Sennheiser's Momentum 5 quietly outclasses headphones costing twice as much

57 hours of battery with ANC on, Dolby Atmos, and a price that undercuts Sony's new flagship by a wide margin.

The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless arrived this month at 399 US dollars, 329 pounds, or about 749 Australian dollars, and they make a strong case for being the wireless headphones to beat in 2026. The headline number is battery life: 57 hours with active noise cancelling switched on. For comparison, Sony's WH-1000XM6 manages around 30 hours with ANC on, so you are getting nearly double the runtime.

The sound

Reviewers have landed on a warm, bass-forward, neutral-dark profile that Sennheiser pulls off more convincingly than some rivals, along with a notably wide soundstage. Dolby Atmos is on board for supported content, with dynamic head tracking promised in a later firmware update. The one consistent criticism is slightly weak treble that benefits from a nudge in the EQ, so if you like bright, sparkly highs out of the box, audition them first.

The value angle

This is where it gets interesting. Sony's new 1000X The ColleXion, a 10th-anniversary flagship, costs 649 dollars or 550 pounds, and several reviewers reckon the cheaper Sennheisers simply sound better. Spending more does not always buy you more here. If you have been eyeing the Sony purely for the badge, the Momentum 5 is the smarter buy.

Who they are for

Commuters and long-haul travellers who care about battery life and a rich, relaxed sound. If you specifically want the most aggressive noise cancelling on the market, Sony and Bose still have an edge, but for most people the Momentum 5 is the better all-rounder at the price.

Source: TechRadar