Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Review | vs. Sony XM5 

Oh hey sennheiser

I've bought every momentum over ear and will be giving my 3's to my gf. Is it possible to get a pair to test?

I've owned many Sennheiser gaming and audio headphones, from HD599, PC350, GameOne, H6 Pro. Also owned a few Sony 1XM3, 1XM4, 1XM5. I can't wait for my Momentum 4 to arrive next week and see how it stacks with the rest of them.

I sent my Momentum 1s in for repair and was sent a pair of on ears instead. Sennheiser Canada sells these abs they sell chose to not repair my item.

@@letsgetdoing How good are the 3's? I had the 1's for years and they only recently broke down on me.

good take, in that case the M4 runs on its own DAC which reduce jitter from the source. Is this a publicly announced feature on M4?

Huh, nice one

My 6 year old Momentum 2's can do that only with micro usb instead of usb-c so not really a new feature

Yeah, momentum 3 can do that as well

In case of owning a MacBook that lacks usb A port, do I need to purchase additional c to c cable to have the lossless audio? Since I heard Momentum 4 comes along with only c to a cable. What exactly would the difference be between connecting Momentum 4 to my MacBook via usb c and 3.5 mm?

Now bose has a real problem here. You really need to a fan to buy their headphones now.

@@serrael-182 I disagree, Sony has just as mediocre of a sound as Bose, the Bose 700 is a nicer looking, so it would just be up to which one you like the looks of better.

@@mikecast20 I disagree with this but I think this is a thing you can easily disagree with without having a big problem. ;) But i think youre right with one thing: The Bose 700 look better indeed!

They sold the Headphone devision.

@@jody024 I forgot about Sonova buying their consumer audio division, but it looks like they have a long term licensing deal to keep using the Sennheiser name.

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Yup, me too. No reviewers ever discuss wired modes nowadays!

You need to get the Sennheiser dongle to take advantage of that

I disagree about "honest" And it makes no sens for the reviewer to say "to be honest: the software is just something extra".

Just looked these headsets up, yeah I think you are right. Seems like they are bringing everything they have learned into the Momentum 4. I suspect the pxc 550-ii for factor was just better then the Momentum 3 as well.

@@Swarm509 I totally agree with you, didn't really like the momentum 3 but love the pxc 550 II and I use them everyday, the momentum 4 might be a good option to me when the price drop a bit

M4 are definitely not a successor to the M3.M4 have better battery life but that’s it. M3 sound, look, feel so much better. The quality of the M3 is miles ahead of M4

Well senheiser is owned by another company now so things will be a little different

I just got them, as a replacement for my beloved but broken PXC 550 (power switch issue). I loved the PXC 550's comfort and usability, also their sound which was always better than any Sony or Bose. But now that I have the M4, the PXC sound like Bose to me. Only now I can hear their peaky, uneven upper mids/treble. Everything sounds better on the M4: deeper, more exact bass, clear mids, even and airy treble, incredible soundstage and imaging! ANC is also on another level. Only the comfort was better on the PXC because of their light weight and deeper earcups. I felt right at home in terms of usability, but I won't miss "Phone 1" and "Phone 2" ;)

In your opinion what has the best sound quality between your headphones?

@@moh7286 the Sennheiser Momentum II’s sound like 💩now but I didn’t think so at the time. I like the Sony XM4’s for both sound quality and comfort. The Dekoni earpads for the XM4’s add further to the comfort but at a trade-off. The stock earpads, which really do not require an “upgrade”, keep the headphone profile low and are better for ANC performance. The AirPods Max are too heavy for long-term enjoyment. They’re great for watching TV and movies with spacial audio but they’re only so-so sonically for regular music. I don’t even enjoy Apple’s spacial audio or Dolby surround audio tracks all that much on headphones. On my 11.2 home theater, yes. Otherwise, no. The AirPods Max are damn good at ANC and at negating wind sound if you’re out walking and talking. Considering the weight, it should be no surprise. Unlike Bose, Sony, Sennheiser and others who have tried to improve ANC while keeping the weight low, Apple just said “f^^k it, ours is going to be the best ANC on the market”. I would say so, but what good is it if the headphones are too heavy for long-term use? And the earpads get warm and sweaty. Easy to throw in the wash, but still. I was recently in a store and compared the Sony XM5 with the XM4. I noticed only the slightest improvement in ANC in that particular environment. Sonically it was impossible for me to do a proper A-B test. The XM5’s don’t fold like the XM4’s either and I felt as if the XM4’s have a lower profile on my head. I haven’t heard the Momentum IV’s yet so I can’t say anything about them. I’ve always enjoyed my Sony’s and can easily recommend them. And I will admit a bias against Bose just because everyone was wearing them and Bose was lauded as the best ANC headphones evah! Then along came Sony and said “we’ll see about that”. Sennheiser is no slouch either.

