They sound better than the sennheiser cx 300. Review of the CX series headphones from Sennheiser

The topic of headphones will always be relevant, since human life is simply unthinkable without music. Nowadays, taking music with you on the road is absolutely no problem, since there are many electronic gadgets on sale that allow you to enjoy your favorite tracks. However, to ensure the best sound quality, you need high-quality headphones. One of these is the Sennheiser CX 300-II Precision, which combines affordable prices and world-famous German quality.

Exterior design and general information

When you get acquainted with the CX 300-II Precision headphones from the German manufacturer Sennheiser, there is no mechanical volume control. At first glance, this may seem like a drawback, however, the refusal to use it was not accidental. This decision was made by the company's engineers based on the experience gained during the production of previous models. As practice shows, the vast majority of users do not like the control wheel connected to the audio cable due to its very high sensitivity, which leads to a change in sound volume even at the slightest touch. In addition, headphones very often begin to work unstably due to the failure of the regulator.

In this case, further operation of the headphones without replacing the regulator becomes impossible.
I’m very pleased with the L-shaped plug, which reduces the likelihood of wire breakage and increases the service life of the headphones. This solution also increases the ergonomics of using the device, since it is much easier to take it out of your pocket. But an asymmetrical wire causes conflicting emotions, because, on the one hand, it is more convenient, however, on the other, one earphone may periodically fall out of the ear.

Headphones

The factory package includes three pairs of spare ear pads of various sizes, so there shouldn’t be any problems with selecting ear pads to suit the specific structure of the user’s ear. It's worth noting that the ear pads don't stick to the speakers very well, so the likelihood of losing them is very high, so always be prepared to buy a new set.
As for the quality of sound insulation, the headphones are doing just fine. When listening to music at half the maximum volume level, the user will not be distracted by extraneous noise, and the listening process will be very comfortable without unnecessary strain on the eardrums.

Sound quality

The Sennheiser CX-300 II Precision headphones belong to the category of regular in-ear headphones, however, their technical characteristics are in no way inferior to most monitor headphones in the mid-price range. The operating frequency range of the gadget is from 19 to 21,000 hertz, however, when using a good player, this in no way affects the sound quality. However, it is worth noting that if you believe the reviews of the owners of these headphones, they are not entirely suitable for listening to rock and metal music, since the sound is desaturated and dull. But for electronic music, this gadget is just perfect.

The resistance of each headphone is 16 Ohms, which allowed the manufacturer to achieve perfectly smooth sound on both speakers. As for sensitivity, it is at the level of 113 decibels, which provides high-quality and rich bass.

Connection cable and plug

The headphones are very practical and easy to use thanks to a long 1.2-meter cable, which allows you to store the player in any convenient place, be it a trouser or jacket pocket, or a sports backpack. For connection, the gadget has a standard mini-jack, so it can be used with all types of devices. The quality of the insulating material deserves special attention. The wires are coated with a special modern material that provides the audio cable with high strength. This is also evidenced by user reviews, since during the entire period of sales there were no cases of broken wires recorded.

Contents of delivery

Regardless of the color of the headphones, the gadget has a standard delivery package, which, in addition to the headphones themselves, includes a protective case that allows you to store and conveniently transport them, as well as a set of spare ear pads. As for color options, the CX-300 is available to users in black, white and silver. If you find this model in any other color, then there is a reason to check them for consistency, since Sennheiser itself has officially stated only those colors available.

Consumer Reviews

In order to most accurately assess the quality of the CX 300 model line, you need to pay attention to what consumers who have already managed to evaluate them in practice say about them. Overall, the impression is very positive, since, surprisingly, there are practically no dissatisfied users.

Owners of these German headphones highlight the following main advantages:

- excellent sound quality;
— good factory equipment;
— ease of use and high-quality assembly.

Considering the low cost of the headphones, which in retail stores is about 1,800 rubles, the manufacturer has achieved an ideal price-quality ratio in the gadget. However, there are some drawbacks that can have a big impact when deciding to purchase a device.
One of the most negative features of these headphones is the left speaker. As practice has shown, during operation it very often fails, which, in turn, makes further use of the headphones impossible. However, this problem is purely constructive in nature, since the speaker itself does not have wired components, therefore, due to the vibration created while listening to music, it gradually fails.

In defense of the Sennheiser CX-300 II Precision, we can say that a similar problem very often occurs in other headphone models from various well-known manufacturers, which are much more expensive. Therefore, there is no point in giving up on our today’s hero. If we talk about the quality of the gadget, then on a ten-point scale we can give it a solid nine.

Purchase

With the development of industry in China, many counterfeits of various gadgets from well-known manufacturers have appeared on the domestic market. Alas, headphones from the German manufacturer Sennheiser were no exception. However, you should not be upset, since there are a number of certain signs by which you can easily distinguish an original product from a cheap copy.

