The Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app gives you extensive control over the Momentum 5 Wireless headphones. You can adjust active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, the eight-band equalizer, Bluetooth connection settings, and Dolby Atmos. The app also lets you create location-based sound profiles—for example, automatically enabling maximum ANC when you arrive at the office.
On-headphone controls are handled through a responsive touch panel on the right ear cup. The controls are simple and reliable: tap to pause or resume playback, swipe to adjust the volume or skip tracks, and double-tap to switch between ANC and transparency modes. During testing, the touch controls worked smoothly without creating any frustration.
The Momentum 5 Wireless uses eight microphones for active noise cancellation, and its ANC performance is very good. It effectively reduces the rumble of public transportation, helps create a quieter environment in busy cafés, and adds privacy in shared offices. If you are upgrading from basic noise-canceling headphones, you will likely be impressed. However, users moving from Sony or Bose may notice that the Momentum 5 does not create quite the same near-silent seal as the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd generation).
Call quality is also solid. The wind-reduction microphones kept my voice clear and prominent during conversations, although call performance is not the primary reason to choose these headphones.
We tested the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless with Spotify at both its highest and lowest streaming quality settings over Wi-Fi and mobile data. We also played high-resolution tracks from Qobuz and digital music from a personal library. Regardless of the source, the headphones produced a smooth, polished, and expressive sound.
The Momentum 5 Wireless is not designed to deliver an aggressively analytical or strictly neutral listening experience. Instead, it presents music in a comfortable and forgiving way, making lower-quality recordings easier to enjoy. Higher-resolution sources still reveal additional detail and refinement. However, if you regularly stream music at the lowest quality—or do not care about audio resolution—spending $399 on premium headphones may not be worthwhile.
From Olivia Rodrigo and Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band to Wu-Tang Clan and The Police, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 handled a wide range of genres with ease. Its sound signature is warm, relaxed, and inviting rather than neutral or clinical, making these wireless headphones especially enjoyable for extended listening sessions.
Photo: Chris Haslam
Source: www.wired.com