@@WillieBloomhave you tried the momentum 4’s yet by any chance? I am debating between the Air Pod Maxes, XM4/XM5 and momentums. Which do you think?

@@gauze.65 AirPods Max if you prioritize movies with Apple TV. Everything else goes to Sony. I have both the MX4 and the MX5. The MX5 have slightly better already awesome ANC and are a bit lighter. The MX4 folds and works better when switching between devices like iPhone and iPad. Originally the XM5 couldn’t do this but Sony has improved it with a firmware update. The handoff is still better with the XM4. The sound profile is to my ears basically the same. If there is a big price jump or you prefer folding headphones then get the XM5. No need to worry about missing out on the XM5’s. If your priority is weight and getting that last percentage of performance the go for the XM5’s. I haven’t tried the latest Sanns but I am happy with Sony. Their ANC is the best. About AirPods Max: good for surround sound if coupled with Apple TV. They also have really good ANC and where they beat everyone is audio quality for calls and if you’re out walking and talking. They deaden all wind noise which is great for both you and the person or people on the other end. What I don’t like: they’re heavy as f… and my ears get sweaty after a while. I will be selling mine once I get the Audeze Maxwell. What I would buy right now if I was on the market is the Focal Bathys. They’re expensive, they look cool and all reviews about sound quality and ANC have been good. I got my hands on a mint condition second hand Focal Utopia 2022. Still bloody expensive but they rendered most of my other headphones useless. They’re not perfect but they’re really really good. Happy hunting. And don’t forget to use the equalizer in the Sony app if you go that route. It’s better to equalize there and keep the settings flat in your music app such as Spotify. IMHO of course. Personally I prefer a bit more base, a lot more midrange and reduced treble.

@@WillieBloom You are a headphones review god. Thank you!

There is no typical sound signature per brand. And especially with the Momentum series that are Sennheiser's bassy series whereas in most other options they aim to provide listeners a more neutral sound (meaning there is no signature at all).

@@djoetma although the momentum has more bass than a typical hifi product it by no means was a baddy headphone 😂😂.

ends up where you started

I'm curious how much the difference in ANC between the headphones in an airplane. I love Sony ANC in an airplane.

I dont get why people need such intense anc… these would be comparable to the XM4’s, which were fine for everyone last year, now all of a sudden the anc aint enough. I find headphones without anc that have a good seal when music is playing, almost no sounds gets in. So all these products with anc, it’s just a bonus

I'm still on my XM3 and I'm not impressed with the XM4 and XM5. Both have way weaker bass that can't even be fixed with the equalizer to measure up to XM3 bass level. And XM3 is no slouch in sound quality either.

@@robinyumnam2646 Oh? That's interesting 🤔 I love my XM3's but I have been looking at the XM4/5's with envious eyes, you've made me rethink.

@@Roboto82 Not a substantial upgrade TBH, considering how expensive they are. And you'll miss the bass. But the soundstage is a lil' wider on the XM4 and XM5 but very negligible. It's the soundstage that's lacking on the XM3,XM4,XM5. At this price, this is not acceptable. Even the TWS WF-XM4 has a substantially wider soundstage than these 3 big ass over-the-ear headphones.

I bought the xm5's on release day and they just sit on a hook gathering dust, I still use my old qc 35 II's over them. The band is oppressively uncomfortable. Just another 400 dollar set of headphones I dont use :(

@@Gimpo925 you should resell them as fast as you can...

How does the S3 compare to the M3 ones I'm wondering because since the S3 has planar drivers which produces detailed sounds, M3 has dynamic drivers which has that natural punchy bass

Didn't even realise Edifier made headphones and these look decent. I have the same question as Alex because planars are known to be chrystal in the mids and highs but not so good in the bass. These might be ok though because they are closed back.

Finally. It’s nice to hear someone else say this, because man I feel crazy sometimes. I bought the xm4’s and was expecting something superb, and honestly I think they sound not great at all. It’s night and day for me. The momentum’s are very clear and tight. Highs are sparkly, lows are rumbly and punchy without being muddy. Very alive sounding where the Sony’s sound big, but very sterile.

