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Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones keep going and going

Sennheiser's stale over-ear line finally picks up the pace.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Drivers
42mm
Battery life
60 hours
Cheapest price
Special Edition: $625
Brodie Fogg
Feb 14, 2023
Icon Time To Read5 min read
Quick verdict: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

Sennheiser's Momentum 4 Wireless headphones opt for a classy, more subdued design that matches the aesthetic of its true wireless earbuds. They also blow the competition out of the water with a monstrous 60-hour battery life and even take a shot at the noise-cancelling crown (falling just shy of the Sony WH-1000 XM5s). 

A few inconsistent connectivity bugs will frustrate anyone working from home but if they are ironed out, you'll be left with one of the most reliable pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones currently available. 

pro
Pros
pro 60-hour battery life is no joke
pro Noise-cancelling competes with Sony
pro Lightweight and comfortable for long workdays
con
Cons
con A bit buggy
con Premium price

When images of the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones first landed in my inbox, I was certain Sennheiser was chasing that ultra-premium Apple AirPod Max audience. After seeing them in the flesh, it’s obvious that Apple isn’t the real target here. Not only are the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones priced to match Sony’s WH-1000 XM5s, they also try to achieve the sleek primo look without the expensive, and honestly uncomfortable, materials of the AirPods Max. Instead, what we have here is a phenomenal pair of noise-cancelling headphones that will last you multiple days (possibly weeks) without needing a charge.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

How much do Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless headphones cost in Australia?

Not cheap but par for the (premium) course at this point.

When you see a radical redesign from the big players in the wireless headphone space, your first question should always be “how much are they stinging me for this makeover?” It’s a fair response to a rising tide of premium-priced consumer headphones. Here in Australia, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones will set you back $549 at the recommended retail price. That just so happens to be almost the exact same price as the Sony WH-1000 XM5 headphones– though both models can be found at a generous discount.

Here are a few deals we managed to dig up for the Momentum 4 Wireless.

Retailer
Price
Amazon
Amazon
The Good Guys
JB Hi-Fi

Momentum 4 Wireless battery life

Battery life that might outlive us all.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The marquee feature of the Momentum 4 Wireless is its insane 60-hour battery life with ANC switched on, around double that of its main competitors in the space. The Bose 700s and Apple AirPods Max will get you up 20 hours on a single charge while the Sony WH-1000 XM5s can manage up to 30 hours with constant ANC and 40 hours without. These brands don’t even come close to Momentum 4 Wireless. With noise-cancellation a tight race these days, and audio performance a matter of preference (at least when it comes to premium headphones), longer battery life is becoming the metric to strive for and Sennheiser has knocked it so far out of the park, it’s crossed two state borders and landed in the ocean.

Unfortunately, the one major criticism we can level at the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones impacts their greatest feature. Sennheiser’s 60-hour battery is bliss when it works; days— sometimes weeks— can go by without needing a charge, and in a pinch, a quick 10-minute charge will get you roughly six hours of listening time. But this is occasionally undone by the Momentum 4s’ inconsistent software and occasional bugs. Smart Pause, for example, is meant to pause your music once the headphones are removed, and enter a battery-saving standby mode. But often I’d return to my desk to the faint hum of music playing through the Momentum 4s. This would, of course, run the battery down much faster, making it tough for me to test the full 60-hour endurance at first.

A sturdy companion for those who always need a pair of wireless headphones at the ready.

At its worst, this would create a truly bizarre issue where putting the headphones back on would actually pause the music, or boot my audio on a Zoom call. It was, at times, incredibly frustrating. The last software update I ran on the Momentum 4s improved stability, but didn’t remove the issue entirely.

Thankfully, the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones work more often than they don’t, and a simple power cycle always fixes the issues immediately. Besides those few grievances, the Momentum 4s are a sturdy companion for those who always need a pair of wireless headphones at the ready.

Design and features

Not as solid as the AirPods Max and all the better for it.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser’s latest over-ear cans signal a serious shift in design philosophy from the over-ear Momentums of the past, and the beloved PXC 550 headset. Rather than the oblique ear cups or industrial headband of previous Momentums, Sennheiser has attempted to consolidate the design of its latest flagship over-ear headphones with that of its popular wireless earbud range. The result is a fairly subdued design in comparison, but if, like me, you love the textured fabric wrap on the Momentum earbuds, you’ll appreciate the cosy simplicity of the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones.

And the cosiness extends beyond the comfortable texture of the headband. The Momentum 4s are the most comfortable set of wireless over-ear headphones I’ve reviewed in a while. Whether they are hanging around your neck or perched on top of your noggin, they’re so light it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them at all. The hinges and flat-fold design offer a frictionless transition from wearing them on your head to around your neck and the cushioned earpads are deep and offer enough give that they don’t feel like they’re squeezing your head.

