Audio review
Sennheiser Accentum Plus Review: Out-Cancelled by a Cheaper Rival
One lab measured its noise reduction at −19.29 dB and the Soundcore Space Q45 at −23.55 dB for a third less money. Everything else about it is very good.
By Paulo GerchonPublished 2 min read
Illustration, not a photo — we don’t have a licensed image of this product yet.
Sennheiser
Sennheiser Accentum Plus
Good · researched from 3 sources
The battery beats its claim on two independent measurements and the tuning is among the most accurate at the price. If noise cancelling is the reason you are buying, one lab found a cheaper pair does it better.
- Buy if
- Long trips, on a measured 53 to 56 hours · Listeners who want an accurate rather than exciting tuning · Anyone who wants aptX Adaptive and a wired option
- Skip if
- Bass-led music, on Trusted Reviews' assessment · Buyers choosing purely on measured cancelling · Wet conditions, since there is no IP rating
We don’t list prices, because Amazon’s change hourly.
The comparison that hurts
Frieve measured overall noise attenuation at −19.29 dB, broken down as −13.84 on an aircraft, −14.43 in an office and −15.83 on a street.
They then measured the Soundcore Space Q45 at −23.55 dB overall, and pointed out it costs about a third less.
That comparison is the reason their score is 2.8 out of 5 while two other sources rate these highly. It is a narrow basis for a verdict and it is a real finding, and anyone buying primarily for cancelling should know it before they spend.
SoundGuys' framing is gentler and compatible: about 80 percent of outside noise attenuated, short of the industry leaders.
Everything else measures well
Battery: SoundGuys 53 hours 15 minutes, Frieve 56, both against a 50-hour claim. Trusted Reviews saw 10 percent drain across five hours, which lands in the same place. Ten minutes of charging returns five hours.
Frequency response: SoundGuys says it matches their preference curve, with the only deviation a narrow lift between 5 and 6 kHz that can push sibilance forward.
Codecs: aptX Adaptive alongside AAC and SBC, plus wired USB and a 2.5 mm socket.
For accurate, unfussy sound with a battery that outruns its specification, this is a strong product.
The bass argument
Trusted Reviews: polite, light rather than firm, minimal depth, and underwhelming for bass-focused listeners.
Frieve: bass-emphasised tuning.
SoundGuys: bass and mids appropriate against their curve.
Three assessments, one of them a measurement and two of them impressions. The likeliest reading is a low end that is accurate and unemphasised, which lands as polite to anyone used to consumer tuning.
The app has a Bass Boost mode. Trusted Reviews warns it costs midrange clarity and soundstage.
Three verdicts, one product
Trusted Reviews: 4.5 out of 5, the most consistent performer around $200.
SoundGuys: 7.9 out of 10, solid and uncomplicated.
Frieve: 2.8 out of 5, beaten on measured isolation by cheaper rivals.
Frieve's summary of the design philosophy is the most useful sentence in any of them: these prioritise battery life, convenience and codec variety over acoustic transparency. If that is what you want, buy them.
The small gaps
No IP rating, so nothing stated about rain or sweat.
They lie flat rather than folding, so the case is larger than it needs to be.
SoundGuys found the microphone struggling with wind outdoors, while being fine indoors. Trusted Reviews rates calls good and notes adjustable side-tone.
And Trusted Reviews reports the touch controls occasionally needing more than one attempt, with two app features gated behind creating an account.
How it scored
The overall 7.3 is the weighted average of these five criteria — we never adjust it by hand.
Sound quality
SoundGuys says the response matches their preference curve with a narrow lift at 5 to 6 kHz. Trusted Reviews finds good clarity and detail with polite, light bass.
Value
Trusted Reviews scored 4.5 out of 5 and calls it the most consistent performer around $200. SoundGuys scored 7.9. Frieve scored 2.8 out of 5 on measured cancelling grounds.
Build quality
227 g of plastic with no IP rating at all, and SoundGuys notes they lie flat rather than folding.
Comfort
Trusted Reviews notes a slightly tighter clamping force than the original Accentum, which Sennheiser says was not intentional.
Noise cancelling
Frieve measured −19.29 dB overall, against −23.55 for the cheaper Soundcore Space Q45. SoundGuys says it attenuates about 80 percent of outside noise.
Pros and cons
What we liked
- SoundGuys measured 53 hours 15 minutes and Frieve 56, against a 50 hour claim
- Ten minutes of charging returns five hours of playback
- SoundGuys says the frequency response matches their preference curve
- aptX Adaptive alongside AAC and SBC, plus wired USB and 2.5 mm
- A five-band equaliser with Bass Boost and Podcast modes in the app
- Trusted Reviews reports only 10 percent battery drain across five hours
What we didn’t
- Frieve measured cancelling at −19.29 dB against −23.55 for a cheaper rival
- Trusted Reviews finds the bass polite and light, and unsuitable for bass listeners
- No IP rating for water or dust
- They do not fold, only lie flat
- SoundGuys reports the microphone struggling to reject wind outdoors
- Trusted Reviews says the touch controls sometimes need several attempts
Specifications
| Battery | 53 h 15 m per SoundGuys and 56 h per Frieve, against 50 claimed |
|---|---|
| Quick charge | Ten minutes for five hours |
| Noise cancelling | −19.29 dB overall per Frieve; about 80 percent of outside noise per SoundGuys |
| By scenario | −13.84 dB on an aircraft, −14.43 in an office and −15.83 on a street per Frieve |
| Weight | 227 g |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive over Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Wired | USB and 2.5 mm TRS |
| App | Five-band equaliser, Bass Boost, Podcast mode, Sound Zones |
| Water resistance | None rated |
| Folding | They lie flat but do not fold |
How we researched this
We have not had this unit on the bench. This review synthesises the manufacturer’s published specifications, independent measurements and owner reports listed below. Every figure on this page comes from one of those sources rather than our own measurement.
3
sources reviewed
SoundGuys supplies the measured battery figure at a stated output level, the frequency response assessment against their preference curve, the weight, the codec list and the microphone finding, and scored 7.9 out of 10. Frieve published measured noise attenuation overall and by scenario using an Audio Precision analyser, a second battery figure and harmonic distortion figures, and scored 2.8 out of 5. Trusted Reviews supplies listening impressions, the comfort observation, the real-world battery check and the app criticisms, scoring 4.5 out of 5. The three disagree about bass emphasis and about the overall verdict, and all positions are reported.
What we read
Common questions
How good is the noise cancelling on the Sennheiser Accentum Plus?
How long does the battery last?
Do they have enough bass?
Why do the verdicts differ so much?
What is missing?
The bottom line on the Sennheiser Accentum Plus
The battery beats its claim on two independent measurements and the tuning is among the most accurate at the price. If noise cancelling is the reason you are buying, one lab found a cheaper pair does it better.
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