Firstly, the packaging of the headphones, manufactured at a German factory, contains small wings on the sides, which give it greater stability when displayed in a store window. And secondly, the plastic container has a significantly smaller thickness, which is visually noticeable even to the untrained eye.
All official Sennheiser products contain two inscriptions - Enhanced Bass and Noise Isolation, which you simply will not find on the box of a fake. In addition, the official warranty period for headphones of this brand is two years, which is indicated directly on the packaging. On gadgets made in China, there is no mention of a warranty at all.

It is also worth noting that all modern manufacturers use a QR code and a personal identifier on the boxes of their products, which allows them to track the fate of each unit released for sale. Therefore, you can also determine the authenticity of the headphones by simply comparing their sequence. If it matches, then this indicates that the entire batch is fake. And finally, the language used. If you find at least one Russian word on the packaging, then this is a 100% fake, since Sennheiser does not have factories in our country and, accordingly, does not use the Russian language on the boxes of its products.
The above signs for determining whether headphones match are just a small part of all that exist. However, they are quite enough to avoid becoming a victim of deception when buying new headphones.

Hello everyone!
It's time to write a review about the headphones that I chose for a long time and persistently. But in the end I did not regret it and the purchase is completely justified.

I used a lot of different headphones, mostly Chinese - more or less good, but I wanted something more, namely headphones above the average price and quality range.
Everything naturally comes down to money, and the availability of goods. Good headphones from Sony, Sennheiser, Philips all cost around 50 USD. I haven’t looked at the major Monsters at all. Mostly, many people preferred the 300 Senkhami. Ideal price / quality ratio. Price ~ we have 47 y.e. offline. But 50 green for a piece of wire, alas... On ebay they still cost the same 50
And so, in my search for high-quality sound, I came across headphones from the AKG 324P company. According to reviews, these are good headphones, close to the 300th Senhams and superior to them in bass and sound picture. But they also cost ten more.
AKG is a fairly well-known company that produces studio music equipment - microphones, mixers, monitors. Moreover, the company is Austrian.
Having typed these AKGs into a search on eBay, my eyes began to shine - all the sellers set the price around 20 USD.And all the sellers are from China. They also wrote on the forums that there are a lot of fakes on them now. That’s what I was afraid of. But in this video you can see their video review (not mine) and how to distinguish the original from the fake.

In general, I decided to take a chance and buy them. The kind Chinese assured me that they were real. After the purchase, they gave me a tracking number - the parcel arrived in 16 days, strangely, parcels go for about a month without a tracking number.
And here it is, a yellow envelope - a philatelist’s dream, this is the first time I’ve seen stamps on a parcel)

A tightly sealed box - and voila. A box with headphones. An opening revealed that the headphones were truly original! The AKG lettering is engraved rather than painted and the letters are close together.

Chinese request)

Headphone options

closed, 12-23500 Hz, 121 dB, 16 Ohm, 1.2 m cord, 3.5 mm plug

So the box for the headphones is made of thick, pleasant-to-touch cardboard.
The scope of delivery includes:
-Headphones
-3 pairs of rubber bands
-box for replacement rubber bands
-black pouch for headphones.
Also, 2 booklets are a guarantee and some kind of nonsense.

I’ll say right away - the headphones are made of very high quality. There are no burrs, cheap plastic or falling apart parts.
The plug is L-shaped - I hope it doesn’t bend, the connector is gold-plated, the wire is made of a material reminiscent of soft touch, it doesn’t seem to get too tangled. The headphones are very light, made of high-quality plastic. On the top on the silver part, on the left earphone it says 324P, on the right AKG. By the way , in the place where the earphone connects to the speaker there is a black braid that bends and will prevent the wire from breaking. The headphones look inconspicuous, ordinary - but the most interesting thing is inside






Sound
This is the most interesting thing. I have never heard such a sound before. I don’t have perfect hearing, but the frequency response is smooth. The sound is clear, bassy, ​​high and mid level, not off the charts. On them I really heard the detail of the compositions and stereo. Adjusting the eucalizer is not even required.
The headphones are tight and comfortable and fit well in the ears - you can’t feel them at all. That’s why the ears don’t get tired after long listening sessions. By the way, I tested it on everyone’s favorite Sansa Clip+ with Rokbosk installed. The player pumped up the ears well - there’s enough volume and there’s still a lot of headroom left. The player Friends sent it to me from overseas.












Bottom line
I'm glad I bought these headphones for such a price. The sound quality is excellent and, as they say, is comparable to 300 Senheisers.

• Headphones
• Three pairs of classic attachments of different sizes
• Carrying bag for storage and transportation

The CX 400-II and CX 500 models have slightly expanded equipment:

• Three pairs of two-blade nozzles of different sizes
• Dedicated headphone holder
• Clip clip for fixing the cable on clothing

They say that a real audiophile must do three things in his life: buy a cryogenically processed cable from TWAG for his headphones, drink a glass of wine from the highlands of Italy illuminated with the full audio spectrum (which is known to improve the psychoacoustic properties of the brain and allows you to hear up to 25 kHz) and at least in one message on any music forum, criticize the Sennheiser CX 300 headphones.

