Customer Ratings & Reviews

Love my new Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5s! I've owned so many wireless earbuds that have been just "fine" but that haven't really wowed me. I feel like I FINALLY found a flagship that is worthy of being my daily. What initially impressed me was the design and the build quality. For starters, can I just briefly mention how much I love the "Denim" colorway? I'm a huge fan of the deep navy blue color with the small speckled accents all over the charging case. I also really like the minimalistic and slim profile of the charging case. While I will somewhat miss the iconic fabric charging case from previous Momentum TW earbud generations, this new plastic case should be easier to keep clean and stain-free. The new re-designed earbuds are also a welcomed change. I've always felt that previous Momentum TW earbuds have been shaped like a couple of small chunky ice cubes. I was pleased to discover that the new earbuds have a much more naturally sculpted and aerodynamic shape that makes running or exercising with them very comfortable. I was initially a bit concerned about this new finless design but I've had zero issues with them staying in my ears—even during my workouts. I do think that the correct fit is crucial if you'll be active with these earbuds but that's why Sennheiser includes four different silicone ear adapter sizes. There's also a "Fit Test" on the Sennheiser "Smart Control Plus" app that helps to make sure you have a proper seal. In terms of sound quality, these are easily among the best sounding earbuds I've ever heard. For reference, I spent most of my time listening to Hi-Res audio tracks on Tidal streamed at up to 24-bit/192kHz, which paired seamlessly with the Momentum TW5's aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive codec support. I listened to classical, jazz, techno, reggae, metal, hip-hop, and country. I think Sennheiser did a phenomenal job nailing the "Neutral" sound profile. It sounded very balanced with just a touch of warmth—just how I prefer listening to most of my favorite genres. Vocals are clean and organic, sitting front and center without crowding the mix, while instruments were able to maintain crisp, distinct separation. Surprisingly, classical became my favorite genre on these; the wide soundstage and sense of space are incredible for an earbud this compact. The ANC performance is also stellar. I work in a noisy office environment and these TW5s completely drown out the noise around me. I love that you can easily toggle between ANC and transparency mode by just tapping the left earbud. This is a feature I ended up using quite a bit whenever my co-workers would try and get my attention. The mics are also very impressive. The earbuds have a total of 8 mics (4 per earbud). One of the mics acts as a voice accelerometer (bone conducted mic) which measures mechanical vibrations. For the past week and a half, I've used these to join several MS Teams calls, Zoom interviews, and standard phone calls. Everyone I've asked so far said I sounded great! While the star of the show is the amazing sound quality that these TW5s are able to reproduce, a close runner-up is the fact that we can finally replace the lithium batteries on the earbuds and the charging case! Sennheiser is the first mainstream audio company to do this. While it's predecessors always had great sound quality, battery degradation issues has been somewhat notorious with the MOMENTUM True Wireless line. As seen in my picture, all you need to do is remove a small screw on the charging case to access the lithium battery pack. For the earbuds themselves, you just remove two small screws and then use the included prying tool to remove the exterior earbud housing. I highly recommend using a quality screwdriver as the last thing you want to do is strip those tiny screws! Also, if you're reading this, Sennheiser: please make this exact battery model the standard across future Momentum generations for years to come so that parts can stay interchangeable. Otherwise, changing to a new battery pack every couple years completely defeats the purpose of making them replaceable in the first place. Lastly, Sennheiser's Smart Control Plus app is a joy to use. The UI is very intuitive and snappy as you navigate through menus. I love the EQ presets, which cover genres like Rock, Pop, Dance, Hip-Hop, Classical, and Jazz. I find myself frequently toggling on the 'Speech Clarity' preset when watching YouTube videos, as it does a fantastic job boosting dialogue. You get a 'Bass Boost' option if you want to quickly add some extra low frequency goodness to any selected preset, along with the ability to build your own profiles using a full 8 band EQ. You can get really granular with a feature called 'Sound Personalization', which lets you balance a sound signature to your liking while making specific instruments more or less prominent. I also tested Dolby Atmos tracks on Tidal using the app's spatial audio setting called 'Immersive Audio'. While the head tracking and 3D positioning worked remarkably well, I still caught myself returning to the standard 'Neutral' stereo profile for pure music listening where the drivers sounded their punchiest and most cohesive. It's really difficult to find any cons with these earbuds. If I had to nitpick, while having user replaceable batteries is an incredible feature for longevity, you do have to supply your own tiny precision screwdriver to remove the micro screws. I'd love to see a secure, tool-less latch design in future generations so you don't have to hunt down specialized tools or run the risk of stripping those tiny screws. Other than that, I love my new Momentum TW5s and will be using them daily!

I’ve been using the new Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 earbuds, and the first thing that stands out is exactly what should stand out on premium earbuds: the sound. These are some seriously good-sounding wireless earbuds. Music is clean and detailed without sounding artificially sharp, vocals are clear, and the bass has plenty of punch without overwhelming everything else. Sennheiser uses its TrueResponse drivers, and the TW5 also supports lossless audio and up to 24-bit/96-kHz playback with compatible equipment. What I like most is the separation between sounds. On a good recording, instruments don't feel like they're all piled together in the middle of your head. You can pick out vocals, drums, guitars and smaller details much more easily. The bass also feels controlled rather than simply "turned up." If sound quality is your main reason for buying premium earbuds, the MOMENTUM TW5 delivers. The Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) works very well. It automatically adjusts based on your surroundings, and there's also a transparency mode when you actually want to hear what's happening around you. Getting the right ear-tip fit is important, though. A good seal improves both bass response and noise cancellation considerably. Independent testing found very respectable noise reduction with ANC enabled as well. I used the app do help determine a good fit as you can see in the screenshots. One of my favorite parts of the package is the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app. This isn't an app you install once to configure the earbuds and then forget about. The main screen gives you an easy view of both earbuds and the charging case — in my case, all three were sitting at 100% — along with connection management and quick access to noise control. Dig deeper and there's quite a bit to play with. You can adjust the EQ, select sound modes and use Sennheiser's Sound Personalization system to tune the earbuds specifically to your listening preferences. Sennheiser developed that personalization technology and I especially like this approach because you don't need to understand audio frequencies or know what moving a particular EQ slider from +1 to +3 is supposed to accomplish. The system can help you arrive at a sound you simply prefer. The device features are equally impressive. You get Bluetooth 6.0, multi-device connectivity, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, adaptive ANC, automatic wind-noise suppression and AI-assisted voice isolation for calls. Each earbud has four microphones along with technology that detects the vibrations of your own voice, helping separate your speech from surrounding conversations and noise. That's the kind of technology that's mostly invisible when it works correctly — which is exactly how it should be. Battery life is another strong point. Sennheiser rates the earbuds for up to 12 hours per charge and up to 40 hours total with the charging case, although actual runtime will vary considerably depending on ANC and other settings. Even better, Sennheiser made the batteries user replaceable, including the batteries inside the earbuds. That's HIGHLY unusual for true-wireless earbuds and could make these last much longer than models that essentially become disposable once their tiny batteries wear out. Usability has also been very good. Pairing with my iPhone was straightforward, the app clearly shows what's connected, and the touch controls mean I don't have to pull out my phone every time I want to change something. There are a lot of features packed into these earbuds, but Sennheiser has done a nice job of keeping the everyday controls understandable. The MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 aren't inexpensive earbuds, and some of their advanced audio capabilities depend on having a compatible source device and content. But even without chasing specifications like lossless codecs or 24-bit audio, the basic experience is excellent. For me, that's what makes these successful. They sound fantastic first, and then all of the technology makes that experience better rather than getting in the way. Great sound, strong noise cancellation, an unusually useful app, excellent connectivity and replaceable batteries make the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 an easy recommendation for someone who cares about audio quality but still wants all the convenience of modern wireless earbuds.

