Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST experience with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 and tell you which is better, after personally owning both products. I have thoroughly tested each of these headphones for hundreds of hours, and aim to offer a critical opinion from the perspective of an audiophile and professional music producer.
I’ll be comparing these two head to head on categories like price, comfort, features, battery life, noise cancelling performance, and sound quality.
Then at the end, I’ll share which is the best overall value for the money, and my overall recommendation on which you should buy.
I’ve also conducted a separate in-depth Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review and Sony WH-1000XM5 review, for those who are interested in reading more detailed thoughts about each headphone after. (Links open in a new tab.)
Key Takeaways
- Sony WH-1000XM5 has superior noise cancelling performance, better comfort, and comparable sound quality, but only after EQ.
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 has better sound quality out of the box, double the battery life, stronger build quality, and is a slightly better value.
- Sony WH-1000XM5 is typically $80 more expensive than Sennheiser Momentum 4, at the time of this writing.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Price Compared
At the time of this writing, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is around $80 cheaper than the Sony WH-1000XM5 at current market prices for brand new. They can be much closer in price depending on current sales, and whether you’re buying new, renewed, or used.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Prices
- Retail: $379.95
- New: $249.95
- Renewed: $199.95 (save up to $50!)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Prices
- Retail: $399.99
- New: $328
- Renewed: $253 (save up to $75!)
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Comfort
When it comes to comfort, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is one of the lightest full-sized headphones I’ve tested, while the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is about average.
On my scale, the Sony’s are 46.8 grams lighter than the Sennheisers:
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 weight: 292.9 grams
- Sony WH-1000XM5 weight: 246.1 grams
The only other headphone in this class that can match the XM5’s light weight and all-day comfort is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
My only knock on the XM5 is that the earcup interior is quite shallow, and my ears press against the fabric inside. My ears feel a little more free inside the Momentum 4, but it’s close.
The XM5 practically feels like wearing nothing, not only due to its weight, but minimal clamping force and top-of-head pressure from the headband. Also the cushioning on the headband and earpads is fairly plush.
I still find the Momentum 4 to be quite comfortable as well, but it clearly has a stronger clamping force and slightly more top-of-head pressure from the headband.
I find the cushioning of the Momentum 4 to be a little firmer, especially at the headband.
I could still wear the Momentum 4 for hours without much issue, but the XM5 wins when it comes to all-day comfort hands down.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Comfort: 4.0 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Comfort: 5 out of 5
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling
Features
Both the Momentum 4 and XM5 are pretty even when it comes to modern features like active noise cancelling, transparency mode, and built-in microphones for calls.
Both have a companion app to adjust the noise cancelling settings and a customizable EQ.
Both also include pretty decent hard shell cases and stereo cables, pictured above.
Build Quality
When it comes to build quality, the Momentum 4 has a slight advantage here.
The most egregious offense that hurts the Sony WH-1000XM5 is its notoriously poor hinge design.
There are quite a few reports online of broken hinges for the XM5, and I’m not at all surprised, considering how seemingly fragile it feels.
If you’re extra careful with handling the XM5, and always use the included hardshell case, then you should be fine. But this design flaw should be considered before investing $300+ into a pair.
Now, the Momentum 4 also features what looks to be plastic hinges (at least on the outside), but they feel much sturdier and don’t have as much flex as the XM5.
For the weak hinge design, I will be docking 0.5 points from the Sony XM5 in this category.
Looks
Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of the XM5’s blocky, bulky earcups, especially when contrasted with probably the smallest headband I’ve ever seen.
These just look a little disproportionate when worn on head, even in black and with the minimalist design.
The Momentum 4 isn’t exactly a fashion statement either, but it looks more proportionate and sleek.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Battery Life Compared
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 has 30 hours more battery life on a single charge compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5:
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 Battery Life: Up to 60 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
In my testing, I found both of these manufacturer’s battery ratings to be accurate.
The Momentum 4 has double the battery life of the XM5, and the real-world implications are that they can practically go a month before needing to charge.
The XM5 will need to be charged once every 1-2 weeks depending on daily usage, but the Momentum 4 is like the Energizer bunny, it just keeps on going.
Honestly, the 30 hours from the XM5 is actually above average, but the Sennheiser is in a different world here.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling: Which is better?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has superior active noise cancelling performance to the Sennheiser Momentum 4, especially on airplane flights.
The only headphone that I have tested which has equal or better noise cancelling performance to the XM5 is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
The Sony XM5 boasts 20+ levels of noise cancelling customization between outside Ambient Noise (Sony’s version of “Transparency Mode”) and pure Noise Cancelling.
If there’s one knock on the XM5, it’s that its Transparency Mode isn’t that good and still sounds quite muffled.
On the other hand, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 has very good noise cancelling, and is decent enough on airplane travel.
It performs better in noisy everyday environments like a busy office or coffeeshop. I think it’s really just airplane travel that exposes the levels to ANC, and of which the XM5 handles more effectively. The small difference isn’t large enough to be a dealbreaker.
The Momentum 4 also offers the ability to choose your specific mix of noise cancelling to transparency mode. Unfortunately, there isn’t an option to turn both completely off, which I would really prefer in quieter environments to not mess with the sound quality.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality Comparison
Before we dive into the sound quality comparison, I have to make a very important note here:
The stock tuning on the Sony WH-1000XM5 is pretty bad.