We don’t know anything for certain about the first two points, but the third, apparently, is carried out regularly. And the point here is not the terribleness of specific headphones, but rather the strong position of the Sennheiser dealer network in the CIS, due to which most often the first incomplete earplugs among young people are the ears with the “CX” prefix.

Our story began back in 2005, when there was a serious shortage of interesting offers in the field of portable audio on the audio market. Nowadays, in-ear headphones have become something so commonplace that you see them everywhere, right down to the mobile headsets of the blasphemous Fly phones, but then the entire assortment most often consisted of only one lonely hero - Koss The Plug. And they were not available in every store and not in every city. We sorted it out, sir. Funny, is not it? Considering that today these headphones are considered one of the most dubious acquisitions in the portable industry.

Also in 2005, at the Eurovision music competition held in Kiev, Sennheiser provided artists with their new, so to speak, development for use - in-ear concert monitors called IE 4. Like Sharp HP-MD33-S, Edifier H260 or Creative EP 630 , this model was an OEM product of another lesser-known company - Foster (index 382326), which, according to rumors, works only with companies and for a serious wholesale of several thousand pieces.

After the musical event, many headphones that were used during the event and remained out of use ended up in retail sales in Ukraine and specifically in Kyiv. How is no longer important; perhaps the company decided to test the demand for such products in this way. And it must be said that it was very high - people were simply “starved” for normal offers in this segment. You can still find reviews on the forums about the purchase of the first IE 4 in life; it’s interesting to see how much joy these headphones, simple by today’s audiophile standards, caused in people.

The demand was so great that already in 2006, Zenheiser released a “people’s” version of IE 4 called CX 300. Externally, it seems to be the same, but according to the impressions of the owners of both models, the workmanship is worse and the sound is poorer. But due to this and due to large production volumes, the price is lower. This is understandable, the first model was created in small batches for work on stage, while the second is positioned as a device for listening to music aimed at the masses. In terms of sound, the IE 4 model is placed on a shelf next to the CX 500.

Today we will look at the three main models of the CX series - 300, 400 and 500. Let's compare them with each other, describe all the advantages and disadvantages. Let's create an introductory course for a fighter on the most popular in-ear headphones from Sennheiser.

I note that the Germans are not at all squeamish about malicious marketing and like to re-release their old models with a slightly changed look and a different index. There are many variations, such as special modifications “Street” and “Sport”, plus some headphones have already had a second edition (the “II” index after the number indicates exactly this). But the sound of various modifications of these three lines (3**, 4**, 5**) is identical. Only the equipment, appearance and some small details differ.

For example, the “Sport” modification, as the name suggests, is aimed at people leading an active lifestyle. The headphones and cable are painted in bright colors; the included case is not leather, but silicone. But accordingly, the price also rises. And the “Style” modification boasts a more interesting headphone housing design, and yes, you also need to add some money.

It is quite possible that in the near future these gentlemen from Germany will release modifications “Glamour” or “Night Club”, but in my humble opinion, there is little real use from such tricks, but an extra 10-15 cu. You will have to pay extra for “beautiful eyes” in any case.

Therefore, for our test, we decided to choose three classic models that are the most popular year after year. The CX 300 and CX 400 came into my hands in the second edition in the “Precision” modification, and the top 500s came into my hands in the first edition, which has already been discontinued.

Packaging and equipment

All headphones are packed in sealed plastic boxes. This fact is not encouraging, given that many people want to listen to headphones before buying, even if they are buying a second one of the same kind. Although any decent audio store will give you already opened CX for testing without any problems, a hitch can only arise in large networks selling household audio-video equipment of various types. Consumer electronics supermarkets are mass-oriented, and most often they do not care about each individual customer.

The equipment of the CX series traditionally differs slightly from cheap to more expensive models. The CX-300 II comes with three pairs of attachments and a leather case. The boxes with the CX-400 II and CX-500 contain three pairs of regular tips plus three pairs of two-leaf herringbone tips, the same case, a clip-clip for attaching the cable to clothing, and a convenient rubber holder for the headphone case and cable.

The tips are silicone and very soft. There are seams on the rims, but they are not noticeable at all and do not cause any complaints. This is a rather important nuance, given that in some cases they tend to rub the ear canal of headphone owners. And this completely kills the pleasure of listening to music.

The cover is essentially a piece of leather in the form of a coat pocket, where two flexible plastic crossbars act as a lock. This eliminates the need for “snake” type locks, and nothing is guaranteed to ever fall out of the case. The leather is matte, the Sennheiser label is embossed in the center of the case, and it is varnished.

Rubber headphone holder. Smells nice, like chemicals. If we talk about the safety of headphones, then this thing is the best way to keep headphones safe. It is even better than the case, which, although damn stylish, does not have a rigid frame and can be easily wrinkled in any plane.

Design and construction

CX are a budget solution and there are not enough stars in the sky. The design of the cases can be called strict and classic.

