Sennheiser Momentum

INTRO

I have been enjoyably appreciating the Sennheiser MOMENTUM since just before Christmas 2012 and continue to do so now as I type this. 

The MOMENTUM is part of Sennheiser's Club Orpheus* flagship range of products - which also presently includes the HD 700, HD 800, RS 220, and IE 800 headphones as well as Sennheiser's newly released headphone amp the HDVD 800 / HDVD 600 - and is a beautifully-construced headphone with a high-quality sound that works well in a variety of listening settings.

DESIGN

Packaging

The MOMENTUM's packaging is similar to that of the Amperior (another recent and well-made addition to Sennheiser's product line) and by brief comparison is a definite improvement. Whilst the cardboard documentation holder that came with the Amperior has a tendency to fall out each time I open the box, the documentation holder of the MOMENTUM is securely epoxied in place and stays put when I open the box. It's a subtle improvement and one that shows me how Sennheiser are committed to improving their product line in every way, right down to the smallest detail.

After writing the previous paragraph I read the Amperior documentation where it reflected my statement and spoke of Sennheiser's dedication to "perfection down to the smallest detail." Need I say more.
 

The MOMENTUM's packaging has a blue band at the bottom that is similar to the packaging design of Blu Ray discs, which to me are often desired over DVDs. In that respect MOMENTUM is aptly packaged, as for me it is a more desirable headphone that many of the other similarly priced headphones currently available.

Carrying Case

The carry case for the brown/metallic MOMENTUM is a brown colour and is sturdily-constructed. It's wonderful to have a solid-yet-stylish case to match the modern-retro design of the MOMENTUM which contributes to my reassurance of the headphone staying in fine condition and my vision of an enjoyable duration of my experience with it.

Remote Control

The MOMENTUM's remote control cable is a thing of beauty. It is gorgeously-constructed and bends to terminate in either a straight or L-shaped jack plug. The buttons of the stylish and robust silver-coloured remote panel operate my iDevices with a satisfyingly subtle click. 

I find that the spacing of the buttons allows for accurate functioning of the remote control. With other iDevice remotes I have found their buttons to be too closely spaced together and arranged in a way that sometimes my intention to adjust the volume would pause, fast-forward or rewind a track I'm listening to or even end a phone call, but every time I use the MOMENTUM's remote control, my intention for adjustment is met. The remote control is a joy to operate. It's a small detail and one that adds to the satisfaction of my listening experience.

Fit and Fashionable

The MOMENTUM fits snugly over my ears and feels great to wear. However since receiving it and listening with it in bed, sometimes to meditation audio programs, I have fallen asleep with it on a few times and afterwards noticed that my ears and scalp had a slightly dull ache from the clamping pressure. People using the MOMENTUM for shorter periods of time will most probably be happy with it, as I am, and for those using the MOMENTUM for many hours at a time they will most probably notice a subtle outward stretch of the MOMENTUM's headband to sufficiently to reduce the clamping pressure to a lesser level.

The MOMENTUM is available in two colour-schemes, brown/metallic and black/red, the latter being a similar colour scheme to the immensely popular black/red coloured Beats headphones. I have the brown/metallic colour and love that it complements the colour of my red hair and the clothes that I wear, so much so that I've already (and gladly) worn the MOMENTUM as a fashion accessory/ear warmer when not listening to audio with it.

SOUND

Enough foreplay. Let's talk about the MOMENTUM's sound. The MOMENTUM has the highest quality sound I have yet heard from a portable headphone and all things considered, I find it to be very enjoyable.

"This is awesome" were the first words that came to mind about the sound when I listened with the MOMENTUM to a track from Donald Fagen's album Sunken Condos. Everything sounded well balanced and quite neutral, though compared to my HD800 there was a noticeable lack in treble extension. The sound of the MOMENTUM is slightly on the warm side of neutral and due to its closed-back design provides a great deal of bass resonance, ideal for people using it when outdoors or in a noisy environment.