_______ *Pros: -The audio is clear, detailed, and crisp. -Bass is good. -Bluetooth 6.0. -Supports aptX Lossless codec. -Dolby Atmos spatial audio is neat. -Great call quality with good wind noise reduction. -Batteries for the earbuds & the case are user-replaceable. -The case is small enough for front pocket storage. -The earbuds are securely in during jogging and runs. -The SmartControlPlus app is snappy and well laid out. -Good custom EQ control. -IP54 protection. _______ *Neutral: -Long wear causes slight earache. -The passive noise cancellation isn’t as good as others. -ANC isn’t as good as I had hoped. Competitors do better. _______ *Cons: -Too expensive for ANC that’s not as good as competitors. -Enabling the advanced lossless sound quality mode caused infrequent pauses and dropouts during music listening. === Design and Comfort === The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 (TW5) earbuds made a good first impression out of the box. The case is relatively light and slim, and it easily fit inside both my dressy work pants as well as my athletic fit jeans. I like that the case is not glossy but has a matte finish. Despite that, oil from my fingers did cause smudges and after some accumulation, looked a bit unsightly. The smudges come off easily, however, so it’s not a big deal. The earbuds look a bit chunky but they’re fortunately light and comfortable to wear. It took my body a few days of daily usage for acclimation before the initial earache and soreness went away. The tap and tap-and-hold features worked well, and the controls were snappy and non-frustrating. There is a total of four pairs of ear tips included, and I was comfortable using the preinstalled medium-size ones. In order to maximize both passive noise cancellation and active noise cancellation, it’s important that after you insert the buds into your ear, you rotate it and wiggle it around to ensure a good seal. Popping the earbuds in and out of the case is an accurate and simple affair thanks to the grooves inside the case as well as the strong magnets. I like that the batteries for both the earbuds and the charging case are user-replaceable, which should extend the life of the product greatly. For the earbuds, the battery replacement tool is included in the box, and the battery part number is BA 501 (800048). For the case, you’ll need a PH 000 screwdriver, and the battery part number is BA 502 (800047). I’ve used both thin, stem-like earbuds as well as chunky, roundish earbuds like the TW5, and I’m okay with both designs. The TW5 stayed put securely inside my ears during my jogs and runs, and I never felt nervous about losing them. Other pluses for the TW5 are that it’s Bluetooth 6.0-based (better future proofing), support for lossless audio codec, IP54 durability, and support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio. In order to perform firmware updates and select your preferred EQ settings (or to create your custom EQ profile), you’ll have to use the SmartControlPlus app, and it fortunately, is intuitively laid out, snappy, and easy to use. There was a firmware update waiting for me out of the box, and it didn’t take unusually long to update. I experienced no weird glitches or crashes, and the app was just a pleasure to use. === Audio & Call Performance === The TW5 impressed with its excellent sound quality. The buds handled all the genres of music I listen to on a daily basis very well and accurately – rock, alternative, pop, oldies, hip hop, rap, K-pop, heavy metal. The soundstage is wide and great, the little details are present that lesser buds don’t even showcase, and the vocals are crisp and clear. The bass is pretty good, too, so hip hop and rap lovers should be very satisfied. My phone call experience on the TW5 has been very positive as well. My callers reported my voice as sounding clear, rich, and life-like, and the anti-wind noise cancellation worked well, which is very appreciated since I sometimes take phone calls during my runs and bike rides as well as during open-window car rides. My only gripe with the TW5 is the somewhat lackluster passive and active noise cancellation features. Although I chose the correctly sized tips for my ears, the buds don’t seal as well as some of my other earbuds, so more noise gets through passively. Even with ANC turned on, I noticed that the TW5 cannot eliminate noise – especially that of people talking near me – very well. I’ve been using the TW5 at work, and my super-loud coworker sitting to my right behind a short cubicle wall can still be heard when she’s on the phone. If my other premium ANC earbuds can block 100% of her voice, the TW5 blocks about 85%. That’s not bad but it’s not super fantastic either. At this price point, I expected a better ANC experience. === Battery life === There is nothing to complain about when it comes to battery endurance. With ANC toggled on, the buds last 5 to 6 hours, and without ANC, can easily last about 10 to 12 hours. The buds recharge pretty quickly inside the case, the case gets charged up pretty quickly too. === Is it worth the coin? === Despite some of its shortcomings, like the below premium-level ANC performance, I feel the TW5 are worth the coin. It’s due to several things, such as its excellent audio fidelity and quality, great bass, user replaceable batteries that greatly extend its functional lifespan, the snappy and intuitive mobile app, good battery stamina, and easy portability. I would recommend these to my friends and family, and I rate them a solid 4.5 Stars.

I am not an audiophile but I do enjoy listening to music and have had dozens of TWS earbuds that I keep upgrading from. I had the Momentum True Wireless 3 (TW3), then the TW4 and now the TW5. Also included in my vast stable of earbuds are the AirPods Pro 3 and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. So far, there is not a single perfect set of buds and each brand’s “flagship” model has compromises. Before the TW5, I would use the AirPods when ANC was of primary concern like when flying, and the Pi8 when just listening to music at home in a quiet environment as they sound the best to me. In terms of “tiers”, these TW5 are what I would deem high-end “consumer” buds. They are not as “prosumer” as the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 but are no slouch. These TW5 are a radical repackaging of the TW4 formula. The shape and design of the buds and the case are redesigned, but sonically they are similar to but just a tad better sounding than the TW4 that they replace. If you’re new to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless series and are considering other buds in their price range, these are the buds to get as of the time of this review. They are a great balance of musicality, noise cancelling, size, fit and features for their price. At this more accessible price point than buds like the Pi8, you’d still expect sonically great buds with good ANC, long battery life and a long list of convenience features. You won’t be disappointed! Unless you’re doing A/B comparisons with other buds, these buds sound great and their noise cancellation and transparency modes work well. If you use them for voice calls, the other party will hear you clearly even when you’re in a noisy environment thanks to the numerous microphones and the newly-added bone conduction microphone. The newly-designed case fits much more easily in a pants pocket and the less chunky stemless buds fit my smaller ears but should also be fine for larger ones. The app is fully featured with the usual like battery status, firmware updates, enablement of various extras like Spatial Audio and Equalizer settings. I appreciate the new design of the case - it’s now taller and thinner for a slimmer profile in your pocket. I do miss the fabric-like exterior of the TW4 but gladly will take the matte look for the slimmer design. The back sits flat on a wireless charger or when plugged in with a USB-C cable on the bottom but the case can also sit upright on a table for easy access to the lid and buds when not charging. This case is about 25% smaller by volume than the TW4’s case and the overall pocket weight is about 15% lighter than the TW4. One of the major advantages of these buds is that the case and bud batteries are user-replaceable with a simple screwdriver. A few years from now when the batteries no longer hold a full charge, you can purchase replacement batteries for a quick swap to renew them back to factory-fresh rather than making more e-waste. I connected these buds to my iPhone 17 Pro Max running iOS 26 and enjoyed their clarity on Apple Music Lossless songs such as “Almost My Own” and “Another Day Gone” by Midnight Generation and “Verdi Cries” by 10,000 Maniacs. The bass was noticeable but not overwhelming and the soundstage was clear and balanced. Transparency mode allowed me to clearly hear others for spontaneous conversations, but did have a bit of background hiss and artificial sound - especially as compared to the AirPods Pro 3. It was fine - just not class-leading for this feature. I flipped over to my AirPods Pro 3 and surprisingly, the TW5 sounded better for music. The ANC and Transparency of the AirPods Pro 3 still handily beat out the TW5 but musically, the TW5 were clearer with a wider soundstage. Next were the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 which admittedly are not in the same price class. What can I say, you get what you pay for and the B&W were noticeably better sounding, but at a significant price increase over the TW5. Unless you’re willing to jump up to nearly double the price, the TW5 will more than meet your needs. While the TW5 are an improvement in nearly all aspects over the TW4, there were a few areas where the TW4 had an advantage. At the time of this review, the TW4 supports AuraCast while the TW5 does not. The TW5 supports Spatial Audio with head tracking, and probably will get a firmware update to support AuraCast in the near future. Also, the TW4 lasts a little longer on a single charge with ANC on, but the TW5 lasts a little longer than the TW4 with ANC off. This is probably due to the Adaptive ANC in the TW5 being a bit more intensive than the basic ANC of the TW4. If you’re shopping for a great set of TWS buds, these are probably the best choice at this price point right now. Sonically they sound great, their ANC is great even if not best-in-class, and the fit, features and functions are all top-notch. With their user-replaceable batteries, you won’t have to worry about discarding them in a few years when the batteries inevitably need replacement since you can do it yourself. These are definitely a worthy successor to and upgrade from the TW4. They define their price class and deserve consideration, but of course, everyone’s ears are slightly different. To my ears, they are now my favorite in their tier.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 (TW) – You Can Replace the Batteries Yourself – What?? Introduction: First let me say I’m a huge fan of Sennheiser earbuds. I have owned the TW 3 and TW 4. The TW 4’s are still in my earbud rotation. They are some of the best money can buy. The TW 5 is an all-new design, from the earbuds themselves to the charging case. Gone is the stubby oblong fabric wrapped charging case of the previous generations. The new case is a thinner, taller polycarbonate and metal logo top case, which is grippier and more pocketable. The earbuds themselves are now oblong shaped without fins, which Sennheiser says provide better comfort. While they are indeed comfortable, it will require longer listening sessions to fully validate. Sennheiser ear-tips have never worked that well for me. This isn’t a dig on Sennheiser. Their stock ear-tips may work just fine for you and while they do provide multiple sizes for different sized ears, my ear canals simply don’t work well with most stock ear-tips. I have ordered Azla TWS 6 Medical Grade Silicone ear-tips like I’ve done for many other earbuds because they stay more firmly planted in my ears. Packaging/What You Get: As you’d expect the TW 5 come nicely packaged with everything you need. The earbuds themselves are in their charging case, and mine came with about 50% charge. Sennheiser recommends charging them before doing anything. In addition, you get multiple sized ear-tips, XS, S, M and L. Also included is a short USB C to USB C charging cable. Interestingly, if you charge via the cable, the USB port is on the bottom of the case requiring the case to be laid on its side to charge. You also get a quick guide with easy-to-follow graphics and the standard safety and regulatory pamphlet. Finally, since one of the standout features of the new TW 5 earbuds is the ability to change the batteries yourself, you get a Battery Replacement Tool! How COOL is that??!! Setting Them Up – The Tech: Once you’ve charged them, just opening the case puts them in pairing mode. Open Bluetooth Settings on your mobile device and tap to pair. And they of course support multi-point pairing. Mine are paired with my iPhone, MacBook Pro and iPad Pro (but to only two devices at the same time). It’s important to download the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app where you’ll find controls for Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation/Transparency, or to program the touch controls on each earbud. There’s an 8-band graphic equalizer, or you can choose from several preset customizations for different genres of music. I’m not fond of graphic EQs or preset customization. The TW 5 already sound natural and full bodied out of the box in the Neutral setting. The App is where you’ll update the earbuds. You can also choose the bitrate you want to listen to, such as High-Res 24 Bit/96 kHz or Lossless 16 bit/44.1 kHz. These earbuds also support Dolby Atmos 3G Spatial Audio, with head tracking and they support Auracast Bluetooth transmission as well. Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation analyzes ambient sounds and knows when to turn things down. There is Automatic Wind Noise Suppression and Bluetooth 6.0. They’ve incorporated AI Powered Voice Isolation for clearer calls with 4 mics per earbud including bone conduction to isolate your voice and for reducing noise in the environment. The TW 5 are IP54 dust and splash resistance (they’re not waterproof, so don’t swim or submerge them). Supported codecs include SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive Lossless, but you need a device which supports those codecs. If you’re an iPhone user like me, AAC is it. I honestly don’t believe I can hear a notable difference between higher-res codecs, anyway. Batteries - The STAR of the SHOW: The batteries in earbuds don’t last forever. I’ve worn out more than a few earbuds over the years. And then we throw them away. How wasteful. Sennheiser has done something beyond remarkable, something no one else is doing. Not Bose. Not Apple. Not Sony. Not Bowers & Wilkens. NO ONE. And that is making the batteries user replaceable in each earbud and the charging case. These are truly the first future-proof earbuds from a longevity standpoint in the earbud world. The batteries themselves will provide up to 12 hours on a single charge (without ANC) and six hours with ANC with up to 40 hours overall playtime with the wireless charging case. If you need a quick charge eight minutes gives an hour of listening time. Sound Matters Most: The TW 5 have Sennheiser’s signature sound which is a great thing. They’re open and airy, and no matter how complex the music, everything is exactly as it should sound and again, for me, without the need for any EQ. Bass is solid, vocals are clean and centered and highs crisp without harshness. I’ve listened to many genres, including Symphonic (St. Saens Organ Symphony), Mason Bates (Mothership), Caravan Palace (so much fun) and rock/jazz with heavy bass and vocals. Everything sounded great. Phone calls sound quite good too. I placed a call in a noisy environment and the person I called said I sounded clear, not like I was in a tunnel as other earbuds can sound with calls. The Adaptive ANC works quite well. From my initial experience, ANC is better than the TW 4, which was fine for me to begin with. I’m not an ANC Snob, so it’s not super important to me. Sound matters more and that’s why you invest in Sennheiser headphones to begin with. Overall, these are a great evolution in the Momentum line of earbuds. They sound great, the price of admission is very reasonable for premium sound and the fact you can replace the batteries is simply remarkable to say the least. Sennheiser is very respected in sound, and these are yet another example of just why they are.