Depending on the series and edition, headphones can be gray, white, black or any variation of the three above colors. Modifications stand apart and dictate their own fashion rules – among them you can find artist’s nightmares in the form of bright acidic shades. All headphones except the CX-500 have a matte body. The 500s are varnished, which seems to hint at their top position in the line.

The plastic of the case is the most common, not bad, but there are no signs of elitism visible. When you try to squeeze it a little with your fingers, it does not crack and does not provide any other hints of deformation, which is already good.

The wire is by far the weakest aspect of entry-level headphones. All representatives of this series look and feel thin and not particularly reliable. And if for the CX 300 this is excusable in accordance with the price, then to see a similar cable in the more expensive CX 500 is, to put it mildly, strange. Looking ahead a little, I will say that first impressions can be deceiving, and the same CX 500 is quite suitable for use in severe polar frosts and on ruthless Russian roads.

I liked the plug, it is L-shaped and made entirely of thick rubber. It looks reliable enough that you don’t have to worry about it again. There is only a fear that the wire itself may eventually jump out of the plug body, because... in the visible part it is not fixed in any way and “moves” back and forth just a little.

A special feature on older models is the volume switch slider. Small and convenient. It won’t be possible to completely remove or maximize the sound, but it is quite capable of compensating the volume level on different tracks or making it bearable for conversation.

Because These headphones do not have a screen, nothing goes blind in the sun. Amen.

Operation and ease of use

The main thing when using budget headphones is to keep an eye on the cable. In the vast majority of models in this part of the audio market, it is thin, flimsy and quickly becomes unusable if handled roughly. It depends only on you how long your purchase will last you - a month, six months or a year. To extend the life of your device, just follow two simple tips:

• One way or another, carry your headphones in a case. Either in leather, or wrapped around a rubber holder. Cases for cameras and mini-discs may also be suitable; they are large, comfortable, with a semi-rigid frame.
• In winter, try to limit your use of headphones. Severe frosts are the surest way to kill a cable, because... At low temperatures, some wires quickly become tanned and break easily.

For representatives of the CX series, everything is more or less normal with this nuance. Reviews on the CX 300 and CX 400 generally vary; for some the cable frays quickly, for others it lives happily ever after. Here the human factor plays a role more than design features. Whoever uses it and how it is the one who gets it in the end, because as it comes back, so it will respond. As for the CX 500, there is nothing to complain about. Their cable is silicone and rubberized, although in appearance it cannot be distinguished from those of their younger colleagues. In practice, it shows itself much better - it doesn’t stiffen in the cold, it’s not afraid of severe bending, and with careful use it lasts for a year or more. In general, it pleases not only the eye and heart, but also the wallet.

If you have direct hands or an official Sennheiser dealer, the wire can be replaced. In the first case, any inexpensive headphones can serve as a donor, the difference will not be particularly noticeable, and in the second, the service will cost on average 10-15 USD, this is more profitable than buying new headphones for 50+ units of enemy currency. This is an obvious advantage of buying German products - they have a more developed business in the CIS than any other company and, accordingly, post-service.

Another interesting problem that was complained about on the forums is the sagging of the membrane inside the housing. For some, this happens when the earphone is placed in the ear, for others - when the volume is increased, but in the end there is always one thing - distortion of the sound with clicks. The author of the material did not have such problems, although he placed headphones in the ear canals in a variety of ways. Probably, the only problem here is that some users of these headphones, neglecting the rules of hygiene and common sense, turn up the volume of the players to a critical level, which, coupled with the design features, produces this result.

And since we’re talking about hygiene, we can’t help but touch on the issue of cleaning sound guide filters. Thin metal mesh - they are responsible for the safety of the insides - with prolonged use, in any case, they will become clogged with dirt. There are no corresponding devices or replacement filters included, so you just have to make do on your own. The owners recommend the old proven method - a little hydrogen peroxide (3%, sold in any pharmacy), some Sennheiser headphones and a diamond eye in stock. Let's give the floor to one of the heroes of labor and defense.

The original spelling and punctuation have been preserved.

For example, I clean the grid like this:

• I pour peroxide onto the bottom of the cap of a plastic bottle;
• I lower both headphones, mesh side down, and lightly stick them with tape along with the lid to the table (otherwise they tend to tip over).

I leave it for 15 minutes. During this time, I make a device for suction - I attach an empty ballpoint pen with tape to the end of the vacuum cleaner hose. It is very important that the diameter of the rod is half the diameter of the mesh, otherwise you will suck out the earphone membrane, and do not turn the headphones over when sucking with the mesh up! If the mesh is not cleared the first time, repeat the operation.

If you suddenly drop your headphones or cell phone into water, the best way is to place them in dried rice for three days. It absorbs moisture very well. When drying by heating, moisture evaporates and condenses inside - it cannot be completely removed.

A thriller about a scary “vacuum cleaner” will, of course, scare anyone. Therefore, I’ll add that if you don’t run the filters (clean them about once every six months, or better yet, once a quarter), then it’s quite possible to do without the mentioned infernal device.