Part of that comfort comes down to the overall weight of the headset. The Momentum 4s weigh in at 290g, a little heavier than the Sony WH-1000 XM5s but about 100g lighter than the Apple AirPods Max. Apple’s stainless steel frame may give a premium feel but it ultimately adds a level of discomfort you won’t find in the Momentum 4s.

Sound quality and noise-cancellation

Competitive cancelling.

If it weren’t for the Momentum 4’s long-lasting battery life, the headline feature here would be its superb active noise-cancelling. In my experience, it doesn’t quite live up to Sony in that regard, but it does offer better cancellation than the AirPods Max and is roughly in the same league as the Bose QuietComfort 45s.

Sony’s cans eliminate more external chatter but its adaptive qualities are more refined too; Sennheiser has flexible in-app settings that let you tailor your preferences, but Sony’s headphones do a better job of automatically adjusting to different environments on the fly. Another neat Momentum 4 feature is the ability to adjust the level of noise-cancellation with a pinching gesture on the right earcup.

Out of the box, the Momentum 4s gave just the right amount of depth to the persistent sub-bass in Childish Gambino’s “3005”; powerful and resonant without distorting the lows and mids of the track. There was a little detail lost in busier tracks like Deftones’ “Swerve City”— the rhythm guitar slightly overpowered by the increased lows— and the distant guitar riffs in The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was difficult to nail down. Both of these tracks benefited greatly from switching back to the default EQ settings but I’m a slave to that heavy bass.

As mentioned above, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless app delivers a tremendous amount of EQ customisation if you want to tweak the out-of-the-box settings. The app even has a Sound Check feature that tunes your audio by asking you to rate a series of audio samples; great for those of us who aren’t fluent in audiophile jargon.

Still, the preset profile is quite nice on its own. I gave the bass a little boost but the more naturally balanced preset will be most people’s cup of tea.

Momentum 4 microphone quality

The Momentum 4 Wireless don't exactly break new ground in the microphone space.  They rock two beamforming mics on each earcup (four in total) which help deliver decent noise-reduction during calls.

The quality of the audio itself is nothing special but it gets the job done; loud enough and clear enough with a touch of distortion. They don't compete with the natural, crystal-clear audio from the AirPods Pro microphone, but then again, not many headphones do. 

Follow the link below to compare more microphone samples. 

Light Bulb

Standout feature

Sidetone: When making phone calls, the Momentum 4 Wireless uses its external mics to faintly play your voice back through the headphones. It’s a subtle effect that allows you to hear your own voice when chatting, making conversations feel a little more natural. This is one of the additions to Sennheiser’s cans.

Are the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones worth the price?

Big price for much better battery.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The Momentum 4 Wireless are an expensive investment for a pair of over-ear wireless headphones. At $549.95, they are cheaper than the AirPods Max, around the same price as the Sony WH-1000 XM5s and, ultimately, more expensive than most other brands and models. Are they worth it? I think so; even despite the consistent software bugs we experienced throughout the review.

The colossal leap in battery life is a milestone that should put other brands on notice. Sure, Sony still reigns supreme for active-noise cancellation but the Momentum 4s aren’t too far behind and while the XM5s certainly aren’t an uncomfortable hang, the Momentum 4s are barely there; giving all-day comfort and battery that will last the work week and then some.

How do the Momentum 4 Wireless compare?

Product
Rating
Price
Battery life
Fast charging
Noise cancelling
Availability
icon-expertise

How we review over-ear headphones

When we review over-ear wireless headphones, there are five main considerations:

  • Sound: Do they sound good? Audio quality is pretty important for headphones, after all.
  • Comfort & Design: Are they comfortable to wear over extended periods of time?
  • Features: How long does the battery last? Is the connectivity reliable? Is the noise-cancelling good?
  • Vibe: What's the overall experience?
  • Value: Are they good for the money?

While audio products can be quite subjective for many reasons, we have standardised testing procedures across the team designed to help us look at the category in a consistent way. You can read more about how we review over-ear headphones here.

More questions about the Momentum 4 Wireless answered

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser releases the Momentum 4 Wireless on the 9th of August 2022. 

Very comfortable. As outlined in our review above, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are some of the most comfortable headphones we've reviewed for all-day wear. 

There will, of course, be people who prefer Bose over Sennheiser or Sennheiser over Bose when it comes to audio quality. As a brand, Bose is a little more consistent than Sennheiser and deserves its place as one of the most trusted names in audio. But Sennheiser has its own strengths, particularly when it comes to the Momentum 4 Wireless. For one, the 60-hour battery life lasts three times as long as the Bose 700 over-ear headphones (which still last an admirable 20 hours before needing a charge). 

Brodie Fogg
Written by
Brodie Fogg is the Australian editorial lead at Reviews.org. He has covered consumer tech, telecommunications, video games, streaming and entertainment for over five years at websites like WhistleOut and Finder and can be found sharing streaming recommendations at 7NEWS every month.