Sennheiser is one of my go-to audio brands for quality consumer and reference audio. And for good reason: they often produce products that have crystal clarity, are well-balanced with great detail retrieval, while still being fun to listen to rather than clinical.
When it comes to their Bluetooth devices, they prioritize audio quality over active noise canceling, but with the introduction of their new Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, they’re closer than ever to ANC market leaders Sony and Bose.
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Categories |
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 |
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Conectivity |
Bluetooth 6.0, Multipoint support |
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Drive units |
7 mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers |
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Codec support |
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless (Snapdragon Sound) |
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Battery life |
Up to 6 hours (ANC on), 20-25 total with charging case; User-replaceable batteries |
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Charging |
USB-C, 2 hrs for full charge; 8 min charging for up to 1 hr playtime |
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Durability |
IP54 |
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App support |
Android, iOS |
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Audio tuning |
8-band EQ (app), Personalized sound |
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Microphone |
6 mics combined with 2 bone-conduction voice accelerometers |
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Colors |
Copper, Cream, Graphite, Denim, Lavender |
Looks maxing – They’ve had some work done!
(Image credit: @tshakaarmstrong)
While I love Sennheiser’s sound quality, their boxy Bluetooth earbuds have not been the stuff of aesthetic excellence.
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I’ve never called previous models “ugly,” but their looks have been rather dull. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 (Momentum TW5 from here on) look like an artisan took the TW4 and carved away the boxy shape, smoothing those angular edges into a sleek, aerodynamic aesthetic (see the photo comparison in the gallery above).
This year, I have the Copper colorway, which is a combination of beautiful copper earbuds and case trim with textured brown case exteriors and the signature Sennheiser logo in copper on the ‘buds and silver on the case top. The case fits much better in my pants’ coin pocket this year than last year. Gone is the small, boxy case. Instead, you get a slim, pocketable case with wired and wireless charging, plus other features I’ll touch on shortly.
The earbuds from the previous generation fit my ears well, thanks to their shape and the silicone wings around the edges. The wings are gone now, but with the new shape and ergonomics, they fit my ears just as well as they did before, and that’s despite actually being heavier than the Momentum TW4, which also feels bulkier in my ears compared to the new Momentum TW5.
Woah! Upgrades
Though the aesthetic upgrade is definitely welcome, the most important upgrades for many people will likely be the audio improvements in both sound reproduction and active noise canceling.
Let’s talk ANC, first. During my day one testing, I realized I’d need to pull out my previously tested Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds because my first listen had me wondering whether Sennheiser had upped their ANC game to those levels; it was that good!
When it comes to noise-canceling earbuds, you can focus on either sound quality or aggressive noise canceling. Prioritizing one often comes at the expense of the other, so while Sennheiser’s ANC on previous models was good, it wasn’t market-leading. This time, Sennheiser’s engineers have greatly improved ANC across the frequency spectrum.
Though I wouldn’t run out to upgrade my earbuds just for improved ANC, this year’s model is definitely more aggressive at canceling noise than the Momentum TW4. You’ll hear more complete cancellation across the frequency spectrum. That means that you’ll hear less high-pitched urban traffic noise or subway sounds. Keyboard keystrokes should be a bit quieter. Cars whizzing by you; their engine noises will have decreased compared to the previous generation.
And while that’s true when you compare the Momentum TW5 to the TW4, Sony’s WF-1000XM6 still hushes more of those same frequencies than the TW5. The difference in 2026 is that Sennheiser has closed the distance between the ANC it offers and what you’ll get from Sony.
While the durability hasn’t changed, the Momentum TW5 carries the same IP54 rating as the previous generation; Sennheiser has upgraded the longevity of this year’s model with user-replaceable batteries in both the earbuds and the charging case.
On the charging case, that upgrade is pretty clear if you look at the single Philips head screw on the bottom right side of the case, across from the oddly placed USB-C charging port on the left. I’m guessing that port placement is the result of making the battery removable.
The Momentum TW5 comes with a prying tool to remove the battery, but you’ll need to provide the Philips PH000 screwdriver. This is a Phillips head (the “star”) screwdriver with a 7mm blade. Sennheiser lists the battery part number as BA 501, but it isn’t listed for sale on their site yet.
More momentum with the audio quality
I thoroughly enjoy Sennheiser’s sound signature. I use their IE900 IEMs as reference in-ear headphones, and their HD660S as one of my over-ear reference audio headphones, along with pairs from Dali and Fosi. The Momentum TW5 expands sound quality across the frequency range, with its signature focus on the mid-range to deliver great instrument separation and strong vocal presentation without sacrificing low-end energy.
Listening to Charles Mingus’ “Moanin’,” the TW5 does a much better job than the Sony WF-1000XM6 at maintaining a strong sense of instrumentation during the song’s most frenetic parts. Where Sony turns those sections into a pot of mashed potatoes, Sennheiser allows you to continue to hear where the sound of different instruments comes from in the stereo image.
Listening to various folk songs, including Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,” where his voice can get sibilant with audio products that have harsher, or overly energetic high-frequency reproduction, the TW5 were smooth. No sibilance from Simon, and no eardrum-fatiguing high notes from Joni Mitchell’s “River (With French Horns) [Blue Sessions].”
Around the minute mark on Mitchell’s song, she hits some sustained high notes that drive me batty on clinical headphones or those with poor high-frequency reproduction, but again, the TW5 are more on the smooth end of the spectrum.
(Image credit: @tshakaarmstrong)
If you listen and disagree with my assessment, the good news is that this year the Sennheiser Smart Control+ app has expanded its five-band EQ to eight bands, so you’ll have more control over shaping the sound to your preferences, and the pair of buds take well to EQ adjustments.
My only real issue with the TW5 was the microphones when making phone calls. They sound excellent indoors, but outdoors, they’ll block noise superbly, but at the cost of audio stability. At times, when the AI is working hard to block background noise, I’ve found that audio quality can take a hit. Overall, you’ll sound great, and so will the folks calling you, but be aware that, depending on ambient noise, you may experience some finicky behavior.
In terms of battery life, I’ve found that I can get a day’s use out of them with ANC off. For me, that’s around 10 hours, including a trip to my local climbing gym. ANC on has given less, though a little better than some competitors, getting a little over six hours in my testing. More bass-heavy tracks in your rotation will affect that, though.
In the final analysis, you have Bluetooth earbuds that folks love for various reasons. Some lock you into an ecosystem and are superior in part because of how they work inside that walled garden, while others are more open and fully stand on their own.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 are the latter, and while they aren’t market leaders in ANC or calling, they’re solid performers in those areas and offer a delightfully entertaining, engaging sound signature that you’ll get extra years out of, thanks to their user-serviceable batteries.
Sennheiser
Momentum True Wireless 5
Smart, effective upgrades!
Sennheiser gives consumers a worthy upgrade over the Momentum True Wireless 5. They’ve improved the sound and noise-cancelling quality, made the batteries removable in both the buds and the case, and refined the exterior. A worthy upgrade!