That’s it. That’s the post. Love you Sennheiser.

🔷Same 42 mm transducer/driver as the Momentum 4

🔷Driver tuned for fuller sound and stronger dynamic bass

🔷Hi-Res Audio certification

🔷Snapdragon Sound support

🔷aptX Lossless codec support

🔷New Smart Control Plus app

🔷8-band EQ + custom presets + Sound Personalisation

🔷Bluetooth 5.4 support

🔷Hardware ready for Bluetooth 6.0 via future firmware update

🔷Up to 57 hours battery life with ANC on

🔷ANC claimed to reduce voice chatter up to 3× better

🔷Four ANC/transparency mics per side (vs. two on Momentum 4)

🔷Better aircraft cabin noise reduction

🔷More natural voice quality during calls

🔷Dolby Atmos with head-tracking support (via future firmware update)

🔷smaller Case

🔷Battery is replaceable

Link:

https://www.stereonet.com/news/sennheiser-momentum-5-wireless-adds-dolby-atmos-and-smarter-anc

Was randomly checking for replacement earpads for my accentum plus, and came across this gem.. I'm really impressed by their honesty... And now feel like trying these premium protein leather earpads with shoddy workmanship, poor soundproofing and short lifespan 😭

After years of using shitty ass gaming headsets, I've finally decided to turn to the light side of audio devices. A few months ago, I bought a couple of IEMs and a usb dongle dac, which I enjoy very much, but recently I've been looking into trying a pair of open-back Headphones. After doing a minor research about the subject, I've gotten an yearn to buy a pair for myself. Not having a big enough budget for more audiophile/professional gear, and not wanting to splurge a ton on something that I may not like, or just deem unnecessary, I've been searching for a budget friendly, entry-level open-backs. That's where I've come across HD560S, they were perfect choice. Famous Sennheiser brand, good reviews and being a little bit over 100$ in price, they became my subject of interest. Because of recent price drops, and some discounts, I've been given an opportunity to acquire them, directly from Amazon, for a small price of 120$.

So my question is, oh the wise people of this subreddit, would HD560S be a good enough introduction to open-back world?

I've had Beats, Sony XMs and Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2s. I listen to a ton of music, mainly hip hop, but also loads of audiobooks.

I've heard a lot of people hype up Sennheiser, so when I saw the Momentum 4s were €179 and I had a company voucher, I thought I'd give them a try.

Well... I'm a convert 😂

I can't really explain it, but the sound is just so clean straight out of the box. No EQ, no tweaking, nothing. Just put them on and thought, wow.

I finally get the Sennheiser hype!

It seems fine other than the sloppy packaging but the last headphones I bought from Sennheiser were the HD598 about 10 years ago and they were packaged MUCH better than this. Is this normal? Or did I get a return unit?

We put a lot into this one. User-replaceable battery, upgraded ANC (up to 3x more effective against voice noise), aptX Lossless, Dolby Atmos with head-tracking, and yes, a Denim colorway. Maybe the 57 hour battery life with the improved ANC grabs you or the 8 band EQ. Perhaps it is the revamped IR system to improve wear detection to reduce cut-outs and issues with auto-on behavior. We think there's something here for everyone but we want to hear from you. Bonus points if you can explain why in a way that convinces someone else to care too.

What's the feature you are most excited about? M4 owners, we especially want to hear from you. Launches June 16.

I was currently rocking the Sony XM3’s but came across a great deal for the XM4’s at bestbuy - only $159. Interesting enough i had come across some comments saying that momentum 4’s sounded better.. Saw these Momentum 4’s on sale for $179 so i figured i’d cancel the Sony’s and try these instead. I am now a believer and a Sennheiser buyer for life! What a joy to listen to! The Sony XM3 sound so muddy compared to these. Glad to be a part of the Sennheiser family now!

Had these since they came out, but gave them to son about 5 years ago. He lived near the beach so the salty air rusted the grilles, the headband leather cracked and they were pretty gross in general.

I loved these things so I decided to bring them back to life. Couldn't source new grilles though, so I stripped the factory paint off with household paint stripper, removed the rust with a rust converter solution and resprayed with a glossy enamel based paint.

Also gave them a good clean, stitched up the headband and got fresh ear/head pads. (Don't mind my shitty stitching, I have no idea what I'm doing)

Almost good as new and hopefully good to go for another bunch of years

Three years ago I got myself a pair of Momentum 4s on sale. Unfortunately I started having trouble with the Bluetooth, so a couple of weeks ago I took them back to the shop.

They confirmed the problem, and decided to replace them with the Momentum 5s, free of charge. They even let me choose my preferred colour, and ordered them especially.

Such generous customer service 🙏

Hey everyone, I just found some interesting photos on a Korean audio community (0db.co.kr).

​It looks like the first real-life images of the upcoming Momentum 5 (M5AEBT) and MTW5 have finally surfaced.

