Well, it’s about time. Sennheiser has bucked the trend for wireless earbuds becoming e-waste once their batteries expire by giving suitably equipped listeners the ability to replace them when the time comes. The new Momentum True Wireless 5 also introduce an all-new design, support for lossless playback and head-tracking spatial sound.
Each earbud has been sculpted into a shape that 73% of testers was more comfortable than the outgoing pair. They slot into a charging case that’s narrower and has a more pocket-friendly, with a low-friction finish. I love the clean lines and that there’s no giveaway these are some of the most repairable true wireless in-ears yet. A compact screwdriver is all that’s needed.
Charging cases with user-replaceable cells aren’t new, but few major brands have done the same for the earbuds themselves. Upcoming legislation will force their hand eventually, but Sennheiser has gotten in ahead of time here – while also earning an IP54 rating against sweat and rain ingress.
Elsewhere the Momentum True Wireless 5 borrows the audio DNA from the firm’s excellent Momentum 5 Wireless over-ears. Each 7mm dynamic driver has been tuned for “precision, clarity and dynamics”, while the Smart Control Plus companion app adds an 8-band EQ and guided personalisation tool for fine-grain adjustment. Dolby Atmos with head tracking is also on board.
There’s Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity with support for Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and multipoint switching. Compatible hardware can deliver 24bit/96kHz listening through aptX Lossless.
Sennheiser is also talking a big game around noise cancellation, with four microphones per ear bud including bone conduction sensors, an automatic anti-wind mode, and a redesigned ear tip that provides greater passive sound isolation.
Battery life clocks in at roughly twelve hours of ANC-off listening, which will be closer to six with noise cancelling enabled. The charging case brings total listening time to near 40 hours, with an eight minute stay good enough for an extra hour of playback. There’s Qi wireless charging on board too.
The Momentum True Wireless 5 goes on sale from September 3 for $300/£250/€300, in your choice of Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim, and Lavender metallic colours.
“Balancing compact size, our signature high-fidelity acoustics, and a replaceable battery is a major breakthrough,” Lilika Beck, Sennheiser’s president of Consumer Hearing, said. “With Momentum True Wireless 5, we are proving that cutting-edge performance does not have to sacrifice longevity.”
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