Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Review

Our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Experience

The Sennheiser is different, right from the start. When we pulled the case out of the box, the cloth-like, textured exterior felt like a game changer, like we just elevated to first class after years flying economy. It felt good, it looked good, and we felt fancy immediately.

It was hard to put the case down as our fingers craved the hatch-like sensory feedback. When we opened the box, the copper-colored, engraved buds beckoned us to wear them like the one ring from Lord of the Rings. The presentation harkens back to an age where design mattered and minimalism didn't exist.

However, not everything was a love fest, and the relationship, like many, had speed bumps and off-ramps along the way. They aren't for everyone. These earbuds were some of the most problematic, from pairing issues to random outgoing phone calls to ineffective volume control sliders. Our overall experience was good, but outside of sound quality, it somewhat pales compared to similarly priced options.

These buds come with four silicone tips and three wings of different sizes. We love that they don't protrude too far, making it possible to jog or put on a sweater without losing them. We even wore them doing headstands, and they still didn't fall out. They feel comfortable enough, but those with smaller ears might dislike the anchoring design of the wings.

These buds offer average call quality and noise cancellation. While neither is terrible, they don't stand out either. We didn't reach for them for all day, cross-activity use, and instead chose to skip them for workouts and meeting calls. We loved them for deep music immersion and the fine details we could hear that swept us away, and the noise cancellation is good enough to stay focused in a busy office. Still, the shorter battery life and average calls meant they didn't see as much action as a more well-rounded pair.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

The Sennheiser Momentum earbuds are a sonic powerhouse, blending exceptional clarity with a wide, immersive soundstage to elevate any listening experience. Our audio experts loved the beautifully neutral and balanced equalization (EQ) and think audiophiles will agree they are close to audio perfection.

Thanks to their impeccably balanced mix, the Momentum performs impressively across genres. From the layered vocals in “Makey My” by The Roots to the melodic flow of “Moves” by Suki Waterhouse, they deliver warmth and accuracy, allowing each instrument to be found and followed, or simply creating an audio bath. Whether savoring the harmonies in Ray LaMontagne's “Hannah” or the atmospheric layers in Beyoncé and Post Malone's “Levi's Jeans,” the Momentum delivers a rich, immersive soundscape that is more like an experience than mere listening suggests.

The treble is warm, smooth, and natural, without feeling forced or artificial. Classical tracks like “Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48” by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Michael Forster's emotional piano in “On the Nature of Daylight” are rendered with remarkable clarity and precision, highlighting their nuanced textures. The balanced soundscape lets the high notes sing.

The bass frequencies are fully developed, rich, and clear, providing depth without being overpowering. In “Wildfire” by Cautious Clay, the low frequencies bring warmth and body, grounding the airy vocals during the transition from the chorus to the second verse at 1:08. The muted drums provide an earthy richness that contrasts beautifully against the soaring chorus, capturing subtle tonal shifts with remarkable accuracy.

The mids feel spacious and open, like a stunning open floor plan, providing enough structure to let the light pour in and plenty of room to dance. Our favorite songs never feel cramped or muddled. Even complex tracks like “That Was Yesterday” by Leon Bridges and “Just Like Greta Garbo” by Van Morrison are delivered with clarity and balance, allowing each element enough room to resonate. The Momentum earbuds are a joy, be it soaring high notes, thumping basslines, or that elusive midrange perfection.

Listeners who prefer a bass-heavy sound or an artificially "sound-enhanced" effect may be disappointed. These earbuds are also on the quiet side, requiring near-max volume for some tracks. Still, we think most will enjoy this beautifully balanced mix enough to compensate for these minor setbacks.

We record the sound profile frequency response of the Sennheiser to compare to our GearLab House Curve. The Sennheiser earbuds closely follow the expert-curated curve, ensuring trained ears will enjoy the Momentum's sound signature.

Soundstage

The Momentum creates an impressive, broad, expansive soundstage. The music sounds like it's coming from beyond the earbuds, more like a live performance than two tiny ear speakers. This effect is particularly striking when in layered songs like “Hannah” by Ray LaMontagne.The drums emerge from the left, and LaMontagne's vocals drift in from the right. The violin dominates the left earbud during crucial moments, starting at 1:07, adding rich depth, while piano accents float beautifully in the background (we love the twinkly accent at 4:07). Every detail is clean, clear, and distinct, allowing the listener to revel in the nuanced texture of the track.

Comfort And Fit

While not the most comfortable buds in the group, they are more comfortable than the average set, and we were able to wear them for nearly seven hours without a break (if the battery keeps up).

While they aren't the heaviest in the group, they start to feel heavy around seven hours, possibly because their shape and wings put more pressure on the ear.

Noise Cancellation

The Momentum 4's noise-cancelling abilities are better than most, but they miss the mark of being the best.

The W4 does not have the best active noise cancelling (ANC), but if the ANC is better than average, it can likely meet expectations for most listeners. It somewhat struggled to block sounds in the low to mid ranges, but its effort dampened the sound enough to get lost in the music.

These buds block out about 42 decibels at about 10,000 Hertz, and around 30 decibels in the lower mid-range, but this still lets in some noise. These earbuds easily drown out external distractions with enough volume, but louder volumes aren't advised for ear health.

App Features

This app has many extra features, including transparency mode, active noise canceling with wind-muting mode, bass boost, and equalization (EQ) adjustment.

We had some connectivity issues with the iPhone, as the music cut out occasionally, especially with quick head movements. We had no problems when using them with Android devices.

Connectivity

The Sennheisers have a reported issue rate of 2.45%. While not the highest, it is above average, and paired with our personal experience, we have concerns about connectivity.

Battery Life

With a measured battery life of 7 hours and 30 minutes with continuous music listening, the battery life might be shorter than some listeners need. However, it is on par with the manufacturer's claims, so at least you know what you're in for.

The Sennheisers allow for three full case charges, and eight minutes of charging provides an additional hour of listening. The buds relay battery-dying information every ten minutes, starting two hours before they conk out. While it's nice to know what to expect, it's annoying to have music broken up repeatedly for hours.

Call Quality

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 offers average call quality. It isn't terrible, but it isn't anything to sing about either. We could hear clear voices in most calls, though they did sound a bit processed with a slight reverb.

We stress-tested using sounds that reveal call quality weak spots, including office chatter and public transit. Public transit had the worst call clarity, but in fairness, many buds struggled under such chaotic conditions.