Sennheiser's flagship earbuds are back to battle Bose and Sony – and they could have an ace up their sleeve

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Sennheiser has revealed the Sennheiser Momentum 5 True Wireless, the sequel to the Sennheiser Momentum 4 True Wireless we awarded five stars in 2024.

Sennheiser describes the Momentum 5 True Wireless as sharing the same "sound-first DNA" that went into their recently reviewed fifth-gen over-ear counterparts, the Momentum 5 Wireless .

The new earbuds house Sennheiser's signature 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers, designed to offer both "remarkable detail" and "full-bodied, bass-driven tuning", as well as "exceptional precision, clarity and dynamics".

Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Adaptive codec support further bolsters the buds' sonic credentials, allowing the transmission of hi-res wireless audio up to 24-bit/96 kHz from compatible sources.

The fifth-gen buds incorporate a revised hybrid noise-cancelling system, working in tandem with redesigned ear tips and a dedicated four-microphone array to maximise ANC performance. For clearer voice capture, the earbuds combine six dedicated microphones, two bone-conduction voice accelerometers and an AI speech-extraction algorithm, all in a bid to isolate human speech in busy environments.

The Momentum 5 True Wireless will offer around 12 hours of playback from the earbuds themselves, extended up to 40 total hours in total with the charging case in play. Be aware that, according to Sennheiser, those figures will drop to around 6 hours from the buds and between 20-25 hours in total when noise cancelling is switched on.

On the subject of batteries, the Momentum True Wireless 5 introduce a new user-replaceable battery system for both the earbuds and wireless charging case. This will let owners quickly replace the power cells in their buds using a screwdriver.

Sennheiser has pursued a "barely there" fit for its latest flagship buds, with the Momentum True Wireless 5 sporting a new aerodynamic shape which aims for a more comfortable, less obtrusive experience.

The buds' new shape and revised ear tips have been designed to improve both passive noise-cancellation isolation and sound quality, with Sennheiser pushing for an ergonomic design that aids a more secure fit. On the subject of ear tips, four sizes are available ranging from extra small to large.

Sennheiser's latest are rated IP54, guaranteeing a degree of protection against dust, sweat and splashes of water, while a perforated microphone plate aims to mitigate against wind interference to improve voice calls and noise-cancelling.

According to Lilika Beck, Sennheiser's President of Consumer Hearing: "Balancing compact size, our signature high-fidelity acoustics, and a replaceable battery is a major breakthrough. With the Momentum True Wireless 5, we are proving that cutting-edge performance does not have to sacrifice longevity."

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 will be available from September 3rd in a choice of Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim or Lavender finishes, priced at £250 / $300 / AU$480.

MORE:

I edited What Hi-Fi? in the late 2000s and saw Sony launch a dancing egg, headphones go mainstream, and the launch of a revolutionary (and divisive) music service

What will hi-fi look like in 2076 ? We asked some of the most influential experts in the industry

These are the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now