Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Headphones, Bluetooth for Crystal-Clear Calls w/ Adaptive Noise Cancellation, 60h Battery Life, Customizable Sound & Lightweight Folding Design, Black

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Image credit: Sennheiser and Sony ) Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: Features The Momentum 4 Wireless’ mids are slightly forward, while the Momentum 3’s midrange is more linear. For the latter this does not translate to a more natural or better sounding midrange. The Momentum 4 Wireless’s midrange is slightly more refined and poses more accurate timbre. In our Sony WF-1000XM5 review, we said that we were impressed with the ANC – it's still among the best noise-cancelling around today – but not as much as we should have been, considering the extra mic per earbud. It worked well, remarkably well at times, but as we said: "the ANC simply didn't nix as much noise as two other rival models at the level." I really like the Bluetooth connectivity of M4. The Bluetooth pairing was very easy with my iPhone, LG V30 phone as well as my laptop. The M4 can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. I can play music on iPhone then switch over to the V30 without having to disconnect the iPhone. I do need to pause the music on iPhone before using the V30. The setup of the Sennheiser Smart Control App is very easy and smooth for the Android phone (V30). However, it took me several attempts to connect the Smart Control App to M4 on the iPhone.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are comfortable to wear, and the sound is nothing short of exceptional (Image credit: TechRadar) The music will pause when you take the headphones off while a single button activates your phone’s voice assistant or turns the headphones on and off. Press the button five times and you can turn off Bluetooth but still use the noise-cancelling, a mode designed for use on a plane without having to listen to music. Specifications Special thanks to Sennheiser for providing this opportunity to review the new Momentum 4 Wireless (or M4 from here on). I have not received any incentives for writing this review. All the comments are opinions of my own. I am not a professional reviewer, just a headphone enthusiast and music lover. The touchpad works well, almost a little too well. Even the slightest touch pauses the music. The pinch gesture to change the ANC setting is a hit-and-miss. From ANC level 1 to neutral to transparency level 1 it works quite well, but either turning up the ANC level or transparency level above that needs a lot of tries.Some headphones you like, these transducers you might love. I personally wont give it away again, it became my current reference standard. Conclusion and alternatives But, as you know, nothing is eternal and last year Sennheiser – due to some financial(?) difficulties – had to split its business and sold the consumer/audiophile section to Sonova – another giant company, that specializes in hearing-aids – while keeping the professional section for itself, aka Neumann and HD-25. My main reason for getting the Bluetooth headphones is for meetings and phone calls (working from home most of the time) plus the mobility. Therefore, Bluetooth connectivity and sound clarity are more important to me.

Double tap: Cycles between ANC on and transparency mode. Also accepts an incoming call and puts an active call on hold.I think the overall sound quality of M4 for music is also very good. The clarity and soundstage are great. The bass is full and impactful, although I feel it could be a little overpowering sometimes. I did listen to the M4 in passive mode using the provided headphone cable. The M4 sounded dull. The wireless mode sounded better and much more alive. I didn’t play with the EQ in the Smart Control App. Thankfully, the V2 fixed many of those issues – especially the battery one – and kept the great sound offered by the V1. Then came the Momentum True Wireless 3, which gained a more streamlined shell, enhanced battery life, and a better ANC.

Soundstage - Perhaps the biggest change in sound that departs from the whole Momentum line would be the soundstage. With each revision, the Momentum’s soundstage got larger and larger, partly due to their size increase. But that’s about it, a BIGGER sound, but with no real refinement. The soundstage of the Momentum 4 Wireless is a complete overhaul and a stark departure from it’s siblings. You can also manually adjust how much outside sound is let in with a slider in the app or the pinching-to-zoom gesture on the headphones adjusting from maximum noise-cancelling to full transparency, so you can have as little or as much awareness of the outside world as you prefer. To adjust the headphones on the head, the swivelling hinges offer a degree of movement, while the headband has an adjustable slider. The headband is also wider, absorbing pressure across the head. It’s covered in a nice fabric that mimics the case of the Momentum True Wireless 3. Its underside is finished in a silicone material, with a soft centre to accommodate that slight ridge on the top of people’s skulls – a thoughtful consideration. They weigh 293g, but feel lighter.The headphones got delivered with the newest firmware already installed. Which is a big plus. Connecting the headphones to my phone was as easy as it gets. The Android app also works without any problems. Only thing I don't like is the need to make an account for the custom EQ thing. The forthcoming Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has an all-new design and promises exceptional sound & performance The Sennheiser Connect app handles switching between devices, equaliser and noise-cancelling modes, firmware updates and other settings. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian