Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST experience with the Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 and tell you which is better in 2026, 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.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4: The 30-Second Verdict
- Sony WH-1000XM5 has superior noise cancelling performance and better comfort, but worse build quality due to the weak hinge design.
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 has better sound quality, double the battery life, stronger build quality, and is a better value.
- When both on sale, the Momentum 4 can be found around $179, compared to $198 for the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Watch the Full Comparison on YouTube!
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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
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Sony WH-1000XM5 Prices
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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: 8.5 out of 10
Sony WH-1000XM5 Comfort: 9.5 out of 10
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality
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.
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.
Build Quality
When it comes to build quality, the Momentum 4 has a fairly big 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 points from the Sony XM5 in this category.
Practicality
Both of these headphones are strong daily drivers with their own advantages.
The Momentum 4 has double the battery life and stronger build quality, along with a smaller travel case.
The Sony XM5 is bulkier in its travel case, but has better comfort and noise cancelling performance.
The one drawback to the XM5 is its weak hinge design that is a bit of a liability for durability.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality: 9.5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality: 7.5 out of 5
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
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 slightly above average 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 Noise Cancelling Performance: 8.0 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Performance: 9.0 out of 5
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
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…
Also, both the XM5 and Momentum 4 supports hi-res codecs (LDAC in the XM5, aptX Lossless in the Momentum 4), leading to higher sound quality potential on paper.
To conduct this test, I used my Questyle QCC Dongle Pro to unlock aptX and LDAC support:
![Questyle QCC Dongle Pro [MFi Certified] USB-C Bluetooth Audio Adapter with LDAC,aptX Lossless&aptX-Adaptive,Low Latency Bluetooth 5.4 Dongle for PS5,Wireless Lossless Transmitter for PC/Headphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21jT-Cm5ZVL._SL500_.jpg)
If you’re an iPhone user, or if your phone doesn’t support aptX codecs, then I highly recommend you pick up the dongle above which will cover both LDAC and aptX Adaptive high-res codecs. It’s the only one of its kind that supports both, to my knowledge.
Links to Latest Equalizer Settings
Links open in a new tab. Scroll down to the “Sound Quality” portion to see the settings.
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: 8.8 out of 10
Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality: 8.3 out of 10
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Value
With the arrival of the next generation for both headphones (Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sennheiser Momentum 5), these two are now being heavily discounted as the previous-generation models.
When on sale, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 has dipped to just $179 USD, while the Sony XM5 has reached $198. This has improved the Value score for both headphones since the original comparison.
With these new sale prices in mind, the Momentum 4 presents an exceptional value due to its sound quality and battery life, while the Sony XM5 is still quite impressive in its noise cancelling performance and comfort.
I’d score the XM5 even higher if it weren’t for that hinge durability issue that gives me a bit of pause for long-term ownership.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Value: 10 out of 10
Sony WH-1000XM5 Value: 8.5 out of 10
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
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: Sennheiser Momentum 4
While both headphones present great value plays now that they’ve been officially replaced by newer models, the Momentum 4 comes out on top after revisiting this comparison.
At under $200 on sale, you can’t really go wrong with either headphone depending on your needs.
The Momentum 4 has the advantage in sound quality, build quality, and battery life.
The Sony XM5 is still a top noise cancelling headphone even today, with better lightweight comfort over the Momentum 4.
The real question is whether you should upgrade to the next-generation in the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sennheiser Momentum 5, both of which are excellent, but expect to pay almost double.
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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.
Post Update History
- June 2026: Updated scores to “Version 2.0” of our Headphone Scoring System. Added long-term thoughts such as the XM5’s weak hinge design as a durability concern. Updated prices to 2026 market prices and adjusted Value scores accordingly.
- February 2025: Original publication date.
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