Due to their small size, the fit of the headphones is quite comfortable. The usual medium nozzles fit me without any problems. You should not try to insert the headphones deep into the ear canal, because... due to the softness of the attachments, they will simply wrinkle and fit on the body, and you will not really achieve anything. It’s good that the kit includes not only classic-shaped attachments, but also other, two-petal ones. Their advantage is that they are made of a slightly harder material and at the same time smoother. There is room for choice, and all you need is patience.

It is important to find the right ear tips and ensure a good seal in the ear canal. Not only sound insulation, but also sound depends on this.

Sound

The headphones were tested on the Cowon D2+ player, which is also quite a popular source among beginning music lovers. All musical material was converted from lossless to mp3 with a quality of 320 kb/s, this is quite enough for the headphones under test.

Sennheiser CX 300-II Precision

• Average price: 1,400 rub.
• Type: closed
• Frequency range: 19 - 21000 Hz
• Resistance: 16 Ohm
• Sensitivity: 113 dB
• Weight: 8 grams
• Cable: asymmetrical 1.2 m

Despite the price, the plugs have the most ordinary budget sound. In terms of highs and midranges, they can’t boast of anything special; here they will compete with junior earbuds from the MX family, and even complete headphones like those from iPod players.

The 300s outplay the complete junk only due to the emphasis on the bass and a little in the lower mids. Low frequencies (hereinafter referred to as LF) are shallow and spread across the surface, but this is compensated by their quantity, which is more than enough. As Forrest Gump once said, "That's all I can say about Vietnam."

At high and medium frequencies (hereinafter referred to as HF and MF), the headphones squeak, at low frequencies they “pump” like a subwoofer in your head. If you need bass, feel free to buy this model; if you can easily do without pumps from below, you can take a closer look/listen to some cheaper models or even stay with the included headphones.

Sennheiser CX 400-II Precision

• Average price: 1,800 rub.
• Type: closed
• Operating principle: dynamic
• Frequency range: 17 - 22,000 Hz
• Resistance: 16 Ohm
• Sensitivity: 114 dB
• Sound pressure level (SPL): 114 dB
• Weight: 8 grams
• Plug: angled, mini-jack 3.5 mm
• Harmonic distortion: 0.2%
• Cable: Y-shaped, 1.5 m

There is a leap from the previous model to this one, and it is immediately felt.

There was a little less bass and it became more detailed. Now he doesn't just bang like an old cassette boombox, but tries to tell us what drums the musicians played or what exactly the DJ sample is. Freddie Mercury, beloved by many, no longer chokes so much in the sea of ​​lower sewage and feels quite dry and comfortable.

The main drawback of the younger model - weak midrange and high frequency - came closer to the listener's ears and became richer. The vocals are no longer heard through the pillow, but as if nearby. The violins of the beautiful Vanessa May and the Escala band change timbre; here and there in the recording you can distinguish what sounds and where, and separate one part from another. There are a little more details in the records, not much, but thanks for that too.

In general, a more advanced version of the younger model, retaining most of the shortcomings that still outweigh the advantages.

These earplugs can no longer be compared with most included headphones; they clearly sound better. A pleasant exception will be the ears from Sony - MDR-EX85 and MDR-EX300, which come complete with players from this company (models s638, s706f, a728, s738, a808, a818, a828, x1060 - for the first, and s630, s730, a845 - for the latter). From memory I can say that the 85s outperform the CX 300 and can compete with the CX 400. In theory, the MDR-EX300 should be even a little more fashionable.

Sennheiser CX 500

• Average price: 2,200 rub.
• Type: closed
• Operating principle: dynamic
• Frequency range: 17 - 21,000 Hz
• Resistance: 16 Ohm
• Sensitivity: 113 dB
• Sound pressure level (SPL): 113 dB
• Weight: 8 grams
• Plug: angled, mini-jack 3.5 mm
• Harmonic distortion: 0.2%
• Cable: Y-shaped, 1.1 m

And the last on our list, but far from the last in terms of sound, is the CX-500. While listening, a good thought flashed through my head that if the younger CX-300s had started their journey with sound of this level, then peace and quiet would have come long ago throughout the world, or at least on music forums.

The sound of the 500s is quite mature and interesting. No more crafts for you here on your knee. Decent sound is achieved not only due to the hammering bass, but also thanks to quite decent mid and high frequencies.

LF – there are as many of them as in the 400th Senkhov. The author did not notice any improvements or changes. An even stronger peak appeared in the lower middle, characteristic of many in-ear headphones with dynamic drivers. I don’t presume to judge for everyone, but personally I don’t like this feature of the sound. Fans of heavy music may like it - it adds richness to the sound of their genre, etc. "meatiness" at the expense of detail in the midrange.

The lowest frequencies were not there and still are not. Perhaps an inquisitive listener will hear some hints of this miracle, but this can most likely be attributed to auditory memory rather than the real state of affairs.