Sennheiser has long been known as a manufacturer of high quality audio products. My experience with Sennheiser goes back to the HD414 headphones I purchased in the 1970s, so I had much anticipation to try a modern product from them. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds are made to compete in a crowded marketplace with many products to choose from, and at many different price points. The Momentum 5 is positioned at the upper end of the spectrum with an MSRP of $299.95. For this price, you get the earbuds in a charging case, four pair of different-sized, silicone ear tips, an 18-inch USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a pry tool for changing batteries, and hard-copy documentation. While a charging adapter is not included (an adapter with 5 watts of output is recommended), the Momentum 5 is available in five different colors compared to many competitors that offer a choice of exactly one color. Wireless earbuds can be hit or miss for a lot of people in two important areas, one being sound quality or sound signature as everyone has different preferences and varying hearing abilities, and the other being the fit of the bud in the ear and the ability for the device to remain in place during activity. At this price you expect and you do receive a high-quality product in which the sound quality can be tailored in many different ways via Sennheiser’s “Smart Control Plus” app for your phone. Besides having Sennheiser’s predetermined sound EQ curves available, there is also an eight-band graphic equalizer option, or a guided walk-through process called “Sound Check” which I found to be a rather unique way to custom tailor your sound, and to make adjustments to that customization. While the Momentum True Wireless 5 will work out of the box, much is left on the table without using Sennheiser’s app. Options such as being able to listen to Dolby Atmos content, setting “Sound Zones” which allows you to change sound settings automatically based on geographic location such as home, school, and work, the ability to customize what functions your finger taps on the buds control, and offering the ability to test the fit of the different ear tips in your creator-given listening appendages (ears). There is another, separate Sennheiser app that uses the Momentum 5 to test your hearing. Since I have a moderate hearing loss, I am always on the lookout for products to help me function in my day-to-day activities. Earbuds are about the only way I can still enjoy music (hearing aids leave a lot to be desired when it comes to music), and I use earbuds almost exclusively for phone conversations. I have had experience with a number of different wireless earbuds (brands and models of a brand), and I find these Sennheisers to be not quite as loud as other brands when used at the same volume setting on my smartphone. For people with normal hearing, this should not pose any issues. I find that I prefer to use aftermarket, silicone “wings” or “fins” that slip onto earbuds to help them stay in my ears when they are available for a particular earbud product. In my searching, I did not find any of these currently available for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 at this time. In my ears, I found the Momentum 5 to stay in place better than some other manufacturer’s designs and they were not as secure as buds that were wearing silicone wings. For users that are able to keep a product for long periods of time (without losing or breaking it), the big downfall of most wireless earbuds is that the batteries in the buds get old and no longer hold a charge for very long. We have a few sets of earbuds in the house where one bud goes dead when the other one still has 50 to 60 percent power remaining. Those of us in that group should rejoice as Sennheiser has introduced a product where the user can replace the rechargeable batteries in both the earbuds and in the charging case. Besides the included “battery replacement tool”, you will need a #000 Phillips screwdriver to replace the batteries in the buds, and a #0 Phillips screwdriver to replace the battery (one) in the charging case. Normally I wouldn’t take apart a brand new device, but I wanted to see just how hard this was to accomplish. It wasn’t hard at all, and one nice thing I noticed is that the VERY small screws in the earbuds are captive and do not come all the way out of the case half making it impossible to lose them. Note that the single, larger screw in the charging case does separate completely from the cover and can be lost. When I compare the performance and design of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 to other products of a similar price, I find them to be as good as, or better than their competitors. Choice is always a good thing, and Sennheiser gives us yet another option in the high-end wireless earbud market.

These are my new favorite earbuds and I take them everywhere with me! I have used 6 different pair of earbuds over then past 5 years and the Momentum 5 earbuds are truly a leap forward over all the others I've used. I especially love the sound quality and that I can customize the sound precisely to my hearing and environment. I have been using these for 5 days now, and on average, I use them 4-8 hours per day. What makes these earbuds stand out for me is the sound quality, ANC, and battery life. When I started researching and evaluating earbuds, I looked at the following: Sound and Call Quality: I am older and have Tinnitus and some hearing loss. So, it was beyond any expectation that I would be able to quickly create a customized EQ for these earbuds, including other settings to hear so clearly. I am finally able to hear some of the highs and lows in my music that I was totally missing before. In addition, I was able to create several for different content (i.e., music, movies, podcast) and in different zones (office, plane, quiet room). Lastly, you can turn on Immersive Audio, which is audio that is optimized for Dolby Atmos. This works great for watching movies in a noisy hotel room or at home, when you don't want to disturb your family. Even more importantly, while using my phone with these earbuds, the sound is perfectly clear and I am able to hear the other person and they are able to hear me. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Sound Quality is clearly a 10 for me! Fit and Comfort: I must have smaller ear canals, because I have a difficult time finding standard earbuds that fit well and are comfortable over a long period of time. So it really helps that these earbuds include 4 different sizes of ear tips. I work in an office setting, but also frequently work at a client's office that is a large open room with lots of other people and noise. In order to concentrate, I put earbuds in and listen to music for several hours at a time while I focus. I also travel by plane a lot, where I also need to work or want to sleep. So having earbuds that fit well and stay in my ears, while being aware of other people near me, is essential. These earbuds fit well and stay in okay, but the ear tips seem to cause a little discomfort, especially in my right ear. I've tried the smallest ear tip, but they are too loose and the larger ear tip doesn't work either. On a scale of 1 to 10 for comfort and fit, I would give these earbuds an 8. Noise Control and ANC: These earbuds allow me to turn Noise Control to ANC (On/Off) or Transparency (On/Off), like most earbuds. But, I really like that I can also set the amount of Transparency during regular listening and during phone calls. This is really helpful for me when I am working at a client's office, because it lets me listen to music or take a call, and still be cognizant of people that walk up to me with a question. I don't totally block out everything around me, yet I still am able to focus when I need to work. Again, for me this is ranks a solid 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Earbud Controls: These earbuds have the usual controls on the earbuds themselves and they can be customized in the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus App. The only downside I found with the earbud controls, is that it can be difficult finding the correct spot on the earbud to press and it takes a little more time to do. It was more frustrating when trying to place or end a phone call. It isn't a critical problem for me, but on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate these a 8. The shape of the earbuds and the size of the touch point could be improved. Build Quality and Battery Life: I feel the build quality is very good and these earbuds certainly have excellent brand reputation. Although, I do wish the case had stronger magnets to hold the earbuds into place and the hinge on the lid could be stronger. The battery life is also excellent and the charge on the earbuds last all day for me. I also like that these support wireless charging and Sennheiser provides the ability to replace the batteries in the case and the earbuds, so these will have a long life. With this, I would give these earbuds a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. Summary: In conclusion, these earbuds also support Bluetooth 6.0 and a future firmware upgrade is to support Auracast. Overall, I really love these earbuds and objectively would rate these a 4.7. But, the sound quality, ANC, and ability to customize the sound to my imperfect hearing absolutely makes these a grand-slam homerun for me. I have replaced my other earbuds with the Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds and take these with me every day to work, travel, leisure, etc. My daughter borrowed them and added some to her Christmas list too. I feel these earbuds are priced very well and are an excellent value. I highly recommend these earbuds and they would make a great gift.

