Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th Anniversary Edition) Review: Stand out nostalgic design with classic outstanding sound

Sennheiser is one of the most respected names in the world of audio, with a long history that goes all the way back to 1945 when Fritz Sennheiser founded Laboratorium Wennebostel (Lab W), which went on to become Sennheiser Electronic. The brand completed 80 years of existence on June 1, and to mark this has come out with a commemorative product – an 80th Anniversary Edition of its critically-acclaimed Momentum 4 Wireless headphones (read our review here). But does its being Sennheiser’s sonic symbol of headphone history make it a good deal for those who might simply want a good ANC headphone, fighting off the similarly priced Sony WH-1000XM5, the Nothing Headphones (1) and the JBL Tour M2?

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th anniv) Design and appearance: Screaming nostalgia for Sennheiser veterans!

Those who have not been following Sennheiser for a while might be surprised by the design of the 80th anniversary edition of the Momentum 4 Wireless. Many identify the brand with headphone designs that are smart and sober, with subtle touches of design. However, it was not always the case. In fact, the first Sennheiser headphones that really grabbed attention were the HD414 in 1968, which came with bright yellow foam earpads. Sennheiser has paid homage to this iconic headset by adding lots of bright yellow to its 80th anniversary edition of the Momentum 4 wireless – there is yellow padding on the headband and daubs of bright yellow on the outside of both right and left earcups, the lettering on the inside of the earcups indicating right and left is also in yellow, and rather unusually is accompanied by an illustration. Even the Sennheiser logo on the bundled carrying case is in yellow.

That is not the only nod to nostalgia. Each of the earcups comes with “throwie” art, which was a form of graffiti that was very popular in the subways in New York in the seventies, around the time when the HD414 gained popularity. Throwies were illustrations made using aerosol paint, using bubble shaped letters. The outside of the left cup has a figure of a character wearing headphones and “lost in sound” with a splash of yellow running right across, while the outside of the right one has what Sennheiser says are “dynamic sound waves and intricate detailing, symbolizing the perfect balance of technical precision,” with a large “80” in yellow on top of them. The inside of the right cup has an “R” and “Sennheiser” framed with clouds and tiny crescents, while the inside of the left has an “L” and “Momentum 4” in the middle of what seems like a throwie squiggle.

In other regards, these headphones are exactly like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. The ear cups are silver-grey, the ample padding is black, and the top of the headband has a canvas-like texture, which we have seen in the Momentum True Wireless TWS cases. The headphones do not fold inwards, so they take up a bit of space, and their carrying case is a little on the large side. At 293 grams, they are a little on the heavy side, but well-balanced. The materials are mainly plastic, but the headphones have a very premium feel to them, with very solidly designed and smooth hinges.

Some might find the 80th Anniversary Edition of the Momentum 4 Wireless to be out of sync with Sennheiser’s recent design language, but the audience that these headphones are targeted at – the Sennheiser veterans and senior audiophiles – will smile with nostalgia. In our books, these comfortably take the place of the Nothing Headphones (1) as the most distinct headphones out there. And do so by being funky rather than eccentric. Recent Sennheiser fans will prefer the more regular appearance of the quietly classy original Momentum 4 Wireless, but those who used a Sennheiser in the seventies and eighties will love this avatar of the Momentum 4 Wireless. Not everyone will “get” what they stand for, which makes them all the more special.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th anniv) specs, features, and performance: As awesome as the original Momentum 4 Wireless

In terms of specs and features, these special edition Sennheiser headphones are exactly the same as the original Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. You get 42 mm dynamic transducers, four microphones, Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint connectivity, adaptive ANC, support for SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX adaptive codecs, 60-hour battery life, and touch controls, as well as a comprehensive companion Smart Control Plus app. They remain very comfortable and can be worn for hours.

In terms of performance, they are actually better out of the box than the original Momentum 4 Wireless were. This is not because of any change in hardware but simply because they come with improved firmware, which has ironed out the issues we faced with the originals, and which has been delivered to the original headphones via software updates in the time since their release. ANC and call quality have both been improved even more, and although still not in the class of what we get from the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose Quiet Comfort, they are much closer to them. Best of all, the sound remains as good as ever, delivering the best wireless audio experience outside the AirPods Max. The geek brigade might complain about the absence of head tracking and spatial audio, which are now becoming a flagship headphone staple, but those who love clear, balanced sound will be sold on the audio quality. The touch interface remains a little iffy, but you get the hang of it by and by.

The 60-hour battery life with ANC remains superb. All in all, these are great headphones for those who want to marry wireless convenience with audio quality, although some might complain about the lack of LDAC support.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th anniv) Pricing: More affordable now

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th Anniversary Edition) were launched at $299 / Rs 26,990, and are generally available for about $249 / Rs 24,000, which is pretty much the same as the regular Momentum Wireless, and is significantly lower than the launch (and still official) price tag of $349 / Rs 34,990.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th anniv) Competitors/ Challengers: Nothing, Sony, Bose

Sony WH-1000XM5
They are available for about $363 / Rs 22,000 – Rs 25,000, and remain the best option for those who prioritise ANC at this price point. Simply the boss of ANC, and audio quality is good too, although not in the Sennheiser class.

JBL Tour M2
They are now available for $249 / Rs 15,000 – Rs 17,000, and are perhaps the best mainstream-sounding BT headphones under Rs 20,000 in the market. The audio signature is bass-centric, though, which might annoy purists,

Bose QuietComfort Wireless
They are available at Rs 20,000 – Rs 25,000. And deliver the legendary slightly soft, gently bass-y Bose sound. They are easily the most comfortable headphones to wear around, and the ANC matches the 1000XM5. But mainly for those who love that Bose sound.

Nothing Headphones (1)
These are available at $299/Rs 19,999 at the time of writing, and are the most noticeable Bluetooth headphones out there, this side of the AirPods Max. Sound quality is good after tweaking the EQs, and ANC is decent too, but these really are more for those who value sight more than sound.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th anniv) Review Verdict: Should you buy it?

If you value audio quality, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are easily the best Bluetooth headphones you can get in the vicinity of $249/Rs 25,000. In fact, in terms of sheer audio quality, we would place them second only to the AirPods Max even below $499/Rs 50,000. The real question is which Momentum 4 Wireless should you go for: the sober and regular original, or the jazzed-up anniversary edition? Those who do not know too much of Sennheiser’s legacy might prefer the originals. Those who want headphones that turn heads will like the Anniversary edition. Those who are Sennheiser fans and know the brand’s history will, of course, find its nostalgia-laden design irresistible.

Buy Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Anniversary Edition (USA)
Buy Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Anniversary Edition (India)

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