Sennheiser Momentum Ivory 2.0 wireless headset review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing3. Sennheiser Momentum Ivory4. Testing5. Final Thoughts6. View All Pages

To test a set of headphones like these I put them through their paces listening to a multitude of different music tracks of various qualities, from a number of different artists and genres. The majority of my testing was conducted using a Bluetooth connection to a Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, though I also tested it via a 3.5mm wired connection (using bundled cable) and to a generic Bluetooth 4.0 adapter plugged into my desktop PC.

Throughout testing I factored in the sound quality over the different audio sources, as well as the long-term comfort and portability of the headphones themselves.

Sound quality is of course the most important point of note with any set of headphones – especially when they are aimed at those willing to spend upwards of £300 on a set of cans. Fortunately then I can report that the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Ivory Wireless headphones sound excellent.

This may come as a surprise to those who are used to the poor quality of Bluetooth headphones in the past. That was because in compressing the audio for wireless transfer much of the quality was lost – with the Qualcomm AptX audio codec that both these headphones and most modern audio devices support, that problem no longer exists.

Whether using the provided cable or the intended Bluetooth 4.0 connection I found that the Momentum headphones sounded excellent. Bass is heavy and punchy and can hit the rumbly uber-low notes well enough too –  even at higher volumes – with no crackling or noticeable distortion.

The headphones have their own voice too. A soft, female voice will tell you when they power on/off and how much battery you have left.

At the higher end of the frequency spectrum the notes are also well reproduced and can play well alongside the rest of the mix without being overblown or overshadowed. That mid-range too is very strong, really bringing mixes alive where other headphones often fall down.

One issue I did run into with sound quality though, was when connecting the Momentum headphones to my PC. I used a generic Bluetooth 4.0 adapter that I had previously had kicking around for a wireless keyboard to connect through. It was that generic adapter I blamed when I first connected up the headphones and found the sound reproduced in a mono format through a single earphone, with no bass, treble or any nuance to the sound whatsoever.

In short, it sounded terrible.

Sure it was the fault of the adapter I tried another, with similar results. Fortunately it turned out not to be the fault of the headphones themselves, but the way Windows 10 handled their connection. For some reason it automatically switched them to “hands free telephony,” mode, which – designed for voice calls – reduced the quality for clarity's sake.

Needless to say I was far more pleased when I was able to switch that off and reconnect the headset under its proper stereo format.

When connected that way, I found the sound produced just as strong as that when wirelessly or wired connected to my smartphone, so for those looking to replace their HTC Vive or Oculus Rift headphones with something wireless, the Sennheiser Momentum cans are not a bad idea at all.

The soft leather of the earcups is very comfortable over long periods, but feels breathable and does not ever get hot or sweaty. Likewise the headband is comfortable and rests gently on the top of your head. The headset is quite light too, so you never feel like it is weighing down your ears or your head, creating undue pressure.

The multi-function button can take a moment to get used to, but it works well.

Volume control is within easy reach and it stands out enough that after a couple of tries you can find it easily while in use, without having to pop the headphones off to remind yourself. Due to the placement of the power button, you probably want to turn them on/off when not wearing them, as the pressure required can knock them loose, but that is not exactly a problem.

The multi-function volume control button can be used to change songs too. It is not the most nuanced of functions, but it works well enough and helps keep you untethered from the audio source.

Noise cancelling is strong too, so if you find yourself in a home with a noisy atmosphere, it need not be a problem. They do not silence the real world, which is good – no one wants to feel completely separated – but if you have some music playing at a decent volume, you will not hear a thing. Keep it moderate however and you will be able to tap into your surroundings without feeling like you cannot escape them.

Microphone quality for the Momentum 2.0 Wireless is strong. I would not say it is comparable with some of the more VOIP focused headsets with a boom microphone, but what comes through is clear and precise and at a decent volume – impressive really considering that there is not anything even remotely close to your mouth.

Battery life for these headphones has been strong. After my initial charge they are still playing after 20 hours of usage. They are rated to last up to 22 hours, so it is good to see the headphones maintaining their charge for a prescribed amount.

In terms of distance, I found the headphones capable of continuing to play via the Bluetooth connection around seven to eight metres when walls and windows are in the way. In a straight line of sight though, they are capable to around 10 metres.

One aspect of the Momentum Wireless headphones which I would have liked to have seen is a bundled Bluetooth adapter. That might be because I am such a heavy desktop user, but considering how strong the sound quality was over Bluetooth even when using my cheap, generic adapter, it would not have cost Sennheiser much to bundle one.

Granted the bundled 3.5mm cable gives you the ability to connect the headset up to your PC/Laptop, but the whole point of these cans is that they are wireless. They sound just as good over either, so I do not think a couple of quid on an adapter would have cut into Sennheiser's profits too much.

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