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Back in January 2025, we visited the Sennheiser factory and Audiophile Experience Center in Tullamore, Ireland, where we explored what goes into headphones that let us get the most out of our music. Having traveled for that Sennheiser sound, we can say we’re equally excited to travel with that Sennheiser sound. So we’re excited that Sennheiser’s natural, nuanced sonic signature and intelligent features first introduced earlier this year in the MOMENTUM 5 Wireless headphones have come to an even more pocketable active noise-cancelling counterpart: the $299.95 MOMENTUM True Wireless 5.
Redesigned using data that Sennheiser says was derived from thousands of ear models, the new MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 design eschews the last generation’s boxier build for a finless design that is more curved and compact. This ergonomic enclosure, in turn, allows for a narrower case with a low-friction finish, meaning it’s easier to slip in and out of your pocket as you weave in and out of airport travel or wherever you may need to take a call or just take a minute to regroup.
Making sure everything from playlists to conference calls sound good are a host of technologies. It starts with the 7mm TrueResponse dynamic transducer that has been adapted from far more expensive IEMs. It’s fun but not fatiguing nature and 5 Hz to 21 kHz frequency range can be tweaked in the Smart Control Plus app via 8-band EQ (to get it closer to the more resolving, mids-rich Sennheiser HDB 630 wireless audiophile headphones, for example). Trickling down from the headphones are Bluetooth 6.0 with SBC, AAC, plus Snapdragon Sound with 24-bit/96 kHz aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless for high-resolution/bit-perfect reproduction. There’s native support for Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and multipoint switching, and LE Audio/Auracast features will come in a future firmware update. On top of that, the RF antenna is said to be even more resilient with a selectable “robust mode” for crowded environments. Less dropouts FTW.
Eight sensors total feed the improved noise-canceling system in these IP54 earbuds: six mics and two bone-conduction accelerometers to analyze the ambient situation, filter out chaos, feed AI speech-extraction algorithms to isolate voice calls, and mitigate wind turbulence for speech and Adaptive ANC stability. In addition, Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking adds extra immersion to your personal bubble.
But the thing that lets you get more out of the MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 is something you can take out of it: user-serviceable batteries.
Both the batteries in the MTW5 (which are rated for 12 hours ANC off/6 hours ANC on) and in the Qi-enabled wireless charging case (which brings life total to 40 hours) are user-replaceable with a simple provided tool. This means you won’t be forced into an unplanned upgrade if those reported playback numbers start coming up short in a couple years. It all boils down to more flagship, more fun.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5—available in five metallic colorways: Denim, Cream, Copper, Graphite, Lavender [all shown below]—is up for preorder and will ship September 3.
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Tony Ware is the Managing Editor, Gear & Commerce for PopSci.com. He’s been writing about how to make and break music since the mid-’90s when his college newspaper said they already had a film critic but maybe he wanted to look through the free promo CDs. Immediately hooked on outlining intangibles, he’s covered everything audio for countless alt. weeklies, international magazines, websites, and heated bar trivia contests ever since.