Sennheiser’s budget headphones sound just as good as I expected, but there’s one problem

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Sennheiser Accentum headphones are perfect for folks 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 a couple of too many headphones this yr, ranging in value from $60 to $450, from manufacturers like Sony, Bose, and every thing 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 shopper headphones, and I fell in love with the sound. To me, they’re like that one ex you’ll be able to’t recover from. I search for the Momentum 4’s sound in each pair of headphones I strive, and it is but to be replicated. 

Additionally: Sennheiser Momentum 4: The most effective headphones for detail-oriented listeners

In my view, Sennheiser competes solely with itself within the sound division, so once I noticed the corporate launched the Sennheiser Accentum, an inexpensive twin to its flagship headphones, I used to be more than pleased to get my fingers on them.

The Accentum are a stripped-down model of Sennheiser’s flagship headphones, providing “a lot of probably the most fascinating DNA” of the Momentum 4, in line with the corporate. So, a possible purchaser’s huge questions embody: Are the Accentum a worthy budget-friendly choice, do you have to save your cash for the Momentum 4, or do you have to look elsewhere? This is my verdict after two weeks of testing.

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Sennheiser Accentum

The Sennheiser Accentum deliver Sennheiser’s long history 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 excited about, 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. Once I listened to Participant’s Child Come Again, I may hear the bassline and the kick of the drums deep in my ears. The long-lasting guitar solo on the finish of the tune was so clear and vibrant that I needed to take heed to it time and again.

Additionally: Do not overpay for noise-canceling headphones when this $60 pair sounds this superb

In songs like Michael Jackson’s Human Nature, I may 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 clear, 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 very best.

In consequence, listening to greater than two songs can really feel tiring and unsightly. After tweaking the EQ settings and lowering the treble, I lastly discovered the candy spot. It is best to most likely do this, too.

Additionally: The most effective headphones for music

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 lively noise canceling that makes use of mics on the within and out of doors of the ear cups to pay attention for exterior noise and assist cancel it.

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 cosy match that finally helps with noise isolation.

Talking of comfortable match, the headphones teeter the road between cosy and tight. I wore the headphones for one hour earlier than my ears wanted a break, and when you have a bigger head, you could discover these uncomfortable across the 30-minute mark.

Additionally: How to decide on the perfect 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 hold for 50 hours. You do not get 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 an alternative of what is outdoors. The Accentum’s construct is sturdy, and in case 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 cozy headphones for much less cash. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

This is the deal: In order for you spectacular sound high quality for underneath $200, the Sennheiser Accentum are the best way to go. Their sound is certainly extra detailed than the newest flagship headphones from Sony, Bose, and Apple. 

You will need the Momentum 4 in case you favor 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 an alternative, you can 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.