starting to make some serious headway in overcoming the top-tier competition. The best part? The ANC doesn't make your ears build up that uncomfortable feeling like "cabin pressure". Sennheiser will continue to put its foot down. It's no surprise inspired by their legendary HD 600 series open back headphones, the 42mm dynamic drivers play ball. Soundstage & Separation: Fantastic instrument separation The tracks do not trapped or compressed to your head. In the case of a rock song with a lot of acoustic tracks, you can hear the guitar, vocals, and percussion layers of the track in their own distinctive pocket. The bass is well handled, and has a good volume for the sub-bass and upper bass. It makes punch when needed but doesn't intrude on the vocals with punch and muddy. For the tech-savvy users, it supports Bluetooth 5.4 aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless. Streaming high-res audio sounds as impressive on playing through via an Android device or the PC as it is on a traditional wired connection if your device is compatible. Dolby Atmos: The headphones employ a 3D spatial audio (with head tracking). For regular stereo music I highly recommend NOT using it, however, when watching movies or t.v. it really adds a dramatic level of immerse. These have a playtime of 57 hours when ANC is enabled, which is not a misstatement and this has a user replaceable battery. The wireless headphones also typically come with an expiration date, given that the lithium-ion battery becomes fatigued after a couple of years, and thus, an expensive piece of tech becomes useless. The Momentum 5 features an easy to remove 700mAh battery and can be changed using a standard screwdrivers. Just for this reason alone, if you're planning to have your headphones for more than 3 years you should consider this as a worthwhile investment. Touch Controls: Both ear cups have a touch button which controls volume, track skipping and transparency toggle. This is generally sensitive, but has a minor learning curve as well as the occasional headphone head movement causing the detune and/or track skip effect. Case Design: They are folded over to a re-designed, slimmer zip-up case. While it's definitely portable, the ear cups are still pretty wide in the backpack and won't fold in towards the earband. But when you add class leading 57 hour battery life, heavy noise fading and signature-grade, audiophile quality sounds, plus Sennheiser's replaceable battery, this headphone is definitely much more valuable and long lasting than the competition. So if you love great music and your looking for a dazzling future proof tech for your every day listening needs, it's a superb choice no brainer.