With the Jimi Hendrix/Band of Gypsys track "Power to Love", the MOMENTUM works a treat. Jimi's guitar sounds warm and refreshingly analog, Buddy Miles' drums sound dry and punchy, and Billy Cox's bass sounds full and slightly boomy as it vibrates in the MOMENTUM's earcups. At times, and being used to the HD 800, I wished the sound of the MOMENTUM was slightly less resonant, but when I started to listen to the details of the bass part on this recording, I could hear all the detail I wanted to hear, so thumbs up there. When the band kick in at around 0:19, the sound from the MOMENTUM rocks whilst retaining great attention to detail. Brilliant!

I enjoy listening to ambient music and sometimes guided meditation CDs. For me the smoothness of the MOMENTUM's sound works very well for those purposes facilitating a subtly detailed sound that is pleasurable to listen with.

Comparison with other Sennheiser headphones

I'm writing this part of this review following a festive holiday in Germany where I also had the Sennheiser HD 800 and was editing some video footage of one of my recent musical performances** that I filmed with my portable digital video camcorder, which was positioned close to the drum kit I used in the video. The sound recording was quite clear overall but the sound of the hi-hats and cymbals was quite hot and slightly distorted. As I edited the footage I switched between the Amperior, the HD 800, and the MOMENTUM, and for the vast majority of my editing time preferred using the MOMENTUM due to how it softened the treble frequencies in a way that I found non-fatiguing and more palatable and enjoyable than with the Amperior or HD 800. The MOMENTUM's lesser ability to reveal as much micro detail as the other headphones was always more than enough and enjoyable. If there's one common factor true about my experience with the MOMENTUM so far, it's that I always find it very enjoyable.

The MOMENTUM and the HD 600, HD 650, and HD 800

When listening to some Jimi Hendrix Experience recordings I was curious to hear how the MOMENTUM compared with the Sennheiser HD series headphones. First I switched to the HD 600 and the sound felt a bit cold and flat by comparison though more neutral and revealing of instrumental textures and overall sonic detail. The HD 800, a much more revealing headphone that the HD 600, sounded fuller than the MOMENTUM and provided a much crisper and detailed sound, baring every nuance on the recording, especially in combination with the Lavry DA10 DAC/Amp. Considering the price of the MOMENTUM I found it held up very well with the HD 800, and whilst there's obviously no comparison between the technical capabilities of the MOMENTUM and the HD 800, I find the MOMENTUM every bit as enjoyable as the HD 800. I can imagine that there are many who may prefer the sound of the MOMENTUM over the HD 800, since the HD 800's ultra-revealing sound may not be to everyone's liking. 

In terms of my listening preferences - and this may be because my default go-to headphone is the Sennheiser HD 800 - when I have used the MOMENTUM for practical and analytical close-listening purposes including when learning song arrangements and drum parts for a gig, I have found the sound of the MOMENTUM to be slightly lacking in treble emphasis in relation to what my ears would perceive as 'natural' e.g. if I am at a concert and listening to a musician play live. This can of course be corrected by applying EQ via an iDevice's treble boost setting or using a portable amp, but all things considered I would prefer it if the MOMENTUM's sound had slightly more treble emphasis than it does. However the MOMENTUM'S stock sound remains excellent and I've enjoyed it every time I've listened with it.

Having tried some of the finest flagship headphones currently on the planet and listened to them critically, I have enjoyed them and also discovered many faults and discrepencies in their sonic characteristics, usually to the point of hearing the headphones and not enjoying the music that much. Since receiving the MOMENTUM and mainly listening to audiobooks and a miscellaneous selection of music in many styles. I've mainly just been enjoying the listening experience with the MOMENTUM, happily able to hear all the details in the recording that I want to.

Overall, surprised at how well the MOMENTUM performed with the HD 800, I find that the MOMENTUM has a high performance/price ratio and fares as a high-quality headphone that, unlike the HD 800, excellently lends itself to portable use.

The MOMENTUM and the Amperior

Compared to the Amperior, a similarly-priced headphone by Sennheiser also well-suited to portable use with iDevices, the MOMENTUM has less sub bass resonance and emphasis and less treble prominence. That reminds me of how the HD 650 compares to the HD 600 in those areas. The MOMENTUM is no slouch in the bass department though and can ably deliver a viscerally-impactful sound, which in combination with it's closed design are qualities I find work very well for a portable headphone. I find, though by a small margin, that the MOMENTUM isn't as effective in providing as much clarity as the Amperior in noisy environments. For example, when in Germany editing the video footage I previously spoke of, there was some Christmas music playing in the background. With the Amperior I heard all the details I needed to hear when editing over and above the music playing in the same room and without turning my headphones up to a painfully loud volume, but the bass wasn't as clear and impactful when I used the MOMENTUM, which is something that people who normally use their headphones in noisy environments may wish to consider if they are choosing between the Amperior and the MOMENTUM and looking for the option that provides the most sound isolation.