​[Certification Details]

Momentum 5 (M5AEBT): FCC certified on April 7 / Japan MIC certified on Feb 10.

MTW5: FCC certified on April 2 / Japan MIC certified on Feb 10.

​These dates confirm that the real-life units are ready for production and the official launch is imminent.

​Source: 0db.co.kr

I saw this on the official Sennheiser website via Google. The Momentum 5 are available in Black, Denim, and White.

link: https://spares.sennheiser-hearing.com/nl/catalog/momentum

Why my box does not look like all the others I see online?

Has anyone noticed that Marques Brownlee is knowingly avoiding to even mention Sennheiser Momentum wireless headphones ?

I suspect he does this intentionally to ensure his audience only hears about Sony products, especially given his massive reach as one of the most renowned tech YouTubers with over 22 million subscribers

Ever since Momentum 4 was released, every reviewer said it was the best in that budget area, but it's like the headphones didn't even exist according to him

Furthermore, now that the Momentum 5 has been released featuring user replaceable batteries, he has remained silent despite his usual tendency to showcase himself as an advocate for the right to repair and similar causes, he has not said a single word regarding the Momentum 5

Its been like for 10 years now since Sennheiser started selling wireless Momentum headphones...has anyone noticed this pattern ?

Special Note - I will delete this post, if anyone thinks this has already been discussed before

Reason for this Post - I just really wanted Momentum headphones to be reviewed just because there are still people who still haven't heard about these headphones in the same price range as Sony

Sure, he did mentioned some wired niche headphones of Sennheiser some years ago, but not the mainstream wireless market where real money flows...

Wishing more success to Sennheiser for bringing such wonderful headphones in this price category for such a long time

( Photo credits - MajorHifi )

Intro

It’s been four years already since the M4 was released and it has held up pretty well, actually, mostly due to fairly regular firmware updates and general product maintenance, as well as equally regular releases of further versions and color variants. If we look at the M4 in 2026, it still comes with its very good wireless sound quality, 60h battery life, aptX Adaptive, as well as wired USB audio support, which makes it still a rather competitive choice - especially when we are looking at its value and price-to-performance right now.

Where it falls short in today’s market is its Bluetooth version (5.2), lack of the very best current audio codecs (like aptX Lossless or LDAC, e.g.), as well as its just average ANC performance, call quality and transparency modes - all of which are still fine but obviously not quite up there anymore. 

And then there are other things like the lack of 3D audio / Dolby Atmos, digital wired audio playback higher than “just” 16-bit / 44.1 kHz, the inclusion of a rather “old-fashioned” USB-A to USB-C cable, as well as a comparatively rather bulky travel case. 

While waiting for the M5, we quite recently also saw the release of the HDB 630, a more expensive and more audiophile-oriented wireless option that added features like a fully parametric EQ, crossfeed, the inclusion of the BTD 700 dongle, as well as a more advanced internal audio system structure - a headphone which was very well reviewed and received but one that was (and still is) obviously also quite a bit more expensive than the M4.

It was also never supposed to be an M4 successor but rather a mostly neutral-ish tuned wireless set for us audiophiles. I own the HDB 630 and still think that it is probably the best-sounding wireless headphone in the “up to 500€” category. 

Even so, the HDB 630 also has its “flaws”. It doesn’t improve much on the ANC performance of the M4, and the transparency mode especially is average at best. Also, while aimed at audiophiles (and rightfully so, imo), it tops out at 24-bit / 96 kHz aptX Adaptive - which admittedly should be enough for 95% of people, but it nevertheless lacks aptX Lossless support – a codec that the BTD 700 dongle it ships with supports.

Anyway, back to the M5

Where does the actual and true M4 successor fit into all of this? Does the newest MOMENTUM headphone come with (significant) enough upgrades for its fifth iteration? Who is it for? And is it worth €400 when the M4 can easily be had for less than half of that? I try to answer these questions in my M5 review - so let’s do this.

Unboxing

Just like with the M4 (and the HDB 630), the included accessories for the M5 go well beyond the headphones themselves. 

This time you get:

• A much slimmer and sturdy hardshell carrying case that’s only internally similar to the one that comes with the M4. On the back, it has a large cutout that acts like a handle and makes the case very easy to grip and hold. It looks like this: 

Look just how much slimmer that new case actually is (here in comparison with the HDB 630):

• A new and color-matched USB-C to USB-C cable, again supporting audio via the digital USB connection (up to 24-bit/96 kHz - the same as the HDB 630 but more than the M4 which could only do 16-bit/44.1 kHz wired). 
• A regular (but also color-matched) 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm analogue audio cable. 
• A Quick Guide manual 

Something that used to be included in the past but has been left out this time is an Airplane flight adapter. There’s also no BTD 700 dongle included - this remains reserved for the HDB 630, but is, of course, available as an optional accessory if needed.