I don’t always wear earbud headphones, so I was pleased to learn that these uniquely designed earbuds are comfortable! In addition, the earbuds come with four sizes of tips (extra small, small, medium, and large), which allow for a customized fit. I found them to fit very nicely in my ear, although I let a family member try them out, and she thought that the plastic housing of the earbud was a bit snug in her ear. Overall, I would still say that Sennheiser has really maxed out the comfort, while making these appropriately sized for most ear shapes. Further customization includes the ability to choose between transparency mode and active noise cancelling mode, while the SMART CONTROL PLUS APP allows these modes to be customized even more. I absolutely love transparency mode, as it allowed me to hear my surroundings, and things like people talking while using the earbuds. With noise cancelling on, the whole world disappears, and I really can’t wait to try these out on a noisy plane flight! Want more customization? Using the SMART CONTROL PLUS APP, the number of taps on the left and right earbuds which are used for earbud function can be changed if desired. Speaking of taps: while you are wearing the earbuds, hold a finger on both earbuds at the same time, and after about three seconds the earbuds will enter the pairing mode; make sure the device you are pairing to is in Bluetooth mode; and select the MOMENTUM Earbuds from the list on your device. It is so easy: the earbuds play a musical tone letting you know when they are in pairing mode, and a voice tells you when they are connected. With Sennheiser earbuds, incredible sound is expected, and these earbuds do not disappoint. Music, movies, and audiobooks all sound amazing! I was impressed with the deep, responsive bass, beautiful mids, and crisp highs from my favorite music. I primarily listen to downloaded music in lossless (ALAC) format, ripped from CDs or downloaded from Bandcamp. All genres of music sound incredible, from hip hop, to metal, to classical, there really isn’t anything the Momentum 5 earbuds can’t reproduce wonderfully. I also appreciate that these earbuds get plenty loud if you need them to. When using the earbuds for phone calls, the voices are clear and easy to understand. Tapping to answer or end calls allows one to seamlessly switch between music and calls. I found the battery life to be excellent during my time with these earbuds. Out of the case, they last a good while, and having the charging case is a great way to top them off on the go. While I did not measure how long I used these before recharging, it felt like a significant amount of time had passed before I needed to charge everything. And speaking of batteries, they are user replaceable on this model. I think this is an awesome way to ensure that I can keep using these for years to come. For those who are interested, the SMART CONTROL PLUS APP lists another Sennheiser app that provides a hearing test. I haven’t yet tried this feature, but it is cool that it’s offered. Overall, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds are the best set of earbuds that I have ever used. I typically use “over ear” style headphones, yet these have absolutely blown me away with their performance. Add in the fact that I can easily replace the batteries when the time comes, and I think I’ve found a set of earbuds I can enjoy for a very, very long time. I totally recommend these, bravo Sennheiser!

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds have taken my music listening to the next level. I am an avid Spotify listener, and I use earbuds at home, at work, and while working out. The Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app enhanced the entire experience for me. I started with the Fit Test, which helped me choose the best silicone ear tips for my ears. With XS, S, M, and L sizes to choose from, I was able to find a good seal and a comfortable fit. Once I got them set up, I explored the app and personalized my sound and EQ presets, reviewed the controls, and turned on features like immersive audio and anti-wind. I even renamed them using the name wheel and chose “Melody Mates.” I turned on Multipoint so I could connect to two devices at once, which is really convenient. There are so many other options in the app that I haven’t even navigated through all of them yet. One small thing I noticed is that the voice prompts are in a British English voice, and I didn't see an option to choose a different voice or accent. The Quick Guide made getting started easy. It walked me through turning the earbuds on by holding for three seconds, the initial pairing, and setting them up with the app. It also explained the 1-tap, 2-tap, and hold controls on both the left and right earbuds. The earbuds stayed comfortably in my ears and didn't fall out, even when I was exercising. I also like the texture of the charging case. It offers better gripping than the smoother case of another brand I have, which sometimes would fly out of my fingers when they were sweaty. My earbuds and case are the denim color, which is a cool shade of blue and black. The case is considerably heavier than my other earbuds case (70g compared with 46g) but it is thinner, so it actually fits better in my pocket. The sound quality is superior. I struggled a little with the tap controls, though. There is a click when you tap, but sometimes the controls seemed overly sensitive and registered a double tap when I only intended to tap once. For me, though, the biggest selling feature isn't the incredibly long 40-hour battery life with the charging case. It's the fact that the batteries can actually be replaced in both the earbuds (BA 501) and the charging case (BA 502). Batteries eventually degrade, so being able to replace them makes these earbuds feel like a long-term investment rather than something I'll have to replace when the batteries eventually wear out. The box includes easy-to-follow directions for changing the batteries, along with a battery replacement tool for the earbuds. You will need to provide your own mini screwdriver. With ANC on, the earbuds get about 6 hours of play time, and about double that with ANC off. The Bluetooth 6.0 connection also made it easier to connect with my laptop than my current earbuds from another brand. When I was out walking, the ANC did a great job blocking out much of the environmental noise, including cars, birds, and even the breeze. I'm a self-proclaimed music enthusiast, but I wouldn't call myself an audiophile. I can't knowledgeably explain the sound features of the Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds, but I can rave about the enjoyment I get listening to music while wearing them. The fit is comfortable and secure, the app gives me plenty of ways to personalize the experience, and the replaceable batteries make these earbuds stand out as something designed to last.