MF - good, suitable. The voice of several vocalists or one superimposed on one another in the studio (an artist’s chorus and him singing back to himself in the background, for example) can be easily distinguished by ear. The change in timbre in the choruses is well discerned. There is a strong feeling that cotton wool has been taken out of your ears and something else has been inserted there - perhaps decent headphones;)

All instruments and sounds in the midrange began to sound closer, but, unfortunately, only slightly more natural than before. The sounds of the guitar and voice still give off a “metallic” taste with an admixture of plastic. Lifeless, flat, sad. Fans of live music will be disappointed, fans of electronic music will be triumphant.

The high frequencies are not bad, but with the caveat that on some complex compositions they can break into an unpleasant “squeak”. In all other respects, the upper range is wider and more beautiful than that of the lower division.

Due to the amount of midbass and lower mids with a good fit and sealing, some semblance of a stage and volume is created in the headphones, not the presence of them, but an illusion. But this in no way prevents this illusion from bringing quite tangible pleasure from listening to music.

Sound results

As we can see from the tests, the entire series of headphones is designed with a typical “commercial” sound with an emphasis on low frequencies. This sound is now popular among young people who listen to unobtrusive styles and like to “boom” in their heads. And if in older models they seem to have not forgotten about midrange/high frequency, then the CX 300 will not surprise its owner with anything else. The jumps in price between models more or less correspond to their differences in sound, so there's no need to worry about that.

It would not be amiss to remind you that low frequencies should only mean midbass and a little lower mids. The middle itself is a failure, like many inexpensive dynamic headphones. And if you can’t say this about the CX 300, because... they simply make sounds in a given range, and the CX 400 is only trying to correct the mistakes of the younger model, then with the 500s, taking into account the general adult sound and price, this is exactly the case. Better than their younger brothers in arms, but not so great overall.

Highs are nothing special. They are not bad and they exist. Thanks for that too. The good thing is that no sibilants were noticed in the entire series. Considering how some in-ear models of the same Koss and other inexpensive plugs suffer from this, this is a very serious plus.

I would recommend the tested headphones to the simplest and most undemanding styles. Modern pop music, hip-hop, simple aggressive (house, techno, DnB) and calm (ambient, chillout) electronics. Due to the highlighted bass and lower midrange, some heavy styles also sound good, for example, danz-metal Rammstein.

Unfortunately, the headphones play “live” styles and serious electronics very poorly, swallowing up the vast majority of details, ultimately giving only the overall picture. In rich, complex music, the bass tends to overwhelm the midrange, resulting in a somewhat congested and unclear sound. Classics, old rock, jazz and other soulful things do not sound at all on these ears due to a lack of high frequencies.

However, in the end, everything depends only on the sophistication of the final listener, and if you don’t go overboard with grub, then this will do. In addition, if you are not a fan of ear-splitting bass, you can replace the purchase of headphones in this series with cheaper analogues without an emphasis on low frequencies, but with mandatory listening before purchase to avoid, so to speak.

Finally, I would like to note an interesting nuance - officially, in the Senkhov line, the CX 400-II is a replacement for the discontinued CX 500. But the autopsy showed that the sound of the new CX 400-II cannot be compared with the 500s, although this is exactly what they are trying to assure us of.

These are the miracles of marketing. Be vigilant, citizens. And drink milk for breakfast, it's healthy.

Creativity of Chinese masters

The creativity of this due to the high popularity of Sennheiser products in the world is great. And, thanks to the simplicity of the original model, it is of quite high quality. And what is more dangerous, this happens everywhere, on ebay.com, in various emergency situations, and even in some serious stores.

There are so many options for fakes that it would probably be necessary to write a separate article to list and describe them. Therefore, for my part, I strongly do not recommend being fooled by beautiful price tags and lucrative offers in the “ONLY TODAY!” style, otherwise you seriously risk joining the group of “lucky ones” who complain on the forums that their cable suddenly began to peel off or stick together, or is cracked body, one ear stopped working, etc.

Conclusions and impressions

In isolation from the market, one could safely recommend the models for purchase and end on this happy note, but we don’t live in a parallel reality, do we? During the period of testing and writing material, two small complaints appeared about the CX series:

• Price. If in 2006-2007 it was justified, now it is too high. A considerable number of Chinese OEM products have appeared that offer similar sound for less money. A striking example of this is Fischer Audio. It almost never produces its own headphones, purchasing ready-made models from China (however, as already mentioned, OEMs also sin with Senn).

On the other hand, we, as in the case of Sony or Apple, pay not only for the thing itself, but also for the weight of the brand, advertising spent on promoting a specific product and, naturally, we help marketers feed their large families. But there is also a package consisting of convenient and pleasing to the eye things. Good guys also charge extra dollars for it, without asking us whether we need it or not.

When buying the CX series, you shouldn’t forget what you’re paying money for along the way, except for the headphones themselves, which is a big name and baubles. Whether we need this is a purely personal matter for each of us.

• Party politics. I would like to believe that someday, instead of doing more and more marketing, re-releasing old models, calling them funny epithets and adding beautiful things to the kit, Sennheiser will concern itself with the sound and quality of its products in accordance with the price. In this case, the price will increase by 10-15 USD. would seem more logical and justified.

