Sennheiser MOMENTUM

Sometimes there’s this manic impulse that takes hold and makes me buy stuff at the drop of a hat. I wrestle with it all the time. A horrible need reveals itself for that missing piece of your system, and suddenly you can’t sleep until you place that order.

I can’t give you a logically compelling narrative as to why I bought these headphones. I’m just glad I did.

Most of my listening is done at the office, where I sit at a bench all day working with my hands on electronics, testing, repairing, etc… Most of the time it doesn’t take a great deal of thinking. For the first nine months at this job, I was alone with naught but my thoughts, day after day, as my hands toiled. There are no words to describe how darkly weird and kinky it is inside the rickety confines of my psyche. So it became necessary to always, always, ALWAYS have a means by which to distract the villain who governs my subconscious. There would likely have been global ramifications had I not decided to put something in my ears to help the days pass.



Slowly, I’ve upgraded, piece by piece, to Summit-fi territory, and currently use the JH Audio Angie for most of my work/mobile listening. At home, hooked up to my fully balanced desktop rig, are the Audeze LCD-2.2 Fazor, and the Sennheiser HD600.

As diverse as they may seem, these headphones share a lot in common. They are all capable of warmth, without ever losing their air, detail, and imaging. This is the signature I look for in all of my equipment. I am neither a bass nor treble-head. I want everything in balance, with a nice rich timbre tying it all together. The mids are primarily where I find this happens. So perhaps I’m a mid-head?

At times I simply don’t want to put something in my ear. Maybe I’m not up to messing with fit and seal, or there’s earwax I just don’t feel like dealing with. Or maybe I’ve just had Angie in for too long. She never grows painful, but after four or five hours your ears do get tired. The point is there are plenty of reasons I desire a portable over-ear solution. On-ear was never an option. No matter how soft the padding, that constant pressure inevitably turns to white-hot agony after about an hour.

For a time I thought the B&W P7 was the headphone for me. Certainly, the Oppo PM-3 has a strong allure. Indeed, I’ll most probably get the Oppo eventually. As I researched the matter, the Sennheiser Momentum 2 kept calling to me. Worshiping as I do at the altar of the HD600, I can’t imagine where this attraction came from. Also, that retro aesthetic is killer.



What clinched the deal was when the price suddenly dropped all across the internet, from $349 down to $249. On top of that, I had accrued $50 worth of Amazon credit. So from a certain perspective, I got a set of phones, which I was willing to spend full retail price on, for only $200. That’s half what those other two choices are going for.

Upon first laying hands on them, I was filled with wroth and dismay, for I was certain they had sent me the On-Ears by mistake. These things are just so small! Then I tried them on, and my ears fit perfectly within the circumference of the pads. The Momentum 2.0 is comfortable. They have a luxurious feel. Genuine Leather, stainless steel, highly sturdy construction. I never fear accidently breaking these. Is it possible? Probably. But a normal fall shouldn’t do it, and you’d have to really work at it to snap off the cups or destroy the headband. Again, stainless steel.

I must admit, at first the M2 sounded underpowered playing from my Astell & Kern AK120II. Not that it couldn’t be driven loud enough. By 90/120, the SPL was already where I like it. No, it merely seemed hollow to my ears. Angie presents a fuller sound, as does my backup IEM, the ATH-IM03. The LCD-2 and HD600 are powered by the beefy Audio-GD NFB-28, so they too are driven to their fullest. The Momentum felt like it had untapped potential from a DAP. Yet the whole bloody point of this purchase was to use it with my AK! As you might guess, I was distraught.

It took a few days before I grew accustomed to its sound. Call it hardware burn-in or brain burn-in, but I eventually discovered a lust for the Momentum’s sound. On my desktop amp the music is meatier through the Senns. What I hear from a DAP is a lesser M2. Nonetheless, there’s still that sparkle, engaging bass, and glorious timbre. In other words, the Sennheiser sound is intact.

The Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 renders an almost loose, sort of raw, easy-going sound. It’s the Jefferson Airplane of headphones. It would take very little to make this signature awful. For these Senns, though, it’s all brought together with that sweet character as the fabric of this tapestry. I can understand why someone wouldn’t like these. They’re not tight or controlled, or all that smooth. They aren’t dark or bright. They’re just a little warm, reckless and wild. If you’re akin to me in any way, that fun, effortless sound that never fatigues is surprisingly welcome.

On the Shanling M2, which I have here for testing, they lose some of their vibrancy while growing warmer and somewhat creamy. The combination is lovely.



You may find this rather predictable, but no less than three of my co-workers own Beats. Solos, I believe. I gave two of them a little time with the Senns. They know nothing about them, probably never even heard of Sennheiser, and I told them only that I wanted to hear their impressions on how they stacked up. The first co-worker said the M2 sounded clearer. He thought it must be because his Solo was a few years old now. I merely smiled. The other man said it sounded pretty good if you don’t mind sacrificing bass. I nodded knowingly, thanked him for his impressions, and took the Sennheiser back.

I don’t have extensive experience with Beats, though I do try them out every time I find myself at BestBuy or MicroCenter. The M2’s bass is more textured, and though not as exaggerated, quite fun and heavy in its own right. The mids are clearer by a large margin, with a degree of detail and personality Beats can’t match. Neither is great with treble. Where the M2 really dominates Dr. Dre is in tonality, which is Sennheiser’s specialty. Both the HD600 and M2 possess this natural, earthy quality other manufacturers would kill to achieve.

The Sennheiser Momentum 2.0, like Beats, is great for mobility. The carry case fits inside my messenger bag, along with two IEMs and my AK120II, and all the non-audio boring stuff. I take these cans whilst walking or jogging. Often I’ll wear them on my long drive home from work, instead of using the car stereo. When I’m out shopping or doing errands, you may see a hairy man with cream-colored cans bound to his head. They even sound surprisingly capable and bass-y from my Galaxy S6.



Yes, I’m awfully fond of these babies. They’ve proven to be everything I needed, filling that over-ear void in my arsenal of portable gear. To pull me away from IEMs like Angie, they have to be comfortable as hell and sound really ********* good. And while Angie sounds better in a lot of ways, the Momentum 2.0 holds its own, and offers that singular full-size over-ear flavor that IEMs can’t match.

I still desire to try the Oppo PM-3, or maybe something bigger and better yet. We’ll see. Right now, this niche is met, and by the sexiest of the lot.

Postscript:
You’ll see that custom cable goes through some changes in these photos. I was honing my DIY craft and figured this was a fine headphone to experiment on.

-~::Pinky_Powers::~-

I got the pair 6 months ago and I am loving it.  It's my portable pair and even though it doesn't fold you hang them around the neck (only good thing about the small ear cups)
 
​Design & Aesthetics:
Build quality is top-notch.  They feel sturdy on head and I thew them in my backpack several times.
I would like to label them modern with a subtle Retro touch.  Looks great on head.  Isn't bulky at all.  The cable is also thin and won't cause discomfort.  The bundled case is hardshell type covered with suede type material.
 
