Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Premium earbuds built for audiophiles

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds bring a bunch of changes compared to their predecessor. You get a new design, better ANC, and even replaceable batteries. But should you buy these earphones?

Sennheiser needs little introduction. The company is known for making high-end audio devices that are loved by audiophiles. And now, it has given a big upgrade to its TWS lineup with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5.

Compared to the older Momentum True Wireless 4, there is a lot to talk about. But at Rs 29,990, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 have a lot to prove against the likes of the AirPods Pro 3. So, can these earbuds stand on their own feet? Let's delve right into our full review here at India Today Tech.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 design and build

Right off the bat, Sennheiser has taken a different approach for the design of the earbuds and the case. The earbuds themselves are now smaller and with a more rounded design that makes them easier to wear. You get four eartip sizes - XS, S, M, and L. The M tips come attached to the earbuds out of the box. While you may still find them a bit big in case compared to something like the AirPods Pro 3, they are quite comfortable, even if you wear them for a few hours.

The case is now slimmer and more compact, allowing you to slide it in your pocket quite easily. The build quality of the case is good too, it feels quite sturdy, and the magnets are strong too. However, the lid does creak a little bit which feels odd at this price. On top of the lid, you get the Sennheiser logo. The Graphite shade we have would not look out of place in an audio studio with a clean matte finish. Though you can get it in other shades too, such as Lavender and Copper.

Apart from this, you get a USB Type-C-to-Type-C cable in the box, and a battery replacement tool, but more on that in a while.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 audio experience

The pairing process is quite seamless. Though you will need to set up the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app if you want to enable multi-device connections - strangely, it is off by default.

Once the Momentum True Wireless 5 are connected, the experience is what you would expect from a premium pair of earbuds. Sound quality is impressive more often than not. The earbuds come with 7mm dynamic drivers and support 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution audio.

In songs like "Petal" by Ariana Grande, there is good separation between the instruments and vocals. The bass doesn't suppress the mids either, and you get a rather decent experience. In Miley Cyrus' "Bass Pursuades," the bass comes alive, and you get good clarity for the vocals too. For someone who really likes to hear music at the highest volume, there is virtually no distortion in audio at max volume either.

Though you should know that the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 come with Snapdragon's aptX audio. This means that on Android, you would need a Snapdragon phone to get the highest level of audio. There is no LDAC or LDHC here. Now, a casual listener may not notice the difference, but it is something audiophiles might want to keep in mind. For iPhones, there is AAC and SBC codec.

You also get Dolby Atmos with head tracking. That is, when this is turned on, the earbuds can track your head movements and give you a truly immersive audio experience.

Moving beyond music, while watching movies or videos, the Momentum True Wireless 5 deliver decent clarity in dialogues, and the background effects are good too.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 ANC

But audio is only a part of a story these days. In our busy lives, many of us want good active noise cancellation, or ANC. And this is where the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 brings big improvements.

The earbuds get an 8-microphone ANC system, 4 on each earbud. When ANC is on, the Momentum True Wireless 5 almost put you inside a bubble. In an office, or metro, the earbuds are able to cut down low rumble, such as that of an AC. It can also cut down on conversations of people around you to a fairly impressive extent. During my time with the earbuds, I did not hear my colleagues calling out for me even when they sat right beside me. Outdoors too, the Momentum True Wireless 5 can reduce engine noise or the sound of horns, helping you get some peace of mind even in traffic. There is an anti-wind mode too, which works well enough but is nothing too special.

While you can turn ANC off, there is also a Transparency mode. I found that the transparency mode manages to keep you aware of your surroundings very well. You can hear conversations clearly, for instance. But sometimes, it might feel that it is amplifying external sound a bit too much.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 battery life

As I mentioned at the start of this review, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 come with a battery replacement tool. The earbuds get replaceable batteries - something that is quite rare in the tech industry, at least right now. This means that instead of buying a new pair of earbuds when the battery degrades, you can simply replace them if you so want to.

But what about battery life right now? Frankly, the Momentum True Wireless 5 can deliver decent battery life with the case - up to 40 hours with ANC off - but without them, it is fairly okay only. Sennheiser claims up to 6 hours of playback with ANC for the earbuds, and that is just about what I managed to get as well. Now, this should not be an issue though. Since the case delivers decent battery life, you can get at least a week out of the earbuds if you use them for a couple hours or so everyday.

But charging can take some time. I found that the earbuds take over an hour to fully charge (wired charging), which is not ideal. You also get Qi 2.1 wireless charging support.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 other features

The Smart Control Plus app is where the magic happens. You get everything you need to tweak the earphones, be it ANC, lossless audio, EQ settings, or even sound zones. There are a bunch of EQ modes that will grab the attention of the audiophile in you, allowing you to tinker around with the settings. You can also create your own EQ.

The app also has an option for a fit test to determine which eartips size fits you perfectly, among other options like touch controls and find headphones. Speaking of touch controls, I found that the area for the touch sensors is a bit small, with my double taps often being registered as single taps.

What's also interesting is sound zones. You can set an area - such as your office or house - where you can have preset settings for the earbuds. Once you leave or enter a new zone, the earbuds automatically adjust to the next settings. This can be quite handy as you don't need to fiddle around with the app all the time.

There are not a lot of smart features on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, such as live translation, or body temperature sensors, which you can get on some other premium earbuds.

Should you buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5?

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 deliver a lot to the table. The sound quality is one of the best out there, and the ANC almost cocoons you. The Smart Control Plus app also gives you plenty of options to play around and get the experience you really want.

While battery life is not the best out there, replaceable batteries can be quite useful if you plan on keeping these earbuds for a long time. Yes you do miss out on smart features, but then, the Momentum True Wireless 5 are designed for the best audio experience, which sometimes feels like chef's kiss. At Rs 29,990, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 may cost a premium but they deliver you the experience that the price tag warrants.