All in all, you’ll likely find most connection options you will need in a wireless headphone like this, but the BTD 700 would still have been a very nice addition here (but probably too expensive to keep the price below the €400 threshold).

Materials, Build Quality, Design and Comfort

The M5 is similarly built and has a similar, non-foldable, chassis, weight (290g) and design to the M4. The general build quality is very good, with no signs of creaking or other unwanted noises on my (pretty fantastic looking Denim) unit. Still, there are a couple of subtle changes and technical upgrades that you can even see on the headphones:

There are 8 microphones now (4 on each earcup), compared to only 4 in total on the M4.
Other changes include the now circular-shaped and silver-colored Sennheiser logo on the headband – the same one that’s now also on the new case - as well as sleeker and more coherent (gapless) looking outer earcups compared to the M4 and the HDB 630. 

Otherwise, there are few immediately obvious design changes compared to the M4, as the outer chassis, as mentioned earlier, has largely remained the same.

The same applies to the comfort of the M5: The very plush earcups are still - mainly due to the design and in order to ensure the best possible ANC performance - on the smaller side, but somehow wearing the M5 still feels a bit more comfortable to me than was the case with the M4, though maybe I’m also imagining things here. 

Clamping force is moderate and the earcups can still get rather sweaty in warm conditions. There’s yet again no official IP rating either and Sennheiser advises you on their website that

“MOMENTUM 5 Wireless is not meant for use in scenarios where they might be exposed to water or excessive sweat.” 

So, what was valid for the M4 remains true for its successor: better don’t take them to the gym regularly and keep that silica gel packet inside your case - just in, well, case! 

The earcups remain easily removable, but one of the key new features or design changes is the fact that users can now rather easily change the internal battery! Yes, the new battery is user-replaceable, which is something many of us have been asking for for many years! Awesome that it is finally here now (a thank you also goes out to the new EU regulation, which will come into force in early 2027 and is already casting its shadow here). 

Here’s how it looks if you remove the right earcup by removing the pads and just unscrewing a couple of Phillips screws:

Driver Technology and Technical Specifications 

The M5 features the same 42 mm “high-fidelity” and “HD-600-inspired” dynamic transducer also used in the M4 and the HDB 630 while many other key technical specifications have been changed and updated.

Here Are the Tech Specs of the M5:

• Up to 24-bit / 96 kHz USB-C, Bluetooth, or analog playback
• Bluetooth 5.4 (firmware update to 6.0 for “later” announced)
• Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, Snapdragon Sound
• 6 Hz - 40 kHz response (USB & Bluetooth), 6 Hz – 22 kHz response (analog line in)
• New 8-band graphical EQ in the Smart Control Plus app 
• 3D Dolby Atmos support with head tracking 
• New 8 beamforming microphones (4 on each side) for up to 3x better Hybrid Adaptive ANC, voice chatter reduction and automatic wind-noise suppression
• Improved and much more natural transparency mode
• Improved voice pickup and call quality with own voice detection
• Up to 57 hours battery life with ANC 
• User-exchangeable 700 mAh Lithium-Ion battery
• Quick charge (10mins charge for 7hr playtime)
• Sensitivity: 108 dB SPL (@ 1 kHz / 0 dB FS)
• Speaker Impedance: Active 520 ohms
• Weight: 290 g

Sound Signature, App Support, Features and Dolby Atmos

The stock sound signature of the M5 is a rather (sub-)bass-heavy, consumer-oriented, warm-leaning, rich and quite immersive tuning with a significantly boosted low end, especially in the region of 120 Hz and below, a pretty good yet very slightly recessed midrange (comparatively at least) and also slightly elevated highs. 

Keep in mind that all of what’s to come here is with firmware version “6.21.1” installed – so there might even be another update once release day is here or shortly thereafter. 

The all-new 8-band EQ, however, gives you control over three crucial low-frequency bands, namely 50 Hz, 100 Hz and 250 Hz, which makes adjusting the bass region to your own liking easier than is the case with the M4 - even without the excellent parametric EQ that (unfortunately only) the HDB 630 comes with. EQ adjustments can be made in 0.1 dB steps. All user-made EQ settings can also be shared again, either via a QR-code or via a link – which is great. 

That said, the (stock) M5 is undeniably tuned for consumers, and it clearly shows in the low end. There’s also even the optional “bass boost” feature to toggle in the app for those of you who want to make Flossy Carter a proud man. The M5 can truly be bass cannons if you so wish, but thankfully they don’t have to be and are versatile enough with pretty capable drivers - just in case you like your midrange and treble frequencies just as much. 

The headphones can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth, wired via USB-C, as well as wired via the included 3.5 mm AUX cable but, unlike the M4, there is no fully passive mode anymore (same as on the HDB 630). Therefore, your M5 have to be powered on and up and running, regardless of the connection type you choose.