Comfort:  When I got them I didn't find them comfortable for long listening sessions.  The ear cups weren't big enough to be truly called over ears.  However after using for couple of weeks the clamping force reduced (I did use force to reduce strain on the headband - Steel bands rock) and the leather pads helped a lot.  Now I can use them for long hours - 4+ hours comfortably.  
p.s I do wear glasses.
 
Usage:  They are easy to drive and hence I use them without amp.  I tried with FIIO E07K DAC/AMP but wasn't worth to carry around additional bulk for a tad increase in performance.  
 
Summary:  I am not going to talk too much over the sound quality as there are quite a few reviews with detailed analysis on same.  I would recommend these pair of headphones to anyone who would want a stylish, portable, all-rounder headphones and with a budget of $200-$220

I recently bought myself the Momentum 2.0 over-ears and have a lot of good things and a few bad to say about them.
 
I really love their build quality, the feel of the buttons on the provided cable and the excellent case provided.  The leather pads smell and feel wonderful to the touch and it's clear that Sennheiser have not held back on the best quality materials here.  I feel comfortable travelling with these and listening to them everywhere I go including the train, work and walking.  The ear cups are still a little small for me and slightly touch my ears which gets uncomfortable after an hour or so.  I do usually have to give my ears a rest to let the discomfort go away.  They also clamp a pinch on the tight side which I presume may loosen over time, but mine hasn't yet.
 
Overall, I personally feel that these headphones shine with electronic genres and a lot of modern pop which has a lot of electronic elements.  The bass response is extremely solid and just the perfect amount for EDM without being over the top.  I just enjoy listening to dance music with these headphones, they have this wonderful punch and extend extremely low such that you feel the rumble of any sub bass.  I really love the mids too, they are really neutral and not recessed so vocals and instruments are represented very clearly.
 
My biggest gripe with their sound signature is the treble.  It's really laid back and rolled off such that you really lose clarity.  I find that this is most important for genres that use a lot of acoustic instruments and real drums such as country.  I can't say that this headphone would be my first choice if you're primarily listening to such material.
 
The soundstage of these headphones is good but not great.  I have heard closed cans (SRH-840, BeoPlay H6) with wider soundstages, but the Momentums do have a decent width which works really well for music such as EDM where you are mostly focused on the centered kick drum and sub bass in the tune.
 
Overall, I recommend this headphone with a few caveats; do they fit your ears comfortably?  are you OK with a rolled off treble and slightly more narrow soundstage?
 
For a good comparison of a headphone that has a more open and sparkly but less punchy sound to these, check out the BeoPlay H6s which are much more mid and treble focused with a less present but tight bass.

I personally think it has great sq and all. but compared to my bose 25 its not better imo. And bose is much more comfy and much more sound isolated. 
But this could just be my opnion. And i have only had this for 2 days.

BACKGROUND: I listen to a wide variety of genres, including classical, rock, funk, jazz and more. This is my first review on Head-Fi.
 
I was on the search for a good closed headphone that sounded good (of course) and didn't make me look like an alien with lobotomy machines on my head. After looking around a bit, I decided on the Momentums. They go for a street price of $220 on Amazon (for the ivory ones; the other colors are cheaper). However, the SRP of $350 is quite a bit steeper. I've had these for 6 months now and these are my thoughts on them.
 
When the Momentums arrived, I was greeted with premium packaging that - thankfully - reflected its premium price. The very substantial box opens by pulling a fancy tab at the side. A clever little compartment under the box's cover contains all the literature - the manual and warranty included - and is handy for keeping the paperwork away neatly. Then in the lower portion of the box nestles the Momentum case, resting on lots of foam filler. The Momentums are inside the case.
 
Accessories
 
The package includes two cables - one with an Apple remote and lovely machined swivel jack, and another stock universal cable. Very classy. Sadly, the beautiful jack is only on the Apple cable. The cable will still play on most Android devices, but the volume controls won't work.
 
The Momentum's hard case is a zippered affair with the Sennheiser logo subtly embossed on the top. It has one problem, though: it's gargantuan. It's the kind of thing that would probably warrant being carried on its own rather than being stuffed in a bag. At least it looks fine. Inside the case, a mold for the Momentums is found, though unfortunately the headphones have to be adjusted to the smallest size in order to fit in it. One of my favorite things about the case is the Velcro compartment that holds the extra cable and the 1/4 converter (oh, yeah, it comes with that too).
 
Build
 
The first thing I'll say about build is that there is practically no plastic on the Momentums aside from the cups. The brushed stainless steel headband exudes quality. The leather on the pads and band is actually genuine from Britain, and it only adds to the phones' premium feel. One thing I've noticed, however, is that the adjustment slider on the left has loosened ever so slightly, meaning the headband may not be perfectly even on your head. The effect isn't very noticeable, but it's still worth noting. Thankfully I wear these on the largest size mostly so I generally don't experience the problem.
 
Fit, Comfort, Isolation
 
Here is where it gets a bit messy. You will probably have read the reviews that complain about the size of the earpads and the poor fit. I will tell you right now that the earpads are indeed small. Not enough to affect me too much (I have medium-small ears) but some have said the the discomfort is "unbearable" for them. Fit these before you buy them. Or buy them from a store with a good return policy. I myself don't have these problems unless I listen for more than 4 hours, but better safe than sorry.
 
The cups are also small enough not to isolate too well. I can hear conversations loud and clear. With music on, I can even faintly catch the hum of the electric fan (though I always turn it on to the highest setting). This kind of takes away from its use as a portable headphone.
 
Sound
 
The market for consumer headphones is huge, and it seems Sennheiser was targeting this audience with the Momentums, so I conducted all tests on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (Exynos version with Wolfson DAC).
 
Bass is definitely boosted (sometimes to the point of bloat) but hits satisfyingly hard. On "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" by Arctic Monkeys, the impact is definitely felt throughout the song. Bass detail leaves a little to be desired - particularly on "The Sinister Minister" by Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Victor Wooten's soulful bass line isn't done complete justice because of slight mud. Resonance is excellent, though, giving a more powerful presentation but a bit of boominess as well. The bass is for those who value impact over detail in the low end.
 
Mids are sweet, providing a pleasant experience. Female vocals in particular seem to do well. On "Quelqu'un M'a Dit", Carla Bruni's almost murmured French comes off as playful and fun with just the right rasp. Meanwhile, "Dope Nose" from Weezer's album Maladroit gets a really nice crunch on the guitar. The piano on Jacky Terrasson's "November" sounds very pleasing. However, some voices can seem boomy on a bad day; an example is on Green Day's cover of "Working Class Hero", where the vocals seem chesty. Overall, though, I like the Momentums' mids.
 
