Cut the cord with these gorgeous headphones

True to their name, Sennheiser's Momentum headphones picked up a lot of steam with audiophiles and average consumers alike for their combination of gorgeous design and excellent sound quality.

The Momentum Wireless Headphones (MSRP: $499.95) build on that legacy, adding in active noise cancellation and—as the name suggests—wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 4.0. At $500, they certainly aren't cheap, but Sennheiser is hoping the luxury design, modern convenience, and premium sound will propel the Momentums to even greater heights.

But that price is awful hard to overlook, especially when you can get the older, wired Momentums for under $200. While still well-designed, there are also enough performance hiccups that it's hard to wholeheartedly recommend this newer, more portable edition.

Right from the outset, it's clear the Momentum Wireless headphones were designed with great care. By far our favorite design element is the pair of big, ear-hugging earcups. It's hard to convey just how great they feel, but like the originals they envelop your ears in plush leather.

The band isn't nearly as padded however, though Sennheiser has added a hinge that allows them to fold into a semi-circle for easier transportation. Given that wireless connotes portability, that's a welcome change.

The biggest selling point for the Momentum Wireless headphones is right there in the name. First, you can use NFC-pairing to connect to compatible devices, including smartphones. Once that's done, your audio will be wirelessly transmitted via Bluetooth 4.0. It's good up to a range of about 30 feet before you notice your music start to drop out.

Unlike some Bluetooth headphones, the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless can be used wired as well. When wired, we found they had slightly better audio while also allowing you to turn off the active noise cancellation (ANC). Using wireless gives you more freedom to move around, but the ANC is always on and your music will sound slightly less rich as it's being sent via Bluetooth. When wireless the Momentums still sound good, just not as good as the price would suggest.

The active noise cancellation is handled via Sennheiser's proprietary NoiseGard tech. In testing it was very effective, cutting 80 decibels of ambient sound (think the inside of a plane) by around 20 decibels. This is even more effective in normal listening situations, cutting casual conversation or the low hum of an HVAC system out entirely.

The only hang-up with the ANC is that it requires battery power. Sennheiser claims the built-in rechargeable battery is good for up to 22 hours of life, however, and they'll always work with a wired connection.

When it comes to actual sound reproduction, Sennheiser delivers a relatively flat sound. It wasn't as accurate as we'd have liked, but it doesn't overemphasize any particular range, doing justice to low-, mid-, and most high-range audio.

The main issue we found in our testing was a curious drop-off in volume of some high-frequency sounds. This might not be a big deal with most genres, but certain high notes (such as piano keys or some cymbal crashes) will dip and get lost in the mix.

Ultimately, while the Sennheiser Wireless Momentums look handsome and offer a slew of extremely convenient features, we can't say they represent the complete package. The sound quality isn't worth the $500 price tag—especially when the original (wired) Momentums offer similar performance for $300 cheaper.

If you can find them on sale, however, they might be worth the splash. The wireless Sony MDR-1ABTs performed better—especially when wireless—but they lack noise cancellation. If you need that and still want to cut the cord, the Momentum Wireless headphones are one of the few options on the market.

To see all headphones ranked and rated, head to Reviewed.com.