If you are looking for a very affordable pair of in-ear headphones with an excellent sound image, the Sennheiser CX 80S are a good choice. Above all, their very homogeneous, transparent sound is convincing across the entire frequency bandwidth and the built-in microphone for telephoning or videoconferencing also impressed with its very clear intelligibility. The earpieces fit very comfortably, even after hours of use. The built-in remote control can also be used to control music and answer phone calls. If you can do without a wireless connection via Bluetooth and the associated functional advantages, then you will definitely appreciate the CX 80S.
Priced under 30-Euros, the CX 80S in-ears deliver an amazingly balanced and transparent sound. The built-in remote control not only operates the music played exclusively via cable but also handles telephone calls. The enclosed ear tips in three different sizes ensure an optimal fit.
With the CX 80S, Sennheiser arrive at an extremely appealing price in relation to their high-quality standards. The design of these tiny spherical in-ears, with their black-silver body, is already impressive; the plastic used seems a little bit cheap, but the partially silver-plated finish makes up for this. Due to their size, they practically disappear into the ear canal and are only noticeable because of their 1.2-metre long cable. A remote control is located below the right earpiece. The headphones are connected solely via an angled 3.5-millimetre jack plug.
Comfort and functionality
The headphones’ compact size, their lightweight of only ten grams and the silicone earpieces, which are included in three sizes, ensure that they are very comfortable to wear. Even during hours of use, you literally forget they are in your ear. The rather thin cable is very flexible, but this makes it more susceptible to breakage, which is a consideration in this price category. Due to the cable and the lack of water resistance, these in-ears are less suitable for sporty-active use, but they are certainly suitable for general mobile use. The earpieces were not completely shielded, and I could still perceive ambient noise when the volume was set at a reasonable level.
I found that the remote control for starting/stopping, skipping and spooling music or answering and hanging up phone calls was too close to the ear; a few centimetres further away would have been better for more ergonomic operation.
Technical features
With small dynamic closed drivers, you wouldn’t expect to have a transmitted bass down to a low 17 hertz, with a treble extended to 20,000 hertz. But the sound pressure level of 119 decibels and extremely low impedance of 28 ohms should also take on even low-power headphone outputs. The built-in microphone covers a frequency range of 100 to 10,000 hertz, and the distortion factor is less than 0.5 per cent at 1 kHz and 100 dB SPL.
Sound
The above data raises expectations, and disappointment often follows. But not so with the CX 80S, because on this very broad, finely structured sound canvas, one can enjoy listening sessions lasting for hours. The almost imperceptible earpieces literally implant themselves into the auditory canal and transmit the sound directly, precisely and in a balanced manner, without favouring any one frequency spectrum. The bass comes first, noting its runs on the guitar or synth in a pithy and accentuated way. My oft-used sound samples like Röyksopp’s “Sordid Affair” or Moderat’s “A New Error” enjoyed a well-deserved dose of the low frequencies. Even fast basslines like Motörhead’s “Ace Of Spades” sound snappy without being spongy. Even on this song, the performance is marked by transparency, with the individual instruments clearly distancing themselves from the vocals, which is especially praiseworthy. This is thanks to the fine-tuning of mids and highs, which do not steal each other’s thunder. The mids offer their richly deserved range to the lead sounds, as played by guitars or synthesizers. The treble mainly ensures intentional accents in sibilants or high-frequency percussions like cymbals can be heard without being perceived as washed out or exaggerated. In addition, the treble provides noticeable transparency in the overall sound image. This benefits acoustic music, be it singer/songwriters, jazz or even rock.
It is also worth mentioning the spatial presentation, which provides a clear depth gradation and a wide stereo image.
With this data, I would have expected even more pressure and reserves from the volume. In the end, I found the maximum volume quite tolerable.
As already mentioned, the CX 80S have a remote control, including a microphone for telephoning or video conferencing. With a transmission range of 100 to 10,000 hertz, they provide a clear and thus very intelligible voice that does not hiss in the s sounds and does not carry in the lower range, which might otherwise harm intelligibility.
Technical specifications
- Ear couplingIn-ear
- Typeclosed
- Transducer principledynamic
- Frequency response (headphones)17 - 20.000 Hz
- Impedance28 ohms
- Sound pressure level (SPL)@1kHz, 1V RMS: 119 dB
- Weight with cable10 g
- Cable length120 cm
What's in the box
- 3 pairs of ear tips (S, M, L)
After reading this review I went to the local shop here in Berlin and bought this headphones.
For 24.99 EUR it is absolutely terrible headphones , the sound quality is like in very cheap headphones for 5 eur.
This is the big shame for Senheiser and for author of this review.
I lost confidence now in both.