PROS + Excellent, neutral sound profile that is very easy to listen to for long periods + Very comfortable fit, with earbuds that stay securely in place without feeling bulky + Good build quality with IP water resistance + Responsive and customizable capacitive touch controls + Excellent call quality and voice isolation + Supports a very wide variety of Bluetooth codecs, including lossless 16 bit/44.1kHz & 24 bit/96 kHz lossless & hi-res with supported devices + Good EQ controls with extensive customization options in the Smart Control Plus app + Custom sound personalization in the app worked nicely for some light automatic EQ + Good battery life with fast charging & Qi wireless charging support + Replaceable batteries in both the earbuds and charging case are a huge step forward for repairability and reducing e-waste CONS - ANC is decent, but not class-leading and doesn't completely quiet the environment without audio playing as well - Transparency mode is functional, but voices aren't mixed into your music particularly well, often resulting in a more artificial transparency feeling - Dolby Atmos with head tracking requires you to disable lossless audio & feels more like a neat trick than a meaningful improvement to the listening experience - Some occasional connection and firmware-update quirks with the Smart Control Plus app SO-SO * USB-C charging port on the bottom of the case is a little awkward, since you have to lay the case down to charge it * Replaceable batteries are a great idea, although finding the proprietary replacement batteries may take some effort based on Sennheiser support * Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint works well once connected, but isn't always seamless when reconnecting devices, needing me to use the app to re set-up more than I’d like * Every time I reset the earbuds it would default back to ANC mode and I would need to manually re-enable transparency, even if that is what I spent most of my time in THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT On the whole, I really like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds. They aren't the kind of earbuds that completely blow me away in one specific category, but rather they do a lot of things very well and come together as a really strong overall package. The biggest standout for me is the sound quality, with Sennheiser's trademark neutral tuning producing a smooth, balanced sound that I found very easy to listen to for long periods. The bass is controlled without being overly boomy, the highs aren't harsh or sibilant, and with the wide range of codec support, including lossless audio, these are clearly designed with people who care about audio quality in mind. I also really liked the custom sound personalization feature in the app, which uses a short listening test to create an EQ profile tailored to your preferences. I still preferred the default neutral tuning overall, but the custom profile worked well and is a nice option for people who want to fine-tune the sound. Beyond the sound, the fit and comfort are probably my other favorite part of these earbuds. They're slim, secure, and comfortable enough that I could wear them for several hours without the same level of ear fatigue I experience with many other earbuds. They also stayed firmly in place through walking, biking, weightlifting, and other light exercise without needing ear hooks or other bulky hardware. Add in good build quality, water resistance, responsive touch controls, and excellent call quality, and these are an easy pair of earbuds to use throughout the day rather than something I would only reach for in certain situations. Sennheiser also gives you a lot of control over how you use them. The Smart Control Plus app has extensive EQ options, sound personalization, customizable touch controls, different sound modes, fit testing, and a number of other features for people who really want to fine-tune their listening experience. I personally kept coming back to the default neutral tuning, but I really appreciate having the option to customize things further. Multipoint Bluetooth also works well once everything is connected, making these useful for both work and personal listening, although I did run into some occasional reconnecting and firmware-update quirks that kept the software experience from being completely seamless. There are a few areas where I think these fall short of the rest of the package. The ANC is good enough for reducing everyday background noise, but it doesn't provide the level of isolation I would expect from the best noise-canceling earbuds, and the transparency mode sounds somewhat artificial and doesn't mix voices into your music particularly well. The Dolby Atmos head-tracking mode is a neat feature, but I ultimately preferred listening in lossless mode and didn't find the immersive audio added much to the experience. Battery life is still good in real-world use, and fast charging and Qi wireless charging make keeping them topped up easy. One of the features I appreciate most, though, is something you don't immediately notice when using them: the replaceable batteries. Being able to replace the batteries in both the earbuds and charging case gives these much better long-term repairability than most true wireless earbuds. Rather than having to throw away an otherwise perfectly functional pair of earbuds once the batteries eventually wear out, you have the option to replace those batteries and keep using the product, which should help reduce e-waste over time. The batteries appear to be proprietary, so actually finding replacements may take some effort, but I still think giving users the ability to replace them is a major step in the right direction. At the end of the day, these have become my go-to earbuds for pretty much any use case. They're not perfect, and there isn't one feature here that I would call revolutionary, but the combination of excellent sound, great comfort, strong everyday performance, extensive customization, broad codec support, and better repairability makes them a very easy recommendation. For me, they're a particularly compelling choice if sound quality is your top priority and you want a pair of earbuds that can comfortably handle just about everything else you throw at them. Definitely recommended

I have several sets of Sennheiser ear buds and headphones. The sound quality has been mostly good on all of them but where I usually find them lacking is in the fit. The shape of the ear pieces being not quite right or the spring tension on the headphones being too tight to be comfortable for long. What I really appreciate about this set of ear buds is the fact that Sennheiser really hammers home the fact that I've been complaining about for years with most brands of ear buds. The sound quality is directly related to the fit and size of the tips used. They even include a test fit function in the free app to help with this process. And they are absolutely correct, without the best fit and positioning, you will never get quality sound. So once you find the correct tips for your ears and figure out the best position to wear them, they do sound really good. One might even say audiophile grade. Highs are clear and clean without any high end clipping. Low end is deep and remains clear even at high volumes and has good sound pressure levels which allow you to feel as well as hear the music. In addition to the great sound, the app has a selection of sound profiles you can set to compliment the style of music you like to listen to. There is also a bass boost switch that enhances the low end without blowing the doors off. The ear pieces themselves have a very high quality look and feel to them. Combined with the number of rubber tips they supply you with, you have a very good chance to find a pair that fit well. But I have to say, while the rounded tapered look is good, it really makes the ear buds very difficult to maneuver in and out of the case as well as position in your ears. This is something Sennheiser has struggled with on their ear buds. The shape is always different on their various models, but always difficult to handle. Being these are made of a very smooth material, it makes them awkward to grip. Once their in your ears, it's not an issue, but trying to remove them from the charging case, I've come very close to dropping one or both of them between getting them out of the case and putting them in my ears. When I first opened the case, it took me several tries to remove them. I ultimately realized the best way to get them out was to slightly twist them to pop them free of the magnets in the case. Maybe my hands are larger than most, but the finish is still quite slick. The charging case is actually quite nice. When I first saw it I was a little doubtful that it would stand up on it's own, especially with the lid open, but it works perfectly. It stands without assistance with the lid either opened or closed. It has some heft to it which I attribute to the battery, which is fine and to be expected. A very pleasant surprise was the fact the batteries in both the case and the ear buds themselves are replaceable! And they give you an instruction sheet that shows you exactly how to replace them, and the battery numbers for each type. I've never seen this included on any ear buds and it helps to make these buds even more unique. I've been using them all week and I've only charged the case once when I first got them. I use them every day for about 40 minutes on my morning run. They are rated for IP54 dust and water resistance and I have never had any issues with them coming loose or falling out. The Adaptive Noise Cancellation works very well and keeps out pretty much all external noise until you switch to the transparent mode which allows external noise in. I wasn't able to test out the call feature because I don't really use them for calls and rarely get any during a workout, but they appear to have extensively engineered this feature to a high degree. As far as ear buds go, I'm a difficult person to please. I like very high quality sound that also comes with a comfortable feel. The sound quality is definitely there, the comfort level is just not. They are not as comfortable as I expected them to be. I have other ear buds that I use for long periods of time and cause no discomfort whatsoever. At the end of my run I'm looking forward to removing them. I think any discomfort I'm experiencing, is from the stem being just a little too short and the body of the (quite wide) bud housing is bottoming out in my ear instead of just sitting comfortably in place. Again, this is a very subjective area for each person, but for me the comfort is not there.

I’m not the most experienced with wireless earbuds; my only experience with them were the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ from roughly five years ago. Those have lasted for quite a while and are still functional today. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5(MTW5) surpass it in every form though that is to be expected given that it is newer technology. Let’s start with the audio quality; I am very impressed by the wide sound stage and the bass for wireless earbuds. Vocals for songs are very clear and clean. It’s all certainly a step up from those Samsung Galaxy Buds+ I have. You can make adjustments to the equalizer using the SmartControl+ app. Unfortunately, I am unable to compare how this sounds compared to its direct competition like the Airpods Pro 3 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds. The Active Noise Cancellation is rather good. Meanwhile, the transparency mode is adequate. It works well, but something about it doesn’t sound quite as natural and there’s a slight vacuum feeling to it. You can make adjustments on the app to adjust the transparency volume level too. In terms of comfort and fit, the default medium tips that the Sennheiser come with fits me well but the small tips fit me better. I can move around and they won’t fall off. That said when I’m a bit more active I do hear a bit of a popping noise so I may have to play around with the fit a bit. Either way, I do find these earbuds comfortable to wear for a while. On the box, the battery life is purported to be 40 hours. Microphone sounds adequate; I tested a recording with Audacity on my PC and I sounded clear at least for wireless earbuds. The MTW5 do have some nice features. For one, it has Bluetooth 6.0 and it supports multipoint connectivity so I can have these earbuds connected to both my laptop and phone at the same time. You do have to enable this feature through the app though. The other big feature that makes it completely unique from any other wireless earbuds though is that the batteries can be replaced on the case and the earbuds themselves. At its MSRP of $300, this is more expensive than its current competition. However, if you an audiophile who wants the best sound quality some wireless earbuds can provide, you cannot go wrong with the MTW5.

These are my first ever Sennheiser earbuds. The moment I opened them up, it was love at first sight. The moment I put them in my ears, it was love at first sound. ------------ The MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 are hands down the best pair of Bluetooth earbuds I've ever experienced. I've used a lot of earbuds during my time and I must say I can't believe how long I've been missing out by not trying this brand sooner. I feel like I've settled for so many headphones and now have that pair that provide me the true sound and comfort I have been craving for. ----------- Love the app functionality too. Lots of customizabble options here to tinker with. Sound Zones is a pretty cool feature. You can set it to be a certain setting when you're within your zone and once you leave. I set mine so transparency is on at home and once I leave my zone ANC is on for noise cancellation. ------------ Really love the charging case and buds appearance themselves. The denim blue color is subtle but beautiful. There is a slight sparkle to the coating which just adds to its attractiveness. ------------ Battery has been great so far. Can't really speak on how many hours I actually get but I have only had to charge them once in a weeks time so far. ----------- Sound is absolutely incredible on all levels. Music quality, video and phone calls. Everything is super sharp and crisp, fantastic bass with music and videos. Phone calls are clearer with the Momentums than they even are with my phone itself. Lots of options for the EQ in the smart control+ app, which is also a nice interface . ------------ I really could go on and on more about these earbuds, I just love them. I am extremely happy that I can finally end my long search of finding the perfect earbuds, because these now hold that crown for me.