@@robbynaumann439 Exactly! Sennheiser's ANC may not be as good as Sony's but at least the sound is way better! If you really love music, quality sound is just so much more important, especially for those prices. Sony definitely needs to come up with improvement on their sound stage, and Sennheiser needs to come up with improvement for their ANC!

@@GSNLYT Yes. I tried to replicate the same audio frequency curve of both Sonys and Sennys and the latter sounded way way better. So even without trying them, I found who's the best bet for sound.

I felt the same way until I played with the EQ settings, I was going to return them but I love them now. I haven’t listened to the Sennheiser set yet but I’m going to. Update...I tried the Sennheiser and the sound is incredible, the XM5 has better ANC and phone call quality...I'm keeping both. I fly a lot and will wear the XM5 on flights but my everyday headphone will be the Sennheiser.

@@GSNLYT it’s funny people try to talk about the senn anc though like it’s bad. It’s honestly comparable to the xm4, which was stellar for everyone last year and now we make out like it ain’t enough. Idk what people are doing to need such intense anc, but my xm4’s would get me killed with how silent everything is - almost a turn off for me most of the time. So i think Senn have hit the sweet spot, of course year on year it will get better, but really who cares.

Could you please tell me how they compare to the bose 700 ? It may be irrelevant to ask this since it is considered to be less good than the xm4 but I still prefer the overall sound.

Right? It's been soooooo long since they've released an updated pair of ANC headphones despite having had great features introduced before

100%!!! Still using my 550 ii but I think I may finally upgrade to 4!

It’s like the jabras and surface headphones had a baby

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Look better but those exposed wires were delicate for me to wear

The Momentum 3 was ugly AF

loved the momentum 3’s aesthetically, but i hated them in every other aspect. i had them for less than 24h and returned them right away. too buggy, sound was weak + metallicy (even for $250 headphones, which is the price i found them at), and omg the pinch when opening them…

The momentums also have great microphones. I was in a call with a friend while walking along a busy road and he said he didn’t hear the cars at all!

@@MaticTheProto yes I agree as well. The little I have talked on them they have been good. I ask my wife or mom or whoever I'm talking to if I sound ok and nobody has said anything negative. I don't live in downtown Chicago so traffic noise isn't really even a big deal for me either

@@MRFLAPPYTREEhi I’m considering either getting these, or Sony xm5. I’m leaning towards these as sennheiser is an audio focused company, but since I see you have one can I have your opinion on them after so long?

The biggest reason I want to get these is the usb connection so not killing the battery all the time. Also, I like having the ability to hear outside noise, too much ANC is not comfortable to me, so if the M4's aren't as good as Sony's, that fine with me. I want mostly for music and movies and occasionally for vdo/calls. As for airplanes... I don't know, I might try using earplugs and the M4 and see what happens. I hate flying.

⁠@@MRFLAPPYTREEdo your headphones still work? I read that many people get a white noise/crackling sound after a few months that makes them unusable

Just an FYI the M4 feel and look cheap. I have the M3 and the M4 are a big downgrade in quality and sound compared to M3.If you can get the M3 do it

I'm in the exact same situation, did you upgrade to the xm5 or m4?

@@0rbsterez I went for Bose QC45 because it was on sale and was like $180 cheaper than the sony xm5. I wanted to buy Sennheiser but I heard there are lots of quality issues and Sony was a little bit expensive for me. I'm happy with bose it has the good audio quality and good battery life so I can't complain.

@@gunngator588 I heard that Bose QC45 leaked music or sounds sometimes if the volume is too loud, it may bothers people around, have you tried yet? I want a BOSE QC45 but I dont like bothering people with sounds leaking from my headphone. thank you!

@@gunngator588 is the bose QC45 better than XM3 though?

Is the noise cancelling improved? I mostly used during flights… so

I think Sony and Bose are losing a lot of business because of that.

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Also would be nice to have these compared to the best $150-200'ish headphones and if the improvements in sound quality, comfort, ANC etc. are worth double the price. I'm lucky enough that I could easily afford these cans, but I think cheaper ones would have better QoL in the sense of peace of mind while travelling, due to not being as expensive to replace if lost, stolen etc.

The spare parts for the Momentum 4s aren't on the Sennheiser site yet, but there's spareparts for all previous models and the cups for the Momentum 3s are about $39.

It has some new features

I never bought service for Easter earlier 😕 😐 earbuds

let us know if u ever try these 4's and how they both compare

Momentum 2 headphones also sound way better than the the Sony XM4. In fact, I never thought the Sonys sounded that great. Not bad but also not excellent.