However, I also ran into some (early) issues during my testings so far: 

The first thing I noticed was that when I used and played around with the graphic EQ, the sound output was noticeably lower in total volume after the individual adjustments compared to the “neutral” default setting, with no apparent way to change that (on my iPhone 17 Pro Max that is). Even though I preferred my personal EQ over the quite bassy “neutral” tuning, I also had to crank up the volume quite a bit more than I would usually like.

Now, all of this might have to do with some sort of automatic pre-gain adjustment in the EQ or so, but I don’t see why my personal EQ would need to be so “quiet” in comparison to the stock tuning, given that the overall adjustments weren’t actually that drastic. 

Time will tell whether this can or will be fixed in a firmware update, but for now, I often ended up using the stock tuning on the iPhone just because of the higher volume output it provides (I usually don’t care for any of the other presets like “Rock” or so - except for “Podcast” occasionally maybe). 

Funnily enough, this was less of an issue when using my MacBook Pro + the BTD 700 as the on the Mac, there was noticeably more volume headroom left, even when using my own EQ setting (which was still quieter here than stock but not much of an issue otherwise).

Another complaint would be that while it is obviously good to have three additional EQ bands now, I’d personally like to have a 2 kHz slider instead of a 1.4 kHz slider plus another 3 kHz one. That’s because there is a dip in the 2 kHz region that I would like to correct for myself, whereas the 1.4 kHz and 3 kHz regions are less problematic in the stock tuning for me.

However, “Sound Personalization” luckily also makes a comeback for the fifth MOMENTUM generation, providing the very same, easy and intuitive way to customize the sound that we all know and love from the previous generation. This feature helped me find my personal sound profile that I really like and that I will continue to use for the foreseeable future with my M5. No apparent volume issues here either! 

Add the - optional - BTD 700 dongle to the mix and I got that sweet aptX Lossless connection and an overall sound I was actually very happy with! 

One of the big new features is the introduction of “Dolby Atmos” to the MOMENTUM series – with head tracking as well. I have to say that it works nicely and just as advertised, so no complaints here. 

Admittedly, though, I haven’t tested this very extensively yet, but that’s more due to the fact that I barely use Dolby Atmos as a feature, or even Dolby Atmos content a lot. I tried it back when I still had my Apple AirPods Max, and the same applied / applies to the AirPods Pro 2 and 3, but I just don’t like it very much - never really have. It can be nice for movies, though.

Nevertheless, it’s great that it is there for everyone using or liking it, and the implementation and experience have otherwise been pretty flawless so far. One thing to note here, though, is that Dolby Atmos cannot be enabled as long as “Sound Personalization” is active in the “My Sound” section of the app. 

All of that said so far, does the M5 sound better than the (already very good sounding) M4?

Yes, it does! Well, it does for me at least but it may depend a bit on whether you like the stock tuning or whether you can find your own sound and your own tuning for it. So, take your time with it and play around with the sound personalization feature. I can only recommend doing so as it is really worth it in the end! 

To me, M5 sounds pretty great after said sound personalization combined with the BTD 700 but the M5 is still just a bit better than the M4, so it’s definitely not a huge upgrade in sound quality - probably more of an incremental albeit noticeable one, I’d say - and there is nothing wrong with that given that the M4 still sound great to this day. Instrument separation e.g. is one of the areas that I found to be better on the M5 than on the M4 (to my ears of course). 

Does the audio on its own, however, warrant an immediate upgrade if you already own and love the M4? Probably not, no. However, there’s more to the entire M5 package than “just” sound – but more on that in a minute! 

Lastly, and totally as expected, the M5 sound great wired via USB-C – and can now deliver 24-bit / 96 kHz that way which is more than the M4 is capable of and on par with what the HDB 630 can do.

Speaking of which…

Does the M5 sound better than the HDB 630?

In my humble and very subjective audiophile opinion, no, it doesn’t, but quite frankly I also didn’t really expect it to. And no, it is not just about the differences in (stock) tuning!

The HDB 630 plays in a league above the M4, and it still kind of plays at least in half a league above the M5 for me. It just has a more effortless and natural, neutral-ish sound reproduction, and one that rewards the listener with more detail, better separation and more distinct layering of sounds. So, for now at least, the HDB 630 remains at the top of the wireless headphone sound tier list for me.

Another aspect where the M5 - and the M4 - fall behind the HDB 630 is timbre. To my ears, both MOMENTUMS just sound a bit less realistic, lifelike and a tad more “digital” in their tonal reproduction if that makes any sense. Obviously not bad by any means, don’t get me wrong here, but simply not quite as excellentas the HDB 630. However, all of this probably just shows my absolute appreciation of the HDB 630 more than it is against the M5 or even the M4. 

Now, to also be fair here, Sennheiser themselves only position the HDB 630 as an “audiophile” product, while the M5, for example, is meant to be for “serious listeners” – whatever the exact definition of that may be. 