Features: • User replaceable batteries in both of the earbuds and the case. That’s extremely rare in true wireless earbuds. It requires a very fine Philips screwdriver to remove the tiny screws, but I tried it and it works. I’m grateful they are taking “Right-to-Repair” seriously. • 12 hours runtime per earbud. • Up to 40 hours running total time from power stored in caring-case with no external a/c required. . Good for wilderness camping etc. • AI powered voice isolation + bone conduction voice accelerometer for unusually clear phone calls. • Smart Control Plus app with 8 band Equalizer + Sound Personalization • Dolby Atmos with head tracking for immersive spatial audio. Normally only found on premium over . ear headphones. • Adaptive hybrid Automatic Noise Control (ANC) + automatic anti wind mode — stronger and more . natural than previous generations. • 1 year Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship PROS: - Very feature rich ear buds with impressive sound quality. - To me (a Do-It-Yourselfer), replaceable batteries is a very impressive feature. CONS: - Like all totally wireless Ear-Buds, scratching an ear or resting your head on a pillow can accidentally affect a control causing a phone-call to be canceled or a recording to be paused. - No physical wire between ear-buds means you can sometime lose a knocked-out ear-bud before you notice it’s gone. - Very disappointing that such a high end set of earbuds, have chosen not to activate the chipset’s (Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound–series SoC (S3 or S5)) Auracast (LE Audio) capability. LE audio allows earbuds and hearing aids to access the sounds being sent to the Auditorium speakers to hear only the auditorium or church sound system and no ambient sounds. It can really help those with limited hearing. Possibly Momentum might activate LE audio in a future update, since the earbuds are LE capable. Conclusion: These Sennheiser, Sonova Momentum True Wireless 5 Earbuds are a high-level design with great audio, features, performance, and appearance. They are Noise Cancelling, and very effective at canceling ambient noise in a crowded room while you’re making a phone call. They're a pleasure to use.

The Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds are great! the case is elegant with the denim look with a wonderful battry time, it charges the earbuds like 3 times. connection to multiple devices at the same time is possible thanks to Bluetooth 6.0 sound quality is great with very high resolution highs, mid's and low's. call quality is very clear. Noise cancelling is superior and can stop it with a tap on the buds, I can also raise and reduce volume by swiping on the buds. it takes a couple times to get used to it but its good. I used them for running and while strength training, the didn't slip out. they did fine with sweat as well. I got about 38 hours of play out of a full charge and am extremely happy with them. the case isn't too think and fits in pants front pocket easily. the case is alo good quality. the app is easy to use and very responsive. it comes with different ear fitment sets ( 4 sets total). works with Dolby Atmos enabled content. noise cancellation and transparency modes are really really good.

This is my first pair ever of Sennheiser headphones ever and so far with these AMC earbuds I must say I'm impressed. I like the navy blue color as well as the multiple included ear tips that actually fit my ear snugly and keep these from falling out. Most earbuds for me don't have a great fitting ear tip no matter which one I switch to or try they're either too big or too small for my ear canal causing discomfort and pain within 30 minutes or less with most other brands. Battery life is great with both the earbuds as well as the case, I like how you can tailor the sound via the app to your liking. I would rank these right up there with any other high-end earbuds with all the included features from the steady connection of Bluetooth to ANC to being able to use Google Assistant for phone calls or automations around the house or the possibilities are pretty much endless with these ear buds. These are a larger design which if you have smaller ears might be slightly uncomfortable or a tad big for you since they've got so many built-in features but for my ears which I would say are average size I don't find them uncomfortable unless you try to lay down on a pillow on your side.

