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Sennheiser Momentum 5 Review: Audiophile Sound in a Lighter Package
Confirmed
In Short: Sennheiser's Momentum 5 headphones offer audiophile-grade sound with a lighter design, but they face competition from pricier models.
Sennheiser's Momentum 5 headphones are the latest in a line of high-end audio products, competing with the likes of Sony WH-1000XM6, Apple AirPods Max 2, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. The Momentum 5, priced at $750, is designed to cater to audiophiles and those who value sound quality over all else.
The Momentum 5 headphones embrace aptX Lossless technology, enhancing the listening experience by delivering high-fidelity audio. This feature, combined with the headphones' balanced sound quality, positions them as a serious contender in the audiophile market.
Sennheiser's flagship HDB 630, priced at $999, has set a new standard for audiophiles, leaving the Momentum 5 in an awkward position. Despite being $170 more expensive than its predecessor, the Momentum 4, the Momentum 5 does not surpass the HDB 630 in terms of overall quality.
The Momentum 5 headphones come in a surprisingly thin carry case, thanks to their foldable design and slightly thinner profile compared to previous models. This design not only makes them more portable but also contributes to their lighter weight of 290 grams.
Comfort is a key feature of the Momentum 5 headphones. Despite the addition of four microphones per earcup, the headphones maintain a comfortable fit, even for extended periods. The slightly off-center padded headband and moderate clamping force ensure that users can wear them comfortably, even while wearing glasses.
The Momentum 5's sound quality is notable for its natural-sounding vocals and strong bass that doesn't overpower other frequencies. However, some reviewers noted that a touch of EQ could enhance the listening experience, particularly in terms of reducing the overpowering bass and boxiness in vocals.
While the Momentum 4 remains a strong contender in the market, the Momentum 5 introduces a few new features, such as a replaceable battery, which adds convenience for users. This feature, along with the improved sound quality, makes the Momentum 5 a compelling upgrade for audiophiles.
Despite the improvements, the Momentum 5's design and materials have received mixed reviews. Some critics noted that the use of injection-molded plastic chassis, while contributing to the lighter weight, may make the earcups feel less premium compared to metal frames found in competitors like the Apple AirPods Max.
What this adds
The review highlights the Momentum 5's balanced sound quality, with natural-sounding vocals and strong bass that doesn't overpower other frequencies, aligning with prior WarpBeat coverage.
Background
The review highlights the Momentum 5's balanced sound quality, with natural-sounding vocals and strong bass that doesn't overpower other frequencies.
What's confirmed
- The flagship Sennheiser HDB 630 is battling it out with the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6, Apple AirPods Max 2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
What's still developing
- Embracing aptX Lossless, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 headphones take things to the next level.
- The Momentum 4 were Sennheiser’s flagship over-ear noise-cancelling headphones since 2022, but the audio giant shook things up last year when it unleashed the $999 Sennheiser HDB 630 aimed squarely at well-heeled audiophiles.
- Yet, the Momentum 5 actually gains a few new features not included in the HDB 630 – so which Sennheiser headphones deserve top billing comes down to where your priorities lie.
- The slender design is impressive considering that Sennheiser has doubled the number of microphones to four per can.
- The Sivga Lyrebird arrived in July as a completely new model, pushing a quad-driver setup for an all-encompassing sound.
- Leave it in the YouTube COMMENTS and I’ll do my best to get back to you 🙂 Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂 Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones have come a mighty long way since I began reviewing headphones 10 years ago.
- Although I can listen to the Momentum 4 completely stock without EQ and enjoy them thoroughly, I found that a touch of EQ gets these headphones from “Great” to “Excellent”.
- Even 3 years later, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 remains an incredibly attractive headphone for its unbeatable sound quality per dollar value.
- With its hi-res aptX Adaptive codec support and a touch of EQ, the Momentum 4 still sounds great today.
- I do need to point out that the recycled plastic styling and the slight price bump show that Sennheiser is resting on its laurels visually.
- I should also point out that because Sennheiser leaned so heavily into a contemporary, injection-molded plastic chassis to keep the total weight at a perfectly comfortable 290 grams, the earcups still feel just a little less premium and hollow to the touch when compared to the posh, ultra-luxury metal frames found on the AirPods Max, and the swiveling arms still lack a secondary hinge to collapse the headset entirely inward like other competitors.
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