The sound of the MOMENTUM is less upfront and more laid back than the Amperior, which is very adept at revealing musical details as is the MOMENTUM, though the latter seems geared less towards analysis of mirco-detail and more towards enjoyably listening to music, and according to my ears, it very much succeeds in that. Another significant sound difference is that the MOMENTUM offers a more spacious and open window to peer into recordings than the Amperior which portrays recordings with a more compressed, upfront, and intense sound.

OUTRO / SUMMARY

The MOMENTUM has proven a very neutral-sounding headphone which I have found enjoyable with all audio I have fed it. I have only had a desire not to use it for listening when wanting to compare it to another headphone or when watching movies or gaming, for which I prefer a brighter-sounding headphone that enhances the crisp visual detail on screen, but that's just my preference. The MOMENTUM can of course be enjoyably-used for all listening purposes, though some users such as audio professionals may want a more soncially-revealing headphone.

I think that for most music lovers who listen to music using an iDevice and/or a laptop or desktop computer and want a veratile headphone suitable for both purposes, purchasing the MOMENTUM - and a great value USB DAC/Amp such as the FiiO E17, which I also highly recommend - could very well be the best of both worlds.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM is a fabulous choice for anyone wanting a stylish looking headphone that also sounds great overall. It works great with pretty much every audio I feed it, and with Sennheiser's readily available spare parts, could be a headphone than can be cherished for life. I highly recommend the Sennheiser MOMENTUM.

*More info on Sennheiser's Club Orpheus range of products can be found here: http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/home_en.nsf/root/club_orpheus_club_orpheus_about

** Here is the video footage I edited with the MOMENTUM: Windsor with the Revelators - 2012 - part 1 - YouTube

I've been listening to these headphones everyday for a full month, and I gotta say I loved every minute I've listened to them.

OK, so I might lack experience doing this review because these are my first true high quality headphones, and I have not listened to all the reference headphones out there, and lack all the lingo used in these forums, but I try to review them as a normal person who was looking for an audio quality leap. 

I come from the Shure SE215 and the Sennheiser HD449, and although they are quite good for their own merits, the Momentums have been a massive increase in sound quality. I'm not gonna say the typical "you hear stuff on your music you probably never heard before", but the music indeed sounds fuller, more natural, more lively. Instrument separation is greater, and you feel more immerse in your listening sessions.

I bought these headphones out of curiosity, I was quite satisfied with my older headphones, but I always wondered how a 300€ headphones sounded, what true quality sound really meant. So I bought them as an impulse, but haven't regreted since. Even when they are much more expensive than I was willing to pay for.

So now I'm gonna justify the stars given in this review:

Value: 5 Stars

Although I stated before that these headphones come more expensive than I was ever was willing to pay for a piece of metal and plastic, I haven't regreted. I payed a little bit less than the retail price, at 240€ these babies have a high value.

Audio Quality: 5 Stars

These headphones sound fantastic. Period. Everything feels so accurate, so natural, so full, so vivid. From the first time I put them on, I felt something different about them, it's not something you fall in love gradually as you discover what these phones are capable of, no. You love these instantly. Alright, I sometimes feel like the mids are juuust a bit recessed, but just a bit, sometimes the voice get lost in between the instruments, but only on some recordings. It's not something to call a flaw, more like a taste in sound signature, but it doesn't bother me that much, if at all.

I listen mainly to Blink 182, Green Day, Good Charlotte, and some other punk rock bands. I listen   to some Beatles, some Bob Marley, some 80's synthpop, some Metallica, some other thrash bands, some Jpop. And I can't find any flaw worth mentioning out of the generes I listen to. Guitars feel alive, specially Green Day's reefs. Voices feel live too, some Adele, some Air Supply, some Pet Shop Boys and Tear for Fears  are really something in these headphones.

