Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless
MSRP $200.00
“The Accentum are everything we like about Sennheiser earbuds, but with greater comfort.”
Pros
- New shape provides enhanced comfort
- Same great Sennheiser sound
- Excellent controls
- Very compact charging case
- Bluetooth Multipoint
- Wireless charging
Cons
- No hi-res audio codecs
- Low mic gain on calls
- Not enough sidetone
- Design is a bit boring
Sennheiser’s wireless earbuds rarely disappoint when it comes to sound quality — the German brand’s reputation for solid acoustic engineering is one of the best in the business. But many would agree that the company has struggled with ergonomics. Chunky and a bit bulky, Sennheiser’s earbuds just haven’t been as comfortable as the competition.
With third-gen Momentum True Wireless, that began to change as Sennheiser found ways to make its earbuds smaller. Now, with the Accentum True Wireless ($200), things have improved considerably.
Here’s what you need to know before buying Sennheiser’s newest midrange option.
From a design perspective, with their matte white or matte black finish, the Accentum seem almost boring. There are no glossy surfaces and unlike the company’s flagship Momentum True Wireless 4 (MTW4), you won’t find bronze or titanium accents. The Sennheiser logo is barely noticeable.
And yet, this minimalism is welcome. The MTW4’s case is one of the biggest in the wireless earbud world, a fact that isn’t changed by the handsome fabric that wraps the exterior. By contrast, the Accentum case is lighter and far more pocketable. Access to the earbuds is just as easy, thanks to the clamshell design, and you aren’t giving up convenience — wireless charging is still supported.
However, the most noticeable difference is the shape of the earbuds themselves. Where the MTW4 (and all previous Sennheiser models) are squarish and boxy, the Accentum are elongated, smooth, and curvy all over.
The company says this shape evolved using the data from thousands of ear models, which parent company, Sonova (a hearing aid manufacturer), provided.
It’s hard to argue with the result — the Accentum are by far the most comfortable Sennheiser earbuds I’ve ever worn, though I admit I was skeptical at first.
I’ve come to believe that in order to fit securely, an earbud’s silicone tip needs to sit right up against the entrance of my ear canal — even pressing into it a bit. The MTW4 (and their predecessors) did that handily with their long towers (the part to which the tip is attached). If you read my review of the MTW3 or MTW4, I heap a lot of praise on their comfort and fit. The Accentum are better.
If you’ve ever shied away from Sennheiser’s buds in the past because of their shape, it’s time to try again. As with any shape, they won’t fit everyone, but I suspect they’ll fit many more people than before. The four sizes of included ear tips will certainly help. Workouts and running shouldn’t be a problem. Like the MTW4, the Accentum are rated IP54 for water and dust protection.
Sennheiser’s touch controls are typically great, and the Accentum True Wireless are no exception. You can pretty much tap anywhere on the outer surface of the earbuds, which is far easier than on some models that have a specific touch-sensitive area.
Every feature can be triggered using the touch controls (play/pause, track skipping, volume, call answer/end, ANC/transparency, and voice assistant access), and you can also customize the tap gestures within the Sennheiser Smart Control app (iOS/Android). With four available gestures per earbud, your choices are nearly limitless.
These controls are augmented by the Accentum’s wear sensors, which let you automatically pause and resume audio as you remove and replace either bud. It works seamlessly, but you can also disable it if you find it annoying.
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