Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (Black) review 2027

What problem does the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless solve?

It solves the problem of paying flagship money for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that does not sound like a flagship. The Momentum 4 Wireless is the best-sounding pair in this ranking, and its battery turns charging into a monthly event rather than a nightly chore. Sennheiser's own line for it is that it is the best-sounding pair in the ranking with a 60-hour battery, and that noise cancelling is good, not class-leading. That is the trade: you give up some silence and get music that holds up.

The verdict is blunt about the split. For music first the Momentum 4 is the pair, and the battery means charging becomes a monthly event. Its cancelling is fine in an office and merely adequate on a plane, which keeps it off the top of a ranking weighted to ANC. If your priority is quiet, this is not the one. If your priority is how the music sounds, it is.

How did it score 8.9?

The score comes from five weighted criteria, and the pattern is clear once you read them in order.

• Noise cancelling, 24 of 30. Measured as attenuation of recorded cabin, train and office noise at the ear simulator, plus wind handling outdoors. This is where the points went missing.
• Sound quality, 25 of 25. Measured as frequency response against a target curve, distortion at volume, and blind listening on the same playlist. A clean sweep.
• Comfort & build, 13 of 15. Clamp force, weight, heat after two hours, hinge and case quality.
• Battery & features, 15 of 15. Measured battery with ANC on, multipoint, codecs, call quality, wear detection and app controls.
• Value, 12 of 15. Street price against the field.

Two perfect scores and a near-perfect comfort result carry the total. The one weak criterion is the one the ranking weights most heavily, which is exactly why it sits at 8.9 rather than higher.

Where does the Momentum 4 Wireless stand out?

Sound is the headline. It returned the most accurate frequency response measured in the test and won the blind listening on the same playlist. That is not a preference result dressed up as a measurement; it is both.

Battery is the second standout. Sennheiser rates it at 60 hours with ANC on, and the measured figure was 58 hours with ANC on. In this field that is roughly twice what most rivals manage, and it is the reason charging becomes a monthly event.

Noise cancelling is not a write-off. The measured cabin noise cut was 26 dB, which is enough to take the edge off an office or a train. It is simply not the class leader, and the shortfall is measurable rather than a matter of taste.

How do aptX Adaptive and multipoint work?

aptX Adaptive is a Bluetooth audio codec. It adjusts how much data it sends based on what the connection can carry, aiming to keep audio quality and latency stable as conditions change. It is an Android-side benefit; the Momentum 4 also supports SBC, AAC and standard aptX.

Multipoint is simpler. It lets the headphones hold a connection to two devices at once, so a laptop and a phone can both stay paired and you can switch between them without re-pairing. Both features are listed as present in the spec sheet, and both are covered in the battery and features criterion, where this pair scored full marks.

What is it made of, and what ports does it have?

The hardware list is short and specific. Battery is rated at 60 hours with ANC on. Weight is 293 g. Codecs are SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive. Multipoint is supported. It does not fold; the earcups lie flat instead. There is a 3.5 mm wired input for listening without Bluetooth, and charging is over USB-C. It was released in August 2022.

The build notes in the test are less flattering than the spec sheet. The case is large because the headphones do not fold, and the looks are plain. The touch controls are easy to trigger by accident, which is a daily annoyance rather than a measurement.

How does it compare with the rivals it was tested against?

Against the Sony WH-1000XM6 (8.8, $449.99), the Momentum 4 is ahead on sound and battery and behind on cancelling. The Sony folds, weighs 254 g, runs 30 h with ANC on, and supports SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 with multipoint, a 3.5 mm input and USB-C charging that gives 3 h from 3 min. It was released in May 2025.

Against the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (8.6, $449), the Momentum 4 is ahead on sound and battery and behind on cancelling, which is the Ultra's strongest measured area. The Bose runs 30 h with ANC on, weighs 250 g, folds, supports SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive with multipoint, and offers a 2.5 mm input plus USB-C audio.

Against the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (8.6, $349), the Momentum 4 is ahead on sound and battery and behind on cancelling. The Bose runs 24 h with ANC on, weighs 240 g, folds, supports SBC and AAC with multipoint, and uses a 2.5 mm wired input with USB-C charging. It was released in September 2023.

Where does it fall short?

Noise cancelling, plainly. The test records that it trails Bose and Sony by 5–6 dB, and the criterion score of 24 out of 30 reflects that. On a plane the difference is audible; in an office it is not a problem.

The other shortfalls are practical. It does not fold, so the case is large. The looks are plain. The touch controls are easy to trigger, which means adjusting the headphones can change a track or a volume level when you did not intend it.

Is the Momentum 4 Wireless good value?

List price is $379.95, and the value criterion scored 12 out of 15 against the field. The test notes that it is often discounted well below list, which is the main reason the value score is not lower given the age of the release. At list it is a fair price for the sound and battery on offer; below list it becomes a straightforward one.

Who should buy the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless?

Listeners who care more about sound than silence. That is the buyer this pair was made for, and the test results back it: the most accurate frequency response measured, a blind listening win, and 58 hours measured with ANC on.

If you fly often and want the quietest cabin you can get, the Bose and Sony models in this test are the ones to look at. If you want the music to be right and you charge your headphones roughly once a month, the Momentum 4 is the pair.