Sennheiser CX 300 headphones (silver)
Manufacturer: Sennheiser Electronics Corp. Part number: CX300S
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If you're looking for an affordable, decent-sounding pair of earbuds, start with the Sennheiser CX 300. Sennheiser's first in-ear design sounds like a winner to us.
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CNET editors' review
Sennheiser CX 300 headphones (silver) price range: $49.98 - $50.88
- Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
- Edited by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 02/14/2006
The good: The Sennheiser CX 300 offers solid sound quality, significant isolation from outside sounds, and an ultralightweight design, as well as three sizes of silicon ear tips to ensure a perfect fit--all for well less than $100.
The bad: The Sennheiser CX 300 doesn't come with a travel pouch or any other accessories.
The bottom line: If you're looking for an affordable, decent-sounding pair of earbuds, start with the Sennheiser CX 300. Sennheiser's first in-ear design sounds like a winner to us.
The Sennheiser CX 300's construction quality exceeds that of most earbuds, and the soft and flexible Y cable is a good length at 49 inches. The CX 300--available in black or silver finishes--doesn't come with the usual accessories, such as a travel pouch or an airline plug-in adapter that you get with the higher-priced models.
Like all the in-ear phones we've tested, the Sennheiser CX 300 won't produce any bass at all unless its soft silicon ear tips form an airtight seal inside your ear canals. That might require a little experimentation, having to switch between the CX 300's three sizes of ear tips. We settled on the largest ones, but the fit was never as secure as we've achieved with other in-ear phones, and a slight tug on the CX 300's cables would dislodge the earpiece from the ear. To evaluate the CX 300's noise isolation, we took a trip on the 4 train on New York City's subway, where the CX 300 proved itself to be an effective noise blocker, almost on a par with the higher-priced in-ear models. The isolation won't make them a safe choice for joggers, plus we heard a significant amount of rustling from the CX 300's wires rubbing against our clothing whenever we moved about.
We directly compared the Sennheiser CX 300 to Etymotic's ER-6i ($150) in-ear headphones and came away impressed with the little Sennheisers. First thing, the CX 300's bass went as deep as the ER-6i's, but the vocals and guitars on Ryan Adams's mostly acoustic new CD, 29, were noticeably less "canned" and hollow-sounding on the ER-6i. The CX 300 rocked out with a live version of the Rolling Stones's "Start Me Up," and the band's power and grit were all there; the headphones definitely played loud enough when paired with our iPod.
Sennheiser's off to a good start, but the CX 300's sound is nowhere as clear and open as that of our favorite Shure and Etymotic models.
User reviews
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SIMPLY AWESOME.........
by shehzad on December 28, 2006
Pros: BIG SOUND STAGE, AWESOME BASS, CLEAR HIGHS, RICH MIDS. SEPERATION AND IMAGING ARE SO GOOD.
Cons: SOUND LITTLE THIN IF COMPARE TO UE SUPER.FI 5PRO...
Summary: Simply hands down, BTW i want to mention before i start(iam SHURE E4c and ULTIMATE EARS SUPER.FI 5PRO AND 5EB USER)my actual comments about these unique earphones....
Summary: Simply hands down, BTW i want to mention before i start(iam SHURE E4c and ULTIMATE EARS SUPER.FI 5PRO AND 5EB USER)my actual comments about these unique earphones.Actualy CX300 realy surprised me with it's wide soundstage(like 5pro)and instruments seperation with rich mids and punchy bass. Well now iam almost thinking to sell my E4c and 5pro(way more pricier than CX300). CX300are very easy to insert and remove. So these are for whom are looking for realy good sounding earphones. MUST BUY.......
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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great sound awesome bang for the buck
by MisterBelvedere on June 2, 2006
Pros: sound spectacular for the money
Cons: strange cable layout
Summary: I bought these after owning a pair of Shure E2Cs for a few years. The E2Cs started falling apart, so I bought these because they were a cheaper alternative, but ...
Summary: I bought these after owning a pair of Shure E2Cs for a few years. The E2Cs started falling apart, so I bought these because they were a cheaper alternative, but I've found that these sound better and are way more comfortable and lighter than the E2Cs. I'm very satisfied with them. Let's hope they last longer than than the E2Cs too.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect for this price
by alno9000 on November 18, 2006
Pros: Very clear sound - great bass
Cons: only in black colour
Summary: After having tried and returned several SURE and SONY models (even very expensive ones..) I found (by chance) these relativey cheap earbuds perfect. I use them very often (I bought ...
Summary: After having tried and returned several SURE and SONY models (even very expensive ones..) I found (by chance) these relativey cheap earbuds perfect. I use them very often (I bought them 6 months ago)and they are still in good conditions
Great value for the money1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don't Buy These As Your Only Set of Headphones
by TWIFOSP on October 24, 2006
Pros: Excellent sound reproduction
Cons: Sometimes fiddly to seal ear canal
Summary: Compared to earbuds, and it's only fair to compare these to headphones of similar size, these have an amazing sound. The bass is strong and the sound reproduction is ...
