The new model will be available on June 16 for $400
Nearly four years after Sennheiser launched its Momentum 4 headphones, the company is back with its successor. The new Momentum 5 Wireless has the same design as its predecessor, which means almost all the changes are on the inside. The company is promising big upgrades to both sound and active noise cancellation (ANC), but there are some caveats on the spec sheet. Chief among these is the Momentum 5, which is $50 more than the Momentum 4.
The Momentum 5 uses the same 42 mm transducers as the Momentum 4, which were inspired by Sennheiser’s iconic HD 600 series headphones, which were tuned for “full-bodied sound” and “dynamic bass.” What’s new in the fifth-generation model is Hi-Res Audio certification and Snapdragon Sound, which offers Bluetooth codec support up to aptX lossless. Sennheiser’s Smart Control Plus app now has an 8-band EQ with audio presets and sound personalization. The Momentum 5 is also compatible with the company’s BTD 700 lossless Bluetooth dongle that debuted with the HDB 630 headphones.
To further improve the audio quality, a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Bluetooth update is already planned. With the “Day One Update”, Sennheiser will add Dolby Atmos support with head tracking when listening or watching compatible Atmos content. Right now, the headphones only support Dolby Atmos without the more immersive head tracking feature. And while the Momentum 5 will come with Bluetooth 5.4, the headphones were designed for the upcoming Bluetooth 6.0 release, another upgrade that will come via firmware update.
To improve ANC performance, Sennheiser added two additional microphones per side (now four on each ear cup) for what it calls an “improvement across the board.” The company promises the upgrade offers three times more effective noise cancellation of human voices. Additionally, according to the company, the additional mic should provide “more natural sound quality on calls.”
Another difference between the Momentum 4 and the new Momentum 5 is battery life. The previous model lasted up to 60 hours on a single charge with ANC enabled, but the new version is rated at 57 hours. It’s not a huge loss, and there’s still plenty of time to go, but it’s one place where the two models differ. The Momentum 5 has a quick charge feature that will give you up to three hours of usage in just five minutes. Additionally, the 700mAh battery is user replaceable, and you only need a small Phillips-head screwdriver to make the swap.
The Momentum 5 Wireless headphones will be available on June 16 for $400. Sennheiser will offer the new model in black, white and blue colors.
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