Sennheiser Momentum MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Review
Sennheiser's latest earbuds have best-in-class battery and ANC, but our testing reveals a shocking weakness in sound quality. Find out if the trade-off is worth it.
The 30-Second Version
Great battery, top-tier ANC, but shockingly mediocre sound for a Sennheiser. The ANC scores in the 95th percentile, but sound is in the 4th. Only worth buying if noise-blocking is your #1 goal and you're okay with average audio.
Overview
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are a feature-packed set of earbuds that promise a lot. They've got future-proof tech like Auracast and LE Audio, killer battery life, and ANC that's in the top 5% of all earbuds we've tested. On paper, they're a powerhouse. But there's a catch, and it's a big one. For a Sennheiser product, the sound quality score in our database is shockingly low. It lands in the 4th percentile, which means almost everything else sounds better. That's a tough pill to swallow for a brand known for audio excellence.
Performance
Performance is a mixed bag. The ANC is genuinely excellent, automatically adjusting to your surroundings and blocking out a ton of noise. Battery life is also a standout, with 7.5 hours in the buds and a case that pushes total playtime to 30 hours. That's in the 95th percentile. The mics and connectivity are solid, too. The low point is the sound. Despite Sennheiser's marketing about 'artist-intended sound,' our data shows these don't deliver the rich, detailed audio you'd expect. They're also not the most comfortable, scoring only in the 35th percentile there.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Adaptive ANC is top-tier and works brilliantly. 96th
- Battery life is exceptional, with a very fast-charging case. 81th
- Build quality feels premium and durable. 78th
- Packed with future-proof tech like Auracast and Bluetooth 5.4. 73th
Cons
- Sound quality is surprisingly weak for a Sennheiser product. 6th
- Comfort is below average for true wireless earbuds.
- The charging case is still bulky compared to competitors.
- You need a firmware update to unlock key features like LE Audio.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | Sports and Exercise |
| Ear Tips | Extra small, Large, Medium, Small |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Size | 7 |
| Freq Min | 5 |
| Freq Max | 21000 |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 7.5 |
| Charge Time | 1.5 |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 30 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | No |
| Bone Conduction | No |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant |
Value & Pricing
At $180, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the Sennheiser name and some excellent features like ANC and battery. But if the core job of an earbud is to sound great, these fail that test. You can get better sound for less money from other brands. The value is only there if ANC and battery life are your absolute top priorities, and you're willing to compromise on audio fidelity.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to the Sony WF-1000XM5, the Sennheisers have better battery life and a more rugged build, but the Sonys absolutely destroy them on sound quality and comfort. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another audiophile-focused competitor that offers much richer sound at a similar price. Even budget options like the CMF Buds Pro 2 offer a more balanced performance for a fraction of the cost. The MOMENTUM 4's main advantage is its suite of future-proof wireless tech, but that's a niche benefit for most people.
| Spec | Sennheiser Momentum MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Technics EAH-AZ80 Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony - WF-1000XM6 Best Truly Wireless Noise | Jabra Evolve2 Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-C MS Earbuds with USB-C | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | in-ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear | In-Ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 7.5 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Case Battery Hours | 30 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 25 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | Water-Resistant |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser Momentum MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 | 96.1 | 64 | 81.4 | 6.3 | 49.6 | 69.2 | 77.7 | 73.3 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds 2nd Gen Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.2 | 69.6 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Compare | 82.6 | 99.9 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 69.6 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 Best Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Compare | 82.6 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.1 | 92.1 | 69.2 | 98.5 | 97.1 |
| Jabra Evolve2 Evolve2 Buds Compare | 82.6 | 98.9 | 99.3 | 88.3 | 94.6 | 93.2 | 97.2 | 98.1 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 92.1 | 91.5 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
Common Questions
Q: How's the real-world battery life?
It's excellent. You'll get about 7.5 hours from the earbuds, and the case extends that to a total of 30 hours, which is among the best we've tested.
Q: Can you customize the sound?
Yes, there are multiple ways via the app, including a guided hearing test for a personalized profile, a 5-band EQ, and pre-set sound modes.
Q: Do they support lossless audio?
They advertise lossless audio capability, but this requires specific compatible devices and codecs, and our data shows the speaker drivers don't make the most of it.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you're an audiophile or just want the best sound for your money. Look at the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Technics AZ100 instead. Also, if you have smaller ears or prioritize all-day comfort, these aren't for you—their comfort score is well below average.
Verdict
Buy these only if you're a commuter or traveler who needs best-in-class noise cancellation and all-day battery, and you don't really care about having immersive, detailed sound. For everyone else—especially music lovers—there are better-sounding options at this price point.