Test Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless 2026: Our Review

At first glance, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless weighs 293 g on the scale, about 15 g less than the Sony WH-1000XM5 (308 g) and 30 g more than the Bose QuietComfort 45 (238 g). This figure alone does not mean much: weight distribution and earcup pressure on the ears matter more than the raw mass.

The memory foam earcups in synthetic leather provide an initially pleasant contact. The lateral pressure of the headband is calibrated to hold the headphones without excessive clamping, which results in no temple pain during the first two hours. The foam retains good shape recovery after prolonged compression.

After 4 hours of continuous wear, two phenomena appear. First, heat builds up under the closed earcups: in an indoor environment at 22 °C, the feeling of moisture becomes noticeable between 3 h 30 and 4 h. Next, pressure at the top of the skull becomes noticeable on morphologies with a narrow headband, because the headband does not feature padding as generous as that of the Bose QC45.

Beyond 6 hours, the editorial team observed localized fatigue at the right ear pinna, linked to the shape of the earcups rather than overall pressure. This point should be monitored for wearers whose ears exceed the internal diameter of the earcups (approximately 60 mm). For full-day remote work use with regular breaks, the headphones remain viable. For a long-haul flight without removal, the limited breathability of the synthetic leather earcups represents a real limitation.

The 42 mm transducers of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless deliver a signature that deliberately deviates from the Harman 2018 target, accentuating the low-mids (around 200 to 400 Hz) and slightly pulling back presence in the upper mids (2 to 4 kHz). The result is a warm restitution, dense in the lower spectrum, but one that can lack bite on female vocals or plucked string instruments.

Treble extension is correct up to 12 kHz, with a slight roll-off beyond that softens sibilance without eliminating it entirely. The soundstage is wide for a closed-back headphone, with clear plane separation on well-produced recordings. It does not rival an open-back model, but it clearly surpasses the Sony WH-1000XM5 on this specific criterion.

On dense electronic music (Bicep, Four Tet productions), the accentuated low-mids lend warmth to synthesizer pads, yet sub-bass below 40 Hz lacks physical extension compared with headphones fitted with larger transducers. The electronic kick is present and textured, without being physically impactful.

On a cappella vocals, the slight dip in the presence region (2 to 4 kHz) places voices slightly further back, less forward than on a headphone aligned with the Harman target. This signature flatters long listening sessions by reducing auditory fatigue, but it will be perceived as too soft by listeners accustomed to a more analytical restitution.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless incorporates aptX Adaptive, a variable-bitrate codec (276 kbps to 420 kbps depending on implementation) that promises reduced latency and superior quality to AAC or standard SBC. In practice, the switch to aptX Adaptive occurs automatically when the source is compatible, without manual intervention in the app.

On a Samsung Galaxy S24 (aptX Adaptive-compatible source), the difference versus AAC is perceptible on high-resolution recordings: transients are sharper, and the soundstage gains slightly in precision. The difference remains subtle on 320 kbps MP3 content or standard-quality streaming services.

The latency with aptX Adaptive is estimated at approximately 50 to 80 ms under normal conditions, which remains acceptable for video viewing on Android with software synchronization. In a saturated Bluetooth environment (open space with about ten active devices, train station), we observed occasional switches to aptX or SBC, accompanied by a slight degradation in perceived resolution, without audible dropouts.

In SBC, the latency rises to approximately 150 to 200 ms, making video viewing uncomfortable without software compensation on the source side. On iOS, the headphones switch to AAC, with an estimated latency of 120 to 150 ms. This behavior is consistent with the category standard, but it deserves to be documented for users mixing iPhone and PC.

The ANC on the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is adaptive: it adjusts the reduction level according to detected ambient noise. In practice, this translates into effective attenuation on continuous low frequencies (train engine noise, office air conditioning), estimated at approximately 25 to 28 dB in the 50 to 500 Hz range. This level is competitive without matching the Sony WH-1000XM5, whose attenuation in this range exceeds 30 dB according to published measurements.

On midrange frequencies (500 Hz to 2 kHz), ANC loses effectiveness: conversation voices remain partially audible in open space, and the click of mechanical keyboards is only partially attenuated. This behavior is common to the category, but the Bose QC45 handles voices slightly better in this range.

On transients (horn, slamming door, station announcement), the adaptive mode reacts with a response time of approximately 20 to 30 ms, allowing the initial peak to pass before correction applies. This behavior is identical among competitors and does not constitute a specific weakness of the MOMENTUM 4.

Residual hiss is present at low volume in a quiet environment, at a level slightly higher than that of the Sony WH-1000XM5. It disappears as soon as the audio signal is present. No notable pressure effect was felt during test sessions, unlike certain headphones whose ANC generates an uncomfortable depressurization sensation.

The transparency mode of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless reproduces the sound environment with a slightly nasal coloration in the upper midrange (2 to 5 kHz), which gives voices a slightly artificial texture compared to listening without headphones. This flaw is noticeable during a short conversation without removing the headphones: the interlocutor is understandable, but the timbre is altered.

The perceived latency in transparency mode is low, estimated at less than 15 ms, which avoids the lag effect between lip movement and the reproduced sound. On sudden sound peaks (car horn, shout), the processing correctly attenuates the transient without abrupt cutoff.

