Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: 2 Superior Headphones to Buy In place of the Momentum 5

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless are good premium headphones. ANC is good, battery is removable, has USB-C audio and it lasts a long time so a lot of people think $400 is worth it. But let’s be real, you have options at that price.

If you’re really looking at the “Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5” (or any brands for that matter), here are three headphones I’d buy instead of the Momentum 5.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399, occasionally less)

Features: Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4. The XM5 stays the noise-cancellation king. It’s actually pretty pleasant, it includes a nice companion app with a 10-band EQ (Sennheiser only gives you 8) and DSEE Extreme to upscale compressed audio.

The Momentum 4 and 5 have USB-C audio and longer battery life, but the XM5 just feels more sophisticated in day-to-day use. And the XM5 is usually about $350. Want the complete thing minus the $400 price tag? Go with the Sony WH-1000XM5.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (Usually about $229)

Here’s a true answer to the “Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5” question: Get the Momentum 4, save $170. It was going for $299 but now it’s about $229. Not much to sacrifice. The Momentum 5 has slightly better ANC and a replaceable battery but the Momentum 4 still delivers 56+ hours of power, USB-C audio, aptX HD/Adaptive and a more balanced sound out of the box.

The Momentum 5 is fascinating at full price. But for $229, the Momentum 4 is one of the greatest headphone buys around. This is a better deal than the XM5 or the Momentum 5.

The bottom line is if you're picking between the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the Sony WH-1000XM5, you should get the Momentum 4 if value is your priority, or the XM5 if noise canceling is what matters most. Don’t skip the Momentum 5 if you want a replacement battery.