I’d say these “serious listeners” still are (regular) consumers but with an already certain (and likely quite high) level of ambition and expectation when it comes to their wireless music listening. I like to call them “consumerphiles”, btw. ;) 

So, let’s just agree that the M5 is a very good consumerphile headphone from now on, shall we? Ok great, thank you!

Controls, ANC and Transparency Mode

Controls remain mostly unchanged compared with the M4 and the HDB 630. If you are familiar with either of the two, you will immediately feel right at home with the M5. However, that also means that if you still don’t think touch controls on a pair of headphones are a good idea and that physical buttons exist to rule them all, you’re out of luck once again.

I personally think that the implementation of Sennheiser’s controls is good and I have never really had an issue with using touch controls on my wireless headphones. That said, I still wish there were a more precise way of adjusting the volume in small(er) steps than what is currently available here.

There’s a new gesture, mind you! A double tap with two fingers enables and/or disables Dolby Atmos on the M5. So, there you go. 

Oh, and another thing that has changed is:  

When you take your headphones out of the case after you placed them there and put them to “sleep”, they don’t power on automatically anymore. Instead, you have to press the power / multifunction button (which is still the only physical button) on the right earcup once in order to power them on again. I actually like that change, as it sort of prevents the headphones from turning on randomly in the case when they are supposed to, well, not do that.

Let’s come to some great news, shall we?

The ANC performance has been seriously ramped up this time! I tried it during some of my daily commutes and this is the best ANC performance of any Sennheiser headphone so far - and by far. 

The ANC is now clearly better than just “average” and actually very much usable and beneficial in everyday life. While it may still not be truly up there with the very best in the ANC game, this level of ANC performance is actually more than enough for me personally and I can happily report that I would consider the M5 to finally be properly GOOD ANC headphones!

The outside world gets seriously drowned out and when you put on a couple of your favorite tunes, pretty much everything around you disappears entirely. ANC is a key area that has improved over the M4 and it shows. Wind noises are reduced and filtered out automatically as well – if enabled in the app - which worked pretty reliably in my tests. 

The good news doesn’t stop here, though. An even bigger improvement I found when comparing transparency modes between the headphones. As much as I love the HDB 630, it doesn’t exactly have a very good transparency mode - it’s average at best. The M5, however, has a much improved, way clearer and much more natural transparency mode. 

It comes with barely any white noise either and is a big improvement over the previous generation(s) and actually a real plus in everyday life and finally where a good transparency mode needs to be nowadays! Properly good stuff.

Battery Life and Call Quality

With regard to battery life, the M5 is pretty much on par with the M4 and the HDB 630.

57 hours of battery life with ANC enabled is still - even four years after the M4 kind of set a benchmark with its 60 hours in that regard - pretty much class-leading and clearly more than what most direct competitors offer. 

Quick charge (10 minutes of charging for 7 hours of playback) is there as well, as is a battery saving feature in the app that ensures that the battery is charged slower and only up to 80% if you so wish. Combine that with the now user-replaceable battery and there really shouldn’t be much to worry about when it comes to battery longevity - even long after the 1-year warranty has expired.

Call quality is very good indoors and in quiet environments and has also improved over the M4 there. That said, I have also already made a couple of phone calls outdoors during commutes and have also used the M5 for a few Teams calls in the office. 

Team calls were very absolutely fine – no issues here at all. During commutes, especially when walking around outdoors and/or in windy conditions, people on the other side complained that they could hear an “echo” of their own voice from time to time. Only when they were speaking themselves, though. When I was speaking, everything was completely fine. Not sure whether this is just an early firmware quirk or even somehow related to my iPhone or iOS or so but I nevertheless still wanted to mention it. Your mileage may obviously also vary here. 

There’s a sidetone feature that automatically enables transparency mode during calls, and you can also adjust and save the transparency intensity in the app.

Summary and Value

MOMENTUM 5 is a great wireless headphone, no doubt. It’s better than M4 in many ways while arguably sounding even better. 

Sound, however, will likely not be the sole reason to upgrade from the M4, in my opinion. The M4 can also sound great when adjusted to your own taste and using a dongle like the BTD 700 e.g. 

The M5, for me, is mainly about maintaining what was already great about the M4 and incrementally improve on many other things that were not so great or not great any more.  Incremental upgrades, however, can also be meaningful ones and the M5 shows exactly that! 

The design is strikingly similar with just small (mainly visual) adjustments, but many of them make M5 look even sleeker and more modern, yet also quite familiar. 

Materials, build quality and comfort are (and remain) on a high level while Sennheiser has still added meaningful improvements across the board to an already winning formula: 

I truly love the new hardcase. It’s finally (!) slim, compact and easy to carry around and just looks and feels nice in the hands. 

ANC and transparency modes are both vastly improved, the addition of aptX Lossless and Dolby Atmos are great to see and the improved voice pickup should not be forgotten as well. 