We run into a few problems when it comes to treble. Lack of extension and sparkle make the Momentums sound dark. "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits plays great on these cans in general, but I do find there to be a certain airiness and shimmer that is lacking. Darker sound does make the Momentums more forgiving with poor source files, though.
 
Soundstage is better horizontally than vertically. It at least avoids the in-your-head feel that would probably ruin these cans. They are still closed, though, so don't expect to be placed in the middle of your favorite band.
 
Overall
 
The Sennheiser Momentum are a great choice for anyone in the market for good portable cans with a more refined version of consumer sound. While they are a tad dark and boomy, bass is still visceral and the buttery mids make up for it. Even more positives come with the build quality, style and accessories. Overall, though, it's more than the sound that makes these cans worth getting. Sennheiser has pulled off "premium" very well with the Momentums and the whole experience of owning them contributes to the purchase. That's not to say they sonically slouch, though!

Disclaimer: First review. I'm as excited about writing this as you are about reading it from your computer/tablet/phone that is framed on the wall for all future generations to abide by as law.
 

Accurate ratings
 
Comfort
 
Pretty comfortable even with glasses on. The ear pads are soft leather but they're not so comfortable that you'd lose yourself in them.
 
My ears do start hurting a bit after 2-3 hours. 
 
*Note: This is all considering these go around your ears. See more in "Design".
 
Design
 
Isolation is good and pretty typical of a closed-back headphone.
 
One of the better looking portables and have a certain factor of classiness, especially in brown.
 
Hit-or-miss design. They may or may not go around your ears due to the small ear cups. My ears are slightly below average and they do barely fit me. 
 
The detachable cable uses a 2.5mm connector when most connectors are 3.5mm so replacement cables are a bit harder to find. The cables look fragile near the strain reliefs but they hold up quite well.
 
These are light and the footprint of these is comparable to on-ear headphones. They easily go around my neck. It's also easy to toss them in a bag (without the bulky carry case) without worrying too much because of the flexible metal headband. They don't fold but I never needed them to. Great portability in my opinion.
 
*Note: Over time the single metal headband has loosened up a bit and the seal isn't as good as it used to be. I still get enough isolation on the bus but i do have to turn up the volume 1-2 notches higher.
 
Sound
 
Treble/Highs: Rolled-off like most closed portable headphones, so they sound recessed. Can be remedied by using a treble boosting EQ but this can drastically cut down listening time due to the listening fatigue caused by high frequencies.
 
Vocals/Mids: The strongest part of the sound. Pretty clear, no complaints really. 
 
Bass/Vocals: Bass: Bass is clearly emphasized but not to bass head levels. Whereas the quantity is a good amount for base appreciators, the quality is lacking as it sounds loose and bloated. Basically, you'll notice the bass more than anything else but it won't have a satisfying impact or get your foot tapping.
 
Soundstage/Imaging: Average, maybe even below average, but they never sound congested.
 
Overall these will sound good for any genre of music.
 
Value
 
Strongest point by far.
 
At the current Amazon listing of $160 - $180 USD these are great value as they easily beat the similarly priced ATH M50/M50x in overall sound quality and portability. You'd have to spend at least $400 to get a noticeable improvement in sound quality from good looking portable headphones. 
 
Personally I prefer in-ear monitors at this price range (e.g. RHA MA750) because they can offer better balance, and especially better highs, without EQing. The Momentums are still a great bet if you prefer a a more-or-less full-size headphone.
 
 
Comparisons
 
Master & Dynamic MH40: The MH40 is better in every way in comfort and design but are more seal dependent (so no glasses). They have a retro look and are the best looking headphones I've ever used. They also have a rolled-off treble but the bass has a very satisfying impact and the soundstage is better. The overall sound signature is more dynamic, punchy and in your face. These are much more fun to listen to and are my favourite headphones for moving along to music. Overall a step up in sound quality.
 
Bowers and Wilkins P7: These fold up nicely but they're too big and uncomfortable around my neck. Comfort is good, but not as good as the Momentums. Isolation is decent but not the best since I could make out full, but muffled conversations even with music on. They look the most upscale and classy with a nice leather finish. The sound signature is V shaped so the vocals sound noticeably pushed back and is the least favourable for me in presentation.  The sound is cleaner and clearer with more bass and much better treble and soundstage than the Momentum or MH40. Bass can be a bit boomy at times and isn't as as impactful or clean as the MH40.
 
BeoPlay H6: These have a similar cool and classy look like the Momentum but do it better, and with better comfort to boot. Isolation is better than the P7 but slightly less than the Momentum. Sound signature is neutral so it's very analytical and the least "fun". Treble and soundstage are either as good as the P7 or better. They have the best vocals out of all the headphones and thus sound a little cleaner and clearer than even the P7. The bass there but it's underwhelming and not emphasized in the slightest. It's not loose like the Momentum or boomy like the P7, but it definitely makes these boring to listen to without an amp. These are the only headphones that require an amp to be brought to "life" but the sound shoots up more drastically than any of the previously mentioned headphones amped.
 
*Note: all of the above headphones are $400 USD 

I'm going to preface this review by saying that I don't consider myself and audiophile and that these are my first proper pair or over ears, coming from some fairly nice IEMs.
 
Design: I bought the ivory colour variant of these headphones and I think they look great, the perfect stitching on the headband, the torque screws used in the construction of the headphone, the polished plastic on the earcups and the little things like the colour matched cloth on the inside of the earcups combine to make this a very attractive set of cans. They are also very sturdy with the metal headband and earcups feeling quite durable. Unfortunately the cable is not quite as good, as it is very thin and the strain reliefs are not particularly good. One of my favourite little design features of these headphones is the jack, it can be rotated from straight to 90˚ and any point in between and is very handy. The momentums also come with a very nice, colour matched, hard carrying case. The case is very nice and I appreciate the inclusion, however it is a bit of a pain that the earcups must be adjusted to the smallest setting to fit in the case.
 
Comfort: I have seen people complaining about the size of the earcups, saying that they are too small for an over ear headphone and I understand these complaints but it isn't something that has affected or bothered me. The headphones are extremely light which makes them comfortable for long periods of time (I regularly wear these for around 3 hours). Due to the lightness the momentums get away with the barley padded and rock hard headband. The lamb skin leather on the earcups is very soft and supple and once broken in is fantastic. One extremely minor gripe I have with these cans is the clamping force, they clamp very lightly and for a portable headphone I feel that this is a slight problem as they don't feel the most secure when moving around.
 
Sound
Treble: The treble on the momentums is very clear but is slightly recessed and rolls off quite quickly. The majority of the time I have no major problems with this, but some of the really high notes in guitar solos lack the impact that I would like. Due to this I don't know if I would wholeheartedly recommend this headphone for classical music.
 
Mids: These headphones really shine in the mids, they are not recessed at all (unlike so many other headphones I have tried in this product category) and are crystal clear. Male vocalists sound fantastic and I really enjoy the mids of the momentums.
 
