John Darko
Plastic frame with slide adjustments. Click-control buttons mounted to the right earcup. Bluetooth multipoint. 37mm dynamic drivers. aptX and aptX HD support. Active noise cancellation. Two microphones for phone calls. Wind-reduction mode. 50 hours battery runtime. 10-minute quick charge. USB-wired listening mode. Smartphone app with 5-band EQ.
These are the key ingredients of a new mid-tier active noise-cancelling headphone from Sennheiser. The Accentum Wireless (pictured above) is designed to sit below the German company’s Momentum range of noise cancellers and is priced accordingly: £160 or US$180.
Bowers & Wilkins has added a new colourway (and then some) to its PX8 series of active noise-cancelling headphones. The Royal Burgundy Nappa leather version of the flagship model joins last year’s originals (reviewed here) with a burgundy headband, burgundy earcups and, you guessed it, burgundy ear cushions. The earcup caps and yokes have been finished in ‘gold’. From the press release, “All three Px8 models continue to feature a single cast-aluminium arm structure that references Bowers & Wilkins’ signature design language, plus a diamond-cut bright edge on each elliptical logo plate. The earcups, memory-foam cushions and headband are all trimmed in soft, luxurious Nappa leather for the ultimate comfort and a premium feel.”
Now comes the twist: whilst the Royal Burgundy PX8 utilise the same 4cm Carbon Cone drivers as the original models (finished in black or tan), the UK manufacturer has taken the opportunity to tweak the headphones’ tuning via the DSP for “even more detail, giving an unparalleled combination of ultra-fast response plus exceptionally low distortion throughout the frequency range.” Price? £599, US$699 or €699.
Romania’s Meze has announced a Primal special edition of its 109 Pro headphones. The Primal’s earcups have been reworked with walnut wood where each groove has been individually chiselled by hand, sanded and coated with linseed oil for a matte finish. Company founder CEO says, “As locals of Maramures, our philosophy of life is intertwined with the ancient forests that surround us, and we are taught to appreciate and respect this craft from the youngest age. With Primal, we took up this deep-rooted skill and shaped it into a new perspective on headphone design.” The 109 Pro Primal’s sound remains unchanged from the original (why fix something that isn’t broken?) and is available for pre-order now for US$999. That’s two hundred clams more than the original.