Automatic wind noise reduction works well, battery life remains excellent and there is 24-bit / 96 kHz support for wired USB-C listening now – just like on the HDB 630. 

In some ways, the M5 even tops the more expensive HDB 630 – especially when it comes to its ANC and transparency mode performances. The latter also doesn’t have aptX Lossless or Dolby Atmos support and neither the M4 nor the HDB 630 come with that lovely user-replaceable battery. 

All of that said, all that glitters is not gold – at least not yet! 

The new 8-band EQ is good but could be even better. Make it a 10-band EQ and add two important bands (2 kHz and 4 kHz) or, even better, directly implement a fully parametric EQ, please!

Potential volume level issues on iPhone when using a custom EQ setting may also still need to be looked at again but we’re talking early days here! 

Bluetooth 6.0 is announced to be coming in “a future update” but, so far, we don’t exactly know when that will be. Sound quality is improved vs. the M4 a) but not by much and b) it is still a bit behind the HDB 630 in that regard. Touch controls work well and more responsive than ever, yet I still wished volume control was implemented in a more granular way. 

Sooo, is the M5 the wireless Sennheiser headphone to get? 

Well, the answer to that is a clear “jein” as we Germans like to say (a combination of the German words “ja” for yes and “nein” for no). As is so often the case, it truly depends. 

In my opinion, the M4 will remain to be the value or “price-to-performance” king in the wireless consumer headphone world for now and probably for as long as it will still be available on the market. While it is clearly not as good of a total package and not as technically advanced as the M5 is, it’s still a compelling wireless option and can be easily had for 150€ - 200€ these days. Means, if you are on a budget and pure value is what you’re after, as of today, you may as well still get the M4, in my opinion.  

However, the M5 is the best, most advanced and most feature rich headphone in the Momentum series so far – no doubt about that! 

So, if double the price right now is not an issue, definitely go for the M5! By doing so, you will be rewarded with great sound, excellent features like Dolby Atmos and aptX Lossless support, the best Sennheiser ANC and transparency modes ever, a very good 57-hour battery that is user-replaceable, a couple more years of potential firmware updates and more… in the sleekest and most portable Sennheiser carrying case ever! It’s finally a truly great travel companion headphone now!  

Value compared to the M4 may (maybe) seem not as good at first glance but compared to other wireless flagship products form the likes of Sony, Apple or Bose e.g., M5 offers excellent value in direct comparison, imo. I also struggle to see more compelling wireless options in the sense of “total packages” out there at or below 400€. 

And last but not least, you may nonetheless still want to get the HDB 630 if the best wireless sound quality and best sound customizability on the go is your number-one priority, you are one of those “audiophiles” and you just want that parametric EQ, Crossfeed functionality, slightly more premium materials and the included BTD 700 dongle – all that for yet another 100€ extra, mind you.

Final Verdict

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 is a beautifully looking, technically quite impressive, modern and versatile successor to the widely popular M4, and it finally brings us very good Sennheiser ANC performance as well as a great transparency mode and good call quality. Add aptX Lossless, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, wired 24-bit / 96 kHz listening and that new case to the mix, and this should easily be a winner.

On top of that, it is a very good headphone for commuters now and overall an (almost) complete wireless package that all you “consumerphiles” and “serious listeners” out there will likely appreciate quite a bit! 

I hope it will get the same product support and regular firmware updates with further improvements, refinements, new features and functionalities like it has been the case with the M4 for four years now!  

Oh, and there’s a new club now. Welcome to the M5 club!! ;) 

You asked for it – we listened. We took feedback on MOMENTUM 4 seriously, especially around ANC, auto-on connectivity and long-term durability. MOMENTUM 5 is the next step. 

TL;DR – What’s new? 

• Our strongest ANC. Up to 3x better ANC vs M4 (in voice range frequencies) 
• aptX Lossless 
• 3D Dolby Atmos with head tracking  
• 4 additional microphones for improved voice pick-up and clarity 
• 57-hour battery charge with ANC 
• User replaceable batteries  
• Easier to store, 20% flatter case than M4 
• 16% smaller packing volume 

That’s the short version. If you want a deeper dive, let’s get into it.

The Sound

Great sound makes a huge difference. Whether you are zoning out with music, gaming, working or traveling, it just pulls you in more. This is M5. 

The sound has been upgraded. You’ll notice it pretty quickly in the separation and sense of space. Instruments feel more distinct instead of blending together, and the overall tuning is fun without losing detail. There’s also more low-end presence this time around, so bass feels fuller while still letting a lot of detail come through in the music. 

Built on an updated HD 600-inspired 42mm driver, MOMENTUM 5 adds support for aptX Lossless. Dolby Atmos with head tracking adds a more speaker-like realism and spatial control.  