Bass: Straight away I'm going the say that these cans probably aren't for you if you are a bass head (I am not at all), as there is not a huge amount of base. However what is there is tight, punchy and doesn't bleed into the mids and I find the bass adequate for any sort of music.
 
Soundstage: This is probably my biggest complaint with the momentums, the soundstage is almost non existent. If you are looking for an open sounding headphone these are not what you want, they sound like you have two speakers strapped to your head and it is hard to determine where instruments are in recordings. 
 
Isolation: The isolation is a strong point of the momentums, they don't leak much sound at all and once music is playing background noise is not really an issue, but due to the shape of my jawline the bottom of the earcups don't seal perfectly against my head which stops the isolation being perfect.
 
I am extremely happy with the momentums and would recommend them to anyone who wants a good looking portable set of headphones as long as you are willing to pay the admittedly high price of admission and don't want loads of treble or a big soundstage.

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Me: I am an amateur musician & avid admirer of music. I would like to call myself a music enthusiast, rather than an audiophile. I was inspired by music since childhood, and as the time passed, the passion of music grew in me, and that subsequently led me to join Head-Fi. I usually like to listen to Indian Classical Music along with Bollywood songs. My main listening genres include classical, vocal, instrumental, jazz and sometimes pop.  With time, my sonic preferences have very much grown. I avidly admire transparency, accuracy along with neutrality, I mostly listen to full sized open back headphones and my favorite headphone is AKG K812, which I run from solid state amplifier. I prefer & admire transparent solid state headphone amplifiers simply because they provide best possible accuracy, transparency & reliability.
I am an average consumer & a humble enthusiast, I like to pen down my thoughts, & I love to express my feelings. I do not receive for any sort financial benefits through this review. My articles are a purely honest writeup aimed for fellow enthusiasts here at Head-Fi community. My profound thanks to Sennheiser for arranging a sample unit of  Momentum 2.0 for my evaluation.

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Intro:  The brand which needs no introduction. Sennheiser is a world leader when it comes to Audio, I am a proud owner of their HD600 headphone since many years. Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. is a private German audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of both consumer and high fidelity products, including headphones & headphone amplifiers.
 

 
The company was founded in 1945, just a few weeks after the end of World War II, by Fritz Sennheiser and seven fellow engineers of the University of Hannover in a laboratory called Laboratorium Wennebostel . The laboratory was named after the village of Wennebostel in the municipality of Wedemark where it had been moved to due to the war. Its first product was a voltmeter. The company was renamed 'Sennheiser electronic' in 1958.
 
In 1968, Sennheiser released the world's first open headphones. The introduction of open headphones had an impact on the headphone market as they were able to produce a more natural sound that many users preferred. The original open Sennheiser headphones, the HD 414, propelled both the Sennheiser headphones brand, as well as growth of the company with over 10 million units sold, remaining even today the best selling headphones of all time. In 1980, the company entered the aviation market, supplying Lufthansa with headsets.
 
In 1987, Sennheiser was awarded at the 59th Academy Awards for its MKH 816 shotgun microphone.  In 1996, Sennheiser received an Emmy Award for its advancements in RF wireless technology. Also in 1996, Sennheiser became a private limited company (GmbH and Co. KG). Since then, Sennheiser has maintained its tradition of high quality audio technology, and still maintains those high standards today.
 
Professor Dr. Fritz Sennheiser passed away in 2010. In October 2013, Sennheiser received the prestigious Philo T. Farnsworth Award at the 65th Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards in Hollywood. 
 
Momentum headphone are closed back & primarily designed to be used for portable/mobile purposes. Momentums are easy to drive, are efficient. Momentum 2.0 are the improvised version of original momentums with optimized design.
 
Specifications of Momentum:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories: The Momentum’s arrive packed inside a  premium black cardboard box. Once the box is opened, There is a portable case, inside with the momentum is resting.
 

 

 

 

 
List of accessories in the box, which include the following:
 
Headphone Cable: About  a metre and half long, terminating in 3.5mm, 4 pole. Contains volume controls and a mic.
 
User Manual: Contains instructions to operate the Momentum and other warranty information.
 
Carry Case:  This rubberized case can be used to store or carry the momentum’s  are when not in use.
 
Points awarded:  9/10 (Excellent packaging, great quality, ample accessories, but miss the 6.5mm converter)

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Design and Build:  Sennheiser Momentum has a top notch build quality. It employs metal constructions in important areas like frame.  For padding & cushioning, genuine leather is used. 
 

 

 
The headphone itself is not as big as it looks in pictures, it is very compact & nimble. Headphone length adjustment is fine and smooth, we can adjust the length freely without any notches. Finishing is excellent, no rough edges.  Cable has a mediocre build & design. Cable feels flimsy. Headphone connection is 2.5mm type and have twist it in the headphone, sometimes not very reliable. 3.5mm right angled jack can be connected to audio source. Sennheiser missed to provide a 6.5mm converter to connect momentum to headphone amp’s. The Momentum is foldable and hence perfect for travellers & music enthusiasts on the go.
 

 
 

 

 

 
Points: 8/10 (Excellent build on headphone, but cable connector is not reliable. Cable is flimsy)

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Comfort:  Though designed for portable & casual listening,  Momentum’s are decently comfortable to wear, but not suitable for longer sessions.  These ear pads are very soft & flexible in nature, which ensures in better comfort & adoption without compromising consistency, and also in durability of the pads themselves.  Momentum feels light in weight, which is a plus for comfort. 
 

 

 

 
7/10 (very good, but lacks room for ears being an over ear design)

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Sound:  Momentum tries to give maximum possible sound quality even when on move. It almost succeeds in its objective, Lows: are punchy; have a strong impact. , the lows go very deep with punchiness. They also have an appreciable amount of body & quantity. Mids are presented in slightly warmer tone. Highs are Clear & alive. It has  Fairly good amount of space to prevent fatigue while listening. I would say decent soundstage for a closed headphone. Not too airy, but not congested either.
 

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Comparison: Let us take a brief look at other popular top notch & excellent performing headphones available in similar price point. I consider MH40 headphones by master & Dynamic to be a worthy mention & a competitor to Sennheiser’s Momentum.  You may read  my review on MH40 here http://www.head-fi.org/products/master-dynamic-mh40/reviews/12581
 
Master & Dynamic MH40's: These are too priced similarly to that of Momentum, and these too are designed to be efficient, music on the go & over ear closed design. Build wise, MH40 wins hands down. Its build and design is far more superior than that of Momentum. In terms of comfort, Momentum wins with a good margin due to its light weight & foldability. With respect to sound, MH40 provides a more ‘audiophile’ grade smooth & refined signature with warm presentation. Momentum gives out a clearer presentation with better clarity. Overall, I would prefer MH40 over Momentum 2.0 as MH40 triumphs Momentum in terms of Build & sound quality. Momentum is  very efficient, reaches loud volumes from weak sources too. but slight compromise has to be made in terms of quality. Again this is intended for portable uses, so it is fine.
 

