The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is the successor to the Momentum 3 Wireless that appeared in 2019. So it’s been a while since the audio brand made a comeback in over-ear headphones, but now it’s back – including an introductory price that’s below the level of the competition. Is this a worthy alternative?
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
MSRP € 349.90,-
Colors White black
Link bluetooth 5.2
Weight 293 grams
Codecs AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
In the box USB-C cable, storage case, multiple aircraft adapter, jack plug
Website www.sennheiser.com
9 Score 90 
- Pros
- Audio quality
- Active Noise Canceling
- Extensive app
- Control on headphones
- Battery life
- Negatives
- design
- clunky case
Buy the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless at Bol.com
Unfortunately, Sennheiser will not convince you with the design. The high-end headphones look a bit ordinary but sleek. You will not immediately recognize this model as ‘the new Sennheiser’, as you may have with the premium headphones from Sony. The manufacturer probably opted for ‘function over form’ here, and there is something to be said for that. Both cups offer enough space for taper and swipe-based operation. You swipe and tap through the invisible interface, which you immediately master with one go through.
The headphones are laced with comfort. The ear cushions and headband are nice and soft and don’t press too tightly on the head. In addition, you can quickly adjust the device to the shape of your head. You do this by pulling out the band a bit and tilting the cups slightly until you feel it fits properly. It sometimes takes some searching, but luckily the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is flexible enough to be able to make something of it.
Fully equipped
Sennheiser provides the Momentum 4 Wireless with various accessories and options regarding connectivity. The sturdy, supplied case (which is quite bulky and large) contains a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and listening to music, an airplane adapter and a three-pin jack plug (also known as a TRS plug) for connecting devices without bluetooth. If you connect the headset via the bluetooth connection, version 5.2, you have access to the audio codecs SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive.
These are the most popular codecs of the moment, which are present on various smartphones, tablets and computers. For example, you’ll find AAC on your iPhone, while aptX, whichever version, is important for Android and Windows users. The range of codecs varies per device. The more modern your smartphone is, the more options you have at your disposal – that is not due to the headphones, which simply offer support for the common options.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless offers a number of cool functions. For example, it is possible to activate the noise cancellation without listening to music and you can adjust the active noise cancellation with a pinch (but you can also let this happen automatically). When you take the headphones out of the case, they turn on automatically and immediately search for a connection. And when you take it off your head while listening, the music will pause. None of these are exclusive features, but that doesn’t mean they don’t increase convenience.
Finally, there is bluetooth multipoint available, so you can connect the device to two devices at the same time. For example, you can connect it to your laptop for a digital meeting, while you still receive notifications on a linked smartphone. This is just super handy, because you don’t have to constantly switch connections manually.
Neutral soundstage, excellent noise reduction
The market for over-ear headphones is not saturated, but the competition is fierce. Bowers & Wilkins and Sony regularly show what kind of muscles they have, while Apple has now also thrown itself into the fray. That means that Sennheiser has to come from a good family to stand out. And that works out nicely, especially – initially – emphasizing a neutral soundstage. Other headphones often offer a slightly boosted bass layer without getting in the way of the other layers and tones. But the adjustment is noticeable.
It is of course entirely up to you exactly what you are waiting for and whether you find this annoying or not. But a neutral soundstage offers many options. You can leave the audio behind and just enjoy music as it comes straight from your smart device. But you can also use the digital equalizer within the app to spice up the sound. In addition, there is a handy sound test that can adjust the sound to your hearing, but that can sometimes have a negative effect. As a result, audio can sound further away or a bit muddy.
If you do not adjust the audio further, you will be presented with an audio experience that perfectly meets the expectations of such a product. This is one of those typical headphones that lets you discover new layers in songs you’ve listened to hundreds of times. You hear singers gasping for air on tracks you haven’t heard before and you hear instruments come to the fore a lot more, while they stayed a bit in the background at first. And although the bass isn’t boosted very much, there is a slight revival here and there; but you can rectify this by consulting the free Smart Control app.
The active noise reduction is good, but no better than on competing models (and then we mainly make the comparison with market leader Sony). You can board a modern train undisturbed. But as soon as you enter a junk box or the ambient sounds push the limits of the spectrum, every now and then something comes through. In any case, you don’t hear yourself typing on a keyboard and that is worth a lot to many people.
Call quality and battery life
Of course we also called the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless on. What is striking is that the connection is not too strong between the smartphone and the headphones. Due to various interruptions, the person on the other end cannot always be understood. On the other hand, no one complained about the quality of my voice or connection, so it’s always possible that a specific setting on the phone can throw a spanner in the works. So a small side note.
Finally, we will briefly discuss the battery life of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. With a listening time of no less than sixty hours (!) the headphones blow past all notable competition. This is probably the best argument for going for the headphones, because at 37 hours, the Bose 700 series is the closest competitor. And yes, you can achieve those sixty hours by simply leaving the active noise reduction on all the time. Very impressive.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless – conclusion
With a suggested retail price of less than 350 euros, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless – when introduced – is well below the prices of the competition. Some high-end headphones have dropped in price, but the Momentum 4 still often beats them. As a result, you can see this model as an affordable alternative, even if it sometimes saves a few tens. Do you really have to give up on something? Yes and no. The design isn’t that exciting and the protective case is quite bulky and bulky, but those are probably the biggest annoyances you can have.
Above all, there are a lot of things to love. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless offers a neutral soundstage that can make old music sound like new, with active noise cancellation that immerses you in the songs (unless the environment makes it too colorful). In addition, the battery life is very nice with sixty hours of listening pleasure, the headphones are very nice and comfortable and you can operate the device effortlessly thanks to the large cups. Add to that the many codecs and connection options and you have a fairly complete product.
Anyway, 350 euros is still a lot of money. However, if you are looking for high-end headphones, you simply have to bear in mind that you are paying such prices. And given that Sennheiser is below the level of the competition, this is technically one of the most affordable premium headphones out there that you won’t regret.
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