However, if you look at the market as a whole, this problem simply pales in comparison to the activities of some other manufacturers. The already mentioned citizens from Fischer Audio sometimes purchase simply hellish devices from their partners in China, which fall apart (literally) in their hands within a few weeks of use. The answer to this situation is simple - as we say in Odessa, cheap fish directly leads to inferior fish, and this negatively affects digestion. If you want something better, you will have to shell out more from your pocket. Alas, life is an unfair thing.

Otherwise the CX are decent headphones with initial sound. For a picky music lover or a student in a hurry to get somewhere, for real boys with real mobile phones or for busy housewives with infants. The series is designed to reach the widest audience, etc. While no revolutions are expected in the audio market in terms of quality or cost, Sennheiser, in my opinion, copes with its task of bringing good to the masses.

Headphones are typical workhorses. Average, but very, so to speak, strong. Good choice for reasonable money. Well, you get the idea.

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Sennheiser CX 300-II is a new version of the popular CX 300, which features higher quality sound and expanded equipment.

Design and construction

In their price category, the Sennheiser CX 300-II headphones look stylish and expensive. The body is made of high-quality matte plastic, which is quite durable and, importantly, does not creak when pressed with your fingers. On the back of the case there is a metal insert with the company logo.

The cord seems durable, although some users report frequent breaks. This is probably the case when it all depends on how carefully a person uses the headphones.

What pleases us about the design of the Sennheiser CX 300-II is the durable rubber in the most vulnerable places - on the plug and at the point where the wire connects to the body.

The headphones have good ergonomic properties: they fit tightly in the ears and do not press. If the standard ear pads do not suit someone, you can always replace them with others (3 pairs of different sizes are included in the kit).

The tight fit of the earbuds ensures reliable sound insulation. Only music can be heard in the headphones, and no extraneous sounds interfere with enjoying your favorite compositions.

Sound quality

Sennheiser CX 300-II can please you with high-quality sound. They are not overwhelmed with mid frequencies. The lows sound quite deep and do not overlap. High frequencies are well detailed.

In general, the amplitude-frequency response of the model is more or less balanced. Low frequencies dominate other sounds (typical of the CX series). Most likely, this is due to targeting young people.

Conclusion

Design, sound and ergonomics fully meet the needs of young people. These headphones will allow you to enjoy your favorite music almost anywhere: at home, on the street, on the subway and while playing sports.

Pros:

• good sound corresponding to the price;
• stylish appearance;
• reliability of design;
• ease of use;
• case and ear pads included;
• complete sound insulation.

Minuses:

• not reliable wire;
• slight excess of low frequencies, mid frequencies slightly overwhelmed.

Rating 5

Pros: Sound, wire

Disadvantages: none identified

Comment: Recently I left the headphones in my pocket and washed the jacket at 40 degrees, 2 hours and a spin at 1400 rpm with rinse aid, the headphones work like new, clean and smell like Lenore)))

Senatorov Alex November 10, 2014, Reutov \Using experience: more than a year

Score 4

Pros: - Clear, smooth sound
- Good bass
- Excellent sound insulation
- Ease of use of asymmetrical wires
- Small size headphones

Disadvantages: The weak point of all these headphones (cx-300, cx-400) is where the wire enters the 3.5mm plug. In this place, after about a year and a half of use, the wire breaks and one channel begins to disappear. I carry it plugged into my smartphone in my jeans pocket and use it intensively...

Comment: Good headphones with balanced sound - pleasant to listen to. You must be prepared to replace them in a year and a half (what can you do, now it is more profitable to produce something that will require an immediate replacement than something that will last for many years).
If someone has some frequencies that bother their sensitive ears, I would advise you to first pay attention to the player from which the music is played and try to adjust it (I mean the equalizer). All headphones are unique in timbre, so whenever you buy a new model, you must first get used to them. If it doesn’t work, we adjust the equalizer (for example, there are a lot of players with it for Android).

For those who have to repair them: 4 stranded wires, each wire in individual varnish insulation and with Teflon thread (if original). Everything is removed during tinning. By channels:
1. Red, gold
2. Green, red-green

Rating 5

Pros: Great product. Very high-quality sound insulation allows you to listen to the player far from the maximum sound, which is very pleasing.
Clear sound, rich sound.
A good rubberized cable - it unravels quickly and there are no knots.

Disadvantages: Didn't find any

Comment: I consider headphones as consumables; I buy them for a period of no more than a year (the cable just wears out further).
I've had these headphones for several months now and I'm happy with everything. I can confidently recommend them for purchase.
PS By the way, I was pleasantly surprised by the case that came with it - convenient and practical.
ADDITION.
About 5 months later I accidentally forgot my headphones in the pocket of my shorts, which I washed in the washing machine...
I've been using it for the second day now and haven't noticed any changes in the sound. Well, great! I don’t know how long they will last after this tough test, but the wash was 1 hour at 60C... So far everything is working perfectly! Well done! Thanks for the quality product!