OK so my source might not be the greatest (Xperia S), but it sounds very transparent and balanced.. Plugging them into my PC provide a  wider soundstage, and somewhat accentuated bass response, but they sound a bit harsh and tiring, alonside with some hiss on the background. I'm definetively looking forward into plugging them on a higher quality source.

Design: 5 Stars

So classy, so different from your average urban headphones. Everything feels high quality, from the steel of the headband to the softness of the leather pads. It is a mix of retro look and modern finishing. Very cool looking headphones.

Detachable/replaceable cable is a great addition, specially to me, who have had his bunny chewing a couple of headphones cables before.

Inline controls nor mic don't work on my device, but I wasn't looking for a headset headphone, If it worked it would have been a plus, not working doesn't substract points.

Confort: 4.5 Stars

They are very confortable. The softness provided by the leather pads feels great, the cushions seat around my ears as they were meant to be, although bigger ears might find them a bit unconfortable, for me they are just right. Clamping force is spot on, it neither feels too strong or too light. You never get tired of having them on.

I've rated them 0.5 points away from 5 stars because when I'm not wearing them on the ears I really don't know what to do with them, they feel very unconfortable being worn as a necklace. Sometimes I just let the pads like on my forhead to move the head around freely, because as necklace they really hinder your head movements. Maybe a minor gripe, but I'm always on the go, so I need some time to let my ears rest from hearing music, It's not like they sound harsh or tiring, but hey, having some peace and quiet is nice after rocking out for an hour or two.

So in the end I rate them 5 stars overall, because these headphones are outstanding, 300+ dollars might not be your everyday purchase for the mere mortals who don't have 5000$ to spend on a cable or an amp. But they are totally worth it. Look it more as an investment. And if you have some cash and you rock the streets everyday like I do, they are really the headphones to look into. Both for sound quality and outstanding urban look.

I think that's about it, excuse my rather poor english and lack of especialized words, but I wanted to rate them as the ignorant of the HIFI world I am.

On sound alone, the Sennheiser Momentums are worth every penny and more. But aside from being wonderful sounding, the elegant design is beautiful and luxuriant with stainless steel band, real leather and quality plastic cups in a nice, dark bronze finish. The standard cable is also very high quality, with a substantial metal remote attached to it. 

The case isn't as large and bulky as I expected from reviews, and it's sturdy enough to keep the headphones safe under most circumstances. 

They are very comfortable. The light weight and the materials inside the earcups ensure the fit is great, with minimal headband pressure and without heating up your ears. 

Sound wise, Sennheiser really nailed this one. 

They have a balanced, natural sound free of grain, audible peaks and imperfections usually associated with small, sealed headphones. 

They are a bit on the bass heavy side, but without ever sounding muffled or overbearing in the low end. Extension is superb and while it's not the best bass response I've heard, it's satisfying for acoustic as well as electronic music, giving a natural body to the music and being able to hit the low notes with some brute force when required. 

The midrange is clear, full, rich and intimate without sounding forced. Vocals are smooth and thick, without sounding overly chesty. Acoustic instruments come through with great clarity and resolution for a closed can. Just a great midrange sound, perhaps the best I've ever heard from a sealed headphone of this size and intended application. 

The treble is a bit laid-back, and lacks the sense of air and speed provided by electrostats or the flagship HD 800. Whereas the HD 800 exhibits a peak in the treble and can sound bright, and are ruthless with the source material, the Momentum sounds more polite and forgiving - which I greatly prefer for portable use, or general listening to sub-reference recordings. The treble is neither bright nor veiled to my ears, but neither was the treble of the HD 600.. 

The soundstage is fairly small, and compared to open headphones and the best closed ones, the Momentum sounds slightly congested. But they are small cans, and for the size the soundstage presentation is more than acceptable. 

I'm surprised at how little failures the Momentum exhibits. While they are not really reference in any way they give a fabulous all-around performance. Many headphones a lot more expensive have greater flaws. For example, the HD 800 lacks some bass warmth and impact and has a slight peak in the treble. The Audez'e LCD-2 lacks treble air and soundstage definition. The Momentum, while not on par with the above in terms of overall performance, lack such significant issues. This great sound in a highly portable, practical and beautiful package makes them worthy of a perfect score in my book.

Great job, Sennheiser!


