Almost four years after the last version of Sennheiser’s Momentum headphones launched with a new design that traded the retro aesthetic for a more contemporary and comfortable design, the company has announced its Momentum 5 wireless headphones. They look very similar to their predecessor, the Momentum 4, with larger ear cups and a design that doesn’t look all that different from the competition. But there are welcome upgrades under the hood, including better ANC and, for the first time, user-replaceable batteries that extend their life.
The Momentum 5 Wireless will be available starting June 30 for $399.99, which is $50 more than the Momentum 4. The headphones have the same 42mm drivers as the Momentum 3 and 4 models, but Sennheiser is introducing “Hi-Res Audio certification” and expanding the Momentum 5’s Bluetooth codec support to include aptX lossless. This allows the headphones to stream 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality sound, but only from devices with Qualcomm processors supporting that codec via the Snapdragon Sound Platform. Smartphones from Sony and Motorola should be compatible, although Samsung, Google and Apple devices will not be compatible.
Sennheiser has also doubled the number of microphones on the Momentum 5, which now features four on each side for improved noise cancellation. The company claims that its latest headphones are three times more effective at reducing the sound of voice chatter and drone sounds experienced in airplane cabins. The advanced ANC and additional mic also help improve call quality when it comes to picking up your voice and ensuring you can hear the person you’re talking to.
The battery life of Momentum 5 lasts for 57 hours. That’s a small hit compared to the Momentum 4’s 60 hours, but you’ll still get almost double that from the Sony WH-1000XM6, which can only last for 30 hours with ANC on. Other Momentum 5 upgrades include a new carrying case that’s 20 percent smaller, support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with head tracking, and the ability to upgrade from Bluetooth 5.4 to Bluetooth 6.0 with a future firmware update, though Sennheiser hasn’t shared any timeline for this.
<a href