Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 16 published reviews

Sony

WH-1000XM5

The XM5 excels at noise cancellation, refined sound, and call quality, but its price, bulk, and fit trade-offs may limit its value.

Best for: Travelers and commuters prioritizing top-tier noise cancellation and call quality.
Skip it if: Skip if you need foldability, lower cost, or neutral tuning.

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Sony WH-1000XM5

Sennheiser

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is a well-rounded choice for shoppers prioritizing sound, comfort, and battery life, though ANC is not class-leading, microphone performance is mixed, and some features feel dated.

Best for: Travelers and commuters prioritizing sound quality and battery life
Skip it if: You need class-leading ANC and advanced spatial audio

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Sennheiser Momentum 4

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Specs side by side

Spec	Sony WH-1000XM5	Sennheiser Momentum 4
Fit	Over-ear	Over-ear
Connection	Wireless	Wireless
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Best for	Music, Travel, Work & calls	Music, Travel, Work & calls
Microphone	Built-in mic	Built-in mic
Ear cups	Closed-back	Closed-back

Rows where the two differ come first.

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Sony WH-1000XM5

Class-leading active noise cancellation excels across travel and commuting. 1 2 3 5
Balanced, detailed sound is repeatedly praised by reviewers. 1 2 3 7
Call quality improved substantially, including in noisy settings. 1 3 4 7
Comfort suits many listeners over extended sessions. 1 3 4 5
Long battery life supports commuting and extended listening. 2 3 4 5
The high price and modest upgrade weaken value. 1 2 3 6
Nonfolding design and bulky case reduce travel portability. 1 2 4 6
Some listeners find tuning bass-heavy with recessed midrange. 5 6
Fit can cause pressure or discomfort during long sessions. 6 7

Sennheiser Momentum 4

Detailed, balanced sound with strong bass across genres 1 3 5 6
Very long battery life with useful rapid charging 1 2 3 4
Comfortable, lightweight fit for long listening sessions 1 3 5 6
Effective ANC against many everyday disturbances 1 3 4 7
Useful touch controls, EQ, and personalization options 1 3 5 6
ANC is effective but not consistently class-leading 1 2 4 5
Microphone noise rejection can struggle in noisy settings 2 5
App polish and newer features lag some rivals 1 2 4 6
Some find the design plain or less premium 1 4 6 7

Ranked in our guides

Guide	WH-1000XM5	Momentum 4
Best noise cancelling headphones	#9	–
Best soundproof headphones	#5	#10

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 16 published reviews, read on October 21, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.