 

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Conclusion:  A good set of headphones for music enthusiasts on the move,  build quality is very good except the cable, which is flimsy. Sonic performance is satisfactory for a portable headphone. The momentum is definitely comfortable & light. Sennheiser has done a good job these. The momentum is primarly a headphone primarily intended for "On the Go" situations with smartphone or DAP as a source.
 
Overall I would rate Momentums  7 out of 10
 

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This pair of beauty have unseated my AKG 551 as a my favourite portable headphones to go with my ipod touch while I enjoy my spotify playlists.  
 
Coldplay´s "Life in Technicolour" is an excellent track to test drive headphones. After a good listening of my other headphones, Momentum brings out the colour in the song more vividly and brightly.  I wear them proudly boasting better taste than people who wear beats. Utter unashamed snobbery. 

I like these headphones, but they've been ultimately replaced by P7's, due to their shortcomings.  The Momentums have a good presentation overall, but just isn't the kind of sound I'm looking for.  I do like a fair bit of bass in my headphones, but I like it to be controlled.  The Momentums seem to be a bit loose down low, and are boomy in the midbass (250ish range).  The mids are very well balanced and revealing, and are definitely their strength.  Vocals are fantastic through these headphones.  However, the treble rolls off pretty quickly.  This, paired with the boomy midbass, and I didn't like them for many of the genres I like to listen to (Rock, Metal, House).  Vocal and classical music would be a great match for these.  All that being said, my overarching biggest complaint with these headphones, are the ear cups.  They're simply too small.  I have small ears, and they still wouldn't fit all the way in the cups without a lot of moving around and settling.  Even once my ears were finally seated inside of the cups, my ear lobes were bent, so I'd constantly find myself messing with the fit because my ears would get bothered.  If you have very small ears, you'll probably find the fit to be very nice, and comfortable.  All other ears will be displeased.

Replaced my daily cans HD-25 -1 MKII, still use both but the momentum's are bit better i think. Only minor gripe is that the isolation isn't as good as the HD-25's but like I said, they do sound a bit more refined even before breaking them in. Can't go wrong if you're looking for closed over ear cans in this price range. 

I will get my bias out of the way first: I really enjoy the sound of many Sennheisers, and in my opinion the Momentum Full Size is the best sounding portable I have tried, and the best all-round sounding consumer-targeted portable headphone on the market. 
 
Appearance-wise the Momentum is, as I mentioned, an exquisite feeling headphone. It reminds me of that modernist British industrial design that is the Bowers and Wilkins P5 and P7, but more classic or vintage looking (cough cough hipster) and with aluminum instead of stainless steel. The headphone is basically an aluminum headband with two ear cups fastened on. The headband padding and earpads are made from lamb leather and the ear cup housings are made from glass-filled plastic. The ear cups are tension-adjusted by sliding them up and down on the headband; there is no ratcheting or click adjustment. My Momentums are the black model with red cabling, a black with red stitched carrying case, red stitching on the headband, and red cloth covering the driver baffle plates inside the ear cups. The ear cups are a matte finish, which does concern me about picking up scratches. The cable connecting the left and right channels is the same material as the input cable, and may worry some people as the wires are exposed and may snag on something and tear. As for appearances out on the street, the Momentum doesn't immediately look like a theft magnet or something that shouts "I'm super expensive". It's a bit like the Audi A4 of portable headphones. At first sight it might look like a much cheaper-priced retro style headphone like the Panasonic RP-HTX7, and to me adds to its value of being able to be used in public. Overall I wouldn't say the Momentum Full Size isn't as sturdy as the V-Moda Crossfade M100 or the XS, and the padding due to the delicate leather material is less durable than the Alcanatara on the Momentum On Ear. But the earpads are replaceable.
 
The cable is a mixed bag for me. Sure it's a good looker, has a metal fob with 3 button iOS controls, a good microphone, and an aluminum jack with a 90 degrees of movement variable adjusting plug. But the rubber coating the cable is thin and develops kinks rather easily. I am also concerned about the lack of strain reliefs on the terminations to the ear cup, the input connector, and the remote fob. But after a couple accidental tugs rest assured there was no breaking and the connector simply detached from my phone. As for spares, the Momentum does come with a plain spare straight cable, but with no remote and no variable angle jack. And because the cables terminate to a 2.5mm connector on the ear cup with a bayonet lock, getting a replacement should you destroy the iOS cable requires you to buy a genuine Sennheiser cable at a cost of 70 dollars, or 50 dollars for the Momentum On Ear cable that has no metal fob body and a 90 degree fixed angle jack. Ouch.
On the bright side there are plenty of manufactures (usually from China) on Ebay offering aftermarket cables made specifically to be compatible with the Momentum's 2.5mm connector, with iOS controls for a much lower price than a genuine one. And if you want to go crazy, I believe there are some cables purchasable for the Momentum made from pure silver or copper and silver. For an arm and a leg of course. The case is nylon coated, has a sturdy zipper, is padded inside with a hook and loop pocket to store your cable, but it's big in size and requires you to push the ear cups all the way to their top positions in order for them to fit into the slots. 
 
Now onto comfort. The headband padding is rather hard and splits into two rails. This can cause some digging into the scalp if the headphones are not adjusted properly. I usually sit them flat on the top of my head and am usually fine. The headphone is also rather light so this helps. The Momentum was advertised initially as an around-ear headphone, but for most people it isn't. The ear cups are simply not wide and tall enough for most peoples' ears. I find that the hard cartilaginous areas of my ear tuck inside the cups and rest against the cloth inner walls, but the bottom of the pads rest on top of my earlobes. I have big ears, so if I don't adjust the cups just right, I find the hard areas of my ears pressing against the plastic baffle plates, which can hurt over time. Since they still fit around the larger areas of my ears, they are more stable and won't just slip off, but since they are very cozy and squeeze the edges of my ears, I find that I have to take the Momentums off every hour or so to let my ears breathe, and then I can put them back on and resume listening. Prolonged wear without a break causes my ears to become hot, sore and pinched. In my opinion, this is the biggest drawback that can spoil the overall experience of the Momentums and their initially lofty 350 to 400 US dollar price tag. They sound so good that you will want to listen to them for hours on end, but your ears will likely object to this prolonged listening session. 
 
And finally the sound.
 
I purchased the Momentum Full Size after briefly owning the Momentum On Ear and returning it due to not liking its signature. I found the On Ear to not only make my ears red hot and sore from as little as a half hour of wearing time, the treble was too splashy, the mid bass too overbearing and the vocals too withdrawn and the headphone rather unsatisfactory for genres other than pop, hip-hop, trance, dance and harder hitting house music. The Full Size Momentum is a much different sounding headphone. The Momentum to my ears has a linear enough response that from bottom end to the lower treble, there is plenty of information portrayed. If one looks at the frequency chart, the Momentum has an almost flat curve from the sub bass to the lower treble, where it begins to roll off. Now some people will argue that the Momentum is slow, muffled, and bass heavy. I argue that the people who say that are likely treble heads. For you guys I recommend the Bowers and Wilkins P7. 
 
