The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 made me realize I'm a stem guy

I never thought a pair of earbuds could make me so annoyed by the sound of my own footsteps. But that’s exactly what happened while walking home from work with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5. My route takes me through a long underpass, where I spent nearly ten minutes more aware of my own breathing and footsteps than the cars passing nearby. Even with transparency mode turned up, I couldn’t shake that plugged-up feeling.

The frustrating part? I really want to love these earbuds. On paper, they have almost everything I could ask for. But after using them day to day, I’ve realized something about myself: I’m a stem guy.

Getting these earbuds in and out is more work than it should be

My problems with the Momentum True Wireless 5 start before I even put them in my ears. The bean-shaped housings have a slippery finish, and I find myself fumbling to get a grip on them when pulling them out of the charging case. Not exactly a great start.

Things don’t get much better once they’re in my ears. I have to twist them into place to get a secure fit, but they gradually rotate out of position throughout the day. I’ve tried different ear tip sizes, hoping one would solve the problem, but I just can’t seem to get them to stay put. Christian had better luck finding a comfortable fit in our full review, so your mileage may vary.

Getting a good seal in your ear canal is tricky enough. With bean-shaped earbuds like these, you’re also trying to fit a fairly large housing comfortably in your outer ear. In my case, I can’t seem to get both parts to cooperate.

And fit matters. Without a consistent seal, you risk compromising bass strength, isolation, and ANC performance. When I’m constantly adjusting the earbuds to maintain that seal, it’s hard to enjoy everything else they have to offer.

I never realized how much I appreciated stem controls

The problem with constantly adjusting the Momentum True Wireless 5 is that I can’t seem to do it without accidentally activating something. The touch-sensitive surfaces sit right where my fingers naturally go when I’m trying to twist the earbuds back into place. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve paused my music when all I wanted was a better fit.

I’ve also found myself brushing against the transparency microphones, creating an annoying clicking or rubbing noise. Even when I actually want to use the controls, tapping directly against something sitting in my ear isn’t particularly enjoyable.

This is where I’ve come to appreciate stems. They give me a clear place to grip when inserting, removing, or adjusting earbuds, without constantly touching the controls or pressing against my ears. I also prefer pinch-and-swipe controls on a stem because I can use them without disturbing the fit.

It’s a small design difference, but when you’re interacting with your earbuds dozens of times a day, it makes a surprisingly big difference.

I want to forget I’m wearing earbuds

I’m lucky enough to test a lot of earbuds for work, but in my personal life I only want one pair that does it all. Commuting, biking to work, going to the gym, taking meetings, and using ANC on flights. I’m happy to spend $300 on earbuds that fit my lifestyle, and once I find a pair that works, I tend to stick with it.

That’s why the Momentum True Wireless 5 are so frustrating. Even when I’m not adjusting them, I’m constantly aware of that plugged-up feeling. I can pause my music and turn on transparency mode, but I still find myself wanting to take them out just to have a normal conversation. Of course, stems don’t guarantee a better fit or more natural transparency. But after testing so many different designs, I’ve realized that stem-style earbuds generally work better for my ears and the way I use them. They’re easier to handle, and I don’t have to worry as much about fitting a large housing into my outer ear.

The AirPods Pro 3 are a good example of what works for me. Their stems make them easier to handle and adjust throughout the day. I’ve also enjoyed using the Nothing Ear (3), while the Galaxy Buds4 Pro are worth considering if you’re a Samsung user.

And here’s the thing: I don’t think Sennheiser made bad earbuds. Quite the opposite. As my colleague Adam Birney argues, their user-replaceable batteries make a compelling case for keeping them long-term. Add extensive sound customization and solid ANC, and these are exactly the kind of earbuds I’d want to use for years.

But none of that matters much when I’m constantly adjusting them or wanting to take them out. They just don’t work as well for me as I wish they did.

So, Sennheiser, how about some stems for the Momentum True Wireless 6?