Compare Sony WH-1000XM5 Premium Noise Canceling Headphones vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Headphones

USB-C charging was useful, but reviewers criticized the lack of USB-C digital audio playback.

USB-C was praised as a meaningful listening option that gives users another practical way to use the headphones.

Setup was described as straightforward through Sony’s app workflow.

Setup simplicity was criticized in one video because the app onboarding had too many pop-ups and needed streamlining.

Reviewers valued the retained 3.5mm analog option, especially as a practical fallback for wired playback.

Analog input practicality was mixed to negative because wired listening without power degraded significantly in one review.

LDAC was valued for higher-bitrate wireless audio, especially with Android, even though it was not enough for every codec-focused reviewer.

LDAC was a clear omission for reviewers who wanted higher-bitrate or lossless-style wireless options.

Passive isolation was strong where reviewers noted improved physical blocking and seal-based attenuation.

Passive isolation was a weakness, with reviewers saying the Momentum 4 let in more ambient sound than competitors or had weaker isolation than the prior model.

Bluetooth reliability was generally strong, with reviewers reporting stable connections and few or no dropouts.

Bluetooth was marked down in one 2025 review because the hardware was described as older compared with newer Bluetooth developments.

Spatial audio was useful and sometimes immersive, but compatibility and service limitations kept it from being universal.

Spatial audio was a weakness in the 2025 video review, which described the feature as weak compared with newer headphone tech.

Travel friendliness benefited from comfort, ANC, battery, and analog fallback, but suffered from the larger non-folding case.

Travel friendliness was mixed because battery and case helped, but weak noise cancellation limited travel and commuting recommendations.

Codec support was useful thanks to LDAC, AAC, and SBC, but reviewers criticized the limited modern codec set.

Codec support was praised as a strong, price-appropriate list, despite separate criticism elsewhere about missing LDAC and newer lossless Bluetooth options.

Reviewers noted low hiss or natural-feeling ANC, with several saying the cancellation avoided the invasive artifacts of older products.

ANC background noise handling was mid-pack: the review said it held up but trailed the best competitors.

Microphone noise reduction was a clear strength, with reviewers praising voice isolation and background-noise suppression.

Microphone noise reduction was mixed: one reviewer noted issues rejecting noise, while another test found the microphones clearly picked up speech through traffic noise.

Auto-off behavior was viewed as useful for conserving battery when the headphones are removed and left idle.

Auto on/off reliability was mixed, with one reviewer disabling it due to misfires while another found auto-off consistent.

Call microphone quality was one of the strongest upgrades, frequently described as clear, impressive, or best-in-class.

Call quality was inconsistent, ranging from usable in some cases to disappointing when background noise interfered or when walking and biking were considered.

The headband adjustment was functional but less memorable than notched designs because it lacks repeatable settings.

Headband adjustability was praised for fitting comfortably and adjusting easily.

ANC was described as preserving clarity better than older implementations rather than dirtying or masking the music.

ANC's sound impact was mildly negative because one review heard a small soundstage/imaging loss when ANC was activated.

Bluetooth 5.2 was treated as competent but no longer cutting edge when compared with newer headphones.

Bluetooth version was criticized as feeling older in the context of newer wireless standards.

Earcup padding was comfortable and plush for some reviewers but criticized for shallow fit, heat, compression, or wear.

Ear cup padding was praised for being soft, comfortable, and accommodating without making the headphones feel insecure.

Frequency response accuracy was mixed: some praised clarity and balance, while others found stock tuning colored or bass-heavy.

Frequency response accuracy was strongly praised by the lab-style review that found the measured response close to its preference curve.

Noise cancellation was one of the strongest points across reviews, with repeated praise for travel, offices, commuting, and loud environments.

ANC opinions were split: several reviewers found it solid, effective, or excellent, while others called it middling, dated, subpar, or behind Sony and Bose.

Value was mixed: reviewers liked discounts and long-term usefulness but criticized the launch price and stronger alternatives.

Value for money was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly describing the Momentum 4 as a bargain, steal, or high-value alternative to pricier rivals.

Recycled-material construction and packaging were noted positively by reviewers who discussed sustainability.

Sustainability materials were mixed, with paper/cardboard-forward packaging praised but retail packaging improvements suggested.

Multipoint was generally praised as seamless, reliable, or easy to enable.

Multipoint was useful when working well, but reliability was mixed because one review reported seamless switching while another saw glitches near previously paired devices.

Included accessories were viewed as simple but adequate, especially the case and included cables.

Included accessories were praised for adding a hard case, cable, and airplane adapter convenience.

Sustainability was viewed positively where reviewers mentioned recycled materials and packaging choices.

