Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review: WORTH IT in 2024?
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.
In this article, I'm going to give my brutally honest Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review with comparisons vs Apple AirPods Max, Sony WH-1000XM5, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
I'm going to do my best to share whether these headphones are worth it, and ideally who these headphones are for. I've owned these headphones for a little over 1 year now and have quite a few thoughts.
At the time of this writing, these headphones retail for $379.95 USD full price, but can be had on sale for as low as $290.19 USD currently.
Let's dive right in!
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Headphones review in short
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 presents the overall best value in the "Big 4" of popular Bluetooth wireless, Active Noise Cancelling, Over-Ear Headphones.
These include the Apple AirPods Max, Sony WH-1000XM5, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
(Although Focal Bathys has superior sound quality, its noise-canceling is simply not on this elite level.)
At just under $300, with competitors costing over $100+ more, the Sennheisers actually have the best overall sound quality.
Where the Sennheisers fall short against the competition would be decent, but not top of class Comfort and Active Noise Cancellation like the Bose or Sonys.
However, I personally found the Sennheiser Momentum 4 to be superior to the Apple AirPods Max in both comfort and noise-canceling, not to mention sound quality.
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
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Sennheiser Momentum 4 Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent sound quality
Good noise cancelling
Amazing 60 hour battery life
Relatively good value
Cons
Sony / Bose have better noise cancelling
Headband not as comfortable
Can't fully turn ANC off
Sound Quality: 8.3 / 10
Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones have come a mighty long way since I began reviewing headphones 10 years ago.
Due to the increasing competition, consumers are spoiled with options today!
And the good news? There isn't many wrong choices you can make.
Outside of the Focal Bathys, I consider the Sennheiser Momentum 4 to be the best in overall sound quality compared to its direct competitors and price range.
Bass
Bass on the Momentum 4 is very good, excelling primarily in quantity and visceral impact.
I'd say the mid-bass is where it shines for bass kicks and bass guitar, making modern music (Pop, EDM, Hip Hop) an engaging listen.
The sub-bass has plenty of quantity and bass impact.
If I had to nitpick, the sub-bass can get boomy and doesn't have the speed or tightness of a high-end planar, which is too be expected.
Mids
Surprisingly for Sennheiser, the mids are not the star of the show unlike their higher-end wired open-back headphones like the HD650 and HD6xx.
It is clear the sound signature they went for in the Momentum 4 is to appeal to non-audiophile consumers, and they certainly achieved that.
The mids are still here, they exist. Just not as magical or detailed as the "big brother" HD6xx series.
In addition to vocals lacking the same level of substance, electric guitar for Rock/Metal could be "meatier" for my tastes.
Treble
Treble is very forward, but not harsh or sibilant. That should be considered somewhat of a feat in itself.
Vocals are "in your face".
I think the vocals and treble is pushed too forward for my tastes, I'd prefer more openness and airiness.
For modern-mixed music that is already very treble-forward, this combo can create some artificial sound and ever so slightly metallic.
Audiophile: Soundstage, Resolution, Separation, Imaging, Timbre
Is it fair to compare Bluetooth closed-back headphones to $1,000+ open-back wired headphones?
Nope, but we're gonna do it anyway to give the fullest picture of where these sit in the grand scheme of things!
My biggest gripe with these would be an overall "2D" flat sound, too intimate soundstage, and imbalance in overall sound signature.
If I could tune these, I'd gladly give up some of the sub-bass and PEQ down various frequencies in the treble, then give all of that to the mids.
This would create a much more tasteful and balanced sound that would bring out the detail across the frequency spectrum of instruments and vocals, instead of artificially pushing treble.
Soundstage has decent width but practically no depth at all.
The resolution is firmly "1080p" as opposed to 4k, you will instantly hear the veil be lifted when switching to a Hifiman planar such as an Arya or HE1000.
The separation is surprisingly good, but I think this is achieved in a way that gives an artificial/metallic and compressed-sounding quality to more modern music.
I would say the Momentum 4 lacks "3D" realism and dynamics compared to audiophile headphones, the timbre is unnatural for certain instruments/vocals.
Overall, the audiophile comparison I'd actually make for the Momentum 4 is the Hifiman Arya Organic, which is a great compliment!
Comfort: 4.0 / 5
I find the Sennheiser Momentum 4 to feel relatively light at just 292.9 grams on my scale.
This is almost a whopping 25% lighter than the Apple AirPods Max which weighed in at 387.8 grams on my scale.
I have tested a couple lighter and more comfortable headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM4, Beats Studio Pro, and Beats Studio 3 Wireless, all under 267 grams.
I don't find the clamping force of the Momentum 4 to be offensive.
I'd reduce it a touch from the factory for my preference, but should likely loosen up over time as well.