Summary: Compared to earbuds, and it's only fair to compare these to headphones of similar size, these have an amazing sound. The bass is strong and the sound reproduction is excellent.
Unlike some, I prefer the asymetrical cord. I thought it was obvious, and I think to most it is, but as I have observed, some people do not know the purpose of this. The long side goes around the back of your neck and when
you take off the headphones, they stay around your neck. With a symetrical cord, you have to find somewhere to put your headphones when you take them out of your ears. If I had to criticize, I'd say the long side is a little too long though.
I've used these with an iRiver and an iPod and the first thing I found was that they sounded best with the EQ setting to OFF or NORMAL. That says a lot when you don't have to compensate for poor quality sound reproduction.
My iRiver came with earbuds made by Sennheiser and they sound quite good for earbuds, but the CX-300 in ear phones are so superior there's really no comparison.
The major drawback is the seal required in your ear canal in order for the bass to be reproduced. I found that they occasionally have to be adjusted to reseal and get the bass back. I've tried all 3 sizes of ear
adaptors and found the medium to work best for me, but it's still not perfect.
The other drawback to a sealed design is I can hear my footsteps when I'm walking. If you've ever worn foam earplugs and walked around with them on, you'll know what I mean. I wouldn't recommend them for joggers.
I found the sound deadening to be quite effective. The effect is like foam earplugs, except to a lesser effect, and of course the music tends to drown out the little bit of sound that does pass through. I've used them on the subway and I can listen to music at normal levels. Today I realized that they're not so effective at drowning out crying babies on the train though. For that, you need more volume.
They can be very effective at work to tune out a noisy office (if your situation allows), but sometimes I find it too effective as it blocks/muffles sounds/people I need to hear.
I almost hesitate to recommend them as the sound quality is so superior to earbuds that you may never find earbuds acceptable again. Given the need to adjust when I lose the seal, the "earplug effect" while walking and the need to hear just a little more outside noise at work, I end up switching back and forth between these and earbuds.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good choice for the money, acceptable sound
by muzx on October 7, 2006
Pros: Moderate price, good noise isolation
Cons: Mediocrate sound, lack of accessories
Summary: I bought these earbuds for long flight. Recently I used Koss The Plug, Sennhesier MX400 and PX200, and the factory earbuds of Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman mobilephone, so I have ...
Summary: I bought these earbuds for long flight. Recently I used Koss The Plug, Sennhesier MX400 and PX200, and the factory earbuds of Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman mobilephone, so I have a number of comparison.
Phisically it's the same type as W800i earbuds, with the 3 silicon flange. For the first try the default flange fits well in my ear canal, but after several hours of wearing it could be a little uncomfortable.
Sound quality is acceptable, however worse than PX200. I expected more based on the reviews. The bass boosted too much, the middle "canned" and the treble is a bit weak, the overall impression is not clear enough. The volume is ok. So I rate it mediocrate sound quality.
The isolation of ambient noise is ok, it fits to my expectations.
The wires seems a bit too thin to me and it makes friction noises in my ear while rubbing on my clothes.
I don't like the long and asymetrical wires, it always makes me trouble how I organize it. (I don't understand why they don't have a version with shorter cable?)
The lack of carrying case or pouch is a pity.
Summary: for 50 bucks you can have a good passive noise isolating earbud if you are not a kind of audiophil.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great bass. Clear treble. Great volume. Great buy for under 70 bucks.
by wodo on March 13, 2006
Pros: Bass as advertized. Clear sound. Clear treble. Relatively sturdy wires. Great deal for under $70.
Cons: A self-recoiling case--if such thing exists for earbuds; if it doesn't--great invention idea.
Summary: I just got these Sennheisers from Buy.com after having done a bit of research here and elsewhere. I had Sony earbuds that came with my Sony Ericsson W800 mp3 ...
Summary: I just got these Sennheisers from Buy.com after having done a bit of research here and elsewhere. I had Sony earbuds that came with my Sony Ericsson W800 mp3 player/2MB camera cellphone, and they were decent. Then I got myself a SanDisk 4GB MP3 player with ear phones (NOT ear canal buds!) that simply stink. They don't stay in my ears, fall out at the slightest head movement--butt ugly. First I wanted the Ultimate Ears3 which look great in research, but Best Buy, which carries them online does not carry them in store. I had store coupons and in lieu of the Ultimate Ears went with the Shure EC2, which they DO carry in store. No good. Great volume, but if you want to hear at least a hint of bass, you've got to push them REALLY into the ear canal, and I could not find a single pair of any of the accessory rubber or foam thingies coming with the buds that would fit comfortably in my ears AND produce the desired bass WITHOUT ANY PUSHING OR HOLDING THEM IN MY EARS WITH MY FINGERS. These Sennheisers, on the other hand: you simply plug them effortlessly into the ear canal, turn on the mp3, and enjoy the bass (and the highs) right off the bat. Pushing does not improve the bass. The bass is great right off the bat. And the wires are not nearly as flimsy as Sony's. I highly recommend these Sennheisers for the money. (I cannot comment on the Shure EC3s or the Ultimate Ears3 or 5. The Ultimate Ears3 may be great--I just don't know. The Shure EC3s and UltimateEars5 cost more than twice as much as the Sennheisers and are still earbuds--meaning, they will never be as good sound-wise as full-size headhones. So why spent almost $200 for earbuds, if they will not be dramatically better than these under $70 Sennheisers????????
