Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless review: is the high price justified?

I was already able to use the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless at IFA 2018 in Berlin from probeers. Already there, the design and the sound quality convinced me. Now I was able to test the in-ears for almost four weeks. Did my positive impression of the MOMENTUM True Wireless remain?

Unboxing and initial setup

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless come in a fairly compact package in the Sennheiser colors with some inscriptions and the company logo. If you lift the cardboard lid, you can immediately see the two ear-buds and the charging case, all in a foam shape. Underneath, the manufacturer packed different sized ear tips, a USB-C cable that was too short for my taste and paperwork. Everything in a white case.

For the first setup, you have to insert both earplugs into the case and connect it to the power. This is how the MOMENTUM True Wireless are woken up. Once that is done, you have to place your finger on the sides of the bud for five seconds. Then they should appear in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone, tablet or PC. Alternatively, the setup can take place in the “Smart Control” app. These are available free of charge for Android and iOS.

Sennheiser SmartControl

Price: Free of charge

Sennheiser Smart Control

Price: Free of charge

Design: A little big, but high quality

The MOMENTUM True Wireless are made of plastic and aluminum and look like typical true wireless in-ears: Two plugs that are placed in the left and right ear. Compared to competitionproHowever, these earbuds are a bit bulky, which made them stick out of the ears of some people I gave the MOMENTUM True Wireless to. The playback can be controlled by tapping on the outside, which worked reliably at all times. This means that both sides are touch-sensitive. As already mentioned, we are talking about true wireless headphones here. This means that there is no cable connecting both earphones. This gives maximum freedom of movement.

On the inside of the plugs are the pins for charging, two magnets and one driver each over which the ear pieces are slipped. Some sensors were also installed. These recognize when you take a plug out of your ear so that the music is automatically paused. There is a microphone on the right ear-bud for making phone calls and “transparent hearing” - more on the feature will be given later.

All in all, I can say that both ear pieces are very well made. In addition, both are protected against the ingress of water and dust in accordance with IPX4. The headphones do not have a power button. They are switched on and off by taking them out of the charging case and reinserting them.

Apropos: They are also stored and loaded in this. The case was covered with dark gray fabric and looks very high quality and modern at first glance. However, I noticed that the folding mechanism wears out over time. The case is charged via the USB-C port on the back, a status LED for the battery is right next to it. I noticed that the shape of the case is quite impractical, which means that it can sometimes be uncomfortable when carried in your pocket. Both ear buds are held in place with magnets on the inside, and there they stay firmly in place. Even with a jerky shake you can't get the plugs out of the charging box.

comfort

To ensure the best possible wearing comfort, there are a total of four different sized ear pieces. XS, S, M and L. There are no ear wings, which might be a counterpoint for some buyers.

I myself could use the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless without it Prowear bleme for several hours. When I found the silicone adapters that fit me, I didn't even feel the two plugs anymore. However, due to the fact that both earphones are quite large, people with small ears may find them uncomfortable. I've also had the experience that the MOMENTUM sit very firmly in the ear once you've found the right silicone nubs. Even when jogging, they didn't fall out of my ears.

Specifications

Briefly a few specifications for the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless. I especially have to highlight the built-in Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy. With this version, the headphones connect to the end device in a flash. In fact, there was often a connection when I took the in-ears out of the case and put them in my ears. I would be happy if Jaybird and Libratone could do it that way too.

I will come back to the sound quality in more detail later. Here are a few technical backgrounds to this first. In order to offer the buyer the best possible sound, the MOMENTUM True Wireless support AAC and aptX. The frequency range covered by the small drivers is from 5 Hertz to 21 kilohertz. So something more than the human ear can perceive.

The microphone from which I previously satprochen covers the frequencies from 100 hertz to 10 kilohertz. This is used for two things, one of which is "Transparent Hearing". This feature picks up ambient noise and directs it into the ear canal - optionally alongside music. This is especially helpful when out and about in public.

ANC, or Active Noice Canceling, does not exist. In return, the ear buds seal the ears so well that no external noises can penetrate without "ambient hearing". The microphone is also used for phone calls. In quiet surroundings and in the car, the other person always understood me clearly. It was different when I was on the phone with whom on the go. Here my interlocutors often perceived a strong noise.

Battery life: a complicated thing

In theory, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless should have a battery life of four hours. The charging case can add another eight hours. I can also confirm that with the four hours. That Proproblem is another matter entirely. If the charge level of the case falls below 50 Procent, the two ear buds are no longer charged and no longer switched on and off. As a result, you lose a full four hours of battery life. And this is a big disadvantage, since similar Proproducts can have a (usually significantly) longer service life. On top of that, you never know when the box's battery level will drop below 50 Procentral, since the status LED mentioned above can only display three states. Even in the "Smart Control" app, you can't see how much battery the charging case still has. I hope this Proproblem will be fixed with an update.

The MOMENTUM True Wireless are charged via the already mentionedproen USB-C port within two hours.

Sound: At a very high level

I already had the opportunity to present the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless at the IFA 2018 in Berlinprobeer And already there I liked the sound that these little earplugs procan produce, very well. That didn't change now that I could use the headphones longer.

The sound of the MOMENTUM True Wireless is really very detailed. With these in-ears I heard instruments and tones in some songs that I would never have noticed with other headphones or speakers. The lows, the mids and the highs are always right. Overall, I can say that I've never had better sounding in-ears in my ears. The MOMENTUM are also quite suitable for watching films or series, YouTube videos or podcasts. I was often able to perceive even the smallest details clearly. What the manufacturer has achieved here is pretty impressive.

Hats off, Sennheiser!

Companion app: "Smart Control"

A few sentences about the companion app called “Smart Control”. On the start page you first see an image of the two buds with the associated battery levels and a menu item each for the equalizer and "Transparent Hearing". I have never used the equalizer because the sound quality is world class anyway - but this feature is nice-to-have. If you tap on one of the two plugs, you can see in detail which typing gestures are available for the touchpad I told you about above. You should have a look at it before using it for the first time, as I almost destroyed my ear canal at the IFA because I didn't know how to turn things down.

Then there are some settings for the MOMENTUM True Wireless, which I never touched. Conclusion about the app: nicely designed and not overloaded with functions.

Prices and availability

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless is available from Sennheiser itself, from Amazon and from several retailers and electronics stores. The recommended retail price is 299 euros.

Conclusion

299 euros - that's a lot of money for in-ear headphones. But is this price justified? Yes of course. However, I believe that you should think carefully before buying whether it is really worth it to you. In my opinion, the MOMENTUM True Wireless are aimed at people who have a good hi-fi system at home and don't want to miss premium sound on the go. In addition, it has to be said that these headphones simply work - there is no other way of saying it. I am definitely looking forward to the successor.

We would like to thank Sennheiser for providing the MOMENTUM True Wireless.

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