Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless

Battery life

In standard mode, the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless can achieve a listening time of eight and a half hours at a high playback volume when the AAC codec is used. If noise cancellation was active, however, the runtime was reduced to five and a half hours.

In the case, these headphones can be fully charged twice and then again up to 40 per cent, which means that a total runtime of 29 hours and 30 minutes in basic mode or 19 hours in ANC mode can be achieved.

A ten-minute quick charge provided the headphones with capacity for up to 100 minutes, and it took around 55 minutes to refuel when the batteries were empty. The compact, square case can be supplied with power either wirelessly or via the USB-C port, with the reserve being restored via cable after 75 minutes. A USB-C to USB-A charging cable is supplied for this purpose.

Bluetooth specs

These True Wireless in-ears support Bluetooth standard 5.3 as well as multipoint connections with two devices simultaneously and impressed us with a stable wireless connection during our one-week test period. In open spaces, a range of 30 metres was achieved, while indoors, several rooms could be covered and you could change floors. However, in low-latency mode for computer and mobile games, the first dropouts started to occur after a distance of eight metres.

According to the manufacturer, a future firmware update will add Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast (see guide) to the features. You can select from the available audio codecs SBC, AAC, aptX and LC3.

Operation

The touch-sensitive surfaces of the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless are used to control playback, make phone calls and skip back and forth when selecting tracks, and can also be deactivated via the app connected to these headphones. Volume control, calling up a voice assistant and switching to transparency or ANC mode is also provided.

Assignment of controls can be customised to suit personal preferences with single and multiple taps, while a hold gesture is permanently assigned to the volume setting. Manual switching on and off of the headphones via the touch surfaces is not supported, which means that you always need the charging case to hand. However, one-sided use in single mode is possible. These wireless in-ears are also equipped with a wear-detection function that can be activated and deactivated as required.

Sennheiser Smart Control App

The Sennheiser Smart Control app (for Android and iOS) includes two directly switchable modes for “Bass Boost” or “Podcast” for improved speech intelligibility. In addition, seven presets are available via the EQ with settings for “Rock”, “Pop”, “Dance”, “Hip Hop”, “Classical”, “Film” and “Jazz”, these can be used as starting points for your own settings and offer good orientation.

Additionally, the sound check function can be used to create your own presets, although this requires registration. A Sennheiser account is also required to set up “sound zones”, which means the headphones will automatically use preconfigured sound settings in certain locations (home, gym, etc.).

A three-stage transparency mode enables adaptation to different environments. You can also set whether playback should pause when this is switched on. As a further option, external noise can be amplified in two intensity levels during phone calls, allowing you to hear your own voice in a more natural way.

However, on the noise cancellation side, a special anti-wind mode can be used for outdoor activities. In addition to touch control, you can personalise notification tones and voice messages, set up a timer and activate low-latency mode. Firmware updates are also part of the app’s range of functions.

Voice intelligibility when making calls

According to the manufacturer, the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless have two beamforming microphones per side, which ensure quite natural voice transmission with impeccable intelligibility when communicating.

Although background noises were perceptible to the person on the other end of the call, your own voice was transmitted at the forefront in a lively setting, so communication remained possible at all times. Wind noise was also largely suppressed so that the other person primarily heard a slight whisper during pauses in speech. One exception, which could still be rectified before the headphones go on sale, was the right-hand side: If the right earpiece was directly in the wind, the noise was transmitted in full, which was not the case if the gusts came from the front or the left.

Noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode

Hybrid noise cancelling was particularly effective in the low-frequency range and effectively attenuated high noise components. In contrast, the reduction in the mid-frequency spectrum was noticeable but not necessarily intense. Voices, as well as a circular saw that was being used in the neighbourhood, both seemed slightly muffled.

In transparency mode, there was a background noise that increased from level to level. However, even at the lowest setting, there was a targeted amplification that made it easy to hold a conversation when playback was paused. In addition, the higher levels can be used to improve external perception during sound playback.

Sound

The Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless dynamic 7mm drivers with True Response technology come from the company’s own production facilities in Tullamore, Ireland, where the transducers used in audiophile headphones and other Accentum and Momentum models are also manufactured. These were characterised by precise sound reproduction and created a generously dimensioned listening room, which was skillfully used to fan out complex productions in great detail. Even with atmospheric soundscapes such as the distinctive soundtrack of the silent film classic “The Cabinet of Dr Caligari” by Karl Bartos, the headphones were impressive with an atmospheric, expansive reproduction.

The bass range was presented in a fun way, which was clearly evident in the fusion of disco and techno on “Generator” from the recently released album “Hyperdrama” by French duo Justice. The low bass, in particular, was rich and rather soft, which may not suit everyone’s taste, although it was in keeping with the current trend. If you prefer a more neutral approach, you could easily slim down the bass foundation with the 5-band EQ, and the tuning worked perfectly across all genres.

The mid-range conveyed a natural, very agile impression. The reproduction of Rodrigo y Gabriela’s fast-paced and high-contrast guitar playing on the album opener “True Nature” from 2023’s “In Between Thoughts…A New World” was cleanly resolved, expressive and spirited in its flow. The reproduction of voices was also authentic, encouraging excellent speech intelligibility for vocals as well as spoken content or film dialogue.

The treble range was neither restrained nor too demanding. A successful balance that set accents but did not tire the ear too quickly, making Max Richter’s “Spring 1” from the 2022 album “The New Four Seasons – Vivaldi Recomposed” easy to listen to even at a higher volume level.

Conclusion

The sound reproduction of the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless was undoubtedly impressive, and it can be customised to suit your own preferences if required using the tools in the app. In addition, the new ergonomic design offers a lot of stability for everyday use or during sports without having to sacrifice comfort. However, slight weaknesses were evident in the noise cancellation. The background noise in transparency mode also appeared to be in need of improvement, although it could be used flexibly thanks to the three-stage amplification.