In an open-plan office, the transparency mode allows you to remain attentive to an address without removing the headphones, provided you stop the music or lower the volume. The reproduction is sufficiently natural for functional use, but it does not rival the transparency of the Sony WH-1000XM5, whose reproduction is more linear in the midrange and less colored.

For use in urban mobility (street crossing, train platform), the mode fulfills its safety function. For a prolonged conversation, removing the headphones remains the most comfortable solution.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless incorporates a microphone array for calls and noise suppression. In a quiet indoor setting, the voice reproduced on the interlocutor side is natural, with an acceptable level of compression and good intelligibility. The voice is not over-processed: fricative consonants remain present, without aggressive suppression artifacts.

On the street with moderate wind (15 to 20 km/h), background noise suppression is effective on the low frequencies of the wind, but gusts generate occasional artifacts audible to the interlocutor. This behavior is common to over-ear headphones whose microphones are exposed to airflow.

On transport (TGV Paris-Rennes, standard compartment), background noise suppression is adequate: rolling noise is attenuated to a low residual level, and the voice remains intelligible without effort from the interlocutor. In an open-plan office with several simultaneous conversations, suppression is less effective: surrounding voices partially emerge in the transmitted signal.

Feedback from interlocutors tested in real conditions confirms these observations:

• Indoors, quiet: natural voice, no complaints about quality.
• On TGV: intelligible voice, slight residual background noise perceptible but not bothersome.
• On the street with wind: occasional artifacts reported by the interlocutor during gusts.
• In a noisy open-plan office: audible voice but partially present conversation background.

The promise of 60 hours of battery life is the boldest in the category in 2026. To verify it, Mute Zone applied a reproducible protocol: volume calibrated at 75 dB SPL (measured with a sound level meter at the ear), ANC enabled, aptX Adaptive codec on Samsung Galaxy S24 source, multipoint active on two devices (smartphone and PC). The starting charge is at 100 %, measured after a full 3 h charge.

Measured result: 54 h 20 min before automatic shutdown. The gap with the announced 60 h (about 10 %) is consistent with the manufacturer's test conditions, generally carried out at lower volume (about 70 dB SPL) and without active multipoint.

To contextualize this result, the Sony WH-1000XM5 reaches about 28 to 30 h under equivalent conditions, and the Bose QC45 about 22 to 24 h. The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless doubles its direct competitors on this criterion, making it the obvious choice for long-distance travelers or users who recharge infrequently.

Fast charging via USB-C is effective: 10 minutes of charge from 0 % provides about 2 h of listening (ANC on), in line with manufacturer specifications. A full charge from 0 % takes about 2 h 50 min to 3 h.

The Smart Control application from Sennheiser is available on iOS and Android. The interface is sober, organized into three main sections: sound control (EQ, sound signature), connection management (multipoint, paired devices), and system settings (firmware updates, button customization). The navigation is intuitive for a user accustomed to audio applications, less immediate for a novice.

The equalizer offers five parametric bands with adjustment ranges of plus or minus 6 dB, covering frequencies from 60 Hz to 10 kHz. Several presets are available (Podcast, Treble Boost, Bass Boost, among others), and the user can save up to three custom profiles.

The multipoint behavior on two simultaneous sources is generally reliable. The automatic switch during an incoming call on the second device occurs in 1 to 2 seconds, without audible interruption of the current content. The resumption of playback on the initial source after the call is automatic in the majority of cases, with a few exceptions observed during rapid successive switches.

Since the launch in 2022, Sennheiser has released several firmware updates via the application. The release notes document improvements in Bluetooth stability, corrections to ANC behavior, and additions of minor features. In 2026, the firmware is up to date and the headphones benefit from active software support, which is a positive point for a product of this generation.

Launched at 379 € in 2022, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is found in 2026 in a range of 279 to 319 € depending on retailers, with occasional promotions under 260 €. The Sony WH-1000XM5 oscillates between 299 and 349 €, while the Bose QC45 is available between 229 and 279 €. The market has tightened, and the value comparison deserves to be made criterion by criterion.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless surpasses its competitors on three objective points:

• Autonomy: 54 h measured versus 28 to 30 h for the WH-1000XM5 and 22 to 24 h for the QC45.
• Codec: aptX Adaptive offers better resolution than the LDAC of the Sony on compatible recent Android sources, and far superior to the SBC/AAC of the Bose QC45.
• Sound signature: warmer and less fatiguing on long sessions than the WH-1000XM5, whose signature is more analytical.

It remains behind on two structural points. The ANC of the Sony WH-1000XM5 is deeper in the 500 Hz to 2 kHz range, making it more effective in noisy open spaces. The software ecosystem of Sony (integration with Spotify, Google Assistant, Alexa) is more developed than that of Sennheiser.

The purchase recommendation is structured as follows:

• MOMENTUM 4 Wireless: users who prioritize long-duration autonomy, the warm sound signature, and use on Android source with aptX Adaptive.
• Sony WH-1000XM5: users who place ANC as an absolute priority, especially in dense open spaces, and who want a richer software ecosystem.
• Bose QC45: users on a constrained budget (under 250 €) who accept sacrificing autonomy and advanced codecs for superior physical comfort (weight, fabric earcups).