Sennheiser's Momentum 5 Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones offer 57 hours of battery life, a user-replaceable battery, and the German audio specialist's renowned sound quality. Priced at £330 (€400/$400/A$749), they replace the three-year-old Momentum 4 and compete with Bose, Sony, and Sonos.
Design and Comfort
The Momentum 5s look nearly identical to their predecessor, made from high-quality plastic, cloth, and pleather. They are compact for over-ear headphones and very comfortable, with plush ear cushions and a well-padded headband featuring a divot to relieve skull pressure. The right ear cup houses LEDs, buttons, a USB-C port for charging and wired listening, a headphone jack, and a touch panel for playback, volume, and noise-cancelling controls using tap and swipe gestures.
Connectivity and Battery
The headphones support Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint for two-device connectivity. They support Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless for high-quality audio on Android/PC, plus SBC and AAC. Battery life reaches 57 hours with noise cancelling on—slightly less than the Momentum 4's 60 hours but still class-leading. A full charge via USB-C takes about two hours.
Sound Quality and Features
Sennheiser's Momentum 5 delivers excellent sound with great separation, detail, and a balanced profile of accentuated bass, warm mids, and sparkling highs. The Smart Control Plus app includes an equaliser and sound modes. A Dolby Atmos mode adds drama to TV/films, though the head-tracking system can be distracting and was often turned off.
Noise Cancelling and Calls
Noise cancelling is improved over previous models but still trails Sony and Bose. It dampens office noise and engine rumble well but lets in some plane drone. Transparency and adaptive modes work effectively, and call quality is very good.
Sustainability and Price
The battery maintains at least 80% capacity after 25,000 hours of listening and is user-replaceable (instructions in manual). Spare parts like cushions (£29.90) and cables are available, but no recycled materials are used, and parent company Sonova does not publish environmental impact reports. The Momentum 5 costs £329.90, compared to Sony WH-1000XM6 (£349), Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 (£399.95), Sonos Ace (£399), and Nothing Ear 1 (£249).
Verdict
The Momentum 5s retain the excellent sound and comfort of the Momentum 4, with improved noise cancelling, a user-replaceable battery, and modern connectivity. However, noise cancelling is not best-in-class, they do not fold compactly, lack water resistance, and the Dolby Atmos head-tracking is inconsistent. They are a great long-lasting option that falls just short of greatness.