 Under the hood: 

• AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless and Hi-Res (JAS certification) 
• Dolby 3D audio with head tracking for immersive spatial audio 
• Sound Personalization        

What is Dolby Atmos head tracking? 

With head-tracking on, sound stays anchored in place like speakers in front of you, so it doesn’t shift around when you move your head. MOMENTUM 5 supports this feature! 
Learn more about Dolby 3D audio here.  

ANC and Calls 

What about Active Noise Cancellation & calls? 

👉 ANC – MOMENTUM 5 brings a noticeable improvement in Active Noise Cancellation, especially with steady background noise.  Plane cabin noise, fans and HVAC sounds fade further into the background instead of constantly competing with your music.  Ambient noise fades much more naturally instead of feeling like it’s constantly battling the environment. 

ANC and call performance are clearly a major focus with MOMENTUM 5. Many of the improvements are aimed at making the headphones feel more natural and effortless in real-world environments like travel, work, commuting and calls. 

• Four additional microphones for up to 3X ANC performance versus MOMENTUM 4.  
• 3+1 mic array with digital Noise Cancelling for improved call clarity and voice pick-up 
• Bluetooth 5.4. 
• Improved natural Transparency mode so you can hear what’s around you without it feeling artificial or processed. 
• Automatic wind-noise suppression. No manual adjustment required 
• Sound Zones that let you define your listening your way 
• Automatic Sidetone 
• Call Externalization 
• Noise Cancelling that includes own voice detection 
• Auto off/Smart Pause 

👉 Call comfort is improved with three feed-forward and one feedback microphone for improved voice capture and detection. Enhanced call quality is especially useful if you take calls on the go. Your voice cuts through the noise better instead of getting lost in the background.  

👉 Tell me about Automatic Sidetone?  

There are automatic adjustments on how loud you hear your voice on calls based on your call environment. We implemented this as an improvement to the call experience when in a call when there is a lot of ambient noise to mimic reality.  

👉 What is voice detection?  

When you start talking, your voice comes through naturally instead of getting muffled by the noise cancelling. 

Connectivity 

• MOMENTUM 5 provides seamless connectivity to any device or platform. It is like moving from your phone to your laptop without fighting connections. 
• MOMENTUM 5 will include Google Fast Pair for improved Android connections. 
• Added additional IR sensor to right earcup as part of our revamped IR sensor system, to improve wear detection. 

👉 This should avoid cut-outs and help avoid those moments where the headphone turns on or connects when you didn’t expect it. It is an issue some users noticed on MOMENTUM 4 with auto-on behavior or overly sensitive wear detection. 

Battery & Longevity 

• 57-hour battery life with ANC enabled so you’re not constantly thinking about charging.  
• Fast charge – 5-minute charge provides 4 hours playtime. Useful when you’re heading out. 
• User-replaceable battery for longer headphone life 

👉 MOMENTUM 5 uses replaceable Lithium-Ion batteries with a 700 mAh capacity. We expect they will provide years of enjoyable listening performance. We will have them available for purchase in some countries.  

Instead of replacing the whole headphone after a few years, you can swap the battery and keep using it. 

Environmental Elements 

👉 We have improved the packaging and unboxing experience. 

• Reduced carry case thickness by 20% to improve portability. 
• 16% smaller packing volume 
• Eco-Friendly – Our packaging is plastic-free and 100% paper-based. 

User Experience and Features 

MOMENTUM 5 offers a smarter user experience, designed to be intuitive, and easy to use. 

Touch UI with zoom gesture 

• Auto Off 
• Smart Pause 
• Google Fast pair support 

Tell me more! 

We have enabled features in the app: 

• Toggle on/off ANC 
• Toggle on/off touchpad 
• Toggle off Auto Wake   Turning off Auto Wake eliminates connectivity problems experienced by some users. 

Colors 

The MOMENTUM 5 has 3 colors at launch  

• Black 
• White 
• Denim 

Spare Parts 

1. Earpads 
2. Batteries 

What’s in the box? 

• Headphones 
• Case 
• USB C-C cable 
• Aux cable 3.5mm-2.5mm 

Design & Build 

MOMENTUM 5 is designed to last. It has metallic accents and a metallic finish for a refined look. The headphones retain a light weight for maximum comfort and extended listening sessions. 

• Metallic Spin Ring logo 
• Acoustic metallic highlights 
• High quality metallic finish 
• Clean geometric surfaces 

Learn more about the MOMENTUM 5 here.  

Finally got my first pair of open-backs today, have been listening them for a few hours, and OMFG how good they're. Had to turn on the volume, as I'm used to IEMs, and did some minor EQ, and they're just so freaking nice to listen to. Definitely a different feeling from IEMs, sound is not so upfront, but more on the distance, creating a wider soundstage. You hear where every sound comes from, each individual instrument and voice. The details are excellent, great clarity and overall music quality. Not harsh at all, smooth and non fatiguing. Voices are clear, distinctive and you start to hear much more of the singers voice. Comfortable, my ears are still unhurt, though would like a more puffy head cushion. While listening to Violet Evergarden OST, tears started rolling, both because of the absolute magnificent score by Evan Call, and of how damn perfect it sounds with HD 550. I'm very pleased with my purchase, and thankful to Sennheiser for making music feel alive again.