A side note:

I've listened to the Ultrasone Edition 8 (which many consider the best portable available), and frankly, the Momentum sounds better too me. I don't like the hard, aggressive sound of the Ultrasones and find the Momentum more natural. Based on memory, I also find the Momentum more comfortable than the ED8, which has a tighter clamping force. Lastly, the design of the Momentum appeals to me more. I find it more tasteful and elegant. 

Of course these are my preferences only, but something worth mentioning.

Very impressed with the Sennhesier Momentum's. Sound is fairly balanced with clear highs & lows. They're stylish without being 'in your face' like various brands such as Beats. The quality of the leather on the earcups is impressive and I'm finding that I can use them for a couple of hours at a time with no discomfort.

Using them straight into my iPhone 4S and 320kbps tracks from spotify is giving me excellent sound and I'm happy to use these without my Fiio E17 so that I can make / receive calls whilst out & about. Call quality is good and no one has commented on external sounds or sounding distant.

Sound isolation is surprisingly good and I'm happy to use these on my daily train journey into London and home. It also helps that the Momentum's are relatively lightweight compared to other headphones that I've used.

I love the case supplied, it's well thought out, lightweight and the biggest plus being that there is no faffing around having to remove the cable to put them away, a small compartment takes care of that. It is however slightly too bulky for my normal work bag - however I did buy that to tote around a MacBook Air + iPad, so it is smaller than most.

Overall they are stylish in an under stated way and sound is pretty impressive and I'm happy to use the Momentum's on a daily basis.

Bought in the UK for £250

Video review and pics below

Along with the summary below, I have made a review thread comparing the Momentum with the Sony MDR-1R, MDR-Z1000, Logitech UE 6000, Audio Technica ATH-M50 and AIAIAI TMA-1 here:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/639948/review-closed-portable-circumaural-around-ear-headphone-comparison-m50-z1000-tma-1-s-momentum-ue6000-mdr-1r

I also made a Youtube review if you would like to get a better look and brief review of the Momentums. Please check out my channel for more reviews!

A Short Summary

BUILD

The Momentum is a well-built portable with a super lightweight and comfortable design provided that your ears are not too large for the earcups. For me, parts of the pads sit on top of my ears, but because the leather is so supple and breathable this is not a huge issue outside of hot weather. The detachable mic cable with variable angle mic-plug is really clever, but unfortunately the non-mic cable does not come with this plug. Also on the earcup side the detachable cable is a 2.5mm jack with a very narrow space for insertion which makes aftermarket replacement a little more difficult. My biggest gripe is that they do not fold up into a more compact shape.

SOUND

The Momentum's have a dark, rich sound with very fast, tight and deep bass. Mids are also very clear with a glossy bell tone clarity. Treble is definitely relaxed - there is a slight peak to lend the sound some sparkle / shimmer, but overall it definitely takes a backseat in the signature without sounding veiled like, say, the B&W P5. The soundstage is clean, with good definition of where instruments are. However with the treble roll-off the soundstage is inevitably quite intimate. The Momentum is quite versatile with genres but does especially well with modern studio recordings.

Conclusion

The Momentums are fairly expensive but offer a portable package with some of the lease compromises I've seen. Really excellent sound (provided you like darker signatures) and a good build. I've owned them for almost a year now and I love them!

I really can't say enough about how much these headphones blew me away when I picked them up. My only previous 'high-end' headphone purchase was a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50's, and while those aren't exactly collecting dust, these have become my go-to pair of headphones.

Audio quality is superb. Bass is warm but controlled, and fun to listen to, coupled with very detailed mids and highs. I did at first notice that the treble in certain tracks sounded a little strange, though I've since discovered that the tracks appear to have been mixed that way, since most of the music I listen to doesn't exhibit this phenomenon, and its occurrence did decrease as the headphones were broken in. They function equally well with music, video games and movies/etc, and can just as easily be driven by a computer or amplifier as they can be from a mobile phone (in my case, a Galaxy Nexus). Plus, they tend to isolate very well, and at least in my experience, don't leak sound very much at all, allowing me to crank the volume up in public without being a nuisance.

