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Since they launched a few months back, Sennheiser's Momentum 5 headphones have become one of my favourite pairs of noise cancelling headphones. Now the audio company is coming for my inner ears, launching its updated Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds in Australia for $499.
The new buds are built around the same 7mm TrueResponse dynamic transducer found in the full-size Momentum 5 Wireless, and Sennheiser says it's carried over that "sound-first DNA" into a much smaller footprint.
Each transducer is made and tested at the brand's Tullamore, Ireland facility, and the earbuds support Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Adaptive, including aptX Lossless for bit-perfect playback up to 24-bit/96kHz on compatible sources.
"We set out to bring the larger-than-life sound and connected technology of the Momentum series into a remarkably compact format," said Frank Foppe, Product Manager. "From its exquisite audio reproduction to the advanced hardware powering it all, Momentum True Wireless 5 represents our most advanced integration of audio technology in an earbud."
Noise cancelling gets an upgrade too, with a revised adaptive hybrid ANC system, an automatic anti-wind mode, and a redesigned ear tip paired with a four-microphone array.
For calls, the earbuds lean on all eight onboard sensors, including bone-conduction voice accelerometers and an AI speech-extraction algorithm, to isolate your voice from background noise.
There's also full Dolby Atmos support with head tracking, so you can get a more immersive, theatre-like spatial audio field from your phone.
Probably the most interesting change is on the sustainability front. Both the earbuds and the wireless charging case now have user-replaceable batteries, meaning you won't need to bin the whole thing once the cells degrade. Sennheiser says a compact screwdriver is all you need to swap them out.
"Balancing compact size, our signature high-fidelity acoustics, and a replaceable battery is a major breakthrough," said Lilika Beck, President of Sennheiser Consumer Hearing. "With Momentum True Wireless 5, we are proving that cutting-edge performance does not have to sacrifice longevity."
Battery life itself is solid on paper too, with 12 hours of continuous playback per charge and up to 40 hours total with the case, plus quick charging that gets you an hour of listening from an 8-minute top-up.
The earbuds have had a full redesign, with a fin-less, aerodynamic shape that Sennheiser says tested as more comfortable than the previous generation for 73% of testers.
They're rated IP54 for dust, sweat and splash resistance, and the charging case has a narrower, pocket-friendly shape to make it easier to slide in and out of your jeans.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Specs
| Driver | 7mm TrueResponse dynamic transducer |
| Codec support | aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless (up to 24-bit/96kHz), Snapdragon Sound |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 with Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and multipoint switching |
| Noise cancelling | Adaptive hybrid ANC with automatic anti-wind mode |
| Microphones | Six microphones plus two bone-conduction voice accelerometers with AI speech extraction |
| Spatial audio | Dolby Atmos optimised with head tracking |
| Battery life | 12 hours per charge, up to 40 hours with charging case |
| Quick charge | 1 hour of playback from an 8-minute charge |
| Water resistance | IP54 (dust, sweat and splash resistant) |
| Charging case | Qi wireless charging |
| Companion app | Smart Control Plus with 8-band EQ and guided Sound Personalisation |
| Colours | Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim, Lavender |
Pricing and availability
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 has an RRP of $499 in Australia, and comes in five colourways: Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim and Lavender.
The earbuds go on sale from 3 September at au.sennheiser-hearing.com and JB Hi-Fi stores nationwide and online, before rolling out to other authorised retailers nationwide from 1 October.
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