Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (80th Ed.) review: retro meets excellence?:

Earlier this year, I reviewed the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. Sennheiser changed the game after this for me the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, with their understated, minimalist design, which made me label them the most comfortable headphones I have ever experienced. The headphones provide incredible comfort making any audiophile seek solace. The rich, articulate sound is enough to make any audiophile junkie find solace. An added bonus is the multipurpose nature of the headphones. They needless to say make a solid companion to minimalists. Sennheiser, for their 80th anniversary, released a special limited edition of the Momentum 4 Wireless. I believe I have spent enough time with them to provide you, the audiophile, with a detailed review so let’s dive in.

New look: retro meets the street

This is most appropriately described as ‘retro street style’. The design is a little ‘flashy’ for me- particularly with the vibrant yellow details. I have to say this new color set is too good to ignore. It is not just a colorway update. The retro design of the new headphones changes the Momentum 4 Wireless’s personality completely. This new version is bold, confident, and downright cool.

Across the left earcup is a ‘Throwie-style’ character, lost in the sound, visually representing the ‘musical headphones’ tagline. Meanwhile, the right earcup features meticulously detailed sound waves, indicative of the tech precision ‘value headphones’ tagline. The vibrant yellow ‘80’ in the center is a fond tribute to the HD 414 headphones. The earcup features visuals that harmoniously integrate at the center.

Sincerely, aside from pure aesthetic updates, their Limited-Edition headphones use the same sound technology as the original headphones. I can appreciate the new design, as the 80. Anniversary Sennheiser headphones offer a new outfit to celebrate the 80th Anniversary Sennheiser headphones. These headphones come with a bright, chromatic design to celebrate the ‘80’ just as the HD 414 headphones did.

I recognize the design intent as Sennheiser looked to classic audio gear aesthetics while retaining a modern design. Certainly, the design is purposely overt; however, I see that as a ‘retro’ artistic ‘flash’ rather than ‘gaudy’ ‘flash.’ Therefore, I see this ‘special edition’ as a ‘statement’ rather than as just ‘office’ headphones.

While I still admire the original's subtlety, this new iteration exhibits a character that is hard to ignore. The lightweight frame is still the same, and the plush, glasses-friendly ear pads still provide the same comfort, while the design is now a head-turner.

The Sound is Still the Masterpiece:

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless still recalls memories of an audiophile's dream. Among competitors, this model still offers an exceptionally clean, balanced, and natural sound. The headphones still utilize the same 42mm transducer system that delivers a rich neutral sound and just the right bass, completely avoiding the muddied mids.

Listening to live tracks lets you experience the wide, spacious soundstage that is hard to forget. The polished vocals, crystal clear highs, and perfectly balanced sound, draws appreciation.

The Unbeatable Battery and Reliable ANC:

Almost 60 hours of battery life with active noise canceling (ANC) is exactly what these headphones provide. I believe there are no other quality headphones that offer such battery life. This completely changed my perception about headphones, entirely getting rid of battery anxiety.

While the degree of silence could be improved, the level of noise cancellation is certainly not class-leading. Personally, I prefer it this way since I don't enjoy the extreme cabin pressure associated with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The adaptive ANC system is remarkably effective, precisely aligning with my expectations as it blocks consistent, low frequency sounds such as engine hum and office conversations without creating a surreal void.

To summarize, I absolutely love the headphones, priced approximately Rs. 25,990 now available as the 80th Anniversary edition of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. The Anniversary edition should appeal to those who value limited-edition products. If you already have the original, there is no other technical reason to upgrade.

However, as a minimalist, I am somewhat surprised at how much this flashy design has won me over. It is a wonderful way to commemorate the brand’s 80 year anniversary, seamlessly integrating remarkable audio performance with an attention grabbing retro-modern design that is simply hard to ignore. The headphones are still excellent value for money, simply wrapped in a more festive design.