Rating 5

Advantages: 1) Sound. After the same Philips, Rovers where the sound is clear and good, but not enough bass, these give a powerful punch to the brain. Moreover, the bass does not hum, does not hum, and is very well differentiated.
2) The kit includes a case and spare plugs.
3) L-shaped plug, which is convenient in cases where the player’s headphone input is located at the bottom, because with a straight plug, the wire bends strongly.

Disadvantages: Say what you like, but at high volumes the highs ring a lot, you have to cut it with an equalizer, which not all players have.

Comment: I read negative reviews, I was horrified, if these headphones, in their opinion, give bad sound, then what are they listening to? As was said earlier, expecting them to sound like a subwoofer with a powerful speaker system is like expecting the functionality of a computer from Tetris. The sound of the headphones is one of the best in its price range. And those who think that headphones sound bad, maybe they just need to insert them deeper into their ears? :) I myself noticed that if you insert headphones of this type into your ear poorly, then the sound will be bad.
And finally, I will say that, in my opinion, reading reviews from websites and magazines about musical equipment is not entirely correct, since most of them are audiophiles who have the opportunity to listen to equipment of the highest quality and a wild price category, and therefore their demands on everything are too high . Well, we, ordinary people, as in that catchphrase - “we listen to music, not equipment.”

Score 4

Advantages: I liked the sound, after all the Chinese ones for 150 rubles. I experimented with the volume - I still didn’t hear any blockages (don’t repeat this, spare your ears :-))! small, fit well in the ears (if fitted correctly)

Disadvantages: The first time I stuck it in my ears I almost lost eardrums!! completely sealed - I don’t know about others - but I had to put the smallest rubber bands and make small holes in them.
I'm very worried about the wire - it looks thin.
The price seems too high to me.
a lot of fakes - (Knicks! - who would have thought)

Rating 5

Pros: This is the best I've heard so far. Excellent elaboration throughout the entire range. Transparency, crystalline sound. Very dependent on the source - see comments. I’m not a big fan of bass, but if the source is adequate, the bass is very assertive, it even becomes creepy (I don’t even want to think about the equalizer). I saw a comment somewhere that said the bass is squeezing your head :). Agree.

Disadvantages: The wire is "noisy". Of course, on a noisy street the detail drops considerably, but indoors they drown out everything around them. In my opinion, there are some genre preferences. But don’t forget that these are “in-ear” headphones with an average price of up to 2 thousand rubles.

Comment: I've been using it for 6 months. I specifically read the negative reviews. I come to the conclusion that people listened to a fake. After the purchase, I tried to insert them into cell phones (nokia, sony), mp3 player (samsung), laptop - the result was the same - noise was heard everywhere. The shortcomings of the equipment immediately appear. At first I had to listen with a CD player (I found it in the closet). I was pleased with the result. But after buying a sansa clip+ flac player (in direct comparison, apple is inferior in sound quality), I listened to it with my mouth open for the first half an hour. I compared it with Sony home monitors (the model is quite old - it’s already 8 years old) - I decided to give it to good hands. I am not an expert and have not had the opportunity to listen to/compare hi-end equipment. Just to reiterate, this is the best I've heard so far.

Rating 5

Pros: Very good rich sound! As a person who regularly listens to music on the way to work in the subway, there is very good noise insulation from extraneous sounds. Not deafening silence, of course, but very decent headphones.
And vice versa - no one around me can hear what exactly I’m listening to, even at full volume. The situation when half the bus will sing along is excluded))
Convenient storage case - a small thing but a nice touch)

Disadvantages: It’s difficult to attribute this to a disadvantage given the design, but still: when walking, I can clearly hear my own steps. Just RoboCop, damn it :) - exactly the same effect as when using earplugs. As for the discussed wind noise and the sounds of the wire touching my clothes, I usually pass the wire under my jacket and therefore it doesn’t knock on my clothes. The wind is heard very faintly. If you turn off the sound and there is a noticeable wind, you may be able to hear it.

Comment: I took headphones so that I could finally listen to music on the subway, and not only Marilyn Manson, but also quiet jazz compositions without straining my ears and without turning the volume to maximum. And also so that half the car doesn’t listen to what I’m listening to.
In this regard, the headphones are simply ideal! It’s hard to imagine anything better.
I can finally listen to Ella Fitzgerald in peace))

If you listen to music while actively playing sports, often having to walk a lot on the street, then you just need a different type of headphones.

Yes, by the way, you really have to look around on the street more often - while it’s hard not to hear a Belarusian tractor, then a medium-sized truck becomes almost inaudible :)

Rating 5

Pros: Clear sound, deep bass. A tough wire that will never, truly never get wrapped up in a ball.
After more than a year of use, it’s impossible to list all the advantages at once.

Disadvantages: No clothespin :) Sometimes the wire slipped to the left and felt some discomfort because of this, in the end I attached a clothespin from the Nokia to the wire.