Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

For travel headphones, noise cancellation is typically the deciding factor—and the Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers the strongest ANC available in any consumer headphone. Its V1 integrated processor analyzes ambient sound 700 times per second and adjusts cancellation in real time, which is particularly effective against the shifting frequency spectrum of airplane cabin noise. The eight microphones (four on each earcup) capture a wider range of external noise than any competitor.

In our flight testing, the XM5 reduced perceived cabin noise by approximately 90-95%, making it possible to listen to podcasts at low volume even during takeoff. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4's Adaptive ANC is genuinely good—we'd rate it at 80-85% cabin noise reduction—but the gap is noticeable, especially with low-frequency engine drone. Travelers who fly frequently and value silence above all else will notice and appreciate the Sony's superiority in this specific area.

That said, the MOMENTUM 4's ANC is more than sufficient for most travel scenarios. The difference matters most on long-haul flights and in exceptionally noisy environments like train stations.

If you care about how your music actually sounds—not just that it's loud enough to overcome cabin noise—the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 is the clear winner. Its 42mm transducers deliver a noticeably wider soundstage, better instrument separation, and more detailed midrange than the Sony. Vocals sound more present and natural, acoustic instruments have more texture, and the overall presentation feels more spacious.

The Sony XM5 sounds excellent by any consumer headphone standard. Most listeners would be perfectly happy with its clear, slightly warm tuning. But in a direct A/B comparison with the Sennheiser, the MOMENTUM 4 reveals details and nuances that the Sony smooths over. This difference is most apparent with high-quality audio files (FLAC, Apple Lossless) and less noticeable with compressed streaming audio.

For the typical traveler listening to Spotify at standard quality through Bluetooth, the sound quality difference is subtle. For the audiophile traveler with a lossless music library, the Sennheiser justifies its position as the sound quality champion of travel headphones.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4's 60-hour battery life is genuinely remarkable—it's double what the Sony XM5 offers and enough to fly round-trip from New York to Tokyo and back without charging. In practical terms, most travelers will charge the MOMENTUM 4 once every two to three weeks with regular daily use. The Sony's 30-hour battery is still very good, but you'll need to charge it weekly with daily use.

Both headphones offer impressive quick-charge capabilities. The Sony can deliver 3 hours of playback from just 3 minutes of charging—perfect for a pre-boarding top-up. The Sennheiser gives 4 hours from 5 minutes, which is similarly practical.

For long-haul travelers, the MOMENTUM 4's battery advantage is significant. Forgetting to charge your headphones before a trip is less consequential when the battery lasts a month. The Sony requires more disciplined charging habits, though its 30-hour rating is still above-average for the category.