The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones offer excellent audio, ANC

The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones promise full-bodied sound with dynamic bass, and support for hi-res audio. They’re great for private listening at home and, thanks to “supercharged” active noise cancelling (ANC), for on-the-go wear as well. I spent months listening to them in all settings (yes, even on a plane!) to help you decide if they’re worth the investment.

What to know about the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones

The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones come in Black, White, and Denim. They have the same 42mm transducer as their predecessor. With Hi-Res Audio certification, Snapdragon Sound technology, and Bluetooth audio codec support up to aptX Lossless, you can expect clear and dynamic sound. There’s also improved ANC, sound customization in the companion app, and even a user-replaceable battery. These headphones are a solid option for serious listeners.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless vs Momentum 4 Wireless

Here’s a quick comparison of these new headphones versus the previous generation model.

A gorgeous look: the denim finish is a standout

My honest first reaction when I unboxed these headphones was letting out an enthusiastic “ooh!” The Denim finish of my review sample (simple dark blue for the headphones, a Denim look with the case) is absolutely lovely. It’s a nice departure from the usual black, white, and silver, and looks both elegant yet also casual.

Despite being smaller than the case that comes with the previous generation Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, the hard case for these headphones is still rather larger, as are the earcups themselves. If you’re bringing these along for air travel, keep in mind that you will need to dedicate significant space in your bag for them. The cans have a smooth, hard outer finish, while the plush cups feel nice on my ears. The band is adjustable so you can extend or collapse to fit. With double the internal sensors, they purport to offer better on-head detection.

They aren’t overly heavy. I comfortably wore them outdoors while going for walks and while working in a coffee shop. I also wore them for a flight and had no issues with pressure or discomfort for the entire duration.

Operation and basic usability

Operation is simple with a physical button for power that you can also press and hold for Bluetooth pairing. There’s also Google Fast Pair for quick connection to Android devices. One advantage with the big earcups is that you can tap or swipe the right cup in every direction to control playback and volume, answer/end calls, and turn on transparency mode. You can even spread/pinch to adjust the level of transparency. I usually prefer physical buttons, finding touch sensitivity finicky with a lot of headphones and earbuds. But you don’t have to search for the right part of the cup or fidget for the right angle with these: it’s super easy to use.

I love that they come with a USB-C as well as a 3.5mm analog audio cable for wired listening. I also appreciate features like smart pause that pauses audio when you remove the headphones from your ears and resumes when you put them back on. The option to choose 15, 30, or 60 minute timeframes for auto shut-off is useful, too. If you pack them away and forget to power down, the battery won’t be dead the next time you put them on.

Sound quality is fantastic

When listening to music at home and on the go, the bass really kicks with these headphones, providing a fully immersive experience. Listening to Maroon 5’s “Harder to Breathe” on SiriusXM while out for a walk, the bass drops pumped through my ears. It gives a concert feel. While listening to Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off,” the bass pounds, too. That’s especially (and expectedly) with the Bass boost feature turned on. If you like music with heavy bass, these headphones will meet your needs.

Overall, sound quality is great. The benchmark track I use for all my headphones and earbuds reviews is Radiohead’s “Creep.” The singer’s vocals shine, instruments distinct in the background. When the bass kicks in, once again, that’s when these headphones excel.

Spatial audio and head tracking

You get Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, and Head Tracking. Spatial audio provides a truly enveloping experience. Listening to a podcast on my walk, it was like I was there, listening from the audience as they spoke on stage live. It’s a marked difference when listening to the same podcast from a pair of wireless earbuds, even ones with spatial audio support.

With Spatial Audio tracks from Apple Music, I went back in time to a song that was used everywhere for audio demos back in the early 2000s: Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me.” I listened to a recorded live performance that was available. Not only did it take me back to the days of walking trade shows, it gave me goosebumps. Her vocal tone, instruments, and piano shined through with wonderful clarity. I listened from another pair of headphones in a similar class to compare. Audio was clear and pronounced, too. But there was more of an echo-y versus natural feel. It was like being in a big auditorium or bathroom with the other pair versus sitting front row at an intimate concert with the Momentum 5s.

