Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. It ranks #153 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $89.99; the Sennheiser ACCENTUM ranks #181, rated 2.9/5, and costs $99.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is the better-sounding option. Sub-bass is about 4 dB above target while mid and upper bass are right on it, so low notes gain depth without muddiness. Watch for: A 8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 5 dB low push vocals and snare attack back, and treble above 6 kHz also runs 4 dB low.
What the Sennheiser ACCENTUM does well: Active noise cancelling, a long 50 hour battery, aptX HD support and a wired option make it a practical everyday headphone at 0.5 lbs (222 g). Watch for: A 7 dB dip near 4.3 kHz and a presence band about 2.4 dB low push vocals back and soften detail.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser ACCENTUM and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 280 Pro | Sennheiser ACCENTUM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #153 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #181 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 56 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.55 dB standard deviation | 2.78 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.51 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 64 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz / 0 dBFS) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) | 0.5 lbs (222 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 37mm dynamic |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | None |
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- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro vs Shure SRH440A
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 HD 280 Pro: $89.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Sub-bass is about 4 dB above target while mid and upper bass are right on it, so low notes gain depth without muddiness. The closed back isolates well for monitoring and tracking, and 113 dB sensitivity makes the 64 ohm driver easy to power from a phone. It weighs 285 g.
Cons: A 8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 5 dB low push vocals and snare attack back, and treble above 6 kHz also runs 4 dB low. The result is dark and a little veiled, with less air and sparkle than the target. It is wired only and has no built-in microphone listed.
Full Sennheiser HD 280 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | 2003 (23 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.55 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 475 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.42 |
| Peak | 3,946 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.82 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +4.7 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 41 Hz | -3.0 dB | 1.35 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 126 Hz | -3.7 dB | 3.71 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | +2.3 dB | 3.81 |
| Peak | 101 Hz | +2.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,834 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.95 |
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Sennheiser ACCENTUM: $99.95 Wireless B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Active noise cancelling, a long 50 hour battery, aptX HD support and a wired option make it a practical everyday headphone at 222 g. Sub-bass sits about 6 dB above target and reaches down to 20 Hz, a good fit for listeners who like a warm, bass rich sound. Its 2.78 dB standard deviation is smoother than many headphones at its price.
Cons: A 7 dB dip near 4.3 kHz and a presence band about 2.4 dB low push vocals back and soften detail. It has no IP rating for water or sweat. The Anker Soundcore Space One is rated higher and costs less.
Full Sennheiser ACCENTUM review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.78 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 37mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 56 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz / 0 dBFS) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.51 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (222 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.6 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 | -4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 571 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,870 Hz | +5.7 dB | 2.57 |
| Peak | 4,181 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.61 |
| Peak | 33 Hz | -2.0 dB | 1.01 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,003 Hz | -1.9 dB | 4.46 |
| Peak | 8,989 Hz | +3.3 dB | 0.91 |
| Peak | 5,774 Hz | -3.0 dB | 5.50 |
| Peak | 3,777 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.96 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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