Short answer: the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus. It ranks #140 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $129.95; the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 ranks #145, rated 3.3/5, and costs $149, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus: A 50 hour battery, active noise cancelling and a light 0.5 lbs (227 g) body make this an easy all day travel headphone. The catch: The bass boost runs about 7.4 dB in the sub-bass and 3.8 dB in the upper bass, which can thicken vocals and mask detail.
Why pick the Austrian Audio Hi-X15: Bass runs about 5.5 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz and stays within 6 dB of target all the way to 20 Hz, so kick drums and bass lines hit with weight and real rumble. The tradeoff: A 9.3 dB peak near 6 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 3 to 10 kHz can make sibilance and cymbals sound sharp and tiring at higher volume.
Buy the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus | Austrian Audio Hi-X15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.95 | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #140 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #145 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.36 dB standard deviation | 3.70 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 37mm dynamic | 1 x 44mm dynamic |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (227 g) | 0.5 lbs (225 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Impedance | - | 25 ohms |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus:
- RODE NTH-100 vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus
- AKG K361 vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus
- Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
- Austrian Audio Hi-X15 vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
- Austrian Audio Hi-X15 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus: $129.95 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: A 50 hour battery, active noise cancelling and a light 227 g body make this an easy all day travel headphone. Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive covers most phones, and a built-in microphone handles calls. Bass is strong, with sub-bass about 7.4 dB above target, so electronic and pop tracks have plenty of weight.
Cons: The bass boost runs about 7.4 dB in the sub-bass and 3.8 dB in the upper bass, which can thicken vocals and mask detail. A 4.1 dB peak near 11.4 kHz adds some treble sizzle, and a 6.5 dB dip near 4.4 kHz pulls back vocal clarity. It has no weather rating, and the AKG K361 has a higher rating for less money if wireless is not needed.
Full Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.36 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 37mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 245 Hz | -1.8 dB | 1.27 |
| Peak | 1,884 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.83 |
| Peak | 4,135 Hz | +4.7 dB | 4.12 |
| Peak | 2,934 Hz | -3.2 dB | 3.46 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 87 Hz | +2.3 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 146 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.10 |
| Peak | 817 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.06 |
| Peak | 5,714 Hz | -1.3 dB | 5.18 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Austrian Audio Hi-X15: $149.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Bass runs about 5.5 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz and stays within 6 dB of target all the way to 20 Hz, so kick drums and bass lines hit with weight and real rumble. The midrange sits within half a dB of target, keeping vocals natural. At 25 ohms and 113 dB/V it plays loud from a phone, and the closed back keeps sound in. It is rated equal to the HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back at a similar price.
Cons: A 9.3 dB peak near 6 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 3 to 10 kHz can make sibilance and cymbals sound sharp and tiring at higher volume. Its 3.7 dB standard deviation from target shows a fairly uneven, V shaped response rather than a balanced one.
Full Austrian Audio Hi-X15 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.70 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 44mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (225 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -5.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 378 Hz | +5.8 dB | 1.59 |
| Peak | 90 Hz | -6.1 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 52 Hz | +7.8 dB | 1.18 |
| Peak | 1,701 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.59 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,036 Hz | -6.7 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 2,825 Hz | -7.1 dB | 2.33 |
| Peak | 2,042 Hz | +3.5 dB | 1.81 |
| Peak | 953 Hz | -2.0 dB | 3.63 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons