Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones offer world-beating battery life and next-gen noise-cancellation. How do they compare to Sony’s WH-1000XM5?
We’ve tested both expensive headphones and compared their characteristics and performance. Below, we compare comfort, features, sound quality, and value.
Read more below for the Two of the greatest noise-canceling headphones face off.
Price
Sennheiser Momentum 4
Momentum 4 Wireless costs $350, the same as the Sony XM4.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony XM5 costs $400, $50 more than Momentum 4 Wireless. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Though the Sony XM5 offers more, cheaper is cheaper.
Design and fit
The Sony XM5 are some of the most comfortable headphones we’ve tested, with just the right amount of clamping force. The frame is made from an eco-friendly material partly derived from recycled automobile parts, and the redesigned headband has a stepless slider for seamless adjustment. Synthetic leather wraps the band and memory-foam earpads. Smooth and supple.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless have a slightly tighter (but still comfortable) clamping force and a padded headband. Their basic design seems “safe” compared to older Momentums. Fabric headband and synthetic leather-cushioned ear cups replace the Momentum 3’s leather headband and metal slider (Sennheiser reckons the synthetic stuff improves acoustics and wearability). They don’t look much different from the Sonys presently, thus looks won’t be a factor.
Both headphones’ earcups fold flat to fit in their cases or sit more comfortably when worn around the neck. The Sonys are lighter (250g versus 293), but that’s about it.
Winner: Draw
Battery Life
Momentum 4
The Momentum 4 Wireless delivers some of the finest battery life in a full-size ANC wireless headset. At publication, we hadn’t thoroughly tested rapid charging.
Sony XM 5
With ANC enabled, the XM5 lasts 30 hours per full charge. Once best-in-class, that number is falling behind. The XM5 offers three hours of performance from three minutes of charging, which is great. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Momentum 4 wireless’s doubled battery life making this a no-brainer.
Winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. Twice the total battery life made this an easy call for the Momentum 4 wireless.
Sound Quality
How do these headphones sound? Extremely nice, as you should expect from two 10-year industry leaders.
The Sennheiser’s are clean and direct, with a bright, lively sound. They’ve lost some of the Momentum 3’s warmth, but we like the added neutrality. They’re melodious and detailed and will please most people.
Sony’s are worth the extra money. The Sony XM5 sound richer and bassier than the Momentum 4, but their middle clarity and transparency set them apart (and justifies the greater expense). They have more musical knowledge and rhythmic talent.
Sennheiser’s sound great for the price, but the XM5 is more transparent.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Final Verdict
Best wireless noise-canceling headphones? These two are must-sees.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are cheaper and have double the battery life of Sonys. If you have an aptX device, choose Sennheiser over Sony.
Ultimately, though, we believe the (also five-star) Sony WH-1000XM5 are the better pick if you can comfortably afford the extra outlay – and that’s mostly down to their more detailed sound quality.