But luckily, this can be greatly improved by using Sony’s official free companion app and applying the EQ settings shared below.
I’ll be reviewing the sound quality WITH these EQ settings applied to get the most out of the XM5.
If I was judging this based on the stock XM5 sound, they would lose quite a few points here and definitely be rated lower than the stock Momentum 4’s sound quality.
With EQ however, things get a LOT more interesting…
Best Sony WH 1000XM5 EQ settings
- 400: +2
- 1k: +4
- 2.5k: +9
- 6.3k: +4
- 16k: +9
- Clear Bass: +3
I found a bunch of EQ settings on Reddit, and out of all of them, this is the one that I preferred the most. I wasn’t able to find the originator of the settings, someone was just passing these on in the comments.
Result: Much more detail, airiness, and dynamics. A very fun, punchy, energetic, “in your face” sound signature that I think most consumers would love.
Comparing Sound Quality AFTER EQ…
The sound signatures of the EQ’d XM5 and stock Sennheiser Momentum 4 actually share more similarities than differences.
Both headphones have a very consumer-friendly sound signature, with an energetic and lively response focused on big bass, slight peak in the mids, and very treble-forward up top.
The Momentum 4 is the least “Sennheiser-sounding” Sennheiser headphone that I’ve heard, and I actually prefer it to the traditional mid-range focused Sennheiser “house sound”.
Before writing this comparison, I actually had the (EQ’d) XM5 slightly ahead on paper when it came to sound quality, and what I’d prefer listening to.
But after listening to them back-to-back, I simply cannot put the Momentum 4 below the XM5 for sound quality.
The stock Momentum 4 is simply a higher fidelity and more audiophile-friendly headphone than the EQ’d XM5. Even moreso versus the stock XM5 sound, which was relatively bad and wouldn’t even be a contest.
The Momentum 4 has more clarity, resolution, separation, wider and deeper soundstage, and a more realistic timbre.
But let’s say you’re not an audiophile…
The Momentum 4 is a more versatile and better all-arounder for all genres of music, compared to the XM5 which is a bit of a one-trick pony for modern music.
Both headphones have enjoyable bass, with the XM5 being punchier in the upper bass, and the Sennheiser being deeper in the sub-bass response and fuller with more bass quantity and slam. If you’re a basshead, I’d get the Momentum 4.
The XM5 is impressive when you first listen to it, but it simply lacks the depth and separation of the Momentum 4. It just sounds more compressed “2D” and flatter.
That said, they’re still very fun to listen with its “in your face” sound, and if I wasn’t hearing them back-to-back, I would be living in blissful ignorance.
Sennheiser’s bigger bass and larger soundstage translates nicely to media like movies, TV, gaming, YouTube, and podcasts.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Sound Quality: 8.5 out of 10
Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality: 8.3 out of 10 (after EQ)
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Value
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is about $80 cheaper than the Sony WH-1000XM5 at the time of this writing, depending on sales.
That is noticeable price gap, although it’ll still be $250-300 for the Momentum 4, so neither headphone is considered cheap.
Both headphones are fairly competitive and win in their respective categories, so the $80 price difference gives the Momentum 4 the nod when it comes to dollar-for-dollar value.
Compared to the even-higher priced Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Apple AirPods Max, the Momentum 4’s value is emphasized even further.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Value: 4.5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Value: 4.0 out of 5
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Overall Rating
- Audiophile-friendly sound quality
- Good noise cancelling
- Impressive bass response and impact
- Amazing 60 hour battery life
- Relatively good value
- Sony, Bose have better noise cancelling
- Not as comfortable as Sony, Bose
- Can’t fully turn ANC off
Sony WH-1000XM5 Overall Rating
- Fun, excellent sound quality (after EQ)
- All-day comfort and lightweight
- Elite noise cancelling performance
- Stock sound without EQ is mediocre
- Poor build quality on hinges
- Expensive
Overall Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
It was extremely close, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 is our ultimate winner primarily due to its world-class all day comfort, superior noise cancelling, and comparable sound quality after EQ.
The Sennheiser wins on bang-for-the-buck value, more audiophile-friendly sound quality (especially stock vs stock), decent noise cancelling, and slight advantage in build quality.
Honestly, these two are so close that it really just boils down to your preference and what you prioritize most.
One message to any fellow audiophiles: Go for the Momentum 4 or look into the alternatives below. The EQ’d XM5 is surely fun to listen to but it’s simply outclassed in this category.
Some extremely strong alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones and price range are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Apple AirPods Max. I recommend you check those out next!
Lastly, if you’d like to save some money and keep supporting RecordingNOW.com’s 100% independent, unbiased reviews, do consider using some of our affiliate links below to shop and even just compare prices. We purchase all products we review with our own money to maintain the highest level of integrity, and your support goes into that, plus a continuously improving site experience.
Order Here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Want to save up to an additional $50?
Want to save up to an additional $75?
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
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 all of 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. Noise cancelling performance is tested in the real-world, primarily on airplane flights, coffee shops, and walking around large metropolitan city environments.
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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