Sennheiser Accentum Plus vs Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Quick take: The Sennheiser Accentum Plus costs $30 less; the Sennheiser Accentum Plus has active noise cancelling while the Sennheiser HD 599 SE doesn't; only the Sennheiser Accentum Plus supports multipoint (two devices at once).
Which one to buy
Both sound like Sennheiser, but they're for completely different rooms. The Accentum Plus is a closed wireless headphone with adaptive ANC, a 50-hour battery and aptX Adaptive. The HD 599 SE is a wired open-back that leaks sound in both directions and only belongs somewhere quiet. If you'll listen on a bus, at the office or around other people, the HD 599 SE is out of the running before sound quality comes into it.
If you only listen at home, the choice gets more interesting. The HD 599 SE gives you the wide, airy soundstage only open-backs manage, and owners rank its comfort among the best they've worn: 250g with velour pads that vanish on your head, even with glasses. Its tuning is warm and relaxed with bass that rolls off at the bottom, and it plays fine straight from a laptop or phone dongle at 50 ohms. Owners describe the Accentum Plus as clearer and better separated than the Sony WH-1000XM5, but closed is closed: no soundstage like this, and a tight clamp that wide-headed owners never get used to.
What goes wrong with each is different, too. The Accentum Plus's touch controls are its most common complaint, with the ANC-toggle gesture so close to play/pause that owners stop their music by accident. The HD 599 SE has no controls to misfire, just a cable, but the cable uses a Sennheiser-specific twist-lock connector at the cup.
Prices overlap more than the list prices suggest. The Accentum Plus is around $130 street, and the HD 599 SE lists at $160 but owners say it drops near $100 several times a year and nobody should pay full price.
Sennheiser Accentum Plus
If you need one headphone for commuting, the office and home, wireless with ANC and a 50-hour battery. Owners say it sounds better than its price class.
Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Best if you listen at a desk or on the couch in a quiet room and want open-back space and all-evening comfort. Wait for the frequent drop toward $100.
| Spec | Sennheiser Accentum Plus | Sennheiser HD 599 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$130 | ~$160 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Wired & Studio |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 50 hrs | — |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 10 min = 5 hrs | — |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | — |
| Multipoint | Yes | No |
| Driver Size | 37 mm | 38 mm |
| Weight | 227 g | 250 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
Pros & cons
Sennheiser Accentum Plus
- ✓Refined Sennheiser tuning without the bass bloat of rivals
- ✓Legitimate 50-hour battery with adaptive ANC running
- ✓aptX Adaptive gives Android users a hi-res pipeline
- ✓Street price near $130 undercuts its $230 list dramatically
- ✓Light 227g build stays comfortable all day
- ✓10-minute charge banks 5 hours of playback
- ✗ANC clearly trails Sony and Bose flagships on voices
- ✗Wind noise handling is weak outdoors
- ✗No wear detection — music plays on when removed
- ✗Earcups swivel flat but never fold for packing
- ✗Touch controls occasionally misread swipes
Sennheiser HD 599 SE
- ✓Classic gateway into open-back listening
- ✓Runs fine from a laptop — no amp myths apply
- ✓Warm, relaxed treble stays easy for hours
- ✓Superb 250g velour comfort, even with glasses
- ✓Ships with both 6.3mm and 3.5mm cables
- ✓Regularly drops to $100 — patience pays
- ✗Bass rolls off at the bottom like most open-backs
- ✗Everyone in the room hears your music
- ✗Zero isolation makes it useless for commutes
- ✗Paying the $160 list price is a mistake
- ✗Relaxed treble trades away detail versus the MDR-7506
Sennheiser Accentum Plus vs Sennheiser HD 599 SE: common questions
Can the HD 599 SE replace the Accentum Plus for commuting?▾
No. It is open-back, so it lets in all outside noise and everyone nearby hears your music. It also needs a cable. It is strictly an at-home headphone; the Accentum Plus is the one built for travel.
Is the 250g HD 599 SE or the 227g Accentum Plus more comfortable for long sessions?▾
Owners give it to the HD 599 SE: 250g, velour pads and a gentle fit that works with glasses. The Accentum Plus is lighter at 227g, but its clamp runs tight for the first days and stays too tight for some larger heads.
Do I need an amp for the HD 599 SE if I'm coming from the wireless Accentum Plus?▾
No. At 50 ohms with high sensitivity, owners run it straight from a laptop or a phone dongle with no trouble. Just remember the HD 599 SE has no Bluetooth at all.