Lynn evaluations the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi, their newest ANC-equipped 42mm dynamic driver Bluetooth headphones that includes 3D Dolby Atmos. They’re at present priced at $399.95.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or companies. I thank Sennheiser for this chance.
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Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi Assessment
Abstract
The ANC-equipped MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi headphones builds upon the MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi’s superb sound qualities whereas incorporating points of the HD 630 with stable lows and a impartial signature, aided by a midrange that, whereas a bit withdrawn, needs to remain out of the way in which of the general sound signature.
Execs
The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi carries forth the moniker in type.
The Good Management Plus app makes fine-tuning the sound a breeze.
The midrange ties the higher and decrease ends along with aplomb.
Cons
The match can get a bit tiresome after lengthy periods.
The dearth of general power (with out utilizing the app) might depart you wanting extra verve.
The MOMENTUM collection has gone via many iterations over the past dozen-plus years, starting from wired to wi-fi. The MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi got here out in 2022, so this replace has been 4 lengthy years.
One doesn’t change the title of one thing until there’s a radical change; the MOMENTUM title stays.
That doesn’t imply the collection has gone with out vital adjustments; it has, however moderately these adjustments are saved within the spirit of the lineage named. This may be akin to the Porsche 911. It has modified markedly, however the essence and spirit stay principally true to the unique.
Sennheiser was one of many first to come back out with swipe traits, and the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi continues to enhance upon this. With a future firmware replace to BT6.0, Sennheiser will even incorporate head gestures into its options.
So, 4 years to enhance on what was a great mannequin will hopefully present promise in shifting the Sennheiser know-how ahead, together with the sound.
I can state that they’ve succeeded in some methods, whereas others are an evolution as an alternative of a revolution. My evaluation delves deeper into these trivialities and the way it compares to the likes of MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi, the HDB 630, and Noble Audio’s FoKus Apollo.
Options
The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi makes use of the identical 42mm transducer driver because the MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi, however with modified tuning. That modification purportedly makes the 5 extra natural-sounding, with a slight enhance in bass response.
The modified tuning and a transforming of the ANC know-how inside lowers battery life by three hours, for a possible of as much as 57 hours on a single cost. Dropping three hours is not any massive deal to me when the flip aspect equates to raised ANC efficiency.
The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi additionally comes with Qualcomm’s BT 5.4. Reportedly, BT 6.0 is within the works, bringing adaptive head motion know-how.
Customization via the app is sort of good, and will likely be mentioned extra under. Inside the app, although, Sennheiser has opted to license the Dolby® Atmos encompass sound function.
The place different corporations use in-house proprietary encompass for a 3D impact, Sennheiser went straight to the supply and licensed the Dolby model. Good considering in my ebook.
As with most wi-fi headphones, a 3.5mm aux cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable are included for wired utilization. You possibly can cost and hear concurrently.
As with the HDB 630 and MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi, the best ear cup acts because the management heart for performance. I can say that the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi features extra easily than the HDB 630.
This reveals that Sennheiser continues to concentrate on the simple usability of its know-how. I’ll word that sensitivity has additionally elevated, so a lightweight contact is the trail to perfection.
Design
Supplies
A blind take a look at between the MOMENTUM 4 and 5 Wi-fi yields little or no distinction. I might add that the 5 appears to be like and feels extra upscale, although.
With slide-out stanchions on the scarf, you do must eyeball all sides to make sure a good match. The cups are a bit smaller, too, which makes for a cosy match on my average-sized ears.
Some who’ve bigger ears might discover the ear cup constricting in consequence. The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi additionally incorporates 4 microphones for not solely calls, however ANC efficiency as properly.
The darkish grey and black look refined and mainstream, which I don’t thoughts. I favor not to attract consideration to my gadgets.
The underside of the scarf is a tough rubberized coating, with padding solely within the high half, just like the HDB 630. That is the place the principle strain factors normally are, so it really works.