TL;DR, it’s alright. Pretty comfortable, sounds very nice for some genres, decent ANC earphones. The earbuds come with several unmarked earbud tip sizes. The ones that are on the earbuds out of the box are “medium.” Once you find your size, it is pretty comfortable and can be worn for a while. However, if your ear walls get irritated with any earbuds, these are unfortunately no exception. These earbuds feature touch control. I personally don’t prefer it because I accidentally pause my music when adjusting my hair, glasses, earrings, etc. and sure enough, paused it one too many times with these. Touch controls are: Single tap=play/pause, Double tap(r)=skip song, Double tap(l)=back, Triple tap=not configured, Hold(l)=vol down, Hold(r)=vol up. There are sound indicators with each tap so it was nice to know how many times I’ve tapped. The sound quality is better than a lot of the earbuds on the market but not great with all music genres. It absolutely shines with r&b, hip hop, and some pop music. With the right EQ, it is rich and bassy. It is however incredibly disappointing with rock. No matter how much I adjust the EQ - preset or manual - it doesn’t seem to get rid of this muddiness and distorted sound. The noise cancellation on these are decent. At 50% volume, I can’t hear any low background noises but can hear loud noises. At 25% or lower volume, I can hear most noises and even keyboard typing in a quiet room. Immersive audio alone without “headtracking” didn’t change much of my music listening experience. There’s a slight added “clarity” that unfortunately doesn’t sound very nice to me - it adds a slight robotic quality to the vocals. However, some people may enjoy that “clarity” and may not hear the robotic quality at all. The “headtracking” mode - which shifts the sound as you move your head away or towards the sound - would be good for movies, perhaps games, but I found no use for them outside of that. I do really like the “Smart Pause” setting. If you pull out one earbud, it pauses the music as long as the earbud is in your hand. No additional notes here. Battery life is acceptable when compared to some of the earbuds on the market. It lasts about 6 hours with ANC, 35 hours with case. Without ANC, the earbud battery life is about 9-10 hours. The earbuds battery is in increments of 10%. The case battery percentage has been a little weird for me - it jumps up and down by 5% increments. Either way, it will last through commuting or short domestic traveling but may not be a true “all day” use without charging the earbuds in between. This maybe is a non-issue and I’m nitpicking but “Battery Protection mode” is not enabled by default and has to be turned on in the setting. This means that the case and earbuds are allowed to overcharge by default. I would think at this point, it would be a standard across all electronics to have “smart” charging for battery health. With that being said, these allow you to replace the battery pack in the case and earbuds. If the battery health does become an issue, in theory, you would replace the batteries and they would be like new. These are water resistant and seem to withstand sweat just fine. These are NOT waterproof. Overall, I’m divided on this one. I would recommend this if you’re in the market for a comfortable pair of earbuds, sound quality is great for aforementioned music genres, commuting, gym time, and short domestic traveling.

``` Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 There are tons of choices for wireless earbud users these days, but Sennheiser's flagship MOMENTUM True Wireless (TWS) line has always held a premier spot for audio enthusiasts. I've been using Sennheiser's wireless earphones since their MOMENTUM Free (that had a wire connecting each one) more than 8 years ago... Now, Sennheiser is back with their fifth-generation MOMENTUM True Wireless 5. I think "all new" is overutilized, but definitely not in this year's upgraded model! Overview and Specs =============================== Priced as a premium TWS IEM, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 packs a serious list of high-end audio hardware and modern features into a compact package. Maybe the only thing carried over from the MTW4, it features the same 7mm TrueResponse dynamic transducers, but that's not a bad thing. The earbuds support Bluetooth 6.0, multipoint, and an extensive codec array including SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive (up to 24-bit/96 kHz Hi-Res audio), and aptX Lossless. The TWS5 are also hardware-ready for LE Audio, LC3, and Auracast via future firmware updates. Battery life is rated up to 12 hours on a single charge with ANC off (or 6 hours with ANC on), extending up to 40 hours total with the charging case. A quick 8-minute charge provides 1 hour of playback time, and the case supports both USB-C and Qi 2.1 wireless charging. Perhaps the biggest spec highlight is that the batteries in both the earbuds and the charging case are user-replaceable, extending the overall lifespan of the product. If you're a heavy user of TWS IEMs, there's no doubt that you've run a pair to the ground with no choice but to buy a new one. I think it's a great idea that Sennheiser designed these so they won't end up in a landfill after a few years. The earbuds also feature an IP54 dust and splash resistance rating and an 8-microphone array (4 per earbud) utilizing bone-conduction sensing and AI-powered voice isolation. In the box, you get the earbuds, charging case, USB-C cable, four sizes of silicone ear tips (XS/S/M/L), a battery replacement tool, and documentation. Design and Architecture =============================== Wireless earbuds usually fall into the stick, angular or rounded shape, and Sennheiser completely redesigned the form factor this generation. Moving away from the squarish look of the MTW 3 and MTW 4, the MTW 5 adopts a rounded, ergonomic shape based on extensive ear shape data analysis, that looks smooth and slippery, but actually leads to a secure fit. They look great and fit right into my ears snugly. The earbuds ditch the previous silicone stability wings for a shallower, lighter, yet surprisingly secure in-ear fit. Available color options include Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Copper, and Denim. I have the Denim ones and they look better in person than in pictures. They have a striking metallic blue. Sennheiser also completely revamped the charging case, replacing the wider fabric-wrapped design with a slimmer, taller vertical case featuring a scratch-resistant matte finish that reminds me of a sparkly "fleckstone". The lid features sturdy metal hinges with a satisfying magnetic closing snap. Even the silicone eartips are newly designed with a thicker inner axis to create a better acoustic seal and boost passive noise isolation. Touch surfaces on the earbuds are slightly smaller and rounder, supporting fully customizable tap gestures via the Sennheiser app. Performance =============================== On any modern phone, you'll be prompted with a pairing message right away, and after pairing, you'll see an option to download Sennheiser's Smart Control Plus app. Setting up the earbuds with Sennheiser's updated Smart Control Plus app makes for a smooth, feature-rich experience that has quite a few steps... The app now includes an 8-band graphic equalizer alongside a Sound Personalization feature to tailor the frequency response to your ears. In daily use, the Hybrid Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) provides a noticeable upgrade over previous generations, adapting to your environment and cutting out low-frequency noise and train rumble when you're commuting or using automatic wind-noise suppression when you're on a hike. Most modern ANC earbuds can give you that "cone of silence" effect as soon as you activate ANC, but in challenging, chaotic environments like a packed commuter train or an open office/cubicle farm, the best ones stand out. The ANC here is definitely up there with the current market leaders. The Natural Transparency Mode is equally impressive, passing outside sounds cleanly without harshness or background hiss. I have quite a few different TWS IEMs that introduce way too much hiss and make the outside noises sound artificial. Definitely not the case here. On the audio front, Sennheiser refined the factory tuning by slightly backing off the mid-range push for tighter, cleaner bass, while boosting the 12 kHz region to add extra airiness and detail to vocals and instruments. If you're sensitive to sibilance, you may not love the boosted high frequencies, but you can always EQ them away. Music sounds punchy, natural, and wide, especially when streaming over aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless codecs. This is not a bass-heavy pair of IEMs but they're highly musical and I love them for Jpop and trance while I might stick to a different pair for bass-heavy EDM and Kpop. Watching Netflix on the train is certainly not an ideal environment, but it was easy to get lost in shows and movies with these providing enough ANC and impact for action and drama. The earbuds also support 3D Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking for an immersive movie or gaming experience. I can't say that I've ever wanted this kind of feature, but it does work and it's interesting to say the least. I'm not the target audience for the feature, though. Voice calls were impressive even in noisy environments thanks to the 8-mic system, bone-conduction sensors, and AI noise suppression. I had been relying on a bone-conduction headset with a boom mic for consistently good call quality in the office. I was really hesitant to try these in the office because I've heard so many other meeting participant using TWS earphones that pick up too much office chatter. I was really pleasantly surprised that no meeting participants had any complaints and didn't know I had switched headsets at all (we're typically off-camera). Apparently, Sennheiser's combination of 4 mics per earbud, a "voice accelerometer", and bone conduction sensor help isolate your voice in calls. Battery performance easily handles long daily commutes (up to 3 hours roundtrip in my case!), and the app's battery protection mode (limiting maximum charge to 80%) helps preserve battery health over time. There's way more battery here than I could get through in a week. Summary =============================== The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 is a true flagship with exceptional sound quality, refined ergonomics that can make you forget you're wearing them, and powerful ANC. The shift to a slimmer, pocketable case and the addition of user-replaceable batteries address long-standing user feedback while ensuring the investment in these will be worth it. If you're looking for top-tier audio quality, extensive codec support, and an extremely comfortable daily driver that will last you for years, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 may be the best choice out there.

PROS: I like that these pair easily with my iPhone. This was a concern of mine that quickly disappeared once I got them paired. They don’t drop connection; there don’t seem to be any connection issues at all. There is also an app for both iPhone and android that is meant to help customize the sound/settings of the Sennheiser Momentum 5, including a bass boost, a fixband Graphic EQ, a manual windcut filter, immersive audio with head tracking, transparency mode, and their special feature called sound personalization. I really like how thin the case is but also how sturdy and protective it feels. It fits nicely in my pocket and small pocketbook. It feels great in the hand too; it’s really smooth without being slippery. It looks stylish and comes in some nice colors. I don’t know how scratch resistant it is, but I accidentally dropped the case a few times, and it doesn’t appear to have any scratches or scrapes yet. The ear tips are comfortable to wear, which is very important to me since I wear my earbuds for hours at a time. I don’t care that the earbuds don’t have a “fin” design; that design doesn't make much of a difference in my narrow, tiny ears regardless of which company’s earbud I use because 9 times out of 10, I am still going to choose the smallest size ear tip, and I'm still going to have some minor fit issues. The batteries inside the earbuds are replaceable, which means you don’t have to buy a new unit once the batteries die. You will need the correct size screwdriver to do it in addition to the wedge tool that Sennheiser includes in the box. If you are unsure of how to do the replacement yourself, just look up a YouTube video on how to do it. More companies need to follow Sennheiser’s lead and start making products that not only cut down on E-waste but are also consumer friendly. The battery life of the earbuds and case is good enough for me. I got at least 21 hours of use before the case prompted me to charge it (the icon turns from green, to orange, to red). At that point, the case was on 15% charge, and the earbuds were on 70%. This is without using the auto power off feature. Please note that Sennheiser’s app has a battery protection mode feature that assists in prolonging the life of the battery by making charging slower and preventing the battery from charging to 100%. I like how the Sennheiser app allows me to track the wireless earbuds’ last known location using my phone’s location services. I misplace my earbuds more often than I care to admit, so this is a cool feature to have. You can also use the app’s ping feature which may come in handy if you are close enough to hear the earbuds ping. CONS: There is a learning curve. The quick start guide did not tell me how to raise the volume. I had to use the app to figure out how to do it. These are not the type of earbuds you can easily figure out how to use as you go. I keep accidentally switching from transparency mode to noise canceling. I’m pausing the song when all I wanted to do was turn up the volume. To avoid this, you must remember which earbud does which task because they each have separate functions. It’s a lot. You have to press and hold the right earbud to increase volume; press and hold the left earbud to decrease volume. The right pauses and starts. The left changes the noise cancelling modes from transparency to ANC. I find the touch controls to be very annoying, so if you are like me and don’t care to use them, please note that you can turn the touch control functions off completely in the Sennheiser app by going to Controls and toggling it off. Speaking more about the learning curve, I initially thought my Sennheiser earbuds couldn’t be paired to both my iPhone and my PC at the same time. I found that incredibly annoying because I could only use the app when my earbuds are paired to my cellphone, so I was missing out on some customizable features. