Page 3 - Subjective Audio Analysis
Reviewing audio devices require extensively trained ears and lots of experience. Even for audiophiles, it may prove challenging at times to obtain an accurate evaluation of a product without a thoroughly familiar product to use as a simultaneous reference. While I am not going to even try to claim that I am the only trustworthy or best reviewer for sound, it is fact that most computer review sites have editors who are insufficiently trained in reviewing audio equipment. Give them practically anything and all you will read about goes along the line of "good bass, nice midrange, awesome treble, really clear sound, 10/10". While there are many knowledgeable audio reviewers at various respected online media outlets, they are by far the minority.
As I have mentioned in my past audio reviews, there are really no true objective measurements for speaker sound quality. As the reviewer, however, I will put it through a series of subjective tests to try to come up with the most objective rating possible. Yes, it is quite a paradox haha. Tests were conducted primarily wirelessly via Bluetooth. I mainly used a Sony Xperia X, which has support for aptX. After over 40 hours of break-in time -- well above typically required period -- we put the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless to the tests. All tracks were uncompressed uncompressed or high bitrate files. Specifically to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, we tested these earphones with the default flat equalizer applied and no transparent hearing mode active.
While smaller IEMs are not always known for their low-end prowess, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless showed its presence in this region. It is solid and rounded out, providing a nice oomph for general listeners. Bass riffs and lines were clearly audible, providing a decent amount of drive and smoothness. Bass drums provided a decent amount of punch too. For the audiophile readers who prefer a more reference sound, you may find the bass is pushed a bit too forward and boosted, but for more casual listeners, this effect makes can be good for a fun sound, assuming the treble is up to the match too.
In the middle regions, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless offered a good amount of richer sounds. Instruments like pianos and guitars were produced with clarity and the natural wooden resonance you would like. These regions were good, though in the upper midrange, you could start hearing a bit of a recessed higher end. Voices were mostly wet without any discomfort.
As we continued up to the trebles, there was a slight trend of recession and attenuation at the higher end. Higher instruments like violins, high hats, and even vocalists were not as bright and sharp as I might have expected. Of course, these can be fixed by adjusting the equalizer, but it still is surprising to see this. Otherwise, nothing was really clashy in the upper region. Overall, the sound of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless is a combination of a boosted bass matched with a more recessed treble. This resulted in a slightly darker pair of earphones. While this may sound like a detriment, it does have a benefit on reducing audio fatigue.
When we move to other aspects like soundstaging and imaging, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless was pretty good in this regard. It provided a decent amount of width for its driver size. The image it created was realistic, though the heavier bass did alter this image too. I think the depth also could have been increased for a better perception, but it was still decent for its size. Of course, size does not always restrict soundstaging capabilities, but it does still play a role.
As for layering and frequency separation, there were some more things to point out. In terms of layering, you could distinguish the different frequency spectrums, but the more prominent bass played a role in sometimes merging the lower midrange with the bass. The lesser trebles also affected the layering sense, as we started to lose some detail in the higher regions. Between layers were mostly good with smooth transitions between the major frequencies. This meant the whole sound image produced felt cohesive. Cleanness was good, despite the heavier bass and lesser treble combination. Finally, sound isolation was pretty good too, as there was no leaking to the outside while also keeping external noises out passively.
In terms of usability, the Momentum True Wireless had several well-executed features. Its automatic pause worked well, but I really liked the ambient mode as I could hear external noises without needing to take off my headphones. I could even converse with people with the headphones on, though I often took them off out of visual courtesy. The wireless range was excellent, giving me some distance from the audio source without any notable drops or stutters. Latency while watching videos was relatively minimal, which is a good sign, but there it was more notable in mobile games, which can be concerning for some users. I assume it will be better if my phone had aptX LL support.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
