Review: Sennheiser Momentum On Ear Headphones

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Improving an already iconic line of on-ear headphones with a smaller profile, deeper sounds and optimum noise isolation, the Momenum On-Ear, is a strong and contemporary follow-up to one of Sennheiser’s most beloved headphones.

I reviewed the original Momentum series four years ago and somehow it remained my point of reference for what a great set of over the ear headphones could offer. Like that original line, the smaller On-Ear continues the trend by using high quality materials like soft alcantara leather, brushed stainless steel, and woven cloth accents that don’t just stand up to time but which also continue to delight the user the more the headphones are used.

Understated, elegant and lightweight. These wired on-ear speakers have been my go-to set for long trips, daily commutes as well as for late night work sessions which are usually fueled by listening to timeless jazz albums in high-resolution lossless formats.

While I’m more of an in-ear headphone user, simply because they’re convenient and easier to carry and can be tucked into a shirt pocket when convenient, the On-Ear headphones are still conveniently compact and fold away easily or hang around your neck without getting in the way.

Sennheiser conveniently ships these headphones with a posh carry case to keep them well protected when you chuck them in your backpack.

In terms of sound, the Momentum On-Ear headphones offer a satisfying range of audio reproduction. I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz, mostly John Coltrane’s quartet which are a mix of studio and live recordings.

I can pick up nuances and various sounds on the live recording that are easy to miss. This includes band members talking to each other, ambient sounds of guests and servers which really puts you right there in the middle of things.

I’ve also used the Momentum On-Ear’s while watching movies on my iPad or notebook whole travelling and found that they were comfortable for prolonged wear. Cinematic musical scores, punchy sound effects and dialogue are super clear and immersive.

What I like best about the Momentum On-Ear headphones is that they don’t call undue attention to themselves, they aren’t a giant advertisement for Sennheiser, no garish logos or blindingly bright colours which will appeal to most users.

The delicately balanced design of the Momentum On-Ear also belies its rugged construction and having clocked hundreds of travel hours with these headphones to keep me sane, has proven that they can survive the rigours of packed airports, rough handling in TSA security checkpoints and being sat on in an airplane seat.

As a product reviewer, I shift through various devices on a weekly basis. The Momentum On-Ear headphones have been a constant (together with Steely Dan’s Aja) for testing their ability to reproduce sound.

I’ve also listened to some other on-ear headphones by competing manufacturers, some had louder, deeper bass but failed to do justice to more complex recordings that were spread across the sound spectrum and therefore not as versatile as the Momentum On-Ear. Myonly reservation is that the music control button doesn't always work with music apps on my iPhone. 

Everybody’s ears are different, and everyone’s musical taste is different. This makes choosing a great pair of headphones challenging and since there’s no way to test these for hours to see if they remain comfortable, buying headphones is truly a leap of faith.

Sennheiser’s Momentum On-ear, and quite likely the larger Momentum 2 headphones are surely two of the most comfortable headphones in the market out there which also deliver stunning sound from various sources. Whether playing back jazz or classical record, listening to electronica and EDM, or playing podcasts or even voice recordings for transcription purposes, the Sennheiser’s consistently deliver a great experience.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5