Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Review

For years, the Sennheiser Momentum line has been an icon of style, a statement piece for the discerning listener who refused to compromise on sound or substance. With its signature blend of retro leather, exposed steel, and impeccable audio, it carved out a niche for itself as the sophisticated alternative to the minimalist tech of its rivals. The Momentum 4 Wireless, however, represents a radical departure. Sennheiser has traded its classic design language for a modern, streamlined aesthetic aimed squarely at the top of the ANC headphone market. This isn’t just an update; it’s a strategic reinvention. The question is, in chasing the competition, has Sennheiser lost the very soul that made the Momentum special?

The most immediate and divisive change is the design. Gone are the premium leather headband and industrial steel sliders of the Momentum 3. In their place is a clean, minimalist chassis of high-quality plastic and a soft, fabric-accented headband. While some will mourn the loss of the old-world character, the practical benefits are undeniable. The Momentum 4 is lighter, exerts less clamping force, and features plush, deeply cushioned earcups that rotate flat for easier storage. The result is a massive leap in long-term comfort, transforming the Momentum from a headphone you admire to one you can comfortably wear for an entire transatlantic flight. The build quality remains solid and creak-free, but it undeniably feels less like a luxury good and more like a high-end piece of consumer tech, for better or worse.

Thankfully, where it matters most, Sennheiser hasn’t strayed from its heritage. The audio performance of the Momentum 4 is simply superb. Powered by 42mm transducers, the sound signature is balanced, detailed, and wonderfully articulate. Bass is present and impactful without ever becoming bloated or muddying the intricate mid-range, where vocals and instruments shine with clarity. The treble is crisp and airy, providing a sense of space and precision that often eludes its more bass-heavy competitors. With support for codecs like aptX Adaptive, Android users in particular can enjoy high-resolution, low-latency audio that makes both music and video content shine. While the default tuning is excellent, the robust Smart Control app offers a powerful EQ and a “Sound Check” feature that helps you create a personalized sound profile, ensuring the audio is tailored perfectly to your taste.

The headline feature, and perhaps the Momentum 4’s single greatest strength, is its astonishing battery life. Sennheiser claims up to 60 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC enabled, and our testing confirms this is no exaggeration. This figure absolutely trounces the 25-30 hours offered by its primary rivals, effectively reframing the user experience. You can use these for a full work week or multiple long-haul flights without ever worrying about finding a power outlet. The Active Noise Cancellation is also a significant improvement over its predecessor, effectively neutralizing low-frequency rumbles like engine noise and office hum. While it may not achieve the near-total silence of the latest from Sony or Bose, particularly with higher-frequency chatter, it is more than capable for the vast majority of users and environments. The controls have shifted to a responsive touch panel on the right earcup, which handles playback, calls, and volume with intuitive swipes and taps, and clever on-head detection automatically pauses and resumes your music.