Jada JonesZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Sennheiser Accentum headphones are perfect for individuals on the lookout for knowledgeable sound for lower than $200. They’re on sale proper now for $150.Sound high quality is top-notch and simply outperforms flagship headphones from different manufacturers on this class.An excessively tight match makes them uncomfortable for long-term put on, which is unlucky given the spectacular battery life.
I’ve worn just a few too many headphones this yr, ranging in value from $60 to $450, from manufacturers like Sony, Bose, and all the things in between. However one factor has remained true: Sennheiser’s sound high quality is the one to beat for me.
Sennheiser and I’ve some historical past. Earlier this yr, I examined the Sennheiser Momentum 4, the corporate’s flagship client headphones, and I fell in love with the sound. To me, they’re like that one ex you may’t recover from. I search for the Momentum 4’s sound in each pair of headphones I attempt, and it is but to be replicated.
Additionally: Sennheiser Momentum 4: The very best headphones for detail-oriented listeners
For my part, Sennheiser competes solely with itself within the sound division, so after I noticed the corporate launched the Sennheiser Accentum, an inexpensive twin to its flagship headphones, I used to be very happy to get my fingers on them.
The Accentum are a stripped-down model of Sennheiser’s flagship headphones, providing “a lot of essentially the most fascinating DNA” of the Momentum 4, based on the corporate. So, a possible purchaser’s massive questions embody: Are the Accentum a worthy budget-friendly choice, must you save your cash for the Momentum 4, or must you look elsewhere? Here is my verdict after two weeks of testing.
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Sennheiser Accentum
The Sennheiser Accentum ship Sennheiser’s lengthy historical past {of professional} audio in a sub-$200 pair of headphones.
Let’s discuss sound first, since Sennheiser focuses closely on audio efficiency, and that is the metric I used to be most occupied with, too.
The Accentum’s 37mm dynamic drivers ship tight, full-bodied bass that stays clear and by no means will get muddy, even after a spherical of bass enhance. After I listened to Participant’s Child Come Again, I might hear the bassline and the kick of the drums deep in my ears. The long-lasting guitar solo on the finish of the track was so clear and vibrant that I needed to hearken to it time and again.
Additionally: Do not overpay for noise-canceling headphones when this $60 pair sounds this wonderful
In songs like Michael Jackson’s Human Nature, I might hear clearly the layered vocal harmonies and each small element discovered within the higher vary of the high-pitch tones. Sennheiser’s dedication to its highly-detailed signature sound is obvious, even in a pair of $150 cans just like the Accentum.
Nonetheless, the Accentum’s ear cups are small and shallow, which impacts the out-of-the-box sound. If I gently push on the surface of the ear cups, my ears contact the audio system contained in the ear cups, which isn’t best.
Because of this, listening to greater than two songs can really feel tiring and ugly. After tweaking the EQ settings and reducing the treble, I lastly discovered the candy spot. It’s best to in all probability try this, too.
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After testing each the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the Accentum, it is clear that Sennheiser nonetheless has some methods to go along with its noise-canceling know-how. The Accentum boasts hybrid noise canceling, a sort of energetic noise canceling that makes use of mics on the within and outdoors of the ear cups to hear for exterior noise and assist cancel it.
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Nonetheless, conversational noises can skip previous the Accentum’s ANC, and solely the high-frequency pitches of droning noises, like a washer or operating fridge, are successfully canceled. Nonetheless, for the Accentum’s value level, the ANC is not dangerous. Plus, they’ve a really comfortable match that in the end helps with noise isolation.
Talking of cushty match, the headphones teeter the road between comfortable and tight. I wore the headphones for one hour earlier than my ears wanted a break, and when you’ve got a bigger head, chances are you’ll discover these uncomfortable across the 30-minute mark.
Additionally: How to decide on the most effective over-ear headphones: ZDNET’s shopping for information
You will have to take them off and let your ears recuperate earlier than the battery runs out, because the Accentum can cling for 50 hours. You aren’t getting a headphones jack with these, however the marathon battery makes up for it.
Like Sony’s inexpensive twin to its high-end headphones, Sennheiser ensures you are paying for what’s contained in the ear cups, as a substitute of what is exterior. The Accentum’s construct is sturdy, and when you shut one eye and squint, you would possibly mistake it for the Momentum 4, as their builds are very comparable. Nonetheless, yow will discover extra fashionable and comfy headphones for much less cash.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Here is the deal: If you would like spectacular sound high quality for underneath $200, the Sennheiser Accentum are the way in which to go. Their sound is unquestionably extra detailed than the newest flagship headphones from Sony, Bose, and Apple.
You will need the Momentum 4 when you desire a higher-quality, extra refined construct with up-to-date software program options and even higher sound. Nonetheless, even the Momentum 4’s ANC is nothing to brag about.
In case your precedence is noise-canceling, Sennheiser cannot give it to you. As a substitute, you could possibly go for the Sony XM5 over-ears, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely, and — for rather less cash — the Bose QuietComfort 45. If these are all too costly, take into account the Monoprice BT-600ANC.