Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Review

Great headphones made wireless

The MOMENTUM series by Sennheiser are some of the most prestigious and highly praised headphones in the companies range. And with wireless headphones making great advances in connectivity, comfort, and sound, there is no better time than now to get a pair.

Taking their lead from other headphone manufactures, Sennheiser now includes active noise canceling. And in this in-depth Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Review, we’ll find out if it’s just another slogan to market the headphones or if it stands up against the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM3 or the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

Considering the asking price, we expect great things from the wireless MOMENTUM headphones. So without any further hesitation, let’s dive into our review and find out how good they are…

Design

When you open the box, you will be greeted with a well-made, semi-hard-shell case. Inside are the headphones, wrapped in a protective cloth, adding some extra protection from the cable and adapters that reside in the hard case with the headphones.

Build quality is excellent, as is with most Sennheiser products. With such a quality build, you might expect the headphones to be heavy; however, they are surprisingly light.

Comfortable, but kind of warm…

The leatherette earpads fit well over most sizes of ears and are deep enough to give enough breathing space for the music and your ears. However, although aesthetically pleasing, leatherette does come with some problems, mainly heat issues.

It suffers from a buildup of heat. This is because it doesn’t allow enough airflow, which could lead to sweaty ears, especially if you live in a warmer climate.

Easy to fit and store away…

The steel sliding mechanism makes finding the perfect fit easy. Likewise, it adds support to the overall of the MOMENTUM wireless.

The headphones easily fold up, making storing them easy. The carrying case, although being semi-hard, doesn’t take up too much space. However, you could get away with only the included pouch if you are really pressed for space, although we wouldn’t recommend that.

Enough of the excellent build quality; let’s find out if the sound is just as good.

Sound Quality

Let’s talk about active noise canceling first. With these headphones, Sennheiser is boasting a new technology aptly named “NoiseGuard.”

The company has placed four microphones, two on each earcup, to capture the surrounding noise. This also helps to effectively cancel any sounds that might disturb your listening experience.

This is similar to Sony’s four wide-angle microphones that can be found on the WH-1000XM3, which is easily the benchmark for ANC headphones.

Effective noise cancellation…

Compared to the Sony, though, there are some differences. Firstly, Sony’s headphones app makes a massive difference. There are an insane amount of customizable options, including different ANC settings, EQs, and even 360-reality audio.

The ANC itself does do well, though, blocking most low-end frequencies, but suffers from a lack of high-end noise cancellation with some office chit chat still penetrating our ear canals.

Sennheiser knows sound…

The sound quality is superb. Sennheiser is known for their excellent sound profile, and that remains true here.

The low frequencies are well defined, albeit a little too much for our liking. That said, there is no denying the excellent sub-bass performance on these headphones. Thunderous is the best way to describe what’s happening to the low-end frequencies.

A 4K boost…

The mid-range frequencies seem the most unaltered. Vocals sit well in the mix, with guitars and pianos doing what they do best. There is a slight boost around the 4kHz range, which gives guitars an extra bit of high-end crunch whilst helping higher ranged vocals stand out a bit more.

High-end frequencies remain detailed, without sounding thin or raspy. The added noise cancelation helps the listener hone in on the smallest of details, which makes it even more important to nail the high-end frequencies.

Connectivity and Battery Life

Sennheiser opts to keep things simple with these headphones. There is no Bluetooth button on them, which might sound confusing, but in practice, it makes perfect sense.

Just turn the headset on, and the headphones will automatically enter pairing mode. If you have an NFC enabled device, pairing is as simple as tapping the side of the headphones.

A 3.5mm jack is included for those who prefer to keep things old school. It is also a great backup if you run out of battery.

Speaking about battery, expect up to 22 hours of playback before needing to recharge the headset. Once you are out of juice, a top-up is done via the included micro-USB charger. While it is a bit old fashioned, it gets the job done in just over three hours.

Who is the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless for?

These headphones were top of the line in 2015 when they came out and, to be honest, haven’t aged badly.

They still sound great, fit comfortably, and get the job done. The biggest problem is a lack of features that the newer version, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless 3, and so many other headphones have added over the last couple of years.

What is lacking?

AptX and AAC support is lacking, as well as Bluetooth version 5 and multi-connect. A dedicated app would also be nice.

That said, if you are looking to pick up a pair, it is important to understand that these have now been discontinued. However, you can still pick them up at a decently discounted price, anywhere between $200 – $250.

For that amount, you can also pick a pair of Sony’s WH-1000Xm3’s or, for even less a pair of Bose’s QC35.

So, unless you are a die-hard fan of Sennheiser, it is difficult to recommend this pair to any other potential buyer.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Review Pros and Cons

Not quite the headphones you are after?

Then check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Headphones Under $200, the Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $200, the Most Comfortable Headphones, and the Best Lightweight Headphones currently on the market.

Also, take a look at our reviews of the Best Travel Headphones, the Best Running Headphones, the Best Waterproof Headphones, and the Best Neckband Headphones you can buy in 2023.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Review Round-Up

With great sound quality and a comfortable fit, Sennheiser set the groundwork for modern ANC headphones like the new WH-1000XM3 and 4. That said, with its lack of extra features and non-existent hi-res audio support, it is now a difficult sell, even at its discounted price.

If you want a sturdy pair of headphones that will last for years to come and don’t mind the lack of extra features, this is a great pair of headphones with excellent sound quality, but lack of finesse makes it hard to recommend compared to the modern competition.

Until next time, happy listening!