There isn't an up front treble that gives the Momentum an immediately forward and sparkly sound. So it may sound shelved in the vocal range or slightly echoey. But once your ears adjust to the sound signature, you will find that they have a sound that goes well with almost every genre. The treble still has plenty of detail, but is never harsh. To me it's more subdued than it is softer. 
 
The mids have a liquid sort of sound to them that while they may seem polite, have plenty of energy in the vocals. The upper mids have a little bit of a glare or splash to them that may become blarey at higher volumes with trumpets, saxophones, and female singers, but for most of the music I listen to (soul, smooth jazz, Spanish guitar work, Japanese electronica, baroque, pop rock, house, hip-hop, Arabic pop and drum and bass), this isn't much of an issue.
 
The bass is really where the Momentums shine. The bass from the lower bass to the upper bass has excellent presence, impact, detail and is never overblown. The mid bass to my ears has a bit of that Sennheiser wooden-like bloominess (like the HD650) that makes it a tad loose, but it never becomes one-note or droning like the Momentum On Ear became. The upper bass blends into the lower mids excellently without adding an overly chesty sound like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 did to my ears, or adding too much forwardness to already forward mids, making the headphone sound honky (like the V-Moda XS). The sub bass is done exceptionally well. It has plenty of tightness, rumbles when it needs to (for drums and hip-hop) quick decay (the notes don't hang around and sound muddy), and isn't overemphasized. So it doesn't sound boomy, slow, loose or overly rumbly. The bass to my ears on the Momentum is exceptionally coherent. It doesn't have an overboosted upper bass with a woeful bottom end, making it sound honky or overly warm at times (like the AKG K240 Studio/MKII). It doesn't have a droning, over boosted mid bass like the Momentum On Ear. And it doesn't have a conspicuously powerful sub bass with a thin upper mid bass and sucked out upper bass, making it sound overly bottom heavy with an unnatural and lean transition to the midrange (like the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250 on a solid state amp, the Sennheiser HD380 Pro, and Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro). 
 
Sound character-wise, the Momentum reminds me of a closed back, slightly less hi-fi HD650 with a more boosted bottom end, a slightly less forward midrange and more shelved off-sounding vocals. If black on the Momentum isn't for you, there are two other color options. There is brown Momentum with oliveish/coffee brown colored padding and satin-finished cups, and the ivory Momentum with tan ear cups, medium brown headband, and black earpads and black padding inside the headband. I have read that with cleaning the leather on the brown Momentum can turn black or darker after a while. So if this is a concern, the black Momentum or ivory version with their black inside (i.e. the parts that touch your scalp and ears) padding may be a better choice. In retrospect, I wish I chose the ivory Momentum over the black model due to looks with my phone being white, but the black model is still a good looker, and probably blends in better with my blackish hair. 
 
Quick comparison with the Sony MDR-1R
 
The Momentum has a more impactful, fairly forward, and harder hitting sound than the Sony MDR-1R, which is a headphone with a more dreamy, sweeter, diffuse midrange, wider soundstage imaging, a softer treble, and a bass that dives off after the upper mid bass. The MDR-1R has a distinctly Japanese-style sound tuning (politer, laid back and tuned more by the ear), whereas the Momentum has more of an ear and frequency measurement-tuned sound. It's a more German sound but with warmth. The MDR-1R is softer and much more of a polite, relax-with-music-in-the-background sort of sound; whereas the Momentum is a more forward, demands-to-be-up-front sound, with a subdued treble. One suits a listening mood more than the other. While the 1R is more relaxing to listen to and more comfortable to wear, the Momentum grabs my attention more and is a funner listening experience. 

I got these headphones about a year ago. During this years I used these headphones on a constant basis. I had previously upgraded from the Sennheiser Amperior which hurt my ears (because the on ear design crushes the shape of my ears). Getting into the details
 
Build quality:
Where do I even start? The flimsy stainless steel headband. Some of the metal in the headband is cut out making it forked. Immediate when I first got it I was disappointed. It feels flimsy and it actually bends! I'm not kidding. I'm not talking about flexing. I think most headphone bands are flexible. I mean you can bend it into different positions. I shouldn't have to worry about bending my headphones. I have to mention this IN BOLD PRINT: The cables are crap. Both of the cables that came with the headphones broke within half a year apart of each other. There are two cables that come with the headphones. One with volume control and one without volume control. Both of the cables break near the plug that goes into your audio device. Cables that only last half a year are very bad. They don't work on android or old apple devices.
 
The look:
These headphones have leather on them. I didn't think about it when I first ordered them, because I was too enthralled with the good reviews to be thinking clearly. What the hell though, leather? Is this the stone age? Leather is very susceptible to wear. I had a leather jacket when I was younger and I couldn't wear it in the rain, I couldn't throw it in a wad, and it would tear and I had to get it fixed. It's not a practical material. The headband just curves around the head in kind of a unnatural looking way. It leaves a lot of space between the head and arches awkwardly. The earphone cups look average. You'd think I got these at a clearance sale at target for some headphones going for a faux designer look. I hate the way these things look. The Amperior (or the Aluminum as they call it now), kills this thing in terms of looks. I love the utilitarian look of the Amperior.
 
Comfort: 
I gotta give it to Sennheiser, these things are comfy. Much more comfortable than the Amperior. I can wear them on my head for quite a while and I never get hurt. So stars to the Momentum, for not causing me pain...
 
The Sound: 
So here's what everyone cares about. The sound. Well I'm not impressed. I tried a pair of Sennheiser Amperior headphones TWICE. The difference between the Amperior and the Momentum is the Amperior is fun, and the Momentum is dull. They're both detailed. The Momentum is laid back though. It has an edge over the Amperior in sound stage. It's not like the Sennheiser HD650 where I hear things coming out of the headphone and I have to take them off to see if the sound came from the headphones or inside the room. I listen to mostly extreme metal and hardcore punk type stuff, with the occasional indie rock, post rock, shoegaze, slowcore, folk, and whatever else thrown in for good measure. I'm kind of split between the sound of the Amperior and the Momentum though. Because while the Amperior was "fun", it wasn't actually that fun... it just had a brighter sound. The Momentums are not very bright, but they are a tad more spacious than the Amperior. I would choose the Momentums over the Amperior in terms of sound quality. Not sure if it gets much better in terms of portable. I'm just an average customer, not some tycoon who can test out all the brands. So I won't try to act like I have the last word on their sound over some of the experts in sound quality here at Head Fi. 
 
In conclusion, I feel ripped off. I know everyone likes these headphones, but they just have way too many drawbacks. I wish I would have gotten the V-Modas back when I was deciding what portable headphones to get. The new V-Moda XS just came out and I might end up getting those. I'm not sure yet. Don't buy these if you don't want to feel ripped off.

