Buzz
Design, Fit, and Battery Life of Sennheiser CX True Wireless
Easily recognizable as the successor to Sennheiser CX 400BT, the differences are minimal. The new CX features a black logo at the top instead of silver, and the outdated buttonless shell can still connect seamlessly to the original CX 400BT. The LED light indicating remaining battery has been moved from the back to the front for added convenience.
The exterior of the earbuds now sports a sleek black touch-sensitive control panel instead of glossy black. Once again, the logo is slightly more concealed – black instead of silver. The new CX distributes subtle microphone openings on both earbuds instead of just one on the right, and this new placement may contribute to its IPX4 splash-proof rating. In contrast, the older version lacks any waterproof indication. What exactly is splash-proof? Well, it survived a light rain during testing.
So, what do you get for the $130 price tag of Sennheiser CX? Well, a sturdy square carrying case and mid-sized in-ear headphones that snugly fit your ears. They may feel a bit imposing initially, but eventually become comfortable. They fit snugly to ensure security in appropriately sized ears, and when they fill your ears, they will reduce and block out a lot of ambient noise – the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature even reaches an impressive level!
The battery life is outstanding, providing up to 9 hours of playtime on a single charge. The square-shaped casing, well-crafted but sensitive to scratches, allows you to charge it fully twice before needing a new power source.
Connectivity – Control
The touch controls on the Sennheiser CX may not offer as vibrant feedback as the 400BT, but the control layout and sensitivity remain solid.
- Press L or R to play/pause music
- Double-press R to skip a track
- Double-press L to go back to a previous track
- Hold R to increase volume
- Hold L to decrease volume
- Triple-press L or R to activate voice assistant
- Hold both earbuds for 3 seconds to enter pairing mode and connect to another device.
Once connected to multiple devices, you can switch between them from the app. This is a bit cumbersome, and like most wireless earphones, the CX doesn't automatically switch between devices, for example, from your laptop to your phone when you receive a call.
If the control layout doesn't suit your preferences, you can completely customize the controls through the Sennheiser app.
The Bluetooth connection on CX is rock-solid, boasting a strong Bluetooth range of up to 9-10 meters from your device. The in-ear headphones take a bit of time to pair and connect, but you can always listen to one earbud while the other is charging – seamlessly switching back to stereo sound when you retrieve the charged earbud. They don't automatically pause music when you take one earbud out.
Audio Quality of Sennheiser CX True Wireless
In terms of sound, CX is built on the foundation of the CX 400BT. Sennheiser has tweaked it a bit, and the question is whether that's an improvement.
Most notably, Sennheiser pays more attention to the bass on the CX. There's a Bass Boost label on the packaging, and it's there for a reason. The bass has a bit more punch, providing a cleaner feel. It's tighter, with more controlled attacks making a more significant impact. However, it's not the fastest. The sub-bass seems to be handled similarly: fuller but more precise than before.
On the Sennheiser CX 400BT, the bass is the companion to its open and warm sound. CX keeps the lower midrange boosted, resulting in a warm and rich sound, but this time, it seems to navigate around the bass. Whether you're listening at high or low volumes – the bass has a slight advantage. Especially at background listening levels, it can exhibit a bit more finesse.
The midrange on CX is more focused, meaning they are now specialized in pushing higher-pitched female and male vocals forward. They sound full and clear, flowing smoothly but with a lot of nuances. CX rolls off the highs before they get too bright or harsh – it's a smooth journey.
Unfortunately, Sennheiser has slightly diminished the center and midrange frequencies in the vocals. This is where the CX falls a bit short compared to the CX 400BT. Its predecessor provided additional space for guitar, piano, intricacies, and higher notes surrounding the vocals, enhancing the musicality and creating an intimate soundstage. The new CX lacks the overall sense of musical space and between the instruments. It's more challenging to place the precise instruments around you.
While we delve into the subtle changes here, the difference is noteworthy for critical listeners. When considering yourself as one of the options: CX 400BT if you seek space and detail; Sennheiser CX if you prefer robust bass.
The CX True Wireless may not be as vibrant as its predecessor, but it's an excellent choice for bass enthusiasts.
Final Thoughts
Sennheiser CX True Wireless is the solid successor to the Sennheiser CX 400BT, with equally excellent call quality, improved water resistance, video playback, and battery life. The sound may seem slightly subdued and less expansive than its predecessor, but that doesn't take away from the fact that these are excellent true wireless earbuds.