The standard of elements is excellent, with no cheapness to any of the construct. Sennheiser’s merchandise have historically been of top-class construct, so it’s good to see this continued within the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi.
One other good function is a user-replaceable battery. Merely take the ear pad off the left ear cup, take away 4 screws, which transfer the motive force out of the way in which, and the battery lies beneath the left driver.
Including longevity to a product this fashion is a pleasant contact, and makes for a promoting level to those that might not have a number of units of headphones (like we do).
Aesthetics
The household lineage reveals itself within the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi with out query. Using high-quality plastics dominates the 5, however the high quality of these supplies is top-notch.
I discover the 5 on par with the dearer HDB 630, which says one thing about how Sennheiser treats their designs.
Fingerprints? Nope, even with the touch-sensitive proper ear cup. I approve of this and want all producers did one thing resembling this.
The mushy darkish grey stanchions (not like the HDB 630 in silver) assist to reduce consideration whereas wanting fashionable.
All connections and the one button lie on the underside of the best ear cup. There are even 5 LEDs denoting the extent of cost (20% every). I’ll word that at 50% on the app, there are three LEDs lit, so mastering the half-lit LED has but to be achieved.
I stated that the HDB 630’s construct high quality set it other than its extra economical brethren, however the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi can definitely go toe-to-toe with it.
Consolation & Isolation
That padding below the top-center of the scarf helps for long-session consolation, and I went 3-5 hours a number of instances through the testing with minimal imposition. And people impositions have been due principally to my studying glasses impeding the match.
These slender ear cups gave a cosy match to the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi that felt neither too tight nor constricting. Plus, the cosy match helped with stability. Clamping strain felt nearly proper.
Very like the HDB 630, although, passive isolation was not the very best, relying upon ANC for true isolating qualities. Nevertheless, even at low volumes and ANC at 100%, exterior noises interfered with listening, and I additionally famous exterior bleed of the sound greater than I might have preferred.
On this regard, the Sennheiser nonetheless falls behind class leaders Sony and Bose, however the consolation and construct high quality make for a premium expertise.
ANC
Sennheiser has labored diligently on offering top-class ANC know-how, however not on the expense of sound high quality.
Like most, balancing the 2 makes for some tough acoustical challenges. The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi ANC is markedly higher than the MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi model, and pretty much as good because the HDB 630, which says one thing given the value distinction.
One can safely assume that an up to date model of the HDB 630 will do the identical because the MOMENTUM collection.
Inside the app, you possibly can flip ANC off utterly, customise between 0-100% both means, or Adaptive ANC, which tailors to the listening environment routinely. I typically saved the ANC at 100% within the Customized setting.
Transparency can be tailor-made for cellphone calls, which is a pleasant function that continues to impress me. Having 4 microphones for calls and ANC definitely helps.
Sennheiser appears to shut the ANC hole with its opponents, proper as these opponents transfer with their updates. An ever-changing panorama that solely advantages customers with “newer” and “higher” ANC know-how.
Controls
The surface of the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi proper ear cup holds the contact sensitivity space for full management of the headphones through contact, swipe, or pinch.
Taking the MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi off will pause play, and folding them flat additionally places them into pause mode, which continues to be a pleasant function.
This even labored whereas linked to 2 gadgets. I’ll word that in the event you pause and take your Good machine away, the unit does keep linked (throughout the BT limits), however performance lagged once I restarted music.
I’m not positive what prompted the above, nevertheless it did happen many instances over the course of the testing interval. There was the audible synthetic two-note “click on” when full performance was restored. This normally took lower than a minute, however I nonetheless discovered it tedious.
As talked about elsewhere, the swipe options proceed to enhance, and that is the primary Sennheiser mannequin the place performance was excellent with none points. Apart from the delay famous within the earlier paragraph, which I didn’t attribute to the swipe function.
Good Management Plus App
You’ll be prompted to replace to 1.4.2, which positive factors the Head Monitoring side of the app. Additionally, you will should toggle Dolby® Atmos once more. The truth is, updating will inform you to show Atmos off.
