Sennheiser is one of the most respected names in the audio business, so when we heard that they had released a new true wireless headset, we knew we had to take a look. Coming under the Momentum line, the Momentum True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are a premium set of in-ears with rich Sennheiser sound, innovative controls, and a style to keep you looking good on the go or on your live stream. This is our review of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds.
Specifications
- Current Price: $299.95
- Speaker type: Dynamic
- Ear coupling: Ear Canal
- Frequency range: 5 Hz to 21 kHz (earbuds), 100 Hz to 10 kHz (microphone)
- Sensitivity: 107 dB SPL (1 kHz / 1 mW)
- THD, total harmonic distortion: <0,08% (1kHz / 94dB)
- Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.0 compliant, class 1
- Type of Codec: SBC, aptX™, aptX™ Low Latency, AAC
- Supported Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
- Microphone: MEMS
- Microphone sensitivity: 94 dB SPL at 1 kHz
- Battery Specification: Built-in Lithium rechargeable battery
- Battery time: Up to 4 hrs (A2DP) with rechargeable batteries of the earbuds, Up to 12 hrs with rechargeable battery of the charging case
- Power supply 5 V, 650 mA: USB charging via USB-C socket at charging case
- Dimensions: 78.6 x 45 x 35 mm (charging case)
- Weight: 69.8 g (earbuds and charging case), 13.2 g (both earbuds), 56.6 g (charging case)
- Water Protection Code: IPX4, splash resistant (earbuds)
If you’ve been following our tech coverage at MMO for any length of time, then you know we’ve covered a wide range of audio equipment; everything from budget-targeted gaming headsets, to audiophile headphones, to dedicated streaming gear. Investing in a great pair of headphones is a decision that pays dividends in your daily life, and there’s something freeing about being able to sit down at your PC and then walk away without ever taking your earbud out.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds come with high expectations. My daily driver for PC gaming is the Sennheiser GSP600, and the Sennheiser HD6XX headset I’m reviewing later this month has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. Coming to the Momentum True Wireless, I knew two things: this is a company that knows how to make amazing sounding headphones and, for the price, they really need to.
At $299.95, the Momentums come in at the top of the price bracket for true wireless headphones. You’re not just paying for a name though. These headphones boast one of the highest frequency responses I’ve ever seen on a pair of true wireless headphones with an expansive 5Hz to 21kHz range. The vast majority are limited to 20Hz to 20kHz, which limits their sub-bass and overall fullness without EQ trickery after the fact.
They also feature some of the highest quality connectivity available today thanks to Sennheiser’s use of Bluetooth 5.0. Bluetooth 5.0 is still fairly new blue offers improved stability and range versus previous versions.
Sennheiser’s eye to quality also led them to include aptX Low Latency, which is perhaps the best bluetooth codec available for this type of headphone. AptX allows for much greater transmission bandwidth than a normal bluetooth connection, resulting in much higher quality in high-resolution content. AptX Low Latency, as the name implies, adds an additional layer of responsiveness into that algorithm which is perfect for watching video.
All too often, true wireless earbuds fail when it comes to things like YouTube or Netflix as latency causes cause the video to fall out of sync with the audio. I use my headphones for everything - music, games, streaming - and never once had an issue with A/V sync. This also makes them a better fit for any kind of gaming you might want to do when hooked up to your PC or smartphone.
The headphones themselves look great. The backs are styled after brushed metal with the Sennheiser logo placed in the middle. The metal accent lends the earbuds a sense of refinement that feels more “grown up” than any other pair of in-ears I’ve tried. They also come with a unique, fabric-wrapped charging case that’s small enough to easily slip in a pocket but also looks completely at home set out on a clean desk.
Unlike most other true wireless headphones, there are no buttons to mar the surface of the Momentum’s rear plate. Instead, the entire surface is touch sensitive. Single, double-tapping, or holding your finger to the left or right earbuds triggers a command. The left earbud controls your media and right right controls calls. Holding either side turns the volume up or down.
Interestingly, there is no command to actually turn off the earbuds, which means you’ll need to put them back in the case or unpairing them from your device to turn them off. I also found that I had to be extra careful when adjusting them in my ear to keep from playing or pausing my music by mistake. At one point, I accidentally hung up on a family member when I went to adjust the right earbud. Sorry, Mom.
Like all earbuds, it’s important to find your right fit but that’s especially the case here. The Momentum True Wireless are slightly bulkier than many others on the market today and, though they don’t feel heavy in the ear, they rely a bit more on getting a perfect fit. Inside the box is your usual selection of small, medium, and large silicone tips. I found that using a large in my right ear and a medium in my left made for the best fit. The design of the casing does a good job of fitting into the natural groove of your ear, so once I had the tips in place, they never fell out.
Battery life and range were both acceptable, though I’d hoped part of the bulk was due to larger batteries. I listen to my music at about 80% volume, which netted me a touch under four hours of listening time before needing a recharge. The case is good for two additional charges (taking about 90 minutes each), bringing you to 10-12 hours depending on volume. Compared to the 1MORE Stylish we looked at earlier this month, it’s roughly half, so there’s definitely room for Sennheiser to grow in the future. For range, I was able to walk about 30 feet away, through walls, without any skipping. More importantly, I was able to block each earbud with my hand and still maintain a strong, stable connection.
What it really comes down to is how these sound. On that front, the Momentum True Wireless are an absolute winner. They’re definitely tuned to sound great for high energy music. The bass and treble are elevated with a slight tweak in the mids to give them a slight “W” EQ curve. The result is a full, warm sound with a wide and controlled low end, punched up vocals, and tons of detail in the highs. Thanks to the wide frequency response curve, there’s never any distortion or sense that the drivers are being pushed to their limits. The soundscape is expectedly narrow but there’s great imaging and separation between the instruments with the singer rising above it all.
I found these headphones especially good for driving music with solid, percussive beats. The kick drum in Coheed and Cambria’s Welcome Home pounded thanks to the additional bass extension but never sounded muddy; the treble push brought out the wah-pedal modulation in the later solo and sounded great. Later, listening to PVRIS’s Empty Room sessions, the oscillation on the synth was mesmerizing.
If the stock tuning isn’t to your taste, Sennheiser also has a custom app on iTunes and Google Play Stores to rebalance the headphones on the fly, as well as change a few extra settings, like whether they pause music when you take one out. The equalizer is stylized to make it simpler for users to find the sound they want, but I wish it was just a touch clearer what adjustments you were actually making as you slide around the spectrum.
Final Thoughts
Sennheiser has built a legacy on its headphones. Whether you’re an audiophile, gamer, or just someone who wants an all-in-one solution, the Momentum True Wireless could be the answer you’ve been looking for. It’s set apart by its elegant look, innovative design, aptX Low Latency support, and excellent sound quality. For all of that, there’s no way around just how expensive it is. As such, these headphones clearly aren’t for everybody. However, if you already love Sennheiser, or want to use these for streaming, gaming, as well as music, they’re a great choice.
The product described in this review was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
