We've been using Sennheiser's latest flagship earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 4s, for nearly two weeks now, and there's plenty of stuff to like here. They offer enhanced noise cancellation, better Bluetooth connectivity, and superb sound quality. So, are these the best pair of premium earbuds of 2024? Keep reading to find out!
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Price in India: Not Cheap, But...
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the latest Sennheiser buds is their price point. Despite all the upgrades, the Momentum True Wireless 4s are less expensive than for the previous model at Rs.18,990. That's not exactly cheap, but they are more affordable compared to competitors like the Sony WF1000 XM5s and Apple's AirPods Pro 2.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Design and Comfort
The Momentum True Wireless 4s are what I'd describe as a "copy-paste" job. Aside from a new copper colour option, they look virtually identical to the Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds. I've been sent the black graphite colour by Sennheiser- it has a smooth, almost metallic finish that gives it a very classy look. I also like the darker fabric on the case—it feels incredibly premium.
It’s hard to predict how this fabric will fare over time, but so far, it’s managed to stay quite clean. Apart from that, the case is quite compact, making it easy to carry around in your pocket. Each earbud weighs in at 6.2 grams, making them on the heftier side but their size helps in spreading out the weight nicely. I'm usually not a fan of silicone ear tips, but these manage to stay securely in place for the most part.
They only loosened a bit when I was lifting weights at the gym. The box comes with a few different size options, including three extra silicone tips and two additional fins, which is pretty handy. The buds do stick out of your ears somewhat, but they're comfortable enough for long periods. These are also designed to be more durable, now featuring an IP54 rating that provides protection from dust in addition to their existing water resistance.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Improved Connectivity and Codecs (with Caveats)
Beyond the minor design upgrades, the True Wireless 4s have seen some significant internal enhancements, including a redesigned antenna and a completely revamped Bluetooth technology stack that has provided a reliable and consistent connection in my testing.
These are actually the first earbuds I’ve tested in 2024 featuring Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity alongside Qualcomm's S5 Sound Gen 2 processor and Snapdragon Sound Technology. This is great news if you have a recent flagship Android phone with a Qualcomm processor, as you can enjoy lossless audio streaming from your phone to the earbuds.
They support aptX Lossless for hi-res audio nearly matching CD quality sound, along with other codecs like SBC, AAC, AptX, and AptX Adaptive. These buds also come with multipoint support, so you can easily connect them to two devices at once, which is great for switching between your phone and laptop. Plus, they have a low-latency mode that makes the MTW4 an excellent choice for mobile gaming.
Look, these buds are designed for high-fidelity listening, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. First off, just switching to the lossless or adaptive codec on your Android phone won’t automatically improve audio quality. You also need hi-res or lossless audio files to really notice the difference.
Currently, Apple Music is the only streaming service in India that offers a catalog of lossless music tracks. The second point is that most of the Bluetooth codecs I mentioned earlier, dont really apply to iPhone users since Apple continues to prefer the AAC codec. Nevertheless, the Momentum True Wireless 4s sound fantastic with any device you pair them with, offering the detail, warmth, and expansive soundstage that Sennheiser is known for.
They do come with a bass-heavy sound profile and slightly subdued treble by default. But Sennheiser gives you full control over the EQ settings, plus a “sound personalization” feature that lets you create a custom audio profile tailored to your hearing. Now, I enjoyed the earbuds mostly in their default mode but if you prefer jazz or classical music, you might want to tone down the bass and enhance the mids for a more balanced experience.
Also Read: Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds Review
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode
Sennheiser’s Adaptive noise cancellation feature is another highlight. It dynamically adjusts the noise cancellation based on your surroundings, doing an excellent job of silencing noise from almost all loud environments, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in your music. The noise cancellation performance is on par with, if not better than, the highly acclaimed Sony WF1000 XM5s.
There were even moments when the silence was so complete that I found myself switching to transparency mode, as it felt almost too isolating. Speaking of transparency mode, this is where these earbuds really shine. It delivers a very natural sound without overly amplifying background noise.
You can adjust this with three settings—low, mid, and high—through the Sennheiser Smart Control app, depending on how much external sound you want to let in. The app also lets you set location-specific "zone" preferences. For instance, you might opt for full ANC while on the metro but switch to a lighter transparency at the gym to stay aware of your surroundings.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Call Quality - A Room for Improvement
Sennheiser also claims that they've beefed up the call quality on the Momentum True Wireless 4, outfitting each earbud with three upgraded microphones. These are meant to work with the company’s latest AI voice processing to really make your voice pop, even in noisy environments.
However, I found that the noise cancellation does dip significantly during calls, letting in some distractions. Also, while the person on the other end sounded sharp and clear, my own voice came through a bit muffled.
((Check out the call quality sample in our video))
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Touch Controls and Battery Life
Before I forget, I want to give a quick shoutout to the touch controls on these buds because they are incredibly intuitive.
They mostly rely on the tap gestures we're all familiar with, utilizing a capacitive touch plate on the back of each earbud to control your music and calls. Plus, you can customise the default control layout if you are not satisfied with it.
Now, let's talk about the battery life, which has seen some improvements. These buds can now last up to seven hours of continuous playback with noise cancellation turned on, and up to 7.5 hours with it off.
That's quite respectable for a pair of wireless earbuds, and there's even a convenient setting in the app that limits charging to 80%, ensuring longer battery life. Sennheiser has also added wireless charging for the case, and a quick 8-minute charge can boost your listening time by an hour.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Should you buy these?
Overall, there's not much to criticize here. The call quality could be better, but that's something a firmware update could potentially fix. As far as I'm concerned, the Momentum True Wireless 4s excel in the areas that matter most: noise cancellation and sound quality.
They do come with a premium price tag, but if you value top-tier performance in these areas, these earbuds are definitely a worthwhile investment.
