Sennheiser Momentum 4: The Recurring Complaints Behind the Great Sound

Momentum 4 complaints cluster into two recurring patterns — and notably, sound isn't one of them.

Headband fabric peeling and fraying. This is the most-cited build complaint: owners report the headband fabric peeling from adhesive failure within a few months, and fraying over years of daily use, with one also noting the plastic build creaks. It appears across several independent owners, so treat it as a known durability weak point rather than a one-off.

Software and connectivity bugs. The other recurring pattern is digital: owners hit units that won't power off, audio cutting out on PC calls, freezing and disconnects bad enough to return, a dead-on-arrival pair, and static in one earcup. One owner who owns both the wireless and true-wireless models explains the core issue well — reliability seems to vary batch to batch, so some owners sail through trouble-free while others hit problem after problem.

The ANC being weaker than the Sony and Bose options comes up too, but owners frame that as a known trade-off for the sound, not a defect.

The hesitation in discussion is specific and clear.

• Buyers ask whether the headband fabric issue will hit them — owners considering the purchase specifically raise the peeling reports.
• Buyers worry about the software/connectivity bugs and whether they've been fixed — several frame it as 'did these issues apply to you?'
• The most telling signal is a 'talk me out of the Momentum 4s' post, where the sound and ANC are fine but build quality is the sticking point.

The practical takeaway owners converge on: because reliability varies unit to unit, buying from a retailer with an easy return policy is the single most-repeated piece of advice — it turns a batch-luck problem into a returnable one.

The complaints don't make the Momentum 4 a skip for everyone — and the reason is the sound.

The single most repeated thing owners say is how good it sounds: breathtaking, with a wide soundstage and detail that surprised long-time listeners. Many owners who acknowledge the build and software issues still keep and recommend it because, for them, the sound outweighs the risk — including long-term owners years in.

Proceed with confidence if:

• Sound quality is your top priority and you'll buy somewhere with easy returns
• You're comfortable handling the headband carefully and tolerating occasional software quirks

Who should be careful:

• Buyers who need guaranteed long-term build durability without fabric peeling
• Buyers who can't tolerate connectivity drops, or who rely heavily on call quality
• Buyers for whom ANC is the priority — the Sony and Bose options are stronger there