Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE review: Best in class sound quality for money, but ANC falls short | Mint-OxBig News Network

When Sennheiser launched their ACCENTUM Wireless headphones last year, I was eager to try them out. I finally got my hands on the Special Edition recently for review. This version retails for ₹12,990 and brings some design tweaks along with a wireless dongle in the box. Let’s find out if this budget-friendly offering from Sennheiser lives up to its promises in this review.

Unboxing experience and specifications

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE comes in a cardboard-coloured box, with the headphones neatly placed alongside a charging cable, a BTD 600 dongle, and a quick start guide. There is no carry case or pouch included in the box, which might be a move by the brand to keep the headphones more affordable.

Design and comfort check

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE headphones look stunning in their stealthy black colour and matte finish. The construction is all polycarbonate, but the quality is impressive and feels premium to the touch. Weighing in at around 227 grams, they’re light and easy on the head.

For comfort, the cushioning on both the headband and earcups is soft and very comfortable. Both parts seem built to last. The headband is made from a soft rubber material, while the earcups are crafted from high-quality faux leather.

Overall, the headphones are quite comfortable, but I can see the extending mechanism potentially getting loose over time. One gripe I have with the design is the lack of a carrying case, and the headphones also don’t fold down, which would have made them more portable and easy to carry.

Sound quality and Active Noise Cancellation

The 37mm drivers are well-suited for enjoying all types of content. The sound profile is nicely balanced, delivering clear audio with satisfying bass when needed. I listened to a wide range of music on the ACCENTUM Wireless SE and genuinely enjoyed every moment.

While watching movies and shows, I noticed that the surround effect isn’t particularly impressive, though the overall sound remains crisp and clear. There are two modes: Podcast and Bass Boost, but I never really felt the need to use them.

The ANC on these headphones isn’t quite up to the mark and feels like another area where costs were trimmed. I tried using them at work to block out chatter and general office noise, but the performance was mediocre at best. Transparency mode works decently, but it doesn’t filter out wind noise.

Seamless connection and Smart Control app

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE comes with Bluetooth for seamless connectivity. This special edition also includes the BTD 600 dongle, which not only offers ultra-low latency but also better sound quality.

The USB dongle comes with a Type-C converter, so you can easily connect it to a smartphone or a MacBook. The connection process is super fast—just plug in the dongle, turn on the headphones, and you’re good to go. With this dongle, there’s no need for a 3.5mm port or any wired connection to your device.

Smart control app

The Smart Control app is required to customise the features of the ACCENTUM Wireless SE headphones. The app includes a 5-band EQ for tuning the sound quality, along with Podcast and Bass Boost modes. You also get ANC customisation with different options for noise cancellation and ambient mode.

The app features a Sound Check tool, which is a special sound quality customizer. It creates a sound profile tailored to your personal hearing preferences, and it’s very easy to set up. Besides these, there are various connectivity settings and other tweaks available in the app to help you get the most out of your headphones.

Battery life

The battery life on the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE is impressive, offering up to 50 hours of playback on a single charge. With my daily usage of 3 to 4 hours, I only need to charge these headphones once a week. There’s also a quick charge feature that gives you several hours of playback after just a few minutes of charging. One thing I really appreciate is the inclusion of a long charging cable, which is a nice change from other premium headphones that often come with short cables in the box.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Lightweight and comfortable design
• Free low-latency dongle for the same price
• Amazing sound quality for the price
• Seamless connectivity via BTD 600 dongle
• Multiple sound customisation options via the Smart Control app
• Long battery life plus fast charging

Cons

• No carry case or foldable design
• ANC is not impressive

Final thoughts

From the moment I started using the ACCENTUM Wireless SE, it was clear who these headphones are intended for. They’re perfect for music lovers who enjoy listening during their daily commute or while travelling. The affordable price of ₹12,990 makes them an easy choice for anyone on a tight budget. Just keep in mind that the ANC performance isn’t the main selling point here

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