Sennheiser launched its newest Momentum 4 Wi-fi comes armed with 60 hours of battery life, a sleeker design, and multipoint Bluetooth assist. The over-ear headphones even undercut the highest fashions in value. I’ve summarized simply how good the brand new headphones are in a evaluate after spending a couple of days with it.
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Good
- Glorious sound high quality
- Extremely-long battery life (60 hours)
- Efficient ANC
- Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity
- Excessive carrying consolation
Dangerous
- Most components are made out of plastic
- Controls are a bit sophisticated
- No 3D audio assist
- 2.5mm as a substitute of three.5mm cable
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 in a nutshell
With the brand new Momentum 4, Sennheiser has aligned itself a bit extra to present tendencies and launched a superb pair of headphones within the course of. Slapped with a sticker value of $349.95, the brand new Momentum affords excellent sound high quality, efficient and adaptive ANC, and an ultra-long battery lifetime of 60 hours. There isn’t a lack of options and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity can be included.
Nonetheless, the Momentum 4 lacks the worth we have come to count on from its predecessors. Metallic parts have been changed by plastic, and the design has been tailored to go well with present tendencies. Different annoying elements are the weird 2.5 mm jack, robust wind noise in transparency mode, and a lower than optimum sound high quality of the microphones.
Thus, the Momentum 4 Wi-fi is a excellent pair of Bluetooth headphones, however they don’t fairly match Sennheiser’s stylish picture. The truth that the producer is shifting manufacturing to China may additionally upset the model’s followers and is the reason for a few of my criticisms. That is just too dangerous!
Design & consolation: Easier with extra plastic
The Momentum 4 Wi-fi resemble its predecessor solely very barely. It’s because Sennheiser bade farewell to the two-column metallic earpieces and changed them with plastic. Whereas the headscarf is roofed in an elegant material, the ear cups are fabricated from synthetic leather-based. Weighing in at 293 grams, the headphones include a carrying case.
What I preferred:
- Excessive carrying consolation
- Easier design than its predecessor
- Very fast reactions to enter
What I disliked:
- Loads of plastic for the value
- Operation is just not properly defined
NextPit reader Tim already complained concerning the new design within the feedback part beneath the earlier design leak for the Momentum 4 Wi-fi – and I’ve to half agree with him. Personally, I preferred the sleeker look, which is extra according to the opposite presently obtainable fashions at on-line shops. However, the Momentum 4 lacks character and, a lot worse, high quality.
That is as a result of the Momentum 4 is made solely of plastic, which is a disgrace at a value of over $350. The factor that bothers me essentially the most could be the headscarf, since headphones are recognized to expertise essentially the most quantity of stress the place this half is anxious. Adjusting the dimensions appeared to be a comparatively clean and steady expertise, however I’m nonetheless nervous concerning the knowledge of utilizing plastic in the long term. Metallic would subsequently be a much more applicable choice.
One cause for this could possibly be hidden within the specs sheet that Sennheiser despatched us. There, it states that the Momentum 4 is “Designed in Germany, Made in China”. It is a very curious factor to say, as Sennheiser said on its web site that its merchandise could be produced at three places: within the U.S., Germany and Romania. Apparently, the producer has moved the manufacturing of its new headphones to China. I’ve already requested Sennheiser for a press release on this matter and am nonetheless ready for a reply.
Nonetheless, the carrying consolation could be very excessive. The brand new material component on the headscarf not solely jogs my memory of the charging case on the Momentum True Wi-fi 3 I reviewed the opposite day, it additionally feels good. The headphones match completely on my ears and are usually not uncomfortable even after a number of hours of wear and tear.
Nonetheless, I felt fairly confused when it got here to working it, which labored through the precise earpiece on the Momentum 4. There’s a temporary introduction by way of a sticker that depicted quantity, ahead and backward in addition to begin/cease controls. Nonetheless, I needed to discover out for myself that I may deactivate the noise transparency mode through a double-tap gesture and that the battery degree could be introduced by a press-and-hold gesture. I nonetheless have no idea how you can management voice assistants, as such a characteristic was promised within the specs sheet.
App & comfort features
You possibly can management many options of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wi-fi through the Good Management app. Your smartphone stays linked through Bluetooth even if you end up utilizing different gadgets. The consolation options embody sensible wearer recognition, a mode that lets your individual voice by way of, sound zones, equalizers, a sound examine to create your individual equalizers, and others.
What I preferred:
- Fairly companion app that serves as a management middle
- Multipoint Bluetooth with as much as two gadgets
- Wise consolation features
What I disliked:
- No 3D audio or different “wow issue” options
- Equalizer nonetheless doesn’t perform within the pre-production mannequin
Sennheiser’s Good Management app is likely one of the nicest companion apps I do know. With the Momentum 4 Wi-fi, it as soon as once more turns into the management middle with which you’ll even management its connection to different gadgets. Your smartphone will all the time stay linked through the low-energy Bluetooth profile, so you possibly can management features even when utilizing different gadgets. The equalization settings are imagined to be transferred within the course of.
Sadly, adjusting the equalizers had no impact on our evaluate unit. Nonetheless, it’s a pre-production mannequin and I assume the issues will likely be solved by the point the headset is formally launched. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 didn’t have such points. Right here, each the equalizers and creating customized sound profiles through choosing settings that sound higher to you labored flawlessly.
What the Good Management app does very properly is in managing Bluetooth gadgets. It’s because Multipoint Bluetooth truly solely works with two gadgets – however you possibly can simply swap between further gadgets through the app. This works properly, and something that retains me away from annoying Bluetooth menus within the working system is a optimistic level in my books!
As consolation options go, Sennheiser locations an clever put on detection in entrance. In comparison with different headphones, that is primarily rather more responsive and reacts nearly instantaneously while you take away the Momentum 4 out of your ears. Along with the automated pause perform, the headphones mechanically flip off after quarter-hour of inactivity. It is a perform you can deactivate through the app.
Additionally coming into acquainted territory with different Sennheiser headphones are the Sound Zones, which let you automate settings based mostly on location. For instance: I need to reply to my colleagues’ questions within the workplace and the Momentum 4 Wi-fi mechanically prompts the transparency mode on web site. It is a sensible characteristic, however one which requires you to completely share your location.
Nonetheless, when attempting out the Momentum 4 Wi-fi, I discovered it missing a sure wow impact total, which could be discovered within the AirPods Max or the WH-1000XM5 from Sony. Each fashions provide 3D audio that works through head monitoring. Such comparable options are usually not but obtainable from Sennheiser.
Sound & ANC: It is getting near Sennheiser territory!
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 options 42mm dynamic drivers that cowl a formidable frequency vary of 6 hertz to 22 kilohertz. SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX adaptive are supported codecs, that are then transmitted through Bluetooth 5.2. Adaptive ANC can be on board, which you’ll combine with the transparency mode manually if desired.
What I preferred:
What I disliked:
- 2.5mm jack
- Robust wind noise in transparency mode
Even when studying the technical specs aloud, Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 sounds good. The high-frequency vary ought to open up a large sound spectrum, which you’ll modify to your preferences utilizing the intuitive sound profiles. Though the equalizer perform didn’t work but within the evaluate, it sounded convincing in the course of the preliminary listening exams.
The Momentum 4 sounds clear and punchy throughout all frequencies. Which means you possibly can understand clear trebles that aren’t drowned out by muddy bass. On the identical time, the bass penetrates sufficient to find that undiscovered organ in your cerebellum that releases glad hormones at low frequencies. The Momentum 4 sounds implausible and could be performed utilizing high-quality audio materials.
For this, you employ the Bluetooth codecs aptX and aptX Adaptive beneath Android, that are supported by most smartphones. Apple customers need to belief that AAC is adequate or to take the wired listening route. Sadly, Sennheiser takes its cue from Bose right here and put in a 2.5mm jack on the headphones. The matching cable, which ends at 3.5mm on the opposite finish, is included. Nonetheless, using this moderately uncommon connection continues to be annoying. That is particularly in order the cables are often extraordinarily skinny and don’t actually look sturdy.
The ANC of the Momentum 4 is on par with the Sony WH-1000XM4 for my part. Ambient noise is filtered out evenly, so there are not any dropouts when sudden seems like automotive horns or clapping happen. The noise-canceling is adaptive, which implies that it actively adjusts to your ambient noise.
If that is an excessive amount of for you, you possibly can combine it with a transparency mode. That is instantaneous sufficient to provide the impression that you do not have headphones on. Solely wind noises have an effect on the transparency mode, as a result of they’re transmitted to your ears as a scratching sound.
Your voice can be forwarded while you activate the sidetone mode. What sounds unusual is ingenious in observe. As a result of speaking on the telephone with ANC headphones is unnatural and exhausting with out such a characteristic. With out actively wanting it, you’ll in any other case speak louder as you attempt to combat in opposition to the ANC. In order for you precisely that, you possibly can regulate the power of the voice passthrough once more.
The built-in microphones are properly suited to making calls. Throughout a dialog on the open highway, the opposite social gathering may hear me very clearly. Nonetheless, the headphones needed to admit defeat to the microphones in my MacBook Air within the audio check. Hear for your self!
Battery: Extra is hardly potential
The Momentum 4 Wi-fi lasts for a whopping 60 hours with lively music playback enabled. The producer specified this as “together with an iPhone” and “at medium quantity”. As well as, there’s Fast-Charging assist and wired connectivity, the place the headphones can be utilized even with an empty battery.
What I preferred:
What I disliked:
Within the Fast Charging part, I will summarize my opinion of the Momentum 4 Wi-fi’ battery for you: 60 hours of battery life is sensible after spending a couple of days reviewing it, and that is actually lengthy lasting. For those who take heed to music for eight hours each workday, you may nonetheless have 20 hours of battery life left for the weekend.
Due to Fast-Charging, you possibly can recharge the battery for as much as six hours’ of battery life inside ten minutes. Alternatively, you can too use the headphones when it runs out of juice.
Extra is just not potential!
Remaining verdict
After reviewing the Momentum 4 Wi-fi, I’m really torn. The headphones provide glorious sound high quality, nice ANC, and nice battery life. It is a clear advice for anybody on the lookout for dependable and high-quality headphones. It absolutely deserves a spot as a candidate in my record of the perfect Bluetooth headphones.
Nonetheless, the fourth technology of the Momentum wi-fi collection additionally represents a turning level. That is as a result of Sennheiser is reducing the value a bit, however forgoing high-quality supplies on important parts of the headphones. Not that different producers have not adopted this pattern – however they don’t seem to be Sennheiser. An organization that received its buyer base with high-quality merchandise ought to worth these options, as a result of prospects do exactly that.
How sturdy the Momentum 4 Wi-fi are can’t be judged inside a brief time period spent with it. Nonetheless, with China because the manufacturing nation and the liberal use of plastic, this mixture leaves a bland aftertaste. In spite of everything, what seems like Sennheiser feels extra like many generic Chi-Fi headphones with out branding than ever earlier than. And that is a disgrace in case you worth simply that little little bit of luxurious …
… if not, the Momentum 4 Wi-fi is superior – I give it 4.5 stars! 😌
