Sennheiser Accentum Review: Sound Quality, ANC, and Battery Life Tested

The Sennheiser Accentum true wireless earbuds, are the mid-range alternative for the Sennheiser's Momentum 4 earbuds. The aim is to offer quality sound and features at a lower price point compared to the higher-end counterparts. Whether the Accentum is momentous like the Momentum 4 or not? Let's dig it!

PROS

• Good Battery Life
• Wear Detection
• Responsive Touch
• Adjustable Noise Canceling Modes

CONS

• No IP Rating for Case
• Inconsistent Mids

Price and Features

The Sennheiser Accentum TWS retail for ₹12,990 in India, which is ₹6,000 less than the Momentum 4. Despite the lower price, they offer plenty of high-quality features:

• Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
• Transparency Mode
• Touch Controls
• Bluetooth LE Audio Support
• AptX and LC3 Audio Codec Support
• 28 Hours of Battery Life
• IP54 Splash Resistance (earbuds only)
• Qi Wireless Charging (case)

Build and Design

I am very happy to see that Sennheiser went for a new design here. The buds don't look anything like the Momentum series; they're a bit oval-shaped and fit nicely in the concha. The buds are available in black and white, with the black version here. The buds are IP54 rated for dust and water resistance, though there's no IP rating for the case. Touch controls on the buds are customizable via the app for media playback, volume control, voice assistant, noise cancelling, and transparency mode.

Noise Cancelling and Transparency

The noise cancelling on the Accentums is impressive. I thought this would be an area where Sennheiser might cut corners. While I don't quite achieve the level of noise cancelling or transparency as the Momentum 4s, I was happy with the amount of amplification or attenuation I use. They are suitable for conversations and noise cancelling, and I would be happy using them on a flight. In fact, I struggled to hear a significant difference between the two modes.

I was cycling on the roads of Dwarka, and the wind was very audible in high transparency mode. I checked the app for a wind reduction mode and found one for noise cancelling. Turning it on suppressed all background noise, including sounds that would keep me safe in traffic. So, I turned it off and switched to mid or low transparency mode, which worked reasonably well.

If you're commuting or frequently find yourself in a noisy office, you want some good noise-canceling earbuds. Thankfully, the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless are able to attenuate an average of 76% of outside noise, so I had no problem using these in pretty much any environment. They also have an anti-wind mode, which is great for if you're going for a run by the ocean where there's a lot of wind. These days, most earbuds come with a transparency mode, but oftentimes it's not that great or doesn't turn on when you want it to. That's not the case with the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless. The transparency mode has three different strength levels that you can select from, and you can also have the transparency mode automatically enable when you pause your music or answer a call. This seems like a small detail, but it's honestly something that I really appreciated while using these earbuds, and I think other earbud manufacturers should take notice.

Microphones and Calls

In both noisy and windy conditions, Sennheiser's performance is commendable. I haven't used these for very long, but the wind performance on a bike was impressive. Even at the simulated café sounds of about 72 dB peak volume, my voice remained focused throughout. In lower volume tests, speaking quieter caused some cutout, but overall, the performance was impressive.

Sound Quality & Performance

Initially, the sound quality was underwhelming, especially in the lows. However, after pairing the earbuds with the Smart Control app and downloading a firmware update, the sound quality improved significantly. The bass came to life, and the clarity across different genres was excellent. The ANC is solid, effectively reducing background noise, while the transparency mode allows you to stay aware of your surroundings.

In terms of codecs, I get the basic SBC and AAC, which is handy for iPhone users. The corner Sennheiser has cut is the absence of aptX Adaptive, unlike the Momentum series. However, you get LE Audio and Auracast capabilities. The hardware includes a 7 mm dynamic driver, a five-band equalizer, and the Sound Check feature. While it isn't the newer sound test found on the Momentum series, it still allows me to tweak the sound using my own music.

The sound quality is consistent, with no significant EQ shift between modes. These support aptX, a lower-res codec, but there are more aptX devices than aptX Lossless. For most Android or Windows users, these offer a high-quality sound experience. Comparing the sound graph with the Momentum 4, the difference isn't huge. I might prefer these over the Momentum 4, despite the Momentum's higher quality codec.

The sound profile is consumer-oriented with a V-shaped frequency curve, emphasizing the lower and higher ends, resulting in a bright and lively sound signature. The bass is robust, making it ideal for pop and EDM music, while the treble is smooth with minimal harshness. The mids are clear, though slightly overshadowed by the bass and treble. Users can customize the sound using the five-band EQ in the Sennheiser Smart Control app, which also offers a bass boost option.

Sennheiser Smart Control App

I hate having to reach for my phone just to change the song, so thankfully these earbuds have some great tap controls. You can set what each combination of taps does, whether it changes music, answers a call, or adjusts your listening modes. The earbuds also have wear detection that automatically pauses the earbuds when you take them out of your ears.

For full customization of your earbuds, you can dig into the Sennheiser Smart Control app. You can change the sound of the earbuds using the five-band equalizer, or you can use the Sound Check functionality, which does a listening test to determine your preferred sound profile. If you prefer more bass at the gym and more noise canceling when you're at the office, you can use the Sound Zones feature, which will adjust the earbud settings depending on where you are. Beyond that, there's all the standard features you'd expect from an earbud app: you can update the firmware, see battery information, and adjust the ANC and transparency modes. Pretty much all the things you expect are right there.

I didn't experience any connection issues while using these earbuds with my android phone. They have some great Bluetooth tech with Bluetooth 5.3 and support for aptX, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth codecs.

Battery Life

Wireless charging is a fantastic addition for mid-range earbuds, taking about 1.5 hours to charge from zero to full. Quick Charge support is also handy, providing an hour of music playtime with just a 10-minute charge. During my tests, I got about 3 hours of playtime (without the case) with ANC on and volume at around 75%, and 6 hours without ANC. Additional features include an in-ear sensor and multipoint connectivity with a device list in the app.

Verdict

Sennheiser has shifted to a more ergonomic form factor that fits comfortably and securely in the ear. The app is intuitive, offering numerous customization options consistent with other Sennheiser products. The compact case is pocketable, despite being a bit thicker than the Sport model, and the matte finish prevents fingerprints. Wireless charging and multipoint connectivity are valuable features. On the downside, the fast charging feature only works with a USB Type-C cable, which is inconvenient since wireless charging and case charging don't support fast charging. Overall, despite some areas needing improvement, these earbuds are worth the price, offering comfort, sleek design and of course the signature Sennheiser sound profile.