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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blocks noise as it should, but poor durability
by capostat on August 22, 2006
Pros: noise blockage, sound quality
Cons: durability, length (little short)
Summary: I initially did not like the assymetric design, but it wasnt so bad. To eliminate the thumping sound caused by the wire hitting my chest, i'd run the wire ...
Summary: I initially did not like the assymetric design, but it wasnt so bad. To eliminate the thumping sound caused by the wire hitting my chest, i'd run the wire THROUGH my shirt--it worked like a charm.
Not 4 months after use, and the left ear is damaged. there are no visible signs of wear or mishandling, and all of a sudden the left ear puts out a very faint sound. it is practically dead! terrible!2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Pretty Solid! Great Replacement for Mp3 Player phones!
by ponce79 on July 11, 2009
Pros: Great Sound Quality, blocks out noise, but the cx 400s are better and almost the same price if you shop right. Great all around! Love them great replacement for your mp3 player phones!
Cons: accessories and the cx 400s same price but much better and the have accessories unlike these
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Excellent headphones with great sound for the price
by bigdave_md on May 3, 2009
Pros: Inexpensive
Great sound and bassCons: Tend to fall out easily - recommend upgrading to triple flange buds.
Vibrations are all too easily transmitted up the cord.
Many imitations out there so be careful where you buy!Summary: I bought these headphones a couple of years ago and I'd highly recommend them for anyone looking for an inexpensive upgrade to their standard in-ear headphones. The sounds quality ...
Summary: I bought these headphones a couple of years ago and I'd highly recommend them for anyone looking for an inexpensive upgrade to their standard in-ear headphones. The sounds quality is fantastic given the price. They may not compare to higher end brands such as Shure or Etymotic but they also cost a fraction of the price. However, be careful of imitations. Buy from a reputed store, rather than ebay or something. The bass response and sound isolation is excellent when you get them to fit right.
The stock ear buds are provided in 3 sizes but I could never really get them to fit securely, they would fall out way to easily so I couldn't use them during work-outs, etc. But I found some triple flange replacements which make the sound even better and stay in well. Also, the cord tends to transmit vibrations to the phones but it doesn't bother me that much. -
bottom level durability
by seriousmusiclover on March 14, 2009
Pros: excellent sound for one week only. High isolation from outside noise. u will love them for one week.
Cons: J shaped cord.
Summary: i bought them and after six days of usage right side sopped working.thanks to the two year guarantee they got replaced but again my second cx300 showed same problem ...
Summary: i bought them and after six days of usage right side sopped working.thanks to the two year guarantee they got replaced but again my second cx300 showed same problem within a week. i am going to replace them but my advice is dont take risk .
dont go after the brand name of sennheiser.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sennheiser Electronics Corp.
- Part number: CX300S
- Description: The CX 300 are high-quality stereo ear-canal headphones with powerful, bass-driven stereo sound for listening 'on the move'. Ear adapters in three different sizes ensure a perfect fit, high wearing comfort and an excellent attenuation of ambient noise. The CX 300 are ideal for use with MP3, CD, MD, or DVD players and many other portable devices.
General
- Recommended Use The noise canceling feature blocks the din on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport.
- Product Type Headphones
- Weight 0.1 oz
- Color Silver
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear canalphone
- Headphones Technology Dynamic
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 18 - 21000 Hz
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.2 %
- Sensitivity 112 dB
- Impedance 16 Ohm
- Headphones Ear Pads Included
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Audio cable - Integrated
Power
- Power Device None
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 2 years warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 2 years
Product series
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Sennheiser CX 300 headphones (silver)
Manufacturer: Sennheiser Electronics Corp.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, Silver, 0.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty
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Sennheiser CX 300 headphones (black)
Manufacturer: Sennheiser Electronics Corp.
Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, Black, 0.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty
Manufacturer info
- Sennheiser Electronics Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sennheiser Electronics Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/
- Address:
1 Enterprise Dr.
Old Lyme, CT 06371 - Phone: (860) 434-9190
- Fax: (860) 434-1759
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