At CES in January, Sennheiser announced new headphones and earphones, including an improved version of the Sennheiser Accentum.
Sennheiser’s Accentum line can be considered mid-range, with simpler products than those of the Momentum series, the company’s premium headphones. Last December, I tested the Accentum headphones and appreciated their imposing sound, considering their price of €180.
The three takeaways from the Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones
- The new Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones are an exceptional mid-range option for audio fanatics. It costs €230.
- Exceptional sound quality and marathon battery life set this headset apart from similarly priced competitors.
- The build quality is exactly the same as last year’s model, with no improvements in fit, design or materials.
However, the Accentum had an adjustment Really tight which made it almost unbearable to wear. So I had higher hopes for the new Accentum headset, which goes on sale today at a new, higher price of €230. Is this latest headset worth it, and has Sennheiser fixed the fit and finish?
Sennheiser tilted the speaker transducers to modify the sound just enough to produce an exceptional listening experience. By moving the transducers, Sennheiser gave the Accentum Plus an airier, more spacious sound than last year’s Accentum. The new audio is halfway between static audio and spatial audio, giving you an immersive experience without significantly altering the sound.
Great autonomy
When I listened Green Light from Lorde, the bass was punchy and full, and the synth harmonies were present enough to give me a warm feeling at the base of my ears (that’s a good thing). Listening to Black Out Days by Phantogram was an experience of well-blended bass and midrange harmonies, delivering an electric and full sound.
There is no drop in sound quality between the first Accentum model and the Plus, nor between the Momentum 4 and the Accentum Plus. For 230 euros, the Accentum Plus produces an impressive sound experience with exceptional clarity and depth.
The Accentum Plus have the same design as the Accentum, that is to say they are mainly made of plastic. If the dimensions of the cups fit your ears, this headset is a solid option for long rides and all-day wear.
However, their fit was too tight for me, and I became exhausted after about an hour of use. If its ergonomics suit your head, this headset lasts 50 hours with Bluetooth And noise reduction. For comparison, headphones in a similar price range, like the Beats Studio Pro and JBL Tour One M2, can only offer 35 hours with ANC enabled.
Adaptability of noise reduction
The control buttons on the right shell replace those on the Accentum and are responsive and reliable. A quick press plays and pauses music or accepts or ends a call, while swipes increase and decrease the volume. These headphones also have a proximity detection system, which pauses your music when you take them off and resumes them when you put them back on.
The first Accentum model featured hybrid noise reduction technology, which used microphones inside and outside the cases to detect noise and reduce it. The Accentum Plus features adaptive noise reduction technology, an increasingly popular noise reduction technology. Adaptive noise reduction probes surrounding noise and automatically adjusts based on levels. So you can experience greater noise reduction in noisy environments and less in quieter areas.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
That said, the Accentum Plus’s ANC is still weaker than other headphones in this price range, such as the Bose QuietComfort 45. However, the adaptability of the ANC helps to attenuate surrounding noise while keeping the music the center of attention, and it’s the best experience I’ve had in Sennheiser noise reduction.
These headphones are not optimized for wired listening
Sennheiser has included a carrying case this time around, which is a plus. Sure, it’s not as sturdy as the case that comes with the more expensive Momentum 4, but it’s less bulky and does its job of protecting the headset from dust when not in use.
You can listen to the Accentum Plus over a wired connection, but I don’t recommend it unless you’re plugging into a video player, like those found on airplanes, or want latency-free playback. These headphones are not optimized for wired listening, and you get several audio benefits over Bluetooth by accessing Qualcomm’s AptX codecs.
Buying advice for Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones
This Sennheiser Accentum Plus is ideal for music lovers looking for lightweight headphones with great battery life.
The Accentum Plus is a step above the first model when it comes to sound and background noise reduction and is best suited for people willing to spend a little more money to get better features.
I note that the non-Plus Accentum model remains the cheapest option, so if you want quality sound for less outlay, give it a try.
However, if you want something even sleeker, with longer battery life and deeper bass, go for the Momentum 4 model.
Source: “ZDNet.com”