Sennheiser Accentum Open Wireless Earbuds Prove I Wasn’t Born to Suffer in Silence

Let’s talk about the earbuds that showed up just when I was about to duct tape AirPods to my ears for the sixth time in a week. Sennheiser decided that maybe—maybe—people want to hear music and the screaming toddler behind them in line at Target. Revolutionary.

These earbuds are open-fit, which means they perch politely in your ears instead of burrowing into your soul like those silicone-tipped earbuds that feel like your brain is being vacuum-sealed. The Accentum Open takes a gentler approach—no pressure, no plug, no soundproofed tunnel vision. They let in your surroundings, which is either a blessing or a mild curse, depending on how loudly your neighbor likes to mow his lawn.

Let’s address the elephant in the pocket: battery life. A single charge gets you 6.5 hours of playback, which is more than enough to listen to every version of Bohemian Rhapsody on YouTube twice. And if you toss them in the case (which is small enough to fit in that sad little coin pocket of your jeans), you get up to 28 hours total. That’s a whole day of pretending you’re on a podcast while ignoring actual people.

The Accentum Open doesn’t come with noise cancellation—because why isolate when you can be included, right? Sennheiser wants you to enjoy your music with the ambiance of public transportation. It’s like ASMR, if ASMR featured distant arguments and car horns. But honestly, that open design means I don’t have to yank an earbud out every time someone asks if I want a receipt. (I don’t. I never do.)

Now, let’s talk about sound. These are still Sennheisers, which means even though they’re the casual, “I’m too chill for earplugs” type, the sound is still crisp, detailed, and surprisingly full-bodied for something that doesn’t block anything out. Bass is present, vocals are clear, and I didn’t feel like I was listening through a tin can—so that’s already a win.

Pairing? Seamless. Multipoint connectivity lets me switch between my laptop, phone, and tablet with the grace of someone who’s way more organized than I am. Bluetooth 5.3 is onboard, so everything connects like it was meant to be. No rebooting. No ritual sacrifice. Just click and go.

And in case I forget that I’m fragile and clumsy, the Accentum Open is IPX4 splash resistant. Which means yes, I can spill coffee on myself and the earbuds, and only one of us will short-circuit.

They also feature touch controls, smart pause, single-bud mode (for those who prefer to appear attentive in meetings), and decent call quality. I’ve used them in the wind, in the kitchen, even during a grocery store intercom announcement about a cleanup on aisle four. My voice came through clearly every time, which was… unfortunate, in at least one case.

Are they perfect? No. If you’re the type who likes to shut out the world like it owes you money, these aren’t the earbuds for you. But if you want comfort, solid sound, and the ability to hear your name being shouted from across the house while you’re vibing to a 2000s playlist, Sennheiser’s Accentum Open might be the hero you didn’t know you needed.