Simply this is very very bad headphones wich should cost 5-9 eur.
I am very disapointed with my choice.
Thank you so much for this unbiased review. I couldn’t find much reviews of “reputed” sites like this, but the ones I found mostly said about the piercing highs, now, after reading your comment I’d opt for some earbuds “KBear Stellar” or “TC200” from Aliexpress instead of these Sennheiser’s. Thanks again.
Same. I was looking to get some bud to have on the go.
Loved the review.
Hate the headphones.
It is all high and some mids. No lows.. the sound is almost painful to listen to. How is this even possible?
There are always questions from readers as to why this or that in-ear does not deliver bass, even though we write in the corresponding test that bass is very much present. In almost all cases, this is due to the wrong ear tips and the wrong fit.
Man, first of all thanks for spending the time reading this and for the very enthusiastic review. But that’s it. I couldn’t stop, read it and not mention what have been mentioned already and my own experience. I would say that unfortunately the review seems quite biased. The problem is: how is that possible?
You perfectly know you have followers and creating this kind of expectations about the undoubtedly worst product I ever contact with from this brand is quite dare and embarrassing.
I wouldn’t expect an opinion maker (as it sounds now) but instead someone quite imparcial and focused on the specs and real experience you have when you listen to anything, anywhere with a pair of this based of course on a natural process of comparison in different systems for example – just, but just to make sure.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe you should actually try to change the tips as you suggested yourself, I don’t know but this is not exclusively about acoustics which are actually pretty well thought with this kind of design, considered for noise cancelation. My point is: with this page coming up straight away in google with this kind of information, it not only raises doubts about Sennheiser (that should probably start investing in emojis pillows – no offence, for the people that work on this) or maybe, it was already bought by another company for bankruptcy because it is a hole, I can only see being dig by themselves.
But then, here you are passing that whole pitch to the people that trust your reviews and in the majority of cases have little knowledge about the product, or are seaking for “professional” advice, therefore searching it online, right?
Minimal design that could be a positive point but it only seems to be the result of a very cheap built product. The cable is ridiculous short for any cable length standards of a product designed to be also used as a call receiver. And then….Boom! All the years of trust and sound quality completely wiped by the worst quality I ever found in a pair of earbuds.
It’s common knowledge in the industry the application of high pass filters (low cuts) precisely measured so you don’t get that much rumble or mud. But in this case It sounds as if the engineer fell asleep at work or mistakenly did a cut from about, 150-200 Hz leaving you with a feeling of emptiness. Then, the mid range occupies the many body of the sound delivered. And cherry on top, the clashy and pierced highs as if in the end, you were listening to an old radio broadcast!
This is so real, that when I first tried them on my Mac, for a moment I get anxious because I couldn’t understand what the hell was wrong with my computer, music player or settings. It took me a while to actually understand and accept the frustration of being completely deceived by a company I’ve been trusting for more than a decade and a review that seems to come from the same place.
My biggest concern about this are the ethics. Hopefully in the future for you guys, you will manage to maybe work on your wording, references or empirical research in the way you could provide information, as accurate as possible to the people that struggle to find it. That gives you credibility. And I’m focusing on you because I understand the struggle in making a name by yourselves when compared with Sennheiser, I guess?Forgive me if I’m wrong about this, but this is how far I can go with my emphaty.
And to Sennheiser I only have two words,
from “good night”, “oh no!” to “bye-bye!”
Last note: Depending the law of the country where you live you probably cannot return goods that have been worn and if the final decision of the consumer was based on your review, you should definitely think in what measure this might come back to you, as well.
I have to agree with Denis and the above.
I normally don’t consider any other headphone other than Sennheiser – my trusted brand for a long time.
This time, I thought I would splash out and paid £8 more than my usual Sennheiser MX 375 and got …. weedy, tinny cheap sounding headphones that this CX 80S offers. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT, I’m afraid Sennheiser!
My MX 365’s cables broken and authorized service changed it with this. This CX 80S have incredible high trebles. When I listened music with this ones first time I immediately took off it and checked my ears to they’re bleeding or not because it hurted too much. I wasn’t know anyting about headphones like frequency response or equalizer etc. but after having to use this ones I’ve learned more things. I wish there was a frequency measurements of this so I could have eq them much more properly but now I’m using 8k -4 / 11.2k -8 / 16k -8 / 20k -4 and this eq made trebles much more better, at least they’re not physically hurting my ears anymore.
Other than treble I liked bass and mids but there’s a little bit distortion on bass that could have been hear on silent environments.
many here didnt give them a chance….theese are VERY good. Much better sound than many expensive ones.
IMPORTANT: You need to let them play for a while and they get better as all speakers. Also experiment with the tips. use larger ones to seal your ears and fine the right angle!