Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review

It’s wild to think that the Momentum True Wireless earbuds have been with us for around 8 years now. The early ones had their fair share of issues, but thankfully, Sennheiser really cleaned up their act with the last one, the Momentum True Wireless 4. It’s been two years since then, and now it’s time for a refresh. So here are Sennheiser’s newest flagship earbuds – meet the Momentum True Wireless 5. 

The Momentum True Wireless 5 (MTW5) features many improvements. It seems like the only thing that Sennheiser didn’t touch is the drivers. It still uses the company’s celebrated 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers that are made at Sennheiser’s high-end Tullamore facility, and which are also put in the company’s high-end IEMs like the IE 600 and IE 900.

What is new?

To start, the earbuds have an all-new shape that Sennheiser claims up to 73% of its testers find more comfortable. I haven’t had a problem with the last-generation model, and these new ones fit me just as well. They feel snug and don’t fall out even when I’m running. I also don’t feel any discomfort despite having them in my ears for hours. Of course, fit is a subjective thing, and your mileage may vary. 

The new design is also supposed to reduce wind turbulence better, which improves ANC and mic performance. Indeed, the MTW5 have the best ANC of any Sennheiser earbuds. It’s noticeably better than its predecessor and does a remarkable job of nullifying noises around you. However improved it may be, it still can’t quite match Sony’s WF-1000XM6 or the Apple AirPods Pro 3. If creating a cocoon of silence is your utmost priority, you should consider the WF-1000XM6 and AirPods Pro 3. 

The transparency mode is pretty good, but again, it isn’t quite a match for its rivals. It sounds a little muffled but mostly natural, and you can’t quite shake off the feeling that there’s something in your ears. The most telling thing about it is that I don’t feel comfortable enough using it to talk to others like I do with the AirPods Pro 3. On the subject of talking, the mic performance is excellent. Even in a noisy environment, the person I was on the phone with could still hear me clearly.

In terms of durability, the MTW5 has the same IP54 dust and water resistance as its predecessor. In this respect, it’s slightly better than the WF-1000XM6 (IPX4), but not quite as good as the AirPods Pro 3 (IP57). As for colours, these come in Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim, and Lavender. The review unit came in Lavender, which I thought was a refreshing colour for earbuds.

The improvements don’t stop at the earbuds. The charging case is slightly narrower, so it’s slightly more compact and fits better in small pockets. The case supports both Qi2 wireless charging and USB-C wired charging. Speaking of charging, one standout feature of the MTW5 is that the batteries – both the charging case and earbuds – can be easily replaced by users with a screwdriver. This is a much-welcomed feature since the built-in batteries of earbuds typically only last around two to three years with heavy use. Unfortunately, Sennheiser hasn’t told us what replacement costs are like yet, and only said that they will be available in the Spare Parts section on their website at a later date.

Also, it appears that some compromises have to be made with regards to battery life to enable users to replace them. Playing time on a full charge with ANC on is now up to 6 hours – an hour less than the MTW4. However, the total playtime with the charging case is now up to 40 hours – that’s up from 30 hours in the MTW4. You win some, you lose some. Practically speaking, unless I’m on a flight, I’m not sure if I’ll notice the hour’s difference in battery life. In my week with the MTW5, I found its 6-hour battery life about right, and I only had to charge the case after six days of listening.

Connectivity is a bit of a mixed bag because even though these earbuds support Bluetooth 6, it has dropped support for the high-quality LC3 codec. There were also some odd connection issues where the audio would glitch or cut out momentarily. It doesn’t happen often, but it was frequent enough that I thought I should mention it. As for codec support, the MTW5 supports SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless. 

How does it sound?

Compared to the more mainstream brands like Apple and Sony, Sennheiser’s default sound signature has typically been more neutral and slightly brighter. The new MTW5 upholds this tradition.

The default tuning, which is labelled “Neutral” in the Smart Control Plus app, is noticeably more balanced than its rivals. To my ears, the bass sounds exceptionally neutral – if it’s boosted, it’s only by the tiniest of margins. There’s more sparkle and zing in the treble. The end result is a signature that is on the lean and bright side.

Sound Personalization helps user find the sound signature they like.

Photo: HWZ

Experienced users can tweak the sound signature to their liking using the 8-band equaliser.

Photo: HWZ

And if the default tuning isn’t to your taste, the great thing about the MTW5 is that it responds extremely well to EQ and is therefore highly customisable. New to the MTW5 is an 8-band graphic equaliser that lets owner dial in their sonic preference. If that appears too daunting, there’s a Sound Personalization mode that helps you find your preferred sound signature through a series of guided questions about your sound preferences. There’s also a bass boost feature that’s genuinely useful. It tastefully elevates the bass response without muddying the sound too much.

The high level of customisability aside, what’s also impressive about these earbuds is their technical performance. The 7mm TrueResponse drivers have unmatched clarity. And for that reason, these earbuds also sound highly detailed. The soundstage is also exceptional – easily one of the best I’ve heard in any earbuds. However, the Dolby Atmos implementation is underwhelming. There’s negligible difference with it enabled.

How does it compare to its rivals?

People buy and wear earbuds for many different reasons. If you value silence more than anything else, the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM6 are the better options. Their ability to cancel out noises in the environment is almost freakish. And if having a good transparency mode is a priority, the AirPods Pro remain the best. After all, these earbuds have been certified to work as “clinical grade” hearing aids.

But if sound quality matters more, the Sennheisers are the better choice. Thanks to the technical performance of its TrueResponse drivers, the MTW5s are easily one of the best-sounding earbuds. And when you consider that its sound signature is highly tuneable thanks to various features, then what you have are earbuds that can suit many listeners. 

Its closest rival in this regard is the Technics EAH-AZ100. In stock form, these have a darker, smoother sound, but they don’t respond to EQ as well as the MTW5. However, the Technics support higher-quality codecs like LC3 and LDAC. And since the Technics have been around for a while now, it is possible to get them at a more attractive price than the MTW5.

Final thoughts and buying advice

These are Sennheiser’s flagship earbuds and they are priced accordingly. At S$479, they cost a tad more than their predecessors at launch, but they are the same price as the Sony WF-1000XM6, which I view as their keenest rival. They are pricey for sure, but you should expect to pay this much for top-tier earbuds.

The Sonys have better ANC, but the Sennheisers counter with superior sound. In terms of transparency modes, I’d say they are more or less equal. If you care more about how your music sounds and how you can tweak them to your liking, the Sennheisers are the way to go. 

Folks using iPhones should really take a good hard look at the AirPods Pro 3 and ask why you would want anything else. Not only do they have excellent ANC and transparency modes, but they also work well with Apple devices, sound great, and at S$349, they are one of the most affordable flagship-class earbuds. It’s hard to recommend anything else over them. 

All things considered, these are fantastic earbuds from Sennheiser. They are not perfect, but for discerning listeners – listeners who prioritise music listening over everything else – I think these are the best earbuds you can buy.

Note: You can find the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 on Lazada, Shopee, and the Sennheiser Online Store.