The mid-range headphones I recommend to audiophiles now sound even better
ZDNET Key Points
- New Sennheiser Accentum Plus is a great mid-range choice for audiophiles, discounted to $195 on Amazon.
- Outstanding sound quality and long battery life are what make this headset stand out from similarly priced competitors.
- However, the build quality remains identical to last year’s model, with no improvements in style, design, or materials.
While CES this yearAudio company Sennheiser has announced three new pairs of headphones and earbudsOne of them is an upgraded version of Sennheiser Accentum.
Sennheiser’s Accentum line can be considered a simple, mid-range version of the company’s flagship product. Momentum Series Over-Ear HeadphonesLast December, I tested the Accentum headphones and was delighted with their impressive sound quality despite their $150 price tag.
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However, Accentum has had a Actually The fit was so tight that they were almost unbearable to wear. So I had higher hopes for the new product. Accentum plusThe Sennheiser …
Starting with the sound, the Accentum Plus’ output is both rich and clear, and Sennheiser has tilted the speaker’s transducers to adjust the soundstage just enough for a great listening experience. By moving the transducers, Sennheiser has given the Accentum Plus a more spacious and airy sound than last year’s Accentum. The new sound is like a cross between static and spatial audio, giving you an immersive experience without feeling like they’re changing the sound significantly.
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When I listen to Lorde Green light, The bass is strong and full, and the synth mix is enough to give me a warm feeling at the base of my ears (which is a good thing). Listen Power outage day Phantogram’s is an experience of great harmony between bass and midrange, delivering powerful and enveloping sound.
There is no loss in sound quality from the first Accentum model to the Plus, and no loss in quality from the Momentum 4 to the Accentum Plus. For $230, you get an impressive audio experience with exceptional clarity and depth from the Accentum Plus.
The Accentum Plus has a similar design to the Accentum, which is mostly plastic, except the earcups are coated in polyurethane. However, the plastic construction makes these headphones very light, so if the earcups fit your ears well, these headphones are a solid choice for long trips and all-day wear.
However, they were too tight for me and I gave up after about an hour of wearing them. If these headphones fit your head properly, they can last for 50 hours on Bluetooth. And noise cancelling. For comparison, headphones in the same price range, like Beats Studio Pro and JBL Tour One M2 Speakercan only provide up to 35 hours with ANC on.
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Touch and swipe controls on the right earcup replace the ones on the Accentum, and they’re responsive and reliable. A quick tap can play and pause music or accept or end calls, while a swipe can raise and lower the volume. These headphones also have on-and-off detection, pausing music when you take them off and resuming when you put them back on.
The first Accentum model featured hybrid noise cancellation, which uses microphones inside and outside the earcups to listen for noise and cancel it out. The Accentum Plus boasts adaptive noise cancellation, an increasingly popular form of noise cancellation. Adaptive noise cancellation listens to the noise around you and automatically adjusts to the noise level of your environment. This way, you get more noise reduction in louder places and less in quieter places.
However, the Accentum Plus’ ANC is still weaker than other headphones in this price range, like Bose QuietComfort 45Still, the adaptive ANC helps quiet your surroundings while keeping the music front and center, and it’s the best noise-canceling I’ve experienced from Sennheiser.
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Sennheiser includes a carrying case this time around, which is a plus. Sure, it’s not as sturdy as the one you get with the more expensive Momentum 4, but it’s less bulky and serves its purpose, which is to protect your headphones from dust when not in use.
You can listen to the Accentum Plus over a wired connection, but I don’t recommend doing so unless you’re plugging into professional audio gear. These headphones require more power over a wired connection than your smartphone can provide, so the Accentum Plus will sound tinny, distant, and thin. When listening on your smartphone, use Bluetooth; you’ll get some wireless audio benefits by accessing Qualcomm’s AptX codec.
ZDNET Buying Advice
The Sennheiser Accentum Plus Great headphones for music lovers looking for a small, lightweight pair of headphones with long battery life. They are a step up from the first product. Accentum Headphones in the audio and noise cancellation department and is best suited for those who want to spend extra money for better features.
I’ll note that the non-Plus Accentum models are still the cheapest option — especially since they’ve recently been discounted even more — so if you want great sound for less, check those out. However, if you want a more stylish design and longer battery life and deeper bass response, go for the Momentum 4.
