Sennheiser has focused heavily on the consumer space in recent years, and it has done this again this year with the release of the Momentum 5 headphones. Now it’s the true wireless’ turn to be updated, with the new Momentum True Wireless 5 launched just a few weeks ago.
It’s been over two years since we have seen an update to Sennheiser’s true wireless range, and to be honest, that seems about right in a space where year-on-year improvements are minimal at best.
As a quick recap, I found the Momentum True Wireless 4 to be the best-sounding true wireless earbuds I’ve heard that were not attached to audiophile-level pricing. Their comfort though, did limit their use.
On the other hand, the Accentum True Wireless offered much better comfort, but its sound quality didn’t quite match the more premium Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds.
This year, Sennheiser has combined the two with improved high-end sound from earbuds that have a very similar shape and comfort to the Accentum TW and I think they could be onto a winner.
So what are the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5?
The key features of the new MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 are:
The big-ticket item is the third one that Sennheiser lists above. Improved comfort, stability, and portability. The sound on the Momentum TW 4 was very impressive, and even if they’d brought that same sound quality to the new TW 5 design, that would have been enough. They’ve definitely brought more to the table though.
The new Momentum TW 5 sit comfortably in the ear, with, as you can see below, a design extremely reminiscent of the Accentum TW. The Momentum TW4 were basically stuffed down the ear canal with a very small fin to secure them.
The new Momentum TW5 may not feel quite as secure, but they are magnitudes more comfortable than the MM TW4. They are not designed for heavy exercise, so you don’t really need that super secure fit – they won’t fall out doing everyday things such as walking, jogging to catch the train, etc but I may question them if you are doing a fast run or complicated, dynamic CrossFit workout.
They do have an IP54 dust and weather protection so they will be fine in most everyday conditions, but look elsewhere if looking for a new gym pair. That said, some people still use these at the gym, especially if you are not planning strenuous or dynamic workouts.
The outside of the earbuds houses capacitive touch buttons that work extremely well, with customisable functionality for single, double, and triple taps, as well as tap-and-hold.
The Sennheiser Momentum TW 5 houses 7mm diameter TrueResponse dynamic transducers, which, based on the basic specs of the TW 4, are the same as the previous generation.
The TW5 improves sound quality through software and processing changes, and now supports Bluetooth 6.0 along with the following profiles and codecs: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, SBC, AAC, aptX™, aptX™ Adaptive/Lossless.
Although there is support for all of these codecs, not all devices, phones or otherwise, support all of these codecs. For most people, to get full support, you will need to buy something like the Sennheiser BTD 700 Bluetooth Dongle and plug it into your smartphone. While it’s currently on sale for $59 with free shipping from Sennheiser, I doubt you will notice all that much difference – this is for the audiophiles who can discern (and care about) these small differences.
The soundstage sounded extremely accurate with really good separation between channels. At the lower end, the bass is smoother and deeper, without the bleeding or stuffiness you hear in some earbuds.
As is the case with most decent earbuds, the mids are really good and while they dominate the sound in most songs, they are extremely crisp and sound spot on. The highs are even crisper and offer a lightness to the sound and depending on what you prefer, this can be extended or minimised well using your favourite EQ app.
Personally, I use the built-in EQ in the PowerAmp app because I can tweak quite a few settings. The Sennheiser SmartControlPlus app has some basic EQ settings but they are just ok – I dare say that if you are buying these earbuds you want premium sound and to perfect that you should be using a better, more detailed EQ app.
The sound is so good that I can say that they are the best I’ve heard in a long time. It seems that even though the hardware is at a level of stagnation (though that is not a bad thing, it just shows that at this stage its where technology has currently peaked), the bar is constantly being raised when it comes to headphones and earbuds. This seems to be due to software enhancements, AI noise cancellation and improved control over codecs and profiles.
I can comfortably say these are better than the current best AirPods for sound quality.
The noise cancellation on the TW4 was good but not great and it felt like they relied a lot upon the tight (and uncomfortable) fit in the ears. The Momentum TW 5 are less of a tight fit in the ear but have better noise cancellation.
The noise cancellation was so good that apparently my wife was screaming at me from another room and I didn’t hear her… so that’s good? You won’t have issues focusing on the music wherever you are when you use the noise cancellation with these earbuds.
The TW 5 also sport a Transparency Mode; it sounds a bit fake, but it does what it is meant to do and is a definite improvement over the TW4.
The SmartControlPlus app is where you will set up all the customisation of your earbuds, including noise cancellation control, immersive audio, EQ (a very basic EQ), find lost earbuds, perform a fit test to get the best fit for your ears, and control what the capacitive buttons on the earbuds control.
Sennheiser earbuds have been my go-to earbuds for quality audio for a long time, with the Accentum TW for longer listening sessions and the Momentum TW 4 for when I wanted better audio quality. The new Momentum True Wireless 5 marry the best of both, delivering long-lasting comfort and a secure fit, along with an impressive sound quality that is even better than before.
The sound quality is impressive, and so is the comfort. If you want the best sound quality from consumer-grade earbuds on the market, without sacrificing comfort, then these are for you. If you are spending around 0 for a set of earbuds, you should look no further.
MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 are available in five metallic colourways: Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim and Lavender, with an RRP of AU9 at au.sennheiser-hearing.com and JB Hi-Fi stores nationwide and online. From 1 October, MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 will be available across more selected authorised retailers nationwide.
Scott is our resident open technology expert. If you can mod it, or want to use it your way, Scott has probably done it. From Laptops to phones, headphones and game consoles, he’s played with it and wants to see the next generation.
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