Turning on head tracking while listening to tunes in a coffee shop, it works superbly. It’s kind of neat to watch the app while listening with this feature on. A circle rotates to advise where your head is facing compared to the source and where the sound is louder.

Going wired for high-res

I switched sources from my iPhone 17 Pro to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and connected via the USB-C cable. In settings, I adjusted the audio mode to Hi-Res lossless at 24-bit/96kHz, which that phone supports. I listened to some sample tracks from HDtracks.com and it was sublime. A sample of Pink Floyd’s “Money” pulled me right into the song. Instruments sounded like they were playing not just from left and right, but as though they were in distinct spots around me. Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” was like a rock concert for my ears. There’s a perfect balance of instruments and vocals. If you have a device that supports higher-res audio and the appropriate subscription tier with a service, these headphones can unlock the best possible sound.

ANC performance is a highlight

The “supercharged” ANC is said to be three times more effective at reducing distracting noises than the previous generation model, according to Sennheiser. They have double the number of microphones dedicated to ANC with four per side, while transparency has doubled. This means you should get reduced noise on an airplane and more natural voice quality on calls.

During my listening sessions, ANC worked impressively well. It was appreciated in a New York City hotel room where a loud fan made it challenging for me to focus. I could comfortably watch a TV show on my laptop without being distracted by the noise. On my flight home, they were fantastic in cancelling out the hum of the airplane engine as well. Noise cancelling worked equally well for outdoor walks while listening to a podcast. These are easily one of the best wireless headphones I have tested this year for noise cancelling. I’d put them on the same level as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2s.

I found that adaptive ANC sounds most natural. If you use custom, it can be pretty aggressive, but ideal when you want to silence as much of the world around you in a louder setting. Transparency mode is pleasant, letting some sounds in so you can communicate or maintain a level of situational awareness. Anti-wind performance works well also, great for city dwellers who do a lot of outdoor walking.

Personalize the sound and operation with the app

Use the Smart Control Plus app to adjust settings, selecting from the eight-band EQ and bespoke presets, and leveraging the intelligent Sound Personalization engine. You can also turn on spatial audio with head-tracking, the first of many firmware updates available to the headphones, with more to come.

You can make other adjustments, too, including choosing from adaptive or custom noise control, using a slider to get to your desired level of transparency. With Sound Zones, apply different sound settings in specific zones. Maybe you want a fully immersive experience when relaxing at home, but more transparency at the gym, for example. You can set and forget it so the headphones auto-switch instead of you having to fiddle with the app.

Boasting Bluetooth 5.4 out of the box, a future firmware release will upgrade them to Bluetooth 6.0 for more reliable connectivity.

Extra-long battery life and replaceability

You can get up to 57 hour per charge from the 700mAh battery, even with ANC on, which is impressive. Even more impressive is that you can easily replace the battery if needed with a Phillips head screwdriver. This gives you confidence that these headphones are built to last.

Should you get the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless?

I am really impressed with the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless headphones. They’re perfect travel and commuting headphones, but great to wear all day at work, too. They are more expensive than other headphones in a similar class, but check every box. Sound quality: fantastic. Noise cancelling: wonderful. Battery life: great. I struggle to find anything to criticize about these headphones. Given the inclusion of a USB-C-to-USB-C and 2.5mm-to-3.5mm cable for wired listening as well as Hi-Res audio support, these headphones are for those who truly care about sound quality and are willing to pay a premium for it.

If you fall into that category and value ANC as much as well, these won’t disappoint. For a solid balance of sound quality and noise cancelling, they’re among the best over-ear wireless headphones you can buy at this price point right now.

Find the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless in three finishes, Denim, White, and Black, at Best Buy Canada.