Sennheiser’s name has always been right up there in the list of compelling, premium audio accessories. This became evident to me while reviewing the Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones, and it is further emphasised with the recently-launched Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. While the new TWS earphones may bear resemblance to their predecessors, Sennheiser asserts that they boast over a dozen enhancements and cutting-edge technologies. We take a look at these enhancements, along with the performance of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, in this review. Check it out.
Table of Contents
Design and fit
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 follows the same design language as its predecessor True Wireless 3. The only distinctions between the two are the shiny surface atop each bud and the colour profiles. The Momentum True Wireless 4 comes in three colour options: Graphite Black, Metallic Silver, and Black Copper. We received a Metallic Silver colour variant of the device, which looks stunning but not for long. The variant picks up stains, and it is not easy to get rid of them from the fabric encompassing the case. If you have a phobia of stains like me, then picking up the Graphite Black or Black Copper variant may prove to be a wiser choice.
Be that as it may, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 has a slightly bulkier footprint than its counterparts, including Sony WF-1000 XM5. While the bulky design may have some advantages, it may not be easy to carry. The case occupies considerable space, especially when carried in pants or jeans pockets, causing them to bulge awkwardly. As for the earbuds, they protrude more from your ears compared to most other in-ear TWS models. This may not be an issue unless you’re wearing the buds while lying down with your head pressed against a pillow.
If you don’t mind that slight protrusion, the fit is as good as it can get. The buds feature nice, soft silicone tips that provide a comfortable fit, along with ear fins that ensure the buds won’t fall off no matter what you are doing. The tips have been redesigned to offer better protection against earwax. However, getting used to the ear fins may take some time and could cause initial discomfort with prolonged use. It took me roughly a week to get used to the design. If you’re not a fan of the fins, they can easily be replaced with regular sets provided in the box. Additionally, the buds come with four different sets of ear tips and a set of large-size ear fins, offering customisation options to suit your preferences.
The earbuds, weighing 6.2 grams individually, are also relatively lightweight, not causing any discomfort with extended usage. Furthermore, they are sturdier than ever before. With IP54 dust and splash resistance certification, these buds can withstand all-weather usage, a significant improvement over the previous Momentum True Wireless 3, which was only splashproof. However, it’s worth noting that you still need to be cautious with the True Wireless 4 case, as it lacks an IP rating.
The case is equipped with a USB Type-C port for charging, an LED light for battery indicator, and wireless charging capabilities. I wish it boasted a dedicated pairing button, which makes it easy to pair with a new device.
App support and features
While the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 may not have a pairing button, it can still be paired with multiple devices simultaneously via the Smart Control app. The latter is available for download on both Android and iOS devices. I used the v4.8 of the app on my iPhone, and it functioned flawlessly without any awkward crashes or freezing issues. The UI is also pretty intuitive and easy to navigate. Besides everything else, the app also provides you with an option to customise EQ settings and touch controls per your preference. There is an option to set sound zones for different locations too, ensuring that the earbuds adapt their settings accordingly. For instance, if you’re in the office and prefer to disable active noise cancellation (ANC), the buds will automatically adjust based on your location data provided by the app.
Apart from the excellent app support, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 also boasts low latency mode, a pretty reliable touch surface on each bud, lossless audio, aura cast, and pretty much every other feature expected from premium TWS. However, the wear detection feature is somewhat unreliable. It often fails to resume music after the buds are placed back in the ear during my experience with the device. It is not a major issue and can easily be fixed with a software update when the company rolls out one.
Sound quality and ANC
Purists are going to appreciate the sound profile delivered by the 7mm drivers of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. Out of the box, the buds lean towards a balanced approach, not overpowering any particular frequency, ensuring a clean vocal (mids) with just enough bass (lows) for an enthralling experience. While it aligned with my preference, for those who enjoy more bass, there’s an option to tweak the EQ settings to add extra thump to the music. The earbuds are also equipped with Qualcomm’s S5 Sound Gen 2 chipset with Snapdragon Sound and support for aptX Lossless and Adaptive audio, making your music sound more detailed. However, the aptX Lossless and Adaptive audio are only limited to a handful of devices right now, and you will need a streaming service that provides these high-res audio files.
Since I was using an iPhone and YouTube Music app, I can’t vouch for these features. However, I can confidently attest to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4’s AAC codecs. The pair aptly handled the nuances of each song thrown at them, whether it was Youth by Troye Sivan, Attention by Charlie Puth, Shivers by Ed Sheeran, Lut Put Gya by Arijit Singh, or Chaiya Chaiya. While I won’t go ahead and call out the buds’ soundstage as dynamic as the Sony WF-1000 XM5, it’s still wide enough to distinguish most frequencies. For instance, in the song “Youth”, with its multitude of instruments playing concurrently, every beat was discernible. This could be attributed to the buds’ default controlled bass and vocal clarity profile.
In addition to the AAC, the Momentum True Wireless 4 supports SBC codec as well. The company has further promised Bluetooth LE Audio with LC3 and AURACAST for the pair with a firmware update, expected to be rolled out soon.
Talking about the active noise cancellation (ANC) of the earbuds, it is good but a bit underwhelming in comparison to the Sony WF-1000 XM5. The latter will provide you with superior noise cancellation. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 features adaptive ANC, which factors in your environment to adjust the noise cancellation. This helps avoid the vacuum seal effect that can cause discomfort for some users. While the adaptive ANC effectively blocks out most noise, some background disturbances may still be audible.
Battery life and call quality
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4’s battery life is truly remarkable. The bulky form factor of the buds and the case ensure that you get a total of up to ‘30 hours’ of playback time with noise cancellation off. I predominantly used the buds with adaptive ANC, and they consistently lasted me through the week, sometimes even longer, with approximately 2-3 hours of daily usage. The earbuds support fast Qi wireless charging, which is said to provide at least an hour of playtime with just 8 minutes of charge.
To ensure good battery health, Sennheiser has added a ‘Battery Protection Mode’ option within the Smart Control app that slows down the charging process. This is likely to prolong the lifespan of the battery, mitigating the potential impact of extended charge and discharge cycles.
When it comes to calling, the microphones’ on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 are quite reliable. The buds are equipped with six microphones, aided by AI voice pickup to reduce the background noise for clearer audio. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly the case. While the voice remains audible even in moderately loud environments, the quality wasn’t on par with the AirPods Pro. The voice might sound muffled if there is a lot of disturbance in the background.
Verdict
To conclude, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 offers impressive sound quality with a comfortable fit and a host of advanced features. The earbuds are priced in India at Rs 19,990 – select colour variants are currently available at a discounted price of Rs 18,990. Besides the slightly bulky form factor, the TWS outshine competitors like the Marshall Motif II (review) in almost every department. However, if you comparing them with Sony WF-1000 XM5 (review), the latter may hold a slight advantage. The XM5s provide superior ANC and sound fuller with rich bass. It is worth mentioning though the Sony earbuds will set you back to Rs 24,990.
If stretching your budget is not an option, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 becomes a solid choice for audiophiles seeking premium wireless earbuds. With its adaptive ANC effectively blocking out most noise, exceptional battery life, and dependable app support, it ticks many boxes. There is room for improvement in its microphone for calls. Despite that, the Momentum True Wireless 4 delivers a compelling audio experience, making it a worthy consideration for discerning users.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Pros
- Durable design
- Excellent sound quality
- Long battery life
Cons
- Call quality could have been better
- ANC is not best in class
