TL;DR
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 are wireless in-ear headphones priced at 3,300 kr. They excel with punchy bass, warm and crisp vocals, seamless wind-reducing active noise cancellation, and a glueless, user-replaceable battery in the case. However, the modular screwed-together case creaks slightly when squeezed, and the white finish stains easily. They suit listeners prioritizing longevity, comfort, and rich audio for daily commutes and workouts.
A few years ago, we at the editorial office made a rather overconfident attempt to play MacGyver. We were sitting with a pair of fantastic but stone-dead wireless flagship headphones from Sony where the battery had finally given up. “How hard can it be to change it yourself?” we thought. It ended in total disaster. Three hours and an expensive tube of special glue from China later, we were not only left with a dead battery, we had cracked the plastic, drenched the circuit board in glue residue, and managed to completely destroy the headphones. Since that day, we have painfully accepted that when the battery dies, so do your favorite headphones. Until now.
With Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, the German audio giant promises a minor miracle: a design completely without glue, where you can unscrew the case yourself and replace the battery. Is this the end of the in-ear headphone’s built-in expiration date, and do they sound as magical as they promise?
Design and fit
The first thing that strikes you when unpacking the buds is that they are incredibly stylish. The brushed surface and elegant design make them almost look like expensive jewelry in your ears. The fit is also phenomenal. They sit extremely comfortably and stably; we’ve even been out running with them on the trail without any problems. They might not provide quite the same wedged and rock-solid security as their sibling Sennheiser Momentum Sport, and they don’t quite reach one hundred percent of the same pillow-soft comfort as our current fit favorite Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, but they are incredibly close to the top.
When we examine the case, we see a very welcome development. It has become significantly more compact than its predecessor and now slides frictionlessly even into tighter (men’s) trouser pockets. The surface is not completely smooth but has a slightly rough texture reminiscent of an eggshell. This provides a fantastic grip when fumbling for them with cold hands. However, we must issue a warning for the white color we received for the test lab: unfortunately, it is a pure dirt magnet and easily becomes stained if it’s crowded with keys and coins.
But the big talking point is found on the underside of the case. A small, inconspicuous screw. By loosening this, you can replace the battery entirely on your own. No glue, no heat gun, no risk of killing the headphones. It is a massive step in the right direction for sustainability. This ingenious modular design does, however, have a downside. Since the parts are screwed together rather than glued rock-solidly to each other, the case creaks and “squeaks” a bit when you squeeze it. It lowers the absolute premium feel a notch, but honestly: the peace of mind that the replaceable battery brings outweighs this ten times over.
Divine sound quality!
We are used to Sennheiser delivering top-class sound, but Momentum True Wireless 5 continues to deliver really, really good audio. To put the bass to the test, we traditionally fired up Paul Kalkbrenner’s Aaron. The buds handle the snappy, electronic beats with immense authority without breaking a sweat. The bass is deep, punchy, and completely free from that dull rumble that otherwise easily drowns out the rest of the soundscape. Listening to bass-heavy songs in these headphones is, quite simply, incredibly fun.
But it is in the midrange and treble that the wheat is usually separated from the chaff. We threw on Albin Lee Meldau’s Josefin, a song whose naked vocal performances usually ruthlessly reveal flaws in plasticky in-ear headphones. Here, we find no flaws at all. The voice is intimate, crisp, and warm. Sure, they can’t compete with the massive over-ear cups of the Sennheiser HDB 630, but who in their right mind would expect that from a pair of in-ears? Compared to its own predecessors, the five wins by a landslide, and the goosebumps in the editorial office were quickly a reality.
Noise Cancellation
Sennheiser has always had good noise cancellation (ANC), never class-leading but certainly sufficient for most. The wind reduction is, as usual, completely magical. But this year, they have solved one of the single most annoying problems with active wind reduction, namely that you often have to choose between having wind reduction on or off if you don’t want an experience where the headphones do their best to counter the noise from the capricious wind. Among many competitors (we’re looking at JBL, among others), a distinct and choppy transition is noticeable when the software frantically tries to block out a gust of wind. Momentum True Wireless 5 handles this brilliantly. When the microphones detect wind, the software gradually (but extremely quickly) ramps up the reduction. The result is a 100 percent seamless experience where the wind is just softly faded away without the music stuttering. It is brilliant engineering.
App and battery life
The battery life is very good throughout and will get you through a full work week of commuting and gym sessions without any trouble. The accompanying app Smart Control is familiar from our previous Sennheiser tests. It is clear that the Germans have refined the interface over several years. The app is clean, easy to understand, and does exactly what it’s supposed to without overcomplicating things. Being able to get help creating a personal, tailored sound profile through a couple of simple listening tests is also a fun gimmick.
Conclusion
We began by remembering the ill-fated day when we tried to operate on a pair of glued headphones and ended up as involuntary killers. With Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, we can finally put that anxiety behind us.
Getting an in-ear headphone where you can actually change the battery yourself is a huge relief. Sure, you have to live with the fact that the unglued case creaks slightly, and the white color requires you to keep your pockets clean. But once you put the jewelry-like buds in your ears, are met by the incredibly slick transition in wind reduction, and feel the goosebumps along your arms when Albin Lee Meldau sings his heart out, it’s crystal clear. These are our new, absolute favorite headphones. We will genuinely miss them when Sennheiser finally knocks on the door and wants their test sample back.
Sennheiser sent review samples for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with you, the readers and consumers, in focus
Review Highlights: Q&A
Can you replace the battery yourself?
Yes, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 features a screw on the underside of the case that allows you to open it and replace the battery on your own without any glue or heat guns.
How well does the active noise cancellation handle wind?
The noise cancellation uses software that quickly and gradually ramps up reduction when microphones detect gusts, softly fading out wind noise seamlessly without any choppy audio transitions.
Are these earbuds comfortable and secure enough for running?
The earbuds sit stably and comfortably in the ears, performing without issues even during trail running sessions, though they are slightly less locked-in than dedicated sports models.
Are there any physical downsides to the charging case?
Because the case is assembled with screws rather than glued together, it creaks slightly when squeezed, and the textured white version easily attracts stains from coins and keys.
