Sony WF-1000XM5 / Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

Sony WF-1000XM5: WF-1000XM5 · Black, Platinum Silver, Smoky Pink; colours share the same hardware

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless: MOMENTUM 4 Wireless over-ear wireless headphones; Black (509266), White (509267), Graphite (700383) and later Brown, Teal, Copper and Denim colours. MOMENTUM True Wireless in-ear models and MOMENTUM 3 Wireless are separate products.

SpecificationSony WF-1000XM5Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Release year20232022
TypeClosed, dynamic true wireless in-ear; active noise cancelling SonyAround-ear, closed-back, wireless; active noise cancelling

The ear pads fully surround the ear; Sennheiser cites a lightweight design, padded headband and deep cushioned earpads for long-wear comfort.

Sennheiser
Driver8.4 mm Sony—
Frequency response20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz); 20–40,000 Hz with LDAC at 96 kHz / 990 kbps

The extended range applies only with LDAC-capable sources, mostly Android phones.

Sony		—
CodecsSBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3

LDAC carries more detail at a high bit rate; LC3 is the efficient codec designed for LE Audio. The profile list includes LE Audio profiles (TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP).

Sony		—
Battery (music)Up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on, 12 hours with it off

The figures are for one charge of the earbuds.

Sony		—
Battery (calls)Up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on, 7 hours with it off Sony—
ChargingEarbuds about 1.5 hours; case about 2 hours over USB; wireless charging on the case Sony—
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3; about 10 m range; multipoint

With multipoint the earbuds stay connected to two devices at once.

Sony		—
Sound featuresDSEE Extreme, Ambient Sound mode, Quick Attention

DSEE Extreme aims to restore detail lost in compressed music. Quick Attention lowers the music and lets outside sound in while a finger is held on the earbud.

Sony		—
Water resistanceIPX4 equivalent

It protects against splashing water; do not submerge.

Sony		No IP rating listed

With no certification against sweat or rain, care is needed when it gets wet during exercise.

Sennheiser
WeightAbout 5.9 g per earbud (with M tips); case about 39 g Sony—
Case sizeAbout 64.6 × 40.0 × 26.5 mm Sony—
In the boxCharging case, Noise Isolation foam tips, reference guide, USB cable SonyCarry case; USB-C charging cable; audio cable with 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm jacks; airplane adapter Sennheiser
Staying connected in the caseEarbuds may stay connected while in the case

Sony attributes this to earbuds not seating fully in the case or dirty charging contacts, and suggests opening and closing the case, updating the firmware and wiping the contacts with a dry cloth.

Sony		—
Driver and frequency response—42 mm dynamic driver; 6 Hz–22 kHz; 106 dB SPL (1 kHz / 0 dB FS)

The frequency range describes measurement limits; the sound you hear is also shaped by the in-app equaliser and sound personalisation.

Sennheiser
Impedance—Active 470 Ω, passive 60 Ω Sennheiser
Noise cancelling and microphones—Adaptive hybrid ANC; 4 microphones in total (2 per side, MEMS, beamforming; 50 Hz–10 kHz); anti-wind mode; transparency mode

Hybrid ANC uses both outer and inner microphones; adaptive mode changes the level of cancellation to match ambient noise.

Sennheiser
Bluetooth and codecs—Bluetooth 5.2, Class 1; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP; SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive

aptX Adaptive works only with Android phones that support it; iPhones use AAC. Multipoint connections are managed in the app.

Sennheiser
Battery and charging—700 mAh lithium-ion; up to 60 hours with noise cancelling on; full charge in about 2 hours; up to 4 hours from 5 minutes of charging; USB-C 5 V 800 mA

Sennheiser says the 60 hours was measured with an iPhone at medium volume; higher volume and aptX Adaptive can shorten it.

Sennheiser
Wired use—Hi-res digital audio over USB-C; 3.5 mm / 2.5 mm analogue cable

When listening over USB-C, the headphones decode digital audio internally; the analogue cable works even with a flat battery.

Sennheiser
Controls and app—Touch surface on the right cup; Smart Pause wear detection; Auto On/Off; 5-band equaliser and Sound Personalization in the Smart Control app

Smart Pause stops playback when the headphones are taken off and resumes when they are put back on; Auto On/Off shuts them down to save power when not in use.

Sennheiser