Sustainability and repairability evidence was limited and mixed, with praise for paper/cardboard-forward packaging but a call for better retail hangers.

Transparency/ambient mode was useful and customizable, but reviewers disagreed on how natural it sounded versus Apple or Bose.

Transparency mode was usable but not a standout, with reviewers calling it serviceable while criticizing it as less natural or less crisp than leading alternatives.

Sound leakage was praised as very low, even at high volume.

Sound leakage was positive in the one supporting review, which said the closed-back design and pads minimized leakage.

Battery life was usually considered good to excellent for normal use, though some reviewers found it short versus newer or rival models.

Battery life was the product's clearest consensus strength, with reviewers repeatedly describing 49-60 hour results as exceptional, class-leading, or nearly worry-free.

Low weight was a major comfort advantage and helped the XM5 feel lighter than many competitors.

Weight comfort was positive in one review, which found the headphones relatively light despite being near 293 grams.

The included factory cable drew a negative comparison against upgraded aftermarket cables.

Cable quality was criticized because the supplied analog cable was viewed as thin and underbuilt for expensive travel headphones.

Case impressions were mixed: reviewers liked the quality and compartments but criticized the larger footprint.

Case quality was usually praised for protection, structure, compartments, and compactness compared with certain rivals, despite one note that it is large.

Build quality was polarizing: some found it flexible and durable, while others worried about plastic and hinge durability.

Build quality was positive in the supporting review, especially the smoother, sturdier-feeling ear cup mechanism.

Portability was one of the biggest weaknesses because the headphones fold flat but not into a smaller shape.

Portability was mixed because the case and non-folding design were criticized despite some travel-friendly organization.

Smart listening features were generally praised, but Speak-to-Chat and adaptive switching could feel intrusive or overly sensitive.

Smart listening features were praised through Sound Zones, which one reviewer found useful and effective in real testing.

Hi-res and enhancement features were useful but mixed: reviewers heard some benefit from DSEE or LDAC-dependent playback, but not always a major change.

Built-in DAC and wired playback were praised because wired mode tightened and improved bass compared with wireless.

Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted the lack of IP rating.

Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because the review advised against wearing them in the rain.

Sound quality was broadly good to excellent, especially with EQ, but reviewers disagreed on stock tuning and technical performance.

Reviewers overwhelmingly liked the sound, describing it as excellent, detailed, crisp, engaging, or exceptional; criticism focused more on tuning taste than basic audio quality.

The integrated microphone was repeatedly praised for calls and voice isolation in noisy environments.

The integrated microphone array was positively described in one test as clearly picking up the speaker's voice.

Maximum volume was praised where reviewers said the headphones play loud without distortion.

Maximum-volume clarity was positive in the one supporting review, which said the headphones still sounded great even at max volume.

Design reactions were mixed: reviewers liked the modern look but criticized the non-folding redesign and less premium feel.

Design reactions were mixed: reviewers liked the functional, understated approach but also called it plain or less original than prior Momentum models.

Comfort was often a major strength, especially for long sessions, but fit issues appeared for smaller heads, large ears, or heat-sensitive users.

Comfort was one of the strongest areas, with many reviewers praising long-wear comfort, soft padding, lighter feel, glasses compatibility, and all-day listening.

Bass drew mixed reactions: often fun, punchy, and energetic, but sometimes too boosted, muddy, or less refined.

Bass was generally praised for punch, warmth, and control, though several reviewers found the stock low end a little heavy, boomy, or occasionally flabby.

Touch controls were often intuitive and responsive, but some reviewers found them finicky or easy to misfire.

Touch controls were divisive: several reviewers found them intuitive and dependable, while others reported sensitivity, accidental inputs, or startup glitches.

Overall recommendations were mostly positive, but several reviewers added tradeoffs around price, stock tuning, portability, or hinge risk.

Overall recommendation was positive across many reviews, especially for sound, comfort, features, battery, and value, with caveats around ANC, calls, and newer tech.

Advanced software features were praised for ANC customization and carried-over smart capabilities, though they rely on the app ecosystem.

Advanced software features were a major strength, with reviewers praising app-based personalization, Sound Zones, and feature execution.

Soundstage ranged from spacious and immersive to narrow or intimate depending on reviewer and comparison set.

Soundstage was usually considered good for wireless closed-back ANC headphones, with some reviewers praising width while others found it intimate or not as expansive as software-enhanced rivals.

Instrument separation ranged from excellent and distinct to limited for critical listening, depending on reviewer expectations.

Instrument separation was a recurring strength, with reviewers noting resolving performance, spatial separation, and distinct instruments, though one comparison found stronger separation elsewhere.

Durability over time raised concerns around padding wear and hinge reports despite some reviewers finding the frame solid.

