German audio giant Sennheiser, building the fifth generation of its flagship headphones for consumers, has greater context of an ecosystem that has changed significantly in the four-year gap since the predecessor Momentum 4 launched in late 2022. Apple, Sonos, Sony and an increasing preference for true-wireless earbuds mean Sennheiser had to do something out of the ordinary with the Momentum 5. This absolutely mustn’t be easy. If anyone can do it, Sennheiser surely can, and they have done so by taking a broad-focused approach that encompasses sound as well as noise cancellation.
For wireless lossless audio, you’ll need an Android phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip supporting the Snapdragon Sound architecture for the aptX Lossless codec. Sennheiser has clearly done a fantastic job with the battery stamina. As with any new tech in this generation, we must weigh price tag inflation. In my opinion, there’s absolutely no reason to. Sennheiser has done well to deliver significantly improved sound tuning, design refinements that include a classy, angled joint mechanism for the headband to the ear cups, and a new benchmark for noise cancellation capabilities. There are other fine details along the way that matter, including a fast-charging battery, USB-C connectivity, lossless audio via wireless and a really neat companion app for smartphones. If I really have to nitpick, I could point to a less than elaborate folding mechanism when you do want to store them in a backpack.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 stays in tune with the needs of this era, with Dolby Atmos spatial tracking and Lossless codec support. The iPhone 18 Pro or the iPhone 17 Pro doesn’t support this natively, instead using the AAC codec. But on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, you’ll get 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality lossless audio over wireless on Apple Music streaming. I have not been able to run the battery down completely in my testing phase—the company claims 57-hour battery life, and that clearly isn’t to be taken lightly. A real value addition is fast charging, if you pair this with a 20-watt or 30-watt USB-C adapter. The Sennheiser Momentum 5 launches at ₹ 39,990 which to be fair isn’t much higher than the Momentum 4’s ₹ 34,990 launch price all those years ago. I would say that the Sonos Ace ( ₹ 34,999) gets closest in terms of overall likability regarding the build, sound and the intuitiveness of the companion app. Which does make one wonder if you indeed should be paying ₹ 49,990 for a Sony WH-1000XM6? It took a while between the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the Momentum 5, but this isn’t an incremental update either.
There is a lot to like about the Sennheiser Momentum 5’s design, though I’m slightly apprehensive about how well the cloth-draped surfaces will hold up to absent-minded rough usage. That also adds to comfort, the longer you’re using the Momentum 5. Just be careful. These headphones aren’t at all heavy, and the ear cups are large enough to sit around, and not press inwards on the top or the bottom of the ears.
All said and done, the mix of really good quality plastic ear cups, the headband that has a fabric finish and the contrasting ear pads, makes for visual sophistication.
