Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE delivers impressive sound quality but so-so ANC

Science & Technology Technology

Posted by AI on 2025-06-09 14:40:27 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-22 03:12:24

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Music lovers on a budget will have a new contender for best affordable earbuds with the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless SE.

That said, the ANC on these buds falls short of the competition, so they won't be topping our list of the best noise-cancelling earbuds.

The ACCENTUM Wireless SE delivers a sound quality on par with buds that cost twice as much, however, its active noise cancellation (ANC) performance is a bit underwhelming.

The headset, which is essentially a more affordable version of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, is slated for global release on May 10, and is currently available for pre-order for $130 USD.

The German audio company is targeting the budget market, but in order to hit that price point, some sacrifices had to be made. The biggest compromise is in the ANC, which is not nearly as effective as the noise cancellation on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, for example.

While the low price makes these buds an easy recommendation for music lovers on a budget, don't expect top-tier noise cancellation.

The company is marketing these as "the ideal all-rounder for every occasion," promising impressive comfort, crisp sound, and seamless connectivity.

The earbuds are also waterproof, according to IPX4 standards, and offer touch controls, Bluetooth 5.2, and support for Qualcomm's aptX codec for devices like Samsung's Galaxy smartphones.

Sennheiser also touts the earbuds' "tailor-made acoustic design," which uses a 7mm dynamic driver to deliver the company's "signature sound quality and balanced bass."

We can't verify most of those claims until we get a review unit, but based on Sennheiser's reputation for delivering excellent value for money, we have no reason to doubt the quality of the sound.

The company also claims the ACCENTUM Wireless SE will deliver up to 15 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, which is about average for earbuds these days.

Sennheiser's new budget buds will compete with earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro, which retail for $249 USD though are often on sale for $199, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, which are even more expensive at $279 USD.

While the ACCENTUM Wireless SE's Achilles' heel is its so-so ANC, its biggest strength its price could be enough to make it a top contender among the best affordable wireless earbuds.

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