Durability evidence was mixed: one review called the plastic build not especially rugged, while another long-use video said the headphones still looked pristine.

Premium feel was mixed: some liked the softness and finish, while others felt older or rival models felt more premium.

Premium feel was mixed: one reviewer missed the more premium older build, while another found the textured case and fabric experience high-end.

Connectivity options were viewed as versatile thanks to Bluetooth, analog cable use, and multipoint support.

Connectivity options were strongly praised, especially the mix of Bluetooth, analog, USB-C, and practical fallback listening modes.

Clamp comfort was generally positive for secure, light pressure, though some reviewers felt the fit was tighter than before.

Clamping force was consistently positive, with reviewers saying it was gentle, balanced, or just right rather than overly tight.

The sleeker, smoother exterior was praised where reviewers focused on styling and discreet modern design.

The discreet profile was a plus for one reviewer who preferred the understated, normal-looking design.

Stability was mixed: secure for some movement, but small or narrow heads could experience shifting.

Stability was limited because the headphones stayed usable for walking but not more active movement.

EQ customization was one of the most consistently praised features and often rescued or improved the sound signature.

EQ customization was a strength, with reviewers praising useful app EQ, many options, and accurate frequency adjustment.

Midrange clarity varied from clearer and more expressive after tuning to recessed or muddied by bass in stock sound.

Midrange reactions were mixed: some reviewers heard clean vocals and exceptional reproduction, while others found the mids less rich, blunted, or not the main strength.

Wear detection auto-pause was generally praised as fast and convenient.

Wear detection auto-pause was praised because music paused and resumed automatically in a way the reviewer liked.

Wind noise handling was praised in design and call contexts, especially for reducing wind-related disruption.

Wind noise handling was praised in one video review, which said the wind reduction worked effectively.

Charging was consistently praised for fast top-ups that provide several hours of playback quickly.

Charging was viewed positively because a short charge can deliver several hours of playback.

Treble was praised for clarity and detail in some reviews, but criticized elsewhere as muted, harsh, or masking-prone.

Treble was mostly viewed as clear and energetic, with praise for shimmer and accuracy tempered by notes about forwardness, sizzle, or slight harshness for sensitive listeners.

Immersive audio quality was positive where reviewers described dimensional or awe-striking presentation.

Immersive audio was praised in the supporting review for intimate, holographic vocal presentation.

Smart pause was usually praised for convenience, though one reviewer found related speech detection too sensitive.

Smart Pause performance was positive in the review that said the app-enabled features worked as advertised.

The companion app was widely praised for depth and customization, with a few caveats around privacy or minor annoyances.

The app was broadly praised as intuitive, useful, and clean, with strong access to EQ, ANC, device management, and other settings.

Android-related features were viewed positively where reviewers mentioned Fast Pair, LDAC access, or app compatibility.

Android compatibility was positive because aptX and aptX HD were described as more consistent on Android devices.

ANC effect on sound signature was mildly negative because one review reported a small performance loss with ANC on.

aptX support was evaluated positively, especially for Android consistency and codec flexibility.

Audio-video sync was praised in the video review that found audio and video perfectly aligned.

Auto-play and wear detection was praised as an important feature that the reviewer felt was implemented well.

Award recognition was strong in TechRadar's evidence, which noted the headphones became its headphones of the year for 2022.

Button usability was criticized because the power/Bluetooth button made powering on feel finicky.

Detachable cable convenience was positive because the wired option kept the headphones usable across different work and casual listening situations.

Dolby Atmos/spatial support was mentioned positively as part of the XM5 feature set, though not always as a decisive advantage.

Ear cup rotation was viewed positively because the rotation felt smoother and contributed to a sturdier fit.

Ecosystem integration was limited for Apple-centric users because one review noted the lack of iOS-only features.

Headband padding was a comfort caveat, with reviewers noting pressure concentration or possible digging during careless fit or very long sessions.

Hinge durability was the most repeated build concern, with multiple reviewers calling it frail, risky, or unreliable.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive because the wired and wireless options helped across work and casual listening.

Preset EQ quality was positive where discussed, especially the podcast preset's ability to improve midrange balance.

Sidetone was praised by TechRadar for improving call handling and making conversations feel more natural.

Smudge resistance was mixed: matte finishes resisted fingerprints, while soft-touch material showed grease and sweat.

Streaming-service integration was limited because 360 Reality Audio did not work with all services.

Voice assistant support was considered convenient where reviewers noted hands-free or touch-activated assistants.

Voice prompts and feedback were criticized for inconsistent verbal and musical cues that made status feedback less clear.

Volume output drew caution because reviewers said the headphones were quieter than some competitors even though usable listening remained possible.

Wear detection performance was praised because playback resumed automatically and was described as fantastic.