The app nonetheless comes with options starting from Noise Management for adjusting ANC, an Anti-wind setting, whereas in ANC, and Dolby Atmos®.
The graphic equalizer is a slimmed-down model, however you possibly can nonetheless create custom-made settings or deliver your personal throughout gadgets, ought to you’ve got a registered Sennheiser Sound Test.
However you possibly can create an area customized model of Sound Test that might keep on the machine you created it on, which nonetheless provides the function.
One other nicety is that after working the Sound Test, you possibly can alter it to raised meet your listening wants. I modified mine from the one I created utilizing the app, and I might inform the refined nuances inside every change. It is a good function to have available.
Sound Zones stay, which change settings routinely when shifting between environments.
This function can nonetheless routinely swap from a extra aggressive EQ, resembling you may use within the gymnasium, to a extra laid-back EQ whereas having your post-workout espresso and pastry in a espresso store.
This function makes use of location points, which additionally controls a “discover my headphones” function, do you have to join. You possibly can management this out of your Smartphone whereas utilizing one other supply for listening, too.
Battery Life
The MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi boasted (and verified) 60 hours of play time between costs. The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi “solely” offers as much as 57 hours per cost.
That lack of three hours is definitely acceptable to me once you issue within the ANC retuning and sound attribute retuning.
By three assessments, together with the preliminary burn-in interval, I averaged proper at 56 hours per cost.
This definitely falls throughout the specified timeframe. Plus, you possibly can cost whereas listening via the USB-C cable with the additional benefit of improved sound high quality over the “regular” Bluetooth.
A fast 10-minute cost provided me a further 8-10 hours, giving loads of time in case you are commuting.
Plus, you’ve got the added capacity to switch the battery if wanted. That may be a good function to have. This was even whereas taking part in music via my MBP and charging on the identical time.
Voice/Name High quality
This part appears nearly superfluous anymore, however ought to nonetheless be included. The Good Management Plus app has a function below “Noise Management” that handles cellphone name transparency adjusting, apart from ANC and “Anti-wind settings.”
The latter could be set to most for finest wind discount, or automated, so the person doesn’t want to fret about it.
The cellphone name setting has a slider for adjusting the extent of transparency allowed throughout cellphone calls with 4 settings.
I left it on the inventory setting (one from the bottom) more often than not, besides once I referred to as our son purposely on a windy Lake Superior day and used the bottom setting.
Isolation was superb, and I might speak in a near-normal voice even with the stiff 20mph+ “breeze” blowing off the lake. The 4 microphones definitely helped “quadrangle” my voice for a greater response.
Packaging & Equipment
The MOMENTUM 5 Wi-fi comes with the usual options one may anticipate in a wi-fi headphone.
A twin USB-C to USB-C is used for charging and can be utilized for wired audio on the identical time. As anticipated, the sound high quality is a bit higher wired, however that ought to not cease you from utilizing the BT, in fact.
A 3.5mm to three.5mm AUX cable can be utilized on your laptop computer, or DAP, and amplifier that makes use of a 3.5mm single-ended connection.
The fast begin information is thorough, together with learn how to obtain the Good Plus App. A extra thorough information is included in a pleasant envelope under the case once you open the highest. The stickers on the skin of every ear cup are a lot appreciated, too.
Carry Case
The carry case is similar to the HDB 630 and the MOMENTUM 4 Wi-fi variations, however thinner.
There’s a good indentation on the again that helps to carry the case and contains the cables. The ear cups fold flat, permitting the case to remain slim sufficient to slot in your messenger bag or backpack.
I do want corporations would make sufficient room in instances to maintain the headphone within the place you put on, so that you would not have to continuously decrease the stanchions into the scarf to ensure that the headphone to suit.
Apart from that (which is cross-company), the case and environment friendly format is excellent.
Click on on web page 2 under for my sound impressions and wi-fi efficiency testing.