I've owned the Sennheiser Momentum for about a year now. Though it is aesthetically pleasing, and very sturdy overall, I can honestly say that it isn't worth the $300.
 
I enjoyed the mids, which are very warm and smooth. However, treble sounds very veiled. I enjoy headphones that roll off a bit on the treble, but the Momentums just take it too far, yielding very muddy high frequencies. Bass is adequate, even without an amp, but again, the lack of detail hits the bass hard. I believe these headphones simply lack detail in all frequencies, and while the mids benefit from that by acquiring the warmness that acoustically pleasing, the other frequencies fall behind quite a bit.
 
The soundstage is almost nonexistent. I have owned cheaper closed headphones and IEMs that produce a much better soundstage. The isolation is fairly good though, so I can't complain too much.
 
The leather earpads are nice and soft, however, they don't do much to help comfort for those of us who have larger ears. The Momentums simply are too darn small to feel comfortable, and I had to constantly take them off and have a break because my ears were hurting quite a bit. If you wear glasses, it's a lot worse. They are very light, however, so if you have small ears, I'm sure these will work fine for you. The clamping pressure can begin to hurt your scalp after long periods, but this isn't too much of a problem (or, more accurately, it is simply a problem for so many headphones that it is easy to overlook).
 
Also, the leather does wear down quite quickly.
 
Though these headphones don't need an amp, I did have to turn the volume up to 90% on my iPhone to get to a descent volume. I didn't notice much of an improvement in sound quality when I did use an amp, however, they do become significantly louder. Sadly, due to the fact that they are a very slow, closed headphone, turning the volume up a little will result in a further loss in quality.
 
As far as the design, these headphones do look very nice. They are sturdy, and I never found myself worried about breaking them. That alone might be enough to make this headphone worthwhile to some. However, again, I simply don't think it's worth the $300 it costs.
 
Overall, it's just too expensive to recommend. Again, I own other headphones that are cheaper, sound better, and are much more comfortable than the Momentums.

Ok so, this was my first ever "hi-fi" headphone, and my first thoughts were "Why haven't I cared about audio before now?" I was literally blown away, coming from the cheap "gaming" headsets (Gamecom 780, Corsair 1400 etc.) these just sounded so much more clear and "clean". The bass reaches down quite low, without being emphasized, the mids are just perfect, and the highs are high without being harsh.Not only is the sound great, these things are also built like a tank, not only are the ear cups made of genuine leather, the headband is also made of one piece of stainless steel, so I don't see these breaking any time soon
 
I started using it just straight of of my pc (Realtek ALC 889) and HTC ONE (m7), and I really enjoyed the sound. But then I got a little more "into" the whole head-fi world, so I bought myself a Firestone Fubar IV, and that little thing just increased the sound quality one bit. So if you're purchasing this for "on-the-go" I'd definetly look into at small portable amp/dac combo.
 
Just to quote Tyle from Innerfidelity: "I dont think I've ever heard a headphone that does so much, so very well"
 
- Now for the comfort issue I was talking about: If you have big ears (or just a little above average) the earcups could easily get to small for your ears to fit nicely, I personally don't find this to be a problem for short listening sessions (1hour) but for a long flight (or whatever these do get uncomfortable, and my ears start to hurt.
 
- Enjoy your music

This was Sennheiser’s first stab at the lifestyle consumer market, and to say the least I think they succeeded beyond my expectations! The Momentums are a probably the most well rounded headphone (in all aspects) I have ever seen/heard. I think because of how well the Momentums executed in the all the sections I listed below, this makes the Momentum an easy recommendation for basically everyone. Click on the youtube link for a condensed video review
 
Review

 

 

 

 

Accessories/ Features
The headphone come in a hard shelled carrying case rather large, about half the size of my 13-inch macbook pro (see the picture below).  Inside you see the case is perfectly molded to the shape of the headphones. Something to note, you can keep the cable attached to the headphone even when storing them away (a huge plus in my book, so you don’t have to detach and reattach the cable too often). In the middle you see an oval shaped piece that is attached with Velcro, lifting it you can store your cables and other accessories here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something to note, you have to retract your headphones each time when inserting them back into the carrying case.
The headphones come with 2 detachable cables both 1.4 m in length (perfect for portable use), both have a special twist and lock mechanism once inserted into the left earcup of the headphone. Something to note, the side that connects to the earcup is 2.5mm while the other end is 3.5mm (for your audio device). One is a stock audio cable with a straight jack. The second cable has a IOS remote and mic (3 button remote, for play/pause/rewind/fast-forward and Siri), made of entirely metal. The remote cable also has a very unique feature on the jack(which is made of metal), which swivels and allows it to be both a straight, 45 degree, or  l shape jack, so they can fit with whatever your preferences are. Very nice touch!
 
Overall: 9/10
 
Design and Build quality
Upon unboxing the momentums (click the youtube video below) 
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You can see I absolutely gushed at the quality of the materials used to make these headphones.  The design is a very minimalist, yet slightly retro. It’s a headphone that screams quality, that can easily appeal to a wide population (that comes in black, brown, and ivory). A design that’s truly exquisite and timeless.

 

 

 

 

 

The headband padding and the earpads are made of a sweat and water resistant leather. The headband itself is a 1 piece stainless steel band, very sturdy.  The headband is split at the top, to allow for better ventilation (reducing hotspots) and allow for greater stability.
The earcups are made of a high quality matte plastic (doesn’t pick up fingerprints) and swivel to easily fit anyone’s head shape and size. That adjusts based on friction, sliding up and down. (once adjusted the headphone does not slide around unless intended).
Every part that touches your head when wearing it is made of leather, metal.  Very premium indeed.
Both cables are of medium thickness and with adequate strain relief and easily replaceable on sennheiser’s website.
 
Overall: 9/10 (the size adjusting function (based on friction) is unique but I question its longevity, especially if your retracting and extending (when using the hardshell case)
 
Comfort/weight
Comfort seems to be a hit and miss, as noted here on head fi, and many other reviewers, the earpads are small for a full size/over ear headphone, some stating their ears don’t fit inside making these into on ear headphone.

My ears fit inside, the edge of my right ear touches the fabric on the inside, so those with bigger ears should definitely try these. The edge of my right ear touches the fabric on the inside, so those with bigger ears should definitely try these. However despite all this, I found the comfort superb, the combination of the soft, silky earpads and the light clamping force allows these to be comfortable while remaining secure. These like many over ear headphones do cause some sweating on a hot day, but for the most part the earpads are breathable and doesn’t lead to discomfort.

The weight of these headphones are about 190g. making them very very lightweight for full size headphones. And even though the headband doesn’t have a lot of padding, because of how lightweight the headphones are this isn’t an issue at all.
 