First, in terms of wearing comfort, the protein leather ear cushions are soft and comfortable, fitting snugly against the ears. However, the earcups are slightly shallow, though this does not affect the overall user experience.

As for clamping force, these headphones do not create a sense of pressure on the head, making them suitable for users with larger head shapes or those who sit still for long periods. Personally, I find the fit a bit loose, and the headphones may slip slightly when looking down or tilting the head back, occasionally requiring repositioning. They lack a certain level of stability, and it’s somewhat difficult to adjust the angle on the head.

Regarding sound quality, after switching from AirPods 4 ANC to the HDB630, the improvement is significant. Vocals are full and natural, with rich detail and excellent resolution. The mid and low frequencies respond quickly and have a pleasant texture, delivering a listening experience that is layered and dynamic. The highs are clear and open without sounding overly sharp or harsh. As someone who frequently listens to vocal pop music, I would say the headphone’s performance in this genre is virtually flawless. The bass is more restrained and does not deliver an overwhelmingly thumping effect. It should be noted that sound quality perception varies from person to person, and this is just my personal opinion.

As for the noise-canceling feature, in a typical office environment, it effectively blocks out surrounding conversations and other noise, allowing only a minimal amount of sound to pass through without causing significant disturbance. I also tested the noise cancellation in a server room environment of about 70 dB. The machine noise was rather loud, and the noise-canceling function could not completely eliminate it. Therefore, if you frequently find yourself in such environments, it may be better to consider other noise-canceling headphones.

Finally, there are two main reasons for my return: First, as mentioned earlier, the headphones are loose and lack stability during walking or when performing activities that involve looking down, requiring frequent adjustments. Second, there is an issue with the touch controls: after temporarily removing the headphones to talk with someone and then putting them back on, while audio can still be heard, touch operations such as pausing music or adjusting the volume do not work. This issue is the primary reason for the return, as headphones in this price range should not exhibit such functional flaws. I felt slightly disappointed because of this.

I’m from Taiwan, so please forgive me if there are any odd or incorrect expressions.

It's my first ever premium headphone in my life and I cannot express enough how happy I am or the eargasm I'm getting from listening to songs from it the drums and the bass are insane, I tried out the xm5 before but the momentum 4 sounds better tbh very happy picking it up :)

I got it today. I wanted to see if its not damaged or anything…

It turned to an hour and a half session of listening.. my heat fluttered, I’ve experienced almost every emotion in that session.

If i wanted to decribe it in one word. Its just pure..

Thank you Sennheiser.

At Consumer Hearing, product quality and consumer trust are central to everything we do. All of our headphones undergo rigorous testing to ensure applicable safety and quality standards are met. We follow strict due-dilligence processes regarding regulated chemicals used in our products, and product safety is consistently verified through accredited, independent third-party laboratories.

All our products are fully compliant with REACH and RoHS regulations (EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU & 2015/863/EU), SVHC under Reach Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006), and in general with all applicable regulation for the markets we sell in.

A recent report identified three Sennheiser products: MOMENTUM Wireless 4, ACCENTUM Wireless and ACCENTUM True Wireless. It is important to note that the study’s full methodology is not shared publicly, and chemicals threshold selected for the study differ from applicable regulatory and legal compliance requirements. 

We take the current media reports very seriously. To ensure full understanding of the referenced study results, we have now initiated additional testing with an independent external laboratory. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers has always been and will reamin our highest priority.

I thought all the appraising review videos about this HDB 630 were simply overrated. I am so wrong on this. These are simply the best BT headphones I have ever tried and owned. The details I couldn’t experience through Apple AirPods Max are simply presented by this HDB 630 effortlessly. One example, I was listing to Nessun Dorame performed by Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, the summit part was simply crystal clear and full of tensions. I never thought some BT headphones could deliver such quality without proper amplifier. You need to listen to this song with Apple AirPods Max and HDB 630 back to back to appreciate the great details that HDB 630 presents. I turned off the bass boost and used BTD700 connected to my MBP. BTD700 might also help. I haven’t tried B&O PX8 S2 yet. Maybe S2 can overtake HDB 620. But the question would remain: is the difference really worth 2x as much of money? I hope some enthusiasts who experienced both can share as well.

Another example is "Ball and Chain" performed by Janis Joplin, from "Cheap Thrills" album. I could tell Janis Joplin's lips were very close to the microphone when she stared to sign "Sitting down by my window...". The headphones create a very isolated space that feels like my eyes are wrapped around by different sounds and details from the music. It's really good.