Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review

Sennheiser's new Momentum 4 Wireless headphones were released today. Sennheiser is one of the most well-known names in audio technology. Their vast collection of high-quality headphones across all price points makes them one of the most versatile manufacturers. At $350, the Momentum 4 has a lot of steep competition, both in functionality and price. I recently reviewed the Momentum 3 TW Earbuds and liked them, so I'm excited to see what its Wireless over-ear equivalent offers.

What’s in the Box

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones

• Carrying case

• USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable

• 3.5mm Audio Cable

• Warranty and Instructions

Look and Feel

The Momentum 4 adheres to Sennheiser's core design aesthetic while including some notable improvements. Visually, they look minimal yet powerful, sporting a sleek design and accented by the Sennheiser logo on either side of the headband. The ear cups' rotation feels much smoother, with just the right amount of resistance to give it a sturdier feel while still adjusting to your head shape. The ear cups themselves include buttons but the right earcup is also touch-sensitive for quick control over your listening. I found the padding perfectly comfortable, but not overly cushioned to the point where the headphones don't feel secure on my head. The Momentum 4 also breathes a solid amount, it's currently 91°F and I don't feel hot in these at all. In terms of comfort and aesthetics, Sennheiser outdid themselves with the Momentum 4's design.

Design

The Momentum 4 features a 42mm dynamic driver of Sennheiser's own design. The battery is extremely powerful and gives 60 hours of continuous playback on a full charge, takes only 5 minutes to get 4 hours of playback, and 2 hours for a full charge. The Momentum 4 features two built-in mics on either side for both calls and ANC features. The headphones can be used either wirelessly or with the included 3.5mm cable. The Momentum 4 has Bluetooth 5.2 and supports SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs, ensuring high-quality streaming from your device. Features such as touch controls, ANC, sound quality, and more can be customized via Sennheiser's Smart Control App.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has a frequency response of 6 Hz – 22 kHz and a battery life of up to 60 hrs.

Sennheiser Smart Control App

Sennheiser's Smart Control app makes a return on the Momentum 4. Once you connect the headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth, you can seamlessly adjust the settings in Smart Control. Momentum 4 gives you a myriad of powerful features at your disposal. The 3-band equalizer can save and name presets, as well as switches for bass boost and podcast modes, which slightly alter the tuning curve of the sound character to fit the listening style. The app also has a feature called Sound Check, which creates a custom EQ preset based on a short listening test. These EQ presets can be disabled at any time and you can make as many Sound Check presets as you need.

Sennheiser's ANC makes a return, and features a slider mechanic rather than a simple on/off switch, giving you much more freedom with the degree of noise cancellation you desire. One of the most notable features is called Sound Zones. This uses location data to automatically adjust to different settings configurations based on your location. You can have different settings for home, work, the gym, etc. that automatically apply different EQs and ANC settings when you enter that location. This is an extremely useful feature that worked well when I tested it. My one problem with the app is that you can't customize the touch controls, but this is a very minor complaint as the touch controls are already very intuitive. Overall, the Sennheiser Smart Control app is a great tool to make the Momentum 4 even more powerful than it already is.

Soundstage

The soundstage on the Momentum 4 is greatly enhanced by its superb noise cancellation capabilities. With ANC mode set to full, I'm almost fully isolated from the outside world, making spatial details so much more immersive. The soundstage is wide and spacious, but in a way that feels comfortable. The separation and depth are present, but never nauseatingly so, which helps accentuate smaller details in the mix. Instruments and where they're placed are almost tangible and I have a greater appreciation for the small details that mix engineers add. The Momentum 4 makes the soundstage pop, both spatially and dynamically.

Lows

The lows on the Momentum hit a certain sweet spot that fits my preferences. I'm using neutral EQ settings, and the lows are firm, supportive, and some of the fastest responses I've ever heard in wireless headphones. Subs and kicks have a nice subtle thump that I can feel. It breathes life into the attacks and makes the mixes feel much more three-dimensional than a simple bass boost. These subs are dynamic, supportive, and considerate of the rest of the mix.

This thump is much more accentuated when you engage the Bass Boost switch in Smart Control's EQ settings. This, combined with the option to boost the lows through the EQ, give you a myriad of options to explore to find a sound character that fits your preferences and situational needs.

Mids

The mids have some noticeable alterations to them. Vocals feel especially polished on these, and snares have more pop than usual. While I wouldn't use this as a mixing headphone, I like the way it characterizes the sound. In a general sense, some instruments take more of a supportive role, such as auxiliary percussion and background synths, which is fine since that's typically the role they perform. Vocals feel very clean and rarely feel overshadowed. My one complaint is that sometimes mixes lose some of their grit on the Momentum, but this can be rectified to an extent by using the EQ settings. The mids are clear, but they aren't the most in-your-face mids you'll ever hear.

Highs

The highs add a nice shimmer to the entire sound that I rarely hear in wireless headphones. Percussive elements have a snap in their articulation that makes them feel strong and clear. Good highs are a crucial part of how we perceive resolution, and the highs on the Momentum 4 feel crystal clear. The treble range on the Momentum 4 does a great job of accentuating space within the soundstage. Songs like Aphex Twin's Tha (my go-to high test) feel as cavernous as ever, without it feeling forced. It reaches a happy balance between Smooth and assertive.

Overall

Sennheiser has done it again. I had high expectations for the Mo0mentum 4 Wireless and I was still pleasantly surprised. The headphone feels advanced, yet so simple to use. It feels comfortable, looks great, and (most importantly) sounds fantastic. This is a great pair of day-to-day headphones for anybody who wants a fantastic listening experience. While it has some minor flaws, those flaws didn't negatively impact the listening experience for me. The Momentum 4 is one of the best headphones I've listened to recently and I'm seriously excited to see how Sennheiser follows this up.

See how they stack up to the also popular Sony WH-1000XM5 in this comparison.

You can buy the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless at Audio46 clicking the button below