Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Hands-on with Sennheiser’s new Momentum True Wireless earbuds

Kris Wouk
By

Despite Sennheiser’s well-known status when it comes to all things headphone-related, years have gone by as company after company turned out true wireless earbuds while Sennheiser opted to not release a set of its own. Now, it seems that rather than rush to market, Sennheiser decided to take its time and get it right. The headphone maker unveiled the Momentum True Wireless at IFA 2018 in Berlin, and it appears that they might have been worth the wait.

The Momentum True Wireless feature the latest version of Bluetooth and support for both AptX and AAC codecs, delivered via 7mm drivers. The Transparent Hearing feature lets you choose just how much ambient noise you let in — you can keep the outside world at bay or let it in if you’re on a run in a busy area. Support for both Siri and Google Assistant is integrated as well.

During our hands-on (or is that ears-on?) time with the Momentum True Wireless, it quickly became apparent that these will be the go-to true wireless earbuds for anyone who puts a premium on sound quality. Everything we love about the Momentum series, including the bump in lower midrange and the high frequency response, is here. The fact that they use a magnetic field to split the signal between each earbud instead of Bluetooth also means that there is much less latency than you’re likely used to in this type of earbud.

Related
1 of 8
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 1
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 2
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 3
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 4
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 5
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 6
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 7
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
sennheiser momentum true wireless hands on ifa 2018 8
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

While a series of taps along with a few voice commands is all it takes to control the Momentum True Wireless, you can also use the free Sennheiser Smart Control app to adjust the earbuds’ built-in equalization to make them even more to your liking. The Momentum True Wireless feature roughly four hours of playback time in the buds themselves, while the included charging case can charge them two times, for a total of up to 12 hours of playtime.

True wireless earbuds weren’t the only new product Sennheiser brought to IFA this year. The company also showed off its new GSP 550 gaming headset, which is capable of providing gamers with 7.1-channel Dolby surround sound. Ventilated earcups help to keep you cool during even the most intense gaming sessions, while the adjustable pressure mechanism in the headband lets you adjust them so they stay snug on your head without getting too tight. The headphones even feature a volume knob on the earcups for quick adjustments during gameplay.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless will ship beginning in November and will retail for 300 euros, or roughly $350, though who knows if the name will remain the same when they come to the U.S. For a peek at the competition, take a look at our current list of the best fully wireless earbuds, as well as the best earbuds — wired or otherwise. The GSP 550 gaming headset will ship in October and will retail for $250.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
The best speaker brands of 2023: JBL, Sonos, KEF, and more
The LBL Pulse 5 Bluetooth speaker sitting on a hot tub ledge.

Speakers are truly a dime a dozen these days. From every big tech manufacturer under the sun dipping its toes into the audio marketplace to super-boutique Kickstarter endeavors to whatever this is, there are thousands of speakers to choose from, and plenty more on the way. But considering the proliferation of at-home, on-ear, vehicular, and portable audio products, you may be asking yourself: Which speaker companies are truly the best?

We asked ourselves that question too, and after many long hours of research and testing, plus years of experience in the world of AV consumer tech, we've come up with this list of the best speaker brands on the market right now. For each name, we've provided a brief history, some notable products, and accolades, along with what we consider to be the best singular speaker (or pair of speakers) from each company.
JBL
Accessibility meets performance
The JBL Pulse 5 looks like a lava lamp. Derek Malcolm / Digital trends

Read more
Sonos’ new Era 100 and Era 300 wireless speakers go all-in on spatial audio and Bluetooth
Sonos Era 300 and Era 100 side by side.

Sonos has officially unveiled two new wireless smart speakers -- the $249 Era 100, and the $449 Era 300. While the Era 100 is effectively a new version of the aging Sonos One, which it replaces, the Era 300 is an entirely new type of speaker for the company, with six drivers (including an up-firing tweeter) and compatibility with spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos.

The leaks pretty much nailed it. Both speakers will be available on March 28 in 26 countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, and Australia, with preorders beginning March 7.

Read more
PC gamers are flocking to Windows 11, new Steam survey says
Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.

According to the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey, more PC gamers are switching to using Windows 11. Although Windows 10 continues to top the charts, it's slowly losing users to Microsoft's newer operating system, as Windows 11 now compromises over a third of all operating systems in Steam's monthly survey.

It's happy news for Microsoft as Windows 11 continues to inch forward in the Steam Hardware Survey. While the survey doesn't include the software and hardware utilized by each and every gamer on the platform, it still shows us some significant averages. Microsoft has continued to push Windows 11 for new PCs, and the latest survey from Steam suggests that the effort is working.

Read more