sennheiser is entering the highly competitive premium noise-canceling headphone market with its Momentum 4 Wireless, aiming to challenge established leaders like Sony and Bowers & Wilkins. This latest model boasts a blend of performance features and user experience refinements, positioning it as a significant contender for audiophiles and frequent travelers. Our in-depth review details the strengths and weaknesses of the Momentum 4 wireless, specifically the Blanc model, providing a comprehensive assessment for potential buyers navigating a crowded field of options.
Sennheiser is challenging Sony and Bowers & Wilkins in the premium noise-canceling headphone market with the release of its Momentum 4 Wireless. The new headphones deliver a compelling combination of features and performance, positioning them as a strong contender in a competitive space.
Strengths
Table of Contents
- Strengths
- Natural, balanced, and highly defined sound reproduction.
- Perfectly smooth, expansive, and silky highs.
- Excellent soundstage reproduction.
- Relatively effective active noise cancellation.
- Particularly comfortable.
- High-performing hands-free calling.
- Extremely generous battery life.
- Comprehensive controls and features.
- Multiple connection options (multipoint, mini-jack, and USB).
- Weaknesses
- Somewhat average precision in the low frequencies.
- Capricious application that makes navigation difficult (in the version tested).
- Impractical assignment of certain controls on the mechanical button.
- Noise cancellation effectiveness is reduced in the lower frequencies.
- Poor sound performance in passive wired use (headphones off).
- Non-folding design.
- Alternatives
-
Natural, balanced, and highly defined sound reproduction.
-
Perfectly smooth, expansive, and silky highs.
-
Excellent soundstage reproduction.
-
Relatively effective active noise cancellation.
-
Particularly comfortable.
-
High-performing hands-free calling.
-
Extremely generous battery life.
-
Comprehensive controls and features.
-
Multiple connection options (multipoint, mini-jack, and USB).
Weaknesses
-
Somewhat average precision in the low frequencies.
-
-
-
Noise cancellation effectiveness is reduced in the lower frequencies.
-
Poor sound performance in passive wired use (headphones off).
-
Non-folding design.
Advertisement
Overall, the fourth iteration of Sennheiser’s Momentum headphones delivers a strong user experience, earning it high marks. While the headphones excel in many areas – including battery life, call quality, versatility, and features – they aren’t without their drawbacks. Several competitors, such as the Sony WH-1000XM4, the Bose Headphones 700, and the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2, offer more refined sound and active noise cancellation without compromising other features. If those aspects are top priorities, careful consideration is advised before choosing the Momentum 4 Wireless.
Note: The reported price reduction is calculated by comparing the lowest price of the day with the average of the lowest prices practiced by all merchants for the product last month, with security rules to exclude prices from shops with unclear VAT policies (typically in cases of imports from China).
Alternatives
The Sony WH-1000XM4’s striking similarity to the WH-1000XM3 is hard to miss. The earlier model was already remarkably close to perfection, and with minor functional adjustments – often minimal, sometimes significant (like the addition of multipoint Bluetooth connectivity) – the XM4 naturally takes its place as a benchmark for wireless noise-canceling headphones. Potential buyers should be aware that the sound signature leans heavily towards pronounced bass, which may not appeal to all listeners.
Advertisement
