Sennheiser is releasing its next flagship wireless headphones on June 16, priced at $400. The Momentum 5 Wireless arrives nearly four years after the Momentum 4 and costs $50 more than its predecessor. Most of the changes are internal.
The headphones carry over the same 42mm transducers used in the Momentum 4, which were modeled on Sennheiser's HD 600 series. What is new is a Hi-Res Audio certification and Snapdragon Sound support, which enables Bluetooth codec compatibility up to aptX Lossless. Sennheiser's Smart Control Plus app now includes an 8-band equalizer alongside existing audio presets and sound personalization tools. The Momentum 5 is also compatible with the company's BTD 700 lossless Bluetooth dongle.
Additional audio features are coming after launch. Sennheiser plans a day-one firmware update that adds Dolby Atmos support with head tracking for compatible content. At shipping, the headphones support Dolby Atmos but without the head tracking component. The company also confirmed that the Momentum 5 was designed with Bluetooth 6.0 in mind, though it will ship with Bluetooth 5.4. Support for the newer standard will arrive through a future firmware update.
The biggest hardware change involves the active noise cancellation system. Sennheiser added two additional microphones per ear cup, bringing the total to four on each side. According to the company, that addition delivers up to three times more effective cancellation of human voices and improves the natural quality of audio on calls.
Battery life is one area where the Momentum 5 falls slightly short of its predecessor. The Momentum 4 was rated for up to 60 hours with ANC enabled. The Momentum 5 is rated for 57 hours. The gap is small, but it runs in the wrong direction given the higher price. On the other hand, the Momentum 5 includes a quick charge feature that delivers up to three hours of use from a five-minute charge, and the 700mAh battery is user-replaceable with only a small Phillips-head screwdriver.
The Momentum 5 Wireless will be available in black, white, and blue when it goes on sale June 16.
