Is the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wireless worth the upgrade from the JBL Live 780NC?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the JBL Live 780NC to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wireless buys you 13.1 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in calls (6.5 to 8.0), sound (7.5 to 8.8) and noise cancelling (7.0 to 8.2). On paper: battery life (anc on) 50 h to 57 h, driver size 40 mm to 42 mm and microphones 4 to 8. Worth checking: battery life goes 80 h to 57 h and weight goes 260 g to 290 g. That costs $200 more, or about $15 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.58.8
- Noise cancelling7.08.2
- Battery9.09.4
- Calls6.58.0
- Value7.57.3
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Live 780NC | MOMENTUM 5 Wireless | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 80 h | 57 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | aptX Lossless | |
| Weight | 260 g | 290 g | |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.4 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 50 h | 57 h | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 42 mm | |
| Microphones | 4 | 8 | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 42 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 40 kHz | 6 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Live 780NC to MOMENTUM 5 Wireless". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.