Review: Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wireless

More than a decade since the first generation of Sennheiser’s flagship over-ear MOMENTUM headphones were released, the German audio specialists have returned with their fifth iteration, this time promising a full-blown "sound revelation".

Billed as the latest version of its platinum-selling line that could impress even the most reputed audiophiles, the MOMENTUM 5 Wireless has a lot to live up to. From first look, the sleek headset comes bundled with the usual suspects: a charger, a wire connection (though it prides itself on its wireless features), and an easy-to-use manual. While its case is sturdy and durable, it feels a little bulky to take on-the-go despite being 20% smaller than its last – slightly less ergonomic than its fold-away headphone competitors.

Nevertheless, the M5 headset feels fluid in its movement, its earbuds twisting and moving up and down seamlessly to fit around the ears and when worn around the neck. With extremely plush, comfortable padding on both the headband and earbuds, the headset never feels like a hindrance to wear.

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When it comes to battery life, the M5s has plenty of it, flaunting an enormous 57 hours of playtime when charged for two hours to full capacity, and, if in a rush, just five minutes of charging will reward you with three hours of battery life – far superior to its earliest iterations. To preserve its battery, though, the headset automatically turns off if unused for 15 minutes.

For the very first time, the M5s also allow users to change the battery once it becomes worn out, selling replaceable power cells to improve the lifespan.

As for sound quality, the M5s are crystal clear. Ultra-low frequencies can almost be felt through-body, while its mids are crisp and highs are levelled, smooth, and not at all tinny. This time, unlike its last iterations, the headset has a spatial audio feature which works in clear definition on compatible tracks, with sound moving from earcup-to-earcup in an immersive, 360-degree experience.

With this new headset, Sennheiser’s Product Manager, Sreenath ‘Sri’ Unnikrishnan, says that the audio tech company focused on "refining the entire experience" of listening to music without "straying from the formula that made its predecessor such a success", with new functionality and enhancements.

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Those enhancements are made through its intuitive touch functions on the right ear cup, where different hand gestures easily allow you to pause or skip a track, or dictate noise cancelling functions, without being too sensitive as to affect your listening experience with a slight touch. Meanwhile, the M5s can detect when one earcup is pulled away from the face, automatically pausing what’s playing.

Other features that are flexed in this new headset are its easy-to-connect BlueTooth functions at the click of a button, and its "better-than-ever" call controls, which allow you to receive phone calls hands-free while keeping your line sounding crisp and clear with a new 8-mic array. At the same time, the M5s boast a voice assistant option that connects to the native voice assistant in your phone, and a dedicated app for all your noise control needs.

The MOMENTUM 5 Wireless are available in black, white and denim colourways, starting at £329.99 ($399.99)