Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones

By Sennheiser · Noise-Cancelling Headphones · Audio & Electronics

  • up to 60 hours battery with ANC on
  • 6 hours playback from a 10-minute charge
  • 42 mm dynamic driver
  • 6 Hz to 22 kHz frequency range
  • 4 microphones for hybrid adaptive ANC

Lowest price seen
~$299.95 (approx.)
from $299.95 at Amazon

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is a premium over-ear headphone with adaptive noise cancellation, aptX Adaptive and up to 60 hours of battery life, launched in August 2022 at $349.95. Decide how much noise cancellation matters before you buy — it trails the Sony and Bose flagships — because the sound quality and endurance are the real draw.

Strengths

  • Up to 60 hours of battery life with ANC on, and SoundGuys measured 56 hours 21 minutes — well ahead of every rival they tested.
  • Sound is clear, detailed and neutral-leaning with strong bass that PCMag and CNET place alongside models in this price range.
  • Four beamforming microphones handle calls well, and aptX Adaptive plus multipoint keep two devices connected.
  • At 293 g with plush memory-foam pads, reviewers call it comfortable for long sessions.
  • It plays wired over 3.5 mm analog or USB-C even with a dead battery.
  • Smart Pause, Sound Zones, Sound Personalization and auto on/off round out a strong feature list.

Weaknesses

  • ANC trails the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose flagships, and it cannot be switched off completely.
  • The earcups swivel flat but do not fold inward, so it travels less easily than the Momentum 3 generation.
  • The plastic build drew durability criticism from SoundGuys, and there is no water-resistance rating.
  • Auto on/off can misfire: SoundGuys’ reviewer saw it shut down while on the head, though TechRadar found it consistent.
  • The Smart Control app’s EQ is only 3-band, it sometimes fails to see paired headphones, and it requires an account for some features.
  • Styling is plain next to the Momentum 3, and there is no LDAC support.

Verified specifications

ModelMOMENTUM 4 Wireless (M4), over-ear Bluetooth headphones.
Batteryup to 60 hours of playback with ANC on (manufacturer test: iPhone, mid volume); built-in 700 mAh lithium-ion, not user-replaceable.
Measured batterySoundGuys recorded 56 hours 21 minutes with ANC on.
Chargingabout two hours for a full charge. Quick-charge claims conflict: Sennheiser’s EU page and PCMag quote five minutes for up to four hours, while the key-spec sheet and SoundGuys’ FAQ quote six hours from ten minutes.
Driver42 mm dynamic transducer, frequency response 6 Hz to 22 kHz, sensitivity 106 dB SPL (1 kHz, 0 dB FS).
Bluetooth5.2 compliant, Class 1; codecs SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive; no LDAC.
Microphonesfour digital beamforming microphones, two per side.
ANCadaptive hybrid noise cancellation with a transparency mode; it cannot be fully turned off.
Wear detectionauto on/off powers the headphone on when picked up and off after 15 minutes idle; smart pause stops playback when you take it off.
Multipointpairs two devices simultaneously.
Wired listening3.5 mm analog and USB-C, works without battery.
AppSmart Control with EQ, presets, Sound Personalization and Sound Zones; an account is required for some features.
Weight293 g; ear cup inner dimensions 60 × 35 mm.
Materialsplastic build, fabric headband, faux-leather memory-foam pads; no water or dust rating.
In the boxheadphone, fabric hardshell carry case, USB-C charging cable, 3.5 mm/2.5 mm audio cable, airplane adapter, quick guide.
Full research notes and sources

Sound and noise cancellation

Reviewers describe the sound as clear, detailed and neutral-leaning with strong bass. PCMag hears detailed highs, What Hi-Fi? praises its clarity and directness, and CNET places it right alongside other models in this price range.

The adaptive hybrid ANC is effective but trails the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose’s QuietComfort line in every review that compares them. It cannot be turned off completely — the app toggles between ANC and transparency or a blend, and PCMag notes a faint hiss when Adaptive ANC is off. TechRadar still calls the ANC excellent, and its sidetone feature works well on calls.

Battery and charging

Sennheiser claims up to 60 hours of playback with ANC on, tested on an iPhone at mid volume. SoundGuys measured 56 hours 21 minutes — ahead of the Bose NC 700 (37 hours), Sony WH-1000XM5 (31 hours), Bose QC 45 (25 hours) and AirPods Max (20 hours). TechRadar calls the battery life incredible.

A full charge takes about two hours. The quick-charge claims disagree: Sennheiser’s EU page and PCMag quote five minutes for up to four hours of playback, while the product key-spec sheet and SoundGuys’ FAQ quote six hours from a ten-minute charge; the testing conditions may differ, so treat both numbers as approximate.

The 700 mAh battery is built in and not user-replaceable, and no long-term degradation data is published.

Comfort, design and the app

At 293 g it is light for the category, and the faux-leather memory-foam pads earn comfort praise from every review; CNET still finds the Sony a touch lighter at 250 g and a little more comfortable. The earcups swivel flat but do not fold inward, the styling is plainer than the Momentum 3, and the plastic build drew durability concerns. There is no IP rating, so it is not built for rain.

Auto on/off uses wear detection: it powers on when picked up and shuts off after 15 minutes idle. SoundGuys’ reviewer saw false shutoffs while wearing them; TechRadar found it consistent — treat reliability as unit- or firmware-dependent.

The Smart Control app adds Sound Zones and Sound Personalization, but its EQ is only 3-band and PCMag calls it underwhelming. It sometimes fails to recognize paired headphones, and some features need an account.

Is it worth it?

It launched in August 2022 at $349.95, and the price has fallen a long way since. What Hi-Fi? lists it at $199.95 through Sweetwater, TechRadar saw $199.95 at Sweetwater and $229.99 at Best Buy, and PCMag lists $229 at Walmart and $297 at Best Buy. TechRadar notes a regular price of $299, with Black Friday lows around $249. Sennheiser also sells refurbished units through its US store.

Between $200 and $250 the mix of sound, battery and features is hard to argue with — that is the sweet spot. From $250 to $300 it stays fair, but the Sony and Bose alternatives get harder to ignore. At $300 or more, near the old launch price, only a strong preference for the Sennheiser sound justifies it. If rain is in the picture, remember there is no water-resistance rating.

Which model this is

This page covers the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless (M4), launched in August 2022. Sennheiser sells it in Black (509266), White (509267) and Graphite (700383).

Do not confuse it with the MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 earbuds or the earlier MOMENTUM 3. The US Amazon listing for this model is ASIN B0CDH415QV.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

  • None found: no Reddit or forum discussions of this exact model were available.

Parts and stores:

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