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered that to fix this problem, I just had to go to Connection Management in the app and toggle on the Multipoint feature. It took me a long time to find this feature, which was a problem. The app is not difficult to use compared to some others, but I did have trouble finding things. Now that I know where to go, the app is a breeze to maneuver around in. Regarding how well the Sennheiser Momentum 5 earbuds fit inside my ear, how secure the fit was, and how well they create a seal within my ear, I did have issues. For starters, I could not pass an ear test for days. The Sennheiser app kept telling me to change ear tips. When I changed the tips, it still didn’t like the fit. Then, when I tried to take the test a fourth time, the test wouldn’t even begin. The app kept giving me the message “adjust the fit of the earbuds then try again.” Very frustrating. I tried the medium ear tips, the small, and extra small tips, and the same errors keep happening. I prefer the feel of the extra small tips, so I should probably stick with those if I prioritize comfort over function. However, when I tried the fit test today, I swapped out the extra smalls for one regular sized small and one medium size, with the right ear bud getting the medium tip. I tried the fit test twice after the switch, and I passed it each time. This is very odd to me as this is the first time I’ve had to use two different size tips simultaneously on the same pair of earbuds. It just doesn’t make sense. On a similar note, these don’t always fit in my ears as well as my earbuds from one of Sennheiser’s competitors do. They can slide out of my ear frequently unless I am very still. Until I get the right fit ear tips and figure out if my fit issues are “user error” or not, I will not be walking outside with these. I primarily use them while at work using my desktop, and they stay in fine with limited motion. I also use them on the bus and train. The most important thing about any music listening device is the sound quality it provides. While I did have a lot of issues with these earbuds, despite not consistently getting the best seal and still having to play with the earbud to get it to stay in my ear, when I did get a decent fit, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds sounded AMAZING. They sound BETTER than my Airpods pro. The audio quality sounds fully immersive and lively. I played R&B, jazz, rap music, pop, house music, and rock music while wearing these things, and these sound equally incredible playing each genre just on the default settings alone. That is impressive for a wireless audio device. The Transparency mode is weak, but ANC works well. The sound quality during phone calls is great. At first, I heard my voice echo during the call, but this issue went away quickly. The longer I stayed on the phone and got used to listening through the earbuds the clearer the call quality became. I asked the person on the phone if they could hear me alright, and they said they could hear me just fine. There was no static; the call came in clearly. There isn’t a pairing button on the charging case. When pairing them to a PC, I must open the case, remove the earbuds, then press and hold on the earbuds to prompt it to go in pairing mode. It would be much easier if there was just a pairing button on the case itself. I will say that I only had to pair it to my PC once; every time that I used these to listen to music on the same computer after the initial pairing, they automatically connected and stayed connected. Just pair once and it’s paired forever short of a manual reset or system update. With my iPhone, it was faster; all I had to do was open the case and they were immediately discoverable. It takes more steps to pair with a PC. (I don’t own an android phone, so I can’t comment on that pairing experience.) CONCLUSION: Everything considered, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds are great to have in my collection. They are in the same league as their competitors from Bose, Sony, and Apple. These will make an excellent Christmas gift for an audiophile as well. For a novice or non-techie, setting up the Momentum 5 earbuds may be challenging, but once they get over that learning curve and use trial and error, they will love the quality and likely won’t want to go back to their prior audio options. A lot of my issues were “user error,” as the app isn’t that difficult to use. Once I got past my pairing issues, and once I learned what the controls/commands on each earbud did (and eventually turned them off), I could focus on just enjoying the listening experience. This is a solid product from Sennheiser; it’s my “daily driver” for playing my music, but these would also be a fantastic backup/spare pair for casual listening, for traveling, or for using at work.

Among music lovers and audiophiles, headphone selection is sometimes a difficult decision that often takes into consideration a number of factors such as sound quality, comfort, battery life, or ANC performance. It is here that we must decide what to sacrifice, if any, to stay within an allotted budget, especially at mid-range price points. Thus, I was excited to try the latest Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 headphones! Unboxing the Momentum 5s are essentially verbatim of every other model out there; the packaging includes the charging case, 3 sets of additional silicone ear tips, a USB-C charging cable, a battery pry tool, and documentation. The charging case has a slight glittery appearance; texture wise, there is more grip than I expected. Nonetheless, it still feels of high quality. As for the earbuds themselves, they are a bit fatter than I expected; as such, given their smooth texture, be careful you don’t lose your grip when removing them from the case. However, the good news is they are extremely light and are really comfortable in the ears despite the bulky discovery. Fortunately, not a single earbud has fallen out of my ears. Lastly, the Momentum 5s have a huge advantage over other models with the ability to replace the batteries in both the earbuds (BA-501) themselves and the charging case (BA-502). This feature alone is a huge advantage. Once the Momentum 5s are paired, obviously while not mandatory, the Sennheiser Smart Control application can be downloaded to complete the initial setup. As with every other manufacturer, the same expected controls are present such noise control (ANC/Transparency/Off), Dolby Atmos, and EQ settings. The good news here is, at least on the Android version, location and account creation wasn’t forced! For sound quality, the Momentum 5s feature 8 preset EQ settings (Neutral, Rock, Jazz, etc.) as well as the ability to make your own via an 8-band adjustment (+/- 0.1 dB increments). Another feature I really like is if you click on a preset then click and hold the Bypass button, it will swap to the neutral setting for you to compare the two. Additionally, there is a sound personalization feature that surprisingly worked well enough. Under device settings, you will note Audio Mode Priority (Robust / Quality) where this controls which codecs your device will be allowed to select from. For example, robust mode will only let you connect via SBC or AAC; quality mode opens up your selections to APTX, APTX Adaptive, APTX-HD, and APTX- Lossless. Additionally, if you select quality mode, you will then have two additional options of either Hi-Res or CD Lossless. Unfortunately, the codec selection process is automatic; in my case, my Xperia 5 III auto selected APTX adaptive. This implementation is interesting, although personally speaking, I would have preferred to have complete individual codec control, even if it was to select lesser codecs. Lastly, even with APTX adaptive (276-420 kbps) on, I could still toggle the standard CD-quality lossless setting, which is a bit redundant. Personally, I do wish the Momentum 5s supported the LDAC codec. Overall, the application is worth checking out. As a physical music collector, sound quality is of the utmost importance, yet it is often difficult to describe since we all have a different sound and music preferences including hearing capabilities. Thus, it is worth noting that what I have personally observed here will likely differ compared to your own testing. My music library consists of 4,740 songs across 14 genres; a majority of the songs were derived from my CD collection and ripped via EAC 1.6. Subsequently, all songs were encoded to FLAC 1.4.3 and personally scanned through a spectrogram (Spek 0.8.5) to make sure they were of proper lossless quality (remember quality is not guaranteed just because it’s on physical CD). All songs were played via my Xperia 5 III via the APTX adaptive codec. The Momentum 5s were kept in neutral mode, unless specifically noted. Volume was kept around 50%. Lastly, while unfortunately I do not own any the previous generation Momentums, I do have the Technics AZ80s and B&W Pi8s for reference. My initial impression is that the Momentum 5s tends to mimic that of open headphones despite these being closed; the soundstage is wide, yet they are skewed slightly more towards neutral or flat, where the focus is middle and high frequencies. Interestingly, vocal placement at first seemed to be slightly left center just a notch; perhaps more accurately, the sound is airer than I expected. It definitely feels as if it was pulled away from the center. The low end is present but it might be considered anemic to some. Ironically, this personally this aligns a bit with my preference as bass isn’t my top priority, yet I still want a full and clear encompassing soundstage with help from the low-end to fill the missing piece. Perhaps that is why I was thoroughly impressed with Bass Boost button as it is so subtle yet adds an extra bit of rumble. Lastly, give yourself some time to adjust to the profile; it might feel a bit underwhelming, but there are a lot of sound adjustments buried in the settings that are worth testing. Compared to my other models, honestly it is an apple to oranges situation; the AZ80s have a more closed off sound, where vocals are closer on top of the slightly more low-end, and are maybe a notch or two louder. The Pi8s are the loudest of the bunch which allows the intensity of the low-end to fill the entire soundstage more evenly; all frequencies are easily separated. Everything sounds bigger, wider, yet they still have an openness to them. In essence, they all sound drastically different. The Momentum 5s handles classical fairly well; listening to Xandria’s Masquerade (Orchestra Version) there are moments where the choir harmonizes perfectly over the orchestra such as at 0:37-0:42 for example. Additionally, the airy sound gives the choir a nice reverb effect that enhances the vocals. At 2:06, the violin centered perfectly and is crystal clear. Switching genres, initially I thought the Momentum 5s were initially going to have an issue with metal/rock genes, but as it turns out this was not the case. For example, take a listen to Messgram’s Choking My Neck. At 1:20, the dual vocalists are perfectly separated from each other; interestingly, despite the compression at 2:30-2:40, you can clearly hear how good the low-end, middle chimes, and the two drum beats are separated on your left and right earbuds. Furthermore, this song also benefits from the Bass Boost; at 0:44 and again at 1:18, there is an elongated bass notch that is audible with the setting off. However, when you toggle it on, the rumble intensity is staggering! Conversely, the Bass Boost settings also worked well on less compressed circumstances, take for instance Nujabes’ Reflection Eternal. The bass notches are much more impactful and pronounced with Bass Boost on. In addition, the piano lines are handled with extreme clarity! Lastly, Si*Sé’s Mariposa En Havana gets an honorable mention as it is certainly one of my favorites. Throughout the song, middle frequency percussion taps and shakes are rendered perfectly. I also felt that overall vocals were actually a bit more center on this song. There is also some nice bass activity here as well. Overall, the Momentum 5s sounded fairly consistent; the longer I listened, the better they sounded. Certainly, a grace period with some adjustments might be required; your opinion of the sound may change accordingly. For ANC performance, I tested two different loud environments; the first, I tested the Momentum 5s while in our kitchen with the TV blaring. In addition, several other conversations were occurring simultaneously. At 50-60% volume level, the Momentum 5s sealed off everything. I could not isolate or hear any of the conversations; even switching to lesser compressed music still didn’t make much a difference. For my second test, I went to a noisy restaurant environment. The Momentum 5s sealed off pretty much everything - echoes, conversations, dropped items, banging noises - everything was effectively silent. Amazingly, even nearby traffic was effectively filtered out; given how close I was in proximity, the Momentum 5s were extremely impressive. Lastly, I wanted to test the battery of the Momentum 5s in two different scenarios. Starting at 100%, I periodically toggled between ANC and Transparency modes; after one hour of playback, the Momentum’s were at 90%. At around two hours, I dropped another 10%. Interestingly, at two and half hours, I was already at 70%. Two days later, on full charge, I toggled both ANC and Bass Boost on and noted my results. As expected, the drain was a little bit faster; after roughly 50 minutes, I dropped down to 90%. After about an hour and a half, I was already down to 70%; a little over two hours and I was still holding steady at 70%. If both scenarios are to remain constant, I’d expect that you could probably squeeze anywhere from 5-7 hours, though depending on the Bluetooth codec your device selected these values will differ. Overall, the battery life seemed fairly strong. In conclusion, the Momentum 5s have surprised me in more ways than expected; initially by their relatively open-headphone like soundstage, but also, they are extremely comfortable to wear and have exceptionally strong ANC performance. Additionally, the ability to replace the batteries is also huge advantage when the time comes. While the adjustment to the sound was fairly quick for me as it aligns somewhat closely to what I prefer sound wise, others may need to spend some time configuring the Momentums 5s to their liking. Personal preferences aside, the Momentum 5s are still fairly restraint in their overall sound capabilities; those in bass priority camp should tamper their expectations. Overall, this is a decent rounded package. Thus, the Momentum 5s come recommended.