Haven't tried yet but if Momentum 4 can deliver similar anc as xm4, I'm happy with that

60 hours can be achieved at 50% volume while ANC is active.

Yep they also mentioned ANC with iPhone @ 50%vol

I agree with you own that point. The e q set on bright sounds awesome. I returned the Bose 700 because the stage sounded artificial. Haven’t tried the Senns yet.

Yeah the Bose are amazing for phone calls, I was on a mountain and driving a diesel forklift, it was loud as hell, and people could hear me but nothing else. The 700s for calls is the best.

Even EQing for a while, the Sonys don’t sound as good as the momentum’s out of the box.

@@pappadappacarhauler757 I totally agree on the eq "bright" setting on my XM4s. As a semi-professional musician and an audiophile that primarily consumes smooth jazz. I find that setting to be very accurate in reproducing the music!

I agree that changing the XM4s to Bright makes them a lot better than the default EQ, but this shouldn't be necessary and is a deal breaker for me since they don't retain custom EQ while wired (which is needed when playing on a PS5 for instance). The default EQ on the Sony XM4s really bothers me

Just out of curiosity, does Momentum perform better even with more acoustic songs? I've heard some places that Momentum would be better for electronic and Pop and Sony for alt-rock and folk since its more detailed.

@@TheFilipeAraujo I think yes, when i put on the XM5 after the Momentum 3, it sounded muffled to me. I cant explain why, but somehow the momentum 3 feels better in every genre. I bought a momentum 4 , and the sound is more clear compared to the xm5. The anc is good, but the touch control is inferior compared to the xm5. The ambient mode is also not as good. And it is my taste, but I really like the bass heavy sound of the momentum 3, it is loud, it can physically hurt if I turn it to 80%, of course i am not hurting my self, but there is a big headroom. The momentum 4 on the other hand is quiet... there is bass but even with bass boost I dont feel the bass. It is flat compared to the momentum 3, and a comsumer headphone should be fun to listen to, I dont want to listen to audiophile music while I am working... but this is my opinion, it may change I am only using is for an hour or so.

@@zoltankurucsai1296 Zoltán how is the call quality between the momentum 4 and the mx5 ? I'm really interested in it, since the xm5, you've tested cancels outside noise so well. How big is the difference in mic-anc quality ?

@@Ematuresco in my opinion, the XM5 is much better. It cancells out more background noise. And my voice is much louder. The M4 is muffled compared to it. The only thing the M4 does better is the multipoint, the switch between phone music and laptop meeting call is very good.

Yeah, I just bough a Momentum 4 because the 3 I had was worn out. The 4 sounds like its so high-pitched or something its anoying to listen to songs I like. They sound cheap now :/ I should have bough another Momentum 3 again, that one was just fine... No more Senheiser for me in the future. So many points the 4 is actually so much worse than the 3 0.o What a waste of money...

Was it not an option to go for the XM4's? Cheaper and deeper earcups. I wish Sony made the XM5 in the same design as the XM4s and for what they brought to market now, just came up with a different name. Kinda like what Bose did. They had the NC700, but also the QC35II next to that for people who valuesld comfort and practical use over design.

@@djoetma personally I don’t like the way the XM4s look, and I need something with a good mic for work, so the XM4 was out. When the XM5 was announced and it took care of my dislikes of the XM4 they seemed like a no brainer, and I would be thrilled with them if my right ear didn’t start getting irritated after 45 minutes or so.

@@bfife22 XM4's are king. You're missing out.

Good question. Personally I don't like the XM5's fit anyway. The headband is too narrow and there is no recognizable point in the middle. It's very light, but that doesn't make it more comfortable then heavier options. 50 g isn't too much. If the headband is able to sprwd the wight properly, the extra weight shouldn't be a factor.

Some say this is the best detailed headphones out there going against AKG, Grados, Bose, Sony's although In that list weren't the B&O, Master and Dynamic I don't remember honestly. What Hifi? A audiophile most trusted for me put the XM5 number one in wireless sound quality

@@alexsmith1207 So you're saying XM5 is the wireless sound quality King?? If so, is that because of LDAC??

The only way you'll know what these sound like is for you to buy them and try them yourself and then return them if you don't like it.

@@PSYCHOV3N0M yep, i agree everyone has sound preferences although the majority tends to seek fantastic low end I'm one of them, although the majority of headphones i had was flat, neutral, even bright or Harman headphones to the point of ear fatigue (AKG, B&O) so i enjoyed the XM4 ones when i tried them from a sibling. Can't wait to test the Sennheiser Momentum 4 it's about time.

