Sennheiser CX 300S Review

Taking a break from high-end earphones, today I’m taking a gander at the new Sennheiser CX 300S.  At $49.95, this new budget-friendly earphone from Sennheiser adds to the venerable CX Series.  But how does it stack up to the competition?

Sennheiser CX 300S Review

Accessories-wise, the CX 300S might seem a little light.  Included with the earphones, you’ll find four pairs of silicon eartips and a soft carrying pouch.

The earphones themselves feel lightweight but solid, with an air of durability that reminds me of the long-reigning Sennheiser HD1 In-ear.  Cabling comes in the form of a no-tangle, elliptical design, replete with an in-line mic and remote.  The whole affair measures a standard 4 ft (1.2 m) and terminates in a right-angled 3.5 mm plug.

Featuring a fairly run-of-the-mill earbud design, the housings feature a slight angle, allowing for an ergonomic and comfortable fit.  