Introduction
Sennheiser is a reputable, high-profile model – however one which isn’t simply reserved for the fortunately well-off. It has merchandise that compete on the ‘premium’ finish of the headphone world, after all, however pays simply as a lot consideration and takes simply as a lot care with the extra inexpensive stuff. The Snnnheiser Accentum wi-fi ANC over-ears are simply the newest instance of the agency’s need to compete at each value level.
They’re roughly half the value of the range-topping Momentum 4 – however, on paper no less than, they appear to have most of what makes their costlier siblings so successful. Are they too good to be true?
Design and construct: slippery folks
There’s no level in reinventing the wheel, and there’s no have to go messing with the design of over-ear headphones. So irrespective of the angle you view them from, there’s no confusion in regards to the type of product the Sennheiser Accentum may be.
The aggressive value level dictates that there’s nothing luxurious about these headphones – however then once more, they don’t really feel like they’ve been constructed all the way down to a value both. They’re virtually completely plastic, however properly easy, fairly slippery plastic that appears and feels good (and that’s been expertly assembled, too).
The earpads and the within of the headscarf have adequate padding, and the hid headband adjustment mechanism operates easily – it’s simple to get snug inside a pair, and the very fact they weight simply 222g doesn’t do any hurt on this respect both.
There’s sufficient articulation within the earcup yokes to permit the cups to swivel by means of 180 levels, so that they’ll lie flat – however keep in mind there’s no case or pouch offered, so take care when slinging them in your backpack or no matter.
Options: round (and round) the clock listening
The Accentum use Bluetooth 5.2 for wi-fi connectivity, and there’s compatibility with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD codecs – so decently high-resolution content material may be wirelessly streamed with out issue. As soon as it’s been streamed aboard, the content material is delivered to your ears by a pair of 37mm full-range drivers with a claimed frequency response of 10Hz – 22kHz.
Battery life is a straightforwardly spectacular 50 hours from a single cost – that’s with adaptive noise-cancellation switched on, and quantity set to ‘reasonable’. Recharging (when it’s finally required) occurs by way of the USB-C enter on the fitting earcup – three hours will take you from ‘flat’ to ‘full’, whereas a fast 10-minute pit-stop ought to be good for 5 hours or so of listening.
The noise-cancellation itself is a binary ‘on’ or ‘transparency’ deal – there’s no facility to modify it off. When it’s on, it’s working in ‘adaptive’ mode – which implies it ought to be monitoring your environment and adjusting itself accordingly.
Interface: please don’t contact
You may’t actually anticipate mid-price headphones to have the identical performance as their premium options – however it’s solely now, while you realise the Accentum don’t have any contact controls, {that a} important compromise turns into obvious. And even then, it’s mitigated no finish by the interface choices which might be accessible right here.
There are 4 bodily management buttons across the fringe of the fitting earcup. One sits alone, and takes care of energy, pairing, waking your cellphone’s voice assistant, and toggling by means of ANC choices. The opposite three are organized in a strip, and are accountable for playback, quantity, skipping tracks and answering calls. Telephony, voice-assistant interplay and noise-cancellation are all dealt with by a single beam-forming mic embedded in every earcup.
The Accentum are additionally appropriate with Sennheiser’s glorious ‘Sensible Management’ app that’s free for iOS and Android. It features a five-band EQ adjuster, bass increase and podcast settings, a toggle to modify wind-noise discount on or off, and a slider to regulate the quantity of your individual voice you hear throughout calls. And in case you fancy registering with Sennhesier, you should use the app’s sound verify and sound zones options to create particular EQs for particular circumstances (and change between them robotically). However not with out handing over your private data first.
Efficiency: well mannered craziness
When you’re anticipating to get your metaphorical socks blown off by sonic ‘vitality’ and ‘assault’, there’s each likelihood the Sennheiser Accentum received’t be for you. But when, alternatively, you’re after an correct and full-scale account of your music (with only a trace of ‘leisure’ thrown in for good measure), these headphones may very well be simply the ticket.
Cue up a giant, high-resolution file of Bar Italia’s My Little Tony all you’ll quickly discover out what I imply. The low frequencies the Accentum generate are deep and textured, chunky and detailed – however they’re managed rather well, with good straight edges on the assault of particular person bass sounds – so the Sennheiser can categorical rhythms with correct confidence and preserve the momentum of the recording intact. They’re not essentially the most punchy headphones you ever heard, it’s true – however then once more, they don’t let bass pleasure swamp the midrange like some much less completed designs do both.
The midrange itself is clear, open and – similar to the frequency data above and under – loaded with element each broad and high quality. The soundstage the Sennheiser create is large and organised, and there’s greater than sufficient room on the stage for a vocalist to correctly categorical themselves (for higher or for worse). In final phrases the midrange is simply barely ahead of the stuff that’s occurring above and under, however in follow that simply means a singer’s character and method is made simpler to grasp.
On the prime finish, there’s a level of chew and assault to treble sounds – nothing too aggressive, you perceive, however simply sufficient to let you realize of their presence. There’s good substance to associate with the high-frequency shine and, once more, first rate (and well-controlled) assault.
The entire of the frequency vary is easily built-in, and there’s a pleasant unity to the Accentum tonality. Different headphones have a bit of extra dynamism relating to monitoring the modifications in a recording’s depth, however not many have the unity of presentation these Sennheiser can summon.
And the Sennehsier are equally adept relating to noise-cancellation. Until you end up in an surroundings with a whole lot of close by low-frequency exercise, you’ll discover the Accentum can cope with virtually all exterior distractions. They don’t eradicate as utterly as some headphones (typically those that price much more than this and that say ‘Bose’ on them someplace) however the discount in ambient sound is critical. And there’s no discernible change in the best way the Sennheiser current music irrespective of if in case you have ANC switched on or in case you’re utilizing the ‘transparency’ mode – which isn’t one thing you’ll be able to say about fairly just a few competing designs.
Sennheiser Accent Verdict
The Sennheiser Accentum aren’t the one wallet-friendly wi-fi noise-cancelling over-ear headphones from a giant, credible model – however they’re among the many least compromised. So long as you’re not anticipating some sort of ‘get together on!’ perspective, then these are a really protected guess certainly.