The brown leather and steel design is extremely attractive, and the soft leather earcups are absolutely the most comfortable thing to touch my ears, despite, in my case, not quite achieving the advertised circum-aural fit. They have a very gentle clamping force, though they remain firm while moving around such that I can't shake them off my head if I tried. The simple nature of their construction gives me great confidence in their ability to survive rough handling, and while the detachable cords are somewhat thin, they are sturdy and coated in a sort of rubberized anti-tangle solution that works extremely well to prevent those kinds of stresses. The included mobile cable with inline mic is a nice touch, but the controls unfortunately don't work for Android handsets, relegating that cable more or less permanently to the box (or at least until I get an iOS device).

Even though these are marketed as mobile headphones, I find myself reaching for them no matter the occasion, and they never disappoint. Highly recommended.

Before you read this you should know that I have only tried them for a couple of minutes and this is my experience of them under those minutes and this is all from my own preferences!

The headphones is overall good and the sound is balanced BUT! They are a little to balanced to fit my preference. As I said the sound is really balanced but the lack that little extra to make me get that feeling of overwhelming pleasure. Most of the reviews that I read through before I tested them said that the headphones was a little more bass heavy which of course made me happy since I like that little overwhelming bass since I listen to rather bass heavy music. I am sure that they are really good for those who listen to classical music but I would not recommend these headphones for those who like bass heavy music. The reason to why I gave it three in rating is of a different matter. When I talked to the employees  from Sennheiser they told me that momentum was the newest in sennheisers "on the go headphones" witch I think is wrong. Perhaps it is my head that is to small but I think that they leaked way to much to be a good pair of headphones when you normally travel with the subway.

I have been in the market for a top notch pair of headphones for portable usage for some time. After trying a number of pairs at JBHIFI and Jaben in Melbourne, I eventually settled on the Sennheiser Momentum. I live with 2 others so a headphone with solid isolation and no sound leakage was needed, but also to be a portable pair was needed. These were perfect.

So upon getting home I opened the packaging. Right away we have a solid carrying case, which is rather bulky but definitely is capable of protecting you HPs quite easily. We also have a 1/4 adapter for your headphones 1/8 jack, we also have a second cable in the circumstance that your other one breaks. Outside of that there is a 2 year warranty with Sennheiser.

Design wise the Momentum has a stainless steel band with a leather headband. The pads are leather, and even after extensive usage both indoors and outdoor in heat, they do not make my ears feel hot or sweat at all. They hug my head slightly but never feel tight enough to be uncomfortable. I find the the pads are actually quite small and fit just on part of my ear and not over it entirely, this worried me at first. However as I soon found out this results in the pleasant knowledge that little sound leaks at all. The build quality seems quite durable and you can tell this phone is not a cheap model.

My testing songs for this review after burn in and before are

Rom Di Prisco - Troposphere

Ne Obliviscaris - and plague flowers the kaleidoscope

Deftones - Romantic Dreams

Freaky Mind - Kill

Nas - N.Y State of Mind

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Voodoo Mon Amour

Out of the box, I was very impressed with these phones. I'm running them for a Z series sony Walkman and a Hippo Cri Cri portable amp. The ohm rating of these phones ensure you should easily be able to get plenty of potential out of them with a portable device.

I found that the effects of burn in were minimal with these phones. The soundstage is fairly broad and the instrument separation is very defined. Overall the headphones have a tight but very present and punchy bass. Mids are a tiny bit recessed but nothing that is too noticeable. Treble is smooth without major sibilance or grain. The sound is not colored, and is very natural and transparent. I did find that a number of older rock and pop records had their flaws quite noticeably exposed by these phones. 

As far as performing on each of the tracks, the soundstage and instrumental definition were more than enough for the complexity of Ne Obliviscaris' mix of classical and heavy metal, while crushing guitar riffs sound powerful, fast and the bass has impact. For hip hop they are extremely clear and fantastic for vocals, but the beats may lack impact compared to basshead phones. Deftones track was highlighted with amazing clarity, soundstage and very impacting lower mids. For electronic music I found these phones were more than adequate.

On the side of value I would say that the 389 dollars that I paid for them was definitely a bit pricy, especially thinking of Australian prices. However they have definitely paid off as these blow my Sennheiser 439, 418s, 280 HD, Sony SA-1000 out of the water quite handily.

Overall I'd say these are a fantastic portable headphone if you are interested in fantastic isolation, comfort and natural well balanced sound, all while being able to be driven by most portable devices.