Wait for rtings to put up the frequency response so you can compare tuning between headphones

Would be an awesome comparison

I just got them, as a replacement for my beloved but broken PXC 550 (power switch issue). I loved the PXC 550's comfort and usability, also their sound which was always better than any Sony or Bose. But now that I have the M4, the PXC sound like Bose to me. Only now I can hear their peaky, uneven upper mids/treble. Everything sounds better on the M4: deeper, more exact bass, clear mids, even and airy treble, incredible soundstage and imaging! ANC is also on another level. Only the comfort was better on the PXC because of their light weight and deeper earcups. I felt right at home in terms of usability, but I won't miss "Phone 1" and "Phone 2" ;)

I found the instruction manual for the Momentum 4 Wireless at one of Sennheiser's web pages. In that manual (which is a PDF file) it says the headphones have: (7) _Input for analog audio cable, 2.5 mm; - when a cable is connected, flight mode is activated and Bluetooth is deactivated_ (8) _USB-C socket for charging, calling, streaming via PC/Mac_ Later on in the instruction manual it says: _You can listen to music when the headphones and your audio source are connected via Bluetooth, the audio cable, or via USB._

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How are the headphones treating you do you like them or do you regret your purchase?

@Isaac depue until now, everything is amazing. Call quality is very good and the battery life seems to last forever. I have no complaints so far.

​@@MrFloryn88bro which one is better as compared 1000xm4 and momentum4 Btw i prefer sound quality and descent bass 👍

You're absolutely right. I've had the XM5s for a year or so and yesterday the swivel hinge to the earcup broke despite very, very careful use. So now it just dangles loosely around the ear. Due to that, I bought a Momentum 4 after a bit of research. I was truly blown by the sound and the quality of the bass. Exceptional. All I need now is some really good settings for the equalizer.

@@eddiek8179 Thank you for your comment, my old PX7 just broke and I had to inform about current over-ear headphones. Right now I am between the XM5 and the Momentum 4, and since I only care about sound quality, I think I will go with them for now.

You sure its sound quality TWICE as good?

@@jokast8861 to my ears, yea.

Can you compare anc of both?

@@allbaugh04 no question xm4s have better ANC by about 30-40%. But the momentum’s sound quality is probably 70% better. The trade off was worth it for me.

Ew

Its a german brand (but i think they sold the consumer department last year) and they may not be the most modern brand but still they offer real superb audioquality since decades.

Same. I use an extra App for higher volume

You've got to be a little deaf at this point or stuck with a defective set. Not screwing with you, because connected to my pc I rarely go over 70%. 100 is deafening. And the bass is actually something I'm actively turning down as it has much to much. Just take a look at the measurements. Should be obvious.

@@PKAWA it might be a bit of both. After 1 or 2 months of burn in they sound a bit clearer. I still find myself taking them to 100 on PC and they're still not as loud as I'd want them to be, craving a few more decibels.

Momentum 3 looked way better and unique.

@@alexworm1707 😂😂😂😂

From another review, yes, you can use them with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which can be even used when they are off (ANC obviously won't work), and they can be used in wired mode with a USB-C cable on phones/computers (both these features were already present on the Momentum 3s)

@@alexworm1707 That's subjective not to mention that what matters most is sound quality and comfort along with noise cancellation quality. Aesthetic design comes last.

@@PSYCHOV3N0M liking it or not is subjective, it was factually more unique, this new one looks too much like xm5. I agree that sound and comfort matter the most.

Thanks this was helpful, if my main purpose is to study, do you think the XM5 is a good choice? Thanks

@@seanyboss9441 I think it's an excellent choice. I was on the fence, and frankly still am, with the Bose and Sony XM5. Just note that Bose has some white noise (and some cabin pressure, but you get used to it) while the Sony doesn't. Only reason that's keeping me away from it are the shallow earcups and adjusting the volume can be a pain on the Sony. Also, if you have a smaller head, the clamping force will be loose which can add unwanted pressure on the top of the head, but it wasn't an issue for me. Other than that, go for it! You won't be disappointed!

He mentioned in passing that there's an "Automatic switch-on" feature, but did not describe it. Apparently the headphones will automatically turn on if you pick them up and put them on your head. My guess is that the only reason you'd use the manual On/Off switch is if you already have them on your head but you want to turn them off and then back on again.

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