Overall: 8.5/10
 
Isolation
I felt the passive isolation was very impressive. These can be used in even the most demanding environments, from the library all the way to subway commuting. They won’t isolate as much as a pair of deep sealing earphones but for full size headphones, their very impressive.
 
Overall: 9/10
 
Sound quality: I continued to be amazed once I put these headphones on and started listening. These headphones really are a fantastic all- arounder. Every song I listened to, the Momentums reproduced marvelously.
 
Bass: the bass on the momentums is slightly emphasized, and it reaches very low, and has adequate tightness, and is very nimble. It’s the kind of bass that played well with a wide variety of music both at home and on the subway (where its competing with the loud screeching wheels and people talking).
 
Midrange: I found that for acoustic or ballad tracks the momentums reproduced the tranquil atmosphere beautifully, and was dry, and very natural sounding. I found the momentums did favour male vocals over female vocals, so the male vocals does have a bit more body and character. The female vocals have the same amount of clarity but they sound a bit thinner, this was probably done to prevent fatigue from of those powerful female vocals, which can be a bit much when listening on other headphones.
 
Treble: The treble on the momentums is relaxing and does have a bit of roll off. Those that listen primarily to more electronic based music may find the treble a bit lacking in energy.  However, the treble is very articulate and the trade off for that extra treble energy allows it to never be fatiguing (a plus for long term listening).  I would like just a bit more sparkle on the treble for it to have a bit more air.
 
Soundstage: In terms of soundstage, its rather vast and 3D sounding. I’m surprised at how open it sounds for being a closed headphone. Instrument layering is impressive and while remaining open at the same time.
 
Overall: 9/10
 
Portability factor
These can easily be worn around the neck when not in its carrying case. With no restriction in head movement. See review below. The Momentums however don’t fold up, but I think this helps keep the weight down without losing durability. They were intended to play off Smartphones, and it does not require any external amplifier.
 
Overall: 8/10
 
Overall I felt that the momentums are an amazing set of headphones. It has easily become my first recommendation when some wants something that’s stylish, portable, durable, yet lightweight, while at the same time sounds amazing. Yes you can have your pie and eat it it.
 
Total Score: 52.5/60 = 87.5%

I am not very experienced with high end headphones but the second I put these headphones on my head, I wanted them. They are made of the best materials, smooth leather ear pads, aluminium cups, stainless steel sliders and leather upon the top of the headband too. The leather used is supposedly lamb leather. There is plenty of treble and ear-booming bass. I think the aluminium ear cups help aid the sound as if you put your finger on them, they vibrate boldly with the driver and makes a feel which you just can't get with plastic. They offer great adjust-ability not only because of the sliders but how the ear cups swivel around onto your ear perfectly. However after around 3 hours of wearing they get slightly uncomfortable and so I then wear them on-top of my ears almost like on-ear when they start to get uncomfortable and carry on listening no problem. The cable is virtually indestructible except a bit of plastic broke on the end of one, it took my full body weight at the time don't ask how I managed that but the wire itself still works fine. The cable is constructed using materials you will find in race suits and are acid resistant. I would have liked to see a cable with Android compatibility. Also the locking system on the cable entry to the headphones is very handy! But this does prevent you from just using any cable, not only because f the lock but the jack itself is a tad smaller than 3.5mm making it unique to Momentum headphones. Overall very pricey but worth every penny!

First of all, I would like to thank Lachlan from lachlanlikesathing (Youtube Reviewer). Before I saw Lachlan's Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear review, I was never really interested in reviewing headphones. However, after watching his video review, it inspired me to make my own headphone reviews. And now, half a year has gone by... I cannot help but say, thank you because it has been a really fun journey.
 
Okay, enough about where my inspiration comes from... Let's focus on the main topic, the review!
 
What can I say? I think this is a great example of what a good closed-back headphone should be! Let me start by saying, this headphone is not for everybody.
 
To begin, the build quality of this headphone is fantastic, it really showcases what one can buy with $299 as it demonstrates with excellent build quality and the material used for the headphone which included huge chunks of metal and leather padded on both the top of the headband and the earpads. I was surprised, with the combination of these materials, the headphone turned out to be so light and so very comfortable! I believe one can wear this all day long without having any neck fatigue. Furthermore, the headphone comes with a lot of accessories which included a very well padded hardcase for travel (although it is quite bulky, it appears to be very durable) and 2 cables (one of the cables have the Apple IOS controls, and the other is a place cable... both of which have locking mechanisms) and lastly, a 1/4" adapter.
 
Now... with all the nice features in this headphone, it does not make a good headphone unless it is combined with the sound quality, and here it is where opinions will differ. The overall sound quality of this headphone is rather dark (not in a bad way), relaxing, and very laid back which means that the headphone has a really smooth low-end bass region, and a rather huge treble roll-off (which may steer some people away from this headphone). I argued that it may steer some people away from this headphone because you would lose a lot of detail in the treble region, and it would provided a non-energetic sound signature that may not please everyone. However, if you are after a relaxing headphone, then look no further, the Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear is here for you.
 
For a more detailed review, please see my video review located here:

 

These are my first pair of over-ear headphones (I have owned several earphones) and I am amazed by everything on these. Prior to purchasing them, I was looking for quality sound and stylish headphones and would rather have sound over style. I wanted headphones that aren't too hard on the bass and would like the bass to be above average and rounded (not exaggerated), plus treble should be just right. Options I have considered are ATH-M50x, AKG K545 and Sennheiser Momentum. I use them mainly for music like hip-hop/rap, trap and house on my phone & laptop and rarely (once/twice a month) use them for movies/TV shows on my laptop.

First impressions matter: packaging is wonderful and it felt amazing opening the carrying case to take out the headphones. Also, they sound perfect with the genres I listen to. I don't need to adjust EQ for the bass or anything else. Perfect and rounded bass and the highs, mids and lows are 5-star. Comfort is 6/5 especially because my ears are a perfect fit. Build quality is 6/5 as well, love the leather and aluminium touches. I've got to be honest and say that I was very hesitant when buying these since I was very worried about the bass because when I tried them in my local store, the bass was very low and to the extent that I was ready to return them if I didn't like them. Surprised. Very surprised by the superior quality of the bass.

Very highly recommended headphones for anyone looking for both sound quality and style. You really do tell they are worth the $300 you paid for.

So for anyone who wondered about the David Bowie inspired headphone contest, there were 2 winners and I am one of them. I never thought I would own such a great pair of headphones. I have heard people say that the ear cups were a little too small, but they do seem to conform a bit after wearing. The great part about the small size is that I can lay down while listening to music. I cant do that with my other full sized headphones because they are just too bulky. 
 
Another great thing is that these headphones do not seem to be starved for power when running off my phone, unlike my other full sized headphones. The sound isolation on these also seems to be very good so i am expecting to use these quite a bit on my 14 hour plane flight. 
 
In summary, a beautiful sounding and great looking pair of headphones. The case is also a work of art. Great job Sennheiser, these headphones are perfect for my or any cell phone.