Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Review: Premium sound and latest technology!
Sennheiser has set its sights on the summit of audio excellence with the launch of the Momentum True Wireless 4. Positioned as the pinnacle of their in-ear headphone lineup, these premium earphones are designed to deliver an unparalleled listening experience. We had the opportunity to put these top-end headphones to the test.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Video Review
| Specs | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 |
| Form Factor | In Ear |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C, LE Audio, Auracast |
| Audio Resolution | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive/Lossless, LC3 |
| ANC | Yes |
| Speakers | 7mm, TrueResponse dynamic |
| Maximum working range | 10m |
| Freq Response | 5Hz - 20kHz |
| Impedance | 32Ω |
| Microphone | 3 mics per earbud |
| IP rating | IP54 |
| Battery | 820mAh (charging case) |
| Headphone battery life | 7.5/7.0 (ANC) h |
| Battery life with charging case | 30h |
| Wireless charger | Yes |
| USB charging port | USB-C |
| Dimensions | 70.1 × 44.6 × 34.8 mm |
| Weight | 66.4 g (charging case), 6.2 g (one earphone) |
| Color | Black Graphite, White Silver, Black Copper |
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Design
Sennheiser stays true to its design philosophy with the Momentum True Wireless 4, maintaining a familiar aesthetic that closely resembles its predecessors. The fourth generation shares such a striking resemblance to its forerunners that distinguishing between them could easily lead to confusion. The fabric-covered charging case, a hallmark of the Momentum series, has garnered a certain cult status among users.
Despite subtle differences in color, the charging case remains unchanged in size and material, attributed to a larger battery capacity.
Notably, the first time, the Momentum True Wireless 4 earphones are not only splash-proof (IPX4), but also dust-proof (IP54). However, their relatively larger size may pose a fitting challenge for users with smaller ears, although inclusion of silicone fins enhances stability, particularly for larger ear sizes.
A minor alteration in the design of the silicone plugs, transitioning to a single-piece construction with an integrated perforated grid, reflects Sennheiser’s attention to detail. Although this change may not significantly impact sound quality, it likely influences production costs.
Spec-wise, each earphone weighs 6.2 grams, while the charging case weighs 66.4 grams. The charging case supports both USB-C and Qi-standard wireless charging, providing users with convenient charging options.
Comfort
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 stands out for its exceptional comfort. Despite being larger and heavier compared to some competitors, the MTW4 remains remarkably comfortable for everyday wear, thanks to the inclusion of silicone attachments and ear wings. Finding the right combination ensures a secure fit, allowing users to enjoy extended listening sessions without discomfort. In fact, during testing, the MTW4 proved to be stable even during light sporting activities such as jogging.
Control
Operated via touch surfaces on the outside, the earphones respond promptly to commands with a light touch, ensuring effortless control over playback and other features.
During testing, these controls have proven to be highly responsive, executing commands swiftly and accurately with a light touch. Sennheiser opted to maintain the control scheme of its predecessor, the MTW3, for the new generation, ensuring familiarity and ease of use for users transitioning to the latest model.
On the right earbud, a single tap initiates playback or pauses, while a double tap skips forward to the next track. Tapping three times activates the smartphone’s voice assistant, and holding down the touch surface adjusts the volume. Meanwhile, the left earbud enables transparency mode with a single tap, simultaneously pausing playback (configurable in the app). Double tapping skips back to the previous track, tapping three times activates Active Noise Canceling, and holding a finger on the surface decreases the volume.
Both earbuds provide uniform control over call management, with a single tap accepting an incoming call and a double tap ending or rejecting it. During calls, tapping once deactivates the microphone.
APP
The Sennheiser Smart Control app complements the touch controls, offering extensive customization options. Users can assign various functions to each touch gesture, tailoring the controls to their preferences. Additionally, the app facilitates firmware updates, displays battery status, and offers features like “My Sound” for sound adjustment via a 5-band equalizer and presets for enhanced bass or speech intelligibility.
The app also introduces “Sound Personalization,” which conducts a hearing test to create an individual audio profile, amplifying frequencies where the user may have weaknesses in hearing. Noise-canceling settings and transparency mode intensity can be adjusted, and a fit test evaluates earbud seal effectiveness.
Unique to the MTW4 is the ability to create sound zones, allowing users to customize settings like ANC and equalizer for specific locations. Up to 20 zones can be created, automatically activating preset configurations when in the designated areas. Additionally, users can adjust audio resolution settings, choosing between aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, or low-latency modes.
