Discover the full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review, covering sound quality, battery life, ANC, and design. Are these the best audiophile wireless earbuds of 2024?
Sennheiser is known to release high-end devices offering a relatively true-to-source sound profile with just the right amount of tuning to appeal to casual listeners and audiophiles. The company Sennheiser shook up the TWS space when it released its original Momentum Bluetooth True Wireless earphones and has steadily iterated since then.
These fourth-generation earbuds promise enhanced active noise cancellation (ANC), improved sound quality, advanced audio codecs, and the latest Bluetooth standard support. But do they still hold up in a fiercely competitive space? We’ve been testing the Momentum True Wireless 4 for over a week, and here’s everything you need to know.
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Design and Comfort: Are the Momentum TW4 Earbuds Built for Everyday Use?
The Momentum True Wireless 4 maintains its predecessors’ elegant, premium aesthetic. The earbuds’ charging case sports a unique fabric-wrapped texture that’s a welcome touch compared to the usual plastic. While the case is extremely well-built and pocketable, it’s a bit bulky at 2.3oz (66.4g).
The earbuds’ weight also seems a bit on the heavier side at 0.2oz (6.2g) each, but we really appreciated the form factor. The extra heft gives a reassuring sense of durability, though. They also sport a premium metallic finish and touch-sensitive buttons.
While the button design may appear simple, its responsiveness and customization options make it exceptionally user-friendly. You can easily assign specific actions to the buttons through Sennheiser’s Smart Control app. We were able to use the earbuds for a couple of hours without any discomfort. The earbuds ship with various silicone tips, so you can choose the one that fits you the best. The IP54 rating provides moderate protection against dust and water, and I could listen without any issues at the gym or during a drizzle.
Sound Quality: Do the Momentum True Wireless 4 Live Up to Audiophile Expectations?
The Momentum TW 4 earbuds have a TrueResponse transducer system and 7mm dynamic drivers tuned to deliver Sennheiser’s signature sound profile. The device supports various codecs such as aptX Adaptive, SBC, AAC, and LC3. On Android devices such as the Vivo X100 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, we could use the aptX audio codec.
The rich audio experience features deep, impactful bass, clear mids, and refined treble, resulting in a well-balanced and immersive soundstage. You can opt for the default sound profile or customize your experience through the EQ functionality in the Smart Control app. For this review, we tested the earbuds with the default settings. The highs, mids, and lows are excellently separated, allowing every instrument to shine clearly. The bass is tight and clean, the mids are well-defined, and the highs are perfectly balanced — vocals shine without ever becoming harsh or overbearing. When testing with a variety of tracks, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 sound quality consistently impressed.
Tracks like “High Hopes” by Pink Floyd showed off the MTW4’s ability to precisely separate instruments, making complex arrangements easy to follow. The intro gong was distinct and well-separated from the other instruments.
While TWS earbuds aren’t known for their soundstage, the MTW4 offered a relatively wide virtual soundstage, allowing me to visualize the band’s intended audio layering clearly. While listening to “No Refunds” by Umair, Rap Demon, and KR$NA, the rap verses came through perfectly, delivering just the right amount of emphasis on the highs. The bass is solid on these earbuds but generally does not hamper the other frequencies.
Listening to songs like “Revenge” by Joyner Lucas proved the device’s ability to perfectly represent the energy as intended by the artist, which made me want to jump with excitement. While listening to “Low Life” by Future, the earbuds reproduced the bass cleanly, and the vocals stood out with remarkable clarity. The intricate ad-libs were well-maintained, and the earbuds provided a clear sense of instrument placement within the mix, offering great vocal imaging. In “You Want It Darker” by Leonard Cohen, the low-end frequencies, rumbles, and bass tones are well-represented, while the vocals remain clear and beautifully separated from the background vocals.
One of my only qualms with the Momentum True Wireless 3 was the relatively low maximum volume compared to other options on the market. However, the Momentum True Wireless 4 addresses this with a noticeably louder output. This could be due to an increase in volume or enhanced ANC performance, which makes the overall listening experience more immersive. Either way, it’s a much-appreciated improvement.
We also tested the earbuds for taking calls. While they work decently on most occasions, we’ve heard better. At times, one side couldn’t hear the other properly.
Noise Cancellation: How Effective Is the ANC on the Momentum TW4?
The hybrid-adaptive Sennheiser Momentum 4 ANC is highly impressive. The device adjusts to different environments and blocks out unwanted noise. While working in my service apartment on the day of an event, the earbuds perfectly managed to cut out loud noises. The earbuds were adept at silencing ambient noises such as the sound from fans, ACs, coolers, and TV running in the adjacent room. I used the buds on my evening jogs, and the exceptional sound combined with the ANC offered a blissful experience.
They’re impressive even when using the earbuds simply to cut off from the world and concentrate on a task without listening to music. When the situation calls for awareness, the transparency mode lets you hear your surroundings with just a tap. Additionally, I was impressed as I didn’t feel the pressure you sometimes get with ANC.
Sennheiser Momentum TW4 Smart Control App and Connectivity
The Momentum True Wireless 4 comes with Bluetooth 5.4, and pairing is quick and easy thanks to Google Fast Pair support. The Bluetooth range of these earbuds is great, as I could play songs smoothly even when the phone was kept in a different room. The MTW4 also impressed with its multipoint connectivity, which easily allowed me to connect and switch between two devices.
The addition of LE Audio and Auracast technology future-proofs the earbuds with multi-stream audio for enhanced stereo imaging and shared listening in public spaces. However, it’s worth noting that I couldn’t test these features firsthand.
The MTW4’s companion Smart Control app is available for both iOS and Android. The app is one of the most comprehensive ones I’ve tested across audio products. You can choose from different audio resolutions through the app. These include the Standard profile, Low Latency mode, High-Resolution mode, and Lossless profile.
You can choose from preset equalizer sound profiles or fine-tune the sound of the earphones according to taste. This feature works well by giving you more exacting control over how you like your music to sound. The app also allows you to switch on the bass boost option and the podcast mode for the TWS earbuds, but I prefer not to use these features.
I appreciated a Sound Check feature that lets you try different sound profiles for your favorite songs to create a custom equalizer. However, I’m not sure everyone wants to create custom profiles for each music genre. There is a Sound Personalization feature that analyzes how you respond to various sound samples and creates a custom audio profile tailored to individual hearing preferences. That’s more helpful.
The app also has a Fit Test feature. Control customization on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 is exceptional. You can customize the touch controls for each earpiece through the app, assigning specific functions to actions like single tap, double tap, and tap-and-hold.
Battery Life: How Long Do the Momentum True Wireless 4 Last?
The company claims that the earbuds can last up to 7.5 hours with ANC off and seven hours with ANC on, and the case extends the battery life to 30 hours. That’s stronger than the roughly six hours you tend to find with other earbuds.
In my testing, the MTW4 lasted for up to 5 hours with ANC on, albeit at high volume; you might get more at moderate levels. Audio codecs can also influence battery performance, so don’t be surprised if high-bitrate tracks eat into your playback time.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4?
The Momentum 4 delivers high-quality sound by default and offers extensive customization. This makes for solid wireless earbuds that will appeal to both audiophiles and casual listeners. The presence of powerful ANC, competent battery life, a durable build, and next-generation connectivity standards make it an excellent choice if you’re looking for an alternative to AirPods Pro or similar top-shelf rivals, even at a slightly higher $300 price.