Sennheiser has always been a household name when it comes to attractive, high-end audio equipment. This was clear to me when I reviewed the Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones, and the newly released Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 only serves to highlight it more. Although the new TWS earphones might look similar to their older models, Sennheiser claims that they have more than a dozen improvements and state-of-the-art technologies. In this review, we examine these improvements as well as the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4’s performance. Examine it.
Design and fit
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 design is based on the same blueprint as the True Wireless 3 model. The shiny surface on top of each bud and the color profiles are the only things that separate the two. Graphite Black, Metallic Silver, and Black Copper are the three color options available for the Momentum True Wireless 4. The item we received is gorgeous to look at, however, it won’t last long in metallic silver. The version is prone to staining, and removing stains from the cloth that covers the case is a challenging task. If, like me, you’re afraid of stains, getting the Graphite Black or Black Copper version would be a better option.
The fit is as nice as it gets if you don’t mind the small protrusion. In addition to having ear fins that guarantee the buds won’t fall out no matter what you’re doing, the buds have lovely, soft silicone tips that fit comfortably. The tips have been reworked to provide enhanced earwax protection. On the other hand, it could take some time to get used to the ear fins, and continuous use might hurt at first. It took me about a week to adjust to the new layout. The ordinary sets that come in the box can easily be used in place of the fins if you don’t like them. The buds also include a set of large-sized ear fins and four distinct sets of ear tips.
With an individual weight of 6.2 grams, the earphones are likewise reasonably light, so prolonged use is not uncomfortable. They are also more durable than before. These buds are capable of withstanding all-weather use thanks to their IP54 dust and splash resistance certification, which is a big advance over the Momentum True Wireless 3, which was only splashproof. It is important to remember that the True Wireless 4 case does not have an IP rating, therefore you should still use caution when using it.
The case has wireless charging capabilities, an LED light for battery indication, and a USB Type-C connection for charging. It would be convenient to pair with a new device if it had a dedicated pairing button.
App support and features
Although the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 does not have a pairing button, it can be paired with multiple devices simultaneously using the Smart Control app. The latter can be downloaded for both Android and iOS devices. I used v4. I used version 8.8 of the app on my iPhone and it worked flawlessly with no major crashes or freezing issues. The user interface is also intuitive and easy to navigate. In addition to everything else, the app also gives you the option to customize the EQ’s settings and touch controls to your liking. There is a way to adjust the sound in different places and adapt to the condition of the ear. For example, if you are in the office and choose to disable active noise cancellation (ANC), the pages will automatically change based on the location information provided by the app.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 has great app compatibility in addition to low latency mode, a very dependable touch surface on each bud, lossless audio, aura cast, and pretty much all the other features one would anticipate from a high-end TWS. The wear-detecting feature is not entirely dependable, though. In my experience with the device, the audio frequently stops playing even when the earbuds are inserted again. When the company releases a software update, it will simply resolve this minor problem.
ANC and sound quality
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4’s 7mm drivers have a sonic profile that purists will love. The buds have a balanced approach right out of the box, meaning that no frequency is overemphasized. This results in a clear vocal (mids) and just the right amount of bass (lows) for an engaging listening experience. Although it suited my taste, you can adjust the EQ settings to give the music more bass for people who like it stronger. Additionally, the earbuds use Qualcomm’s S5 Sound Gen 2 chipset, which enhances the sound quality of your music by supporting aptX Lossless and Adaptive audio. Nevertheless, only a few devices now support aptX Lossless and adaptive audio.
The Momentum True Wireless 4 supports SBC codec in addition to AAC. Additionally, the business guaranteed AURACAST and Bluetooth LE Audio with LC3 for the pair with an upcoming firmware upgrade.
In terms of the earbuds’ active noise cancellation (ANC), it is decent but rather lacking when compared to the Sony WF-1000 XM5. You’ll get better noise cancellation with the latter. Adaptive ANC, a feature of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, modifies noise suppression based on your surroundings. This lessens the likelihood of the vacuum seal effect, which some users may find uncomfortable. Even with the adaptive ANC’s strong noise reduction, some background noise may still be audible.
Call quality and battery life
The battery life of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 is quite impressive. With noise cancellation turned off, you can enjoy up to 30 hours of listening duration because of the large form factor of the buds and case. I mostly used the buds with adaptive ANC, and with two to three hours of use a day, they usually lasted me the entire week, sometimes even longer. Fast Qi wireless charging is supported by the earbuds, reportedly allowing for at least an hour of playback with just eight minutes of charging.
Sennheiser has incorporated a ‘Battery Protection Mode‘ feature in the Smart Control app, which decelerates the charging process to guarantee optimal battery health. This should increase the battery’s longevity and lessen the possible effects of repeated high- and low-power cycles.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4‘s microphones are dependable when it comes to making calls. Six microphones on the earbuds work in tandem with AI voice recognition to cut down on background noise and produce crisp audio. Sadly, it wasn’t quite the case. Even in somewhat noisy settings, the speech may still be heard, although the clarity wasn’t as good as with the AirPods Pro. In the event of a lot of background disturbance, the voice may sound muffled.
Verdict
In summary, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 provides outstanding sound quality, a secure fit, and a plethora of cutting-edge capabilities. The earphones are priced at Rs 19,990 in India; however, several color versions are now on sale for Rs 18,990. Aside from its somewhat hefty form aspect, the TWS excels in nearly every category compared to rivals like the Marshall Motif II (review). On the other hand, the Sony WF-1000 XM5 (review) might have a small edge over them. The XM5s have better ANC and a richer, fuller bass response. However, it is important to note that the Sony earphones cost Rs 24,990.
For audiophiles looking for high-end wireless earbuds, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 becomes a good option if expanding your budget is not an option. It checks a lot of boxes with its excellent battery life, dependable app support, and adjustable ANC that successfully blocks out most noise. The microphone it uses for calls may use some work. Despite this, the Momentum True Wireless 4 offers an excellent audio experience, so discriminating customers should give it some thought.