In contrast, the Apple AirPods Max clamping force is too strong for my taste, and the earcup material is not as forgiving/plush versus the normal leather on the Momentum 4.
Funny enough, although the AirPods Max is much heavier overall, the top headband suspension design puts less pressure than the Momentum 4, which is a little too concentrated into one spot top of head.
Overall, the Sony and Bose headphones are more comfortable than either.
Features / Looks / Noise-Canceling: 4.5 / 5
Looks and Design
As far as the design and exterior looks, I actually prefer the understated "German" look of the Momentum 4, in a similar way that Porsches go under the radar.
I find these and the Bose QuietComfort series to be the most "normal-looking" and proportionate headphones when worn on head versus the competition, and I find that a big positive that doesn't get talked about enough.
To me, the Apple AirPods Max is the most striking design, but as I mention in my review of those headphones, I think the earcups are about ~20% too big when worn on head.
Also, the square-ish earcup shape and earpad material doesn't create as neat of a seal as the circular-designed Momentum 4 earcups, from a functionality and ergonomic standpoint.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 looks more minimalistic aesthetically, but the tiny headband contrasted with the large earcups looks disproportionate when worn on head.
Features
As far as features, other reviews can copy/paste a spec sheet, it's got Bluetooth wireless and more than enough battery life that it doesn't need to be charged often.
Actually, Sennheiser claims 60 hours of battery life, which should put it at the top of the class.
In my experience, I rarely need to ever charge it, maybe once a week at most.
Once nice perk is that it comes with a hardshell case, with 3.5mm cable, and airplane adapter.
The earcups themselves fold flat to fit snugly into the case which is fairly slim.
This is a huge plus over the AirPods Max case, which not many are a fan of.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Noise Cancelling Performance
A high priority for many potential customers is the Momentum 4's noise cancelling performance, which I find to be quite effective on airplane flights.
I've worn these on many flights now, and the mobile app allows you to choose how much Active Noise-Canceling vs Transparency you want.
I typically keep the setting somewhat towards the middle for daily listening, then move it towards ANC during flights (but not all the way).
Even without going 100% into ANC mode on the app, the noise-canceling muffles about 90% of outside noise, which is good enough for me.
All this being said, noise-canceling is Bose and Sony's game if you're looking for the best of the best.
The only current ANC headphone that I've been disappointed with on flights is actually the Apple AirPod Max, between the poor seal and just overall inability to block out as much sound as these other entrants.
Value: 4.0 / 5
Currently between $100 to $230 cheaper than Apple AirPods Max, Sony WH-1000XM5, or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is practically a steal.
Superior sound quality to any of those competitors, with strong noise cancellation, and superior battery life, the Momentum 4 simply offers the best overall package with little weaknesses and for less money.
However, you may be wondering why not a perfect score?
Well, a challenger has appeared, and its name is the "Apple AirPods Pro 2".
At an even cheaper $249 retail, and currently going for $199, the AirPods Pro 2 offers a seriously compelling overall package worth a look as well.
(I've written an in-depth review linked below.)
That said, if you are in the market for a wireless over-ear headphone with active noise cancelling, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is my current pick.
Scoring Breakdown
Sound Quality: 8.3 / 10
Comfort: 4.0 / 5
Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 / 5
Value: 4.5 / 5
Total: 21.3 / 25
Our Rating: 8.5 / 10
Are the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Headphones Worth it?
At anywhere from $100 to $230 cheaper than its main big-brand competition, Sennheiser has outdone themselves with the Momentum 4.
At under $300 and boasting superior sound quality than the likes of Apple, Sony, and Bose, the Sennheiser presents a stellar value for the discerning consumers and audiophiles in need of Bluetooth wireless and active noise-canceling for travel and noise work environments.
I owned the Apple AirPods Max for over 2 years and would pick the Sennheiser Momentum 4 over them each time.
Save yourself over $230 and pickup the Momentum 4 below.
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Disclosure: These links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to run the website 🙂
FAQ
Are the Sennheiser Momentum 4 good or bad?
The Sennheiser Momentum is very good when it comes to sound quality for Bluetooth wireless, noise-canceling headphones. They compare very favorably to the Apple AirPods Max, Sony WH-1000XM5, or Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
Are Sennheiser Momentum 4 better than 3?
Sennheiser improved the Momentum 4 in virtually every way over the Momentum 3, with improved sound quality, battery life, ergonomics, and design.
Does the Sennheiser Momentum 4 have a mic?
Yes, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 has four digital beamforming microphones and automatic wind noise suppression for optimized calls and easier voice assistant access.
When was the Momentum 4 released?
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 was officially released in August of 2022.
Is Sennheiser Momentum 4 Waterproof?
No, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is not waterproof and should not be used underwater or in wet conditions.
How Heavy is the Sennheiser Momentum 4?
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 weighs in at just under 293 grams on my scale, or 0.65 pounds.
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
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Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.