Other configurable settings include automatic call acceptance and language preference for announcement texts, further enhancing the user experience.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Sound quality
When it comes to sound reproduction, Sennheiser delivers nothing short of excellence with the Momentum True Wireless 4. Drawing on proven technology and expertise, the MTW4 offers a sound profile that is balanced, detailed, and immersive. Unlike some other models that rely on exaggerated bass to create impact, the MTW4 presents a natural and nuanced soundstage. Even at lower volumes, the deep bass remains present and well-defined, ensuring a rich audio experience across various genres.
The precision, differentiation, and separation of highs, mids, and lows are particularly impressive, with each element of the music presented with clarity and depth. There’s no blurring or distortion, even when the volume is cranked up. Instruments and vocals are beautifully rendered, with every nuance and detail highlighted.
Moreover, the sound signature of the MTW4 is characterized by a warm tuning that enhances listening comfort over extended periods. There are no harsh highs or annoying hisses, making for a fatigue-free listening experience.
In terms of sound quality, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 ranks among the best in its class, setting a high bar for competitors to match. Whether you’re a discerning audiophile or a casual listener, the MTW4 offers a premium audio experience that’s sure to impress.
Noise canceling
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 features active adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) that provides a comprehensive reduction in ambient noise across all frequencies, dynamically adjusting to the surrounding environment. While the ANC effectively attenuates low frequencies, higher frequencies, such as voices, may still be faintly audible, albeit at a reduced volume. Importantly, the ANC implementation in the MTW4 remains free from any intrusive noise artifacts, ensuring a distraction-free listening experience.
To further enhance the ANC performance, the MTW4 offers an anti-wind function that can be activated via the accompanying app. This feature minimizes wind noise by deactivating the outer microphone, though it may slightly compromise ANC effectiveness, particularly in the attenuation of medium frequencies.
Switching between ANC and its deactivation while playing music may result in subtle differences in sound. Without ANC, the MTW4 produces a slightly fuller and warmer sound, whereas with ANC activated, the sound is perceived as slightly brighter. Nevertheless, these differences are minimal and only noticeable in direct comparison.
The transparency mode of the MTW4 can be finely adjusted using the Smart Control app, allowing users to tailor the level of environmental sound transmission to their preferences and surroundings. This mode offers a natural reproduction of ambient sounds without introducing echoes or harshness, providing wearers with awareness of their surroundings.
However, in silent environments, a faint background noise may still be audible, a characteristic present in Sennheiser’s previous models like the MTW2. While this noise may be noticeable during quiet moments in music or podcasts, it typically fades into the background during regular music playback and does not detract from the overall listening experience.
Battery life
Sennheiser promises up to 7.5 hours of battery life with ANC disabled, and a maximum of 7 hours with ANC enabled. When combined with the charging case, the MTW4 provides a total of up to 30 hours of playback time.
Despite a slight reduction in the size of the battery within the charging case, from 950mAh in the previous model to 820mAh in the MTW4, Sennheiser has managed to increase battery life by 30 minutes compared to its predecessor. Additionally, users can enjoy the convenience of quick charging, with just 8 minutes of charging via USB-C providing an additional hour of music playback.
The versatility of the charging case is further enhanced by its compatibility with both USB-C and Qi wireless charging. While a USB-C cable is included in the package for wired charging, users interested in wireless charging will need to acquire a separate Qi charging station.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Conclusion
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 stands out with two prominent strengths: its exceptional sound quality and its adaptability. While the battery life has seen a slight improvement over its predecessors, it’s the incorporation of Bluetooth 5.4 that introduces a range of new software capabilities. However, the full potential of these features may remain untapped for iPhone users until Apple extends support.
In terms of design, the MTW 4 closely resembles its predecessor, the MTW 3, with minimal changes apart from the color options and upgraded IP protection rating. Now boasting both splash-proof (IPX4) and dust-proof (IP54) certification, the MTW 4 offers added durability for various environments.
Choosing between the MTW 4 and the more affordable MTW 3 depends largely on your expectations regarding future Apple support for advanced Bluetooth features. If you believe that Apple will embrace these features within the next couple of years, investing in the MTW 4 may be the more forward-thinking choice.
You can also check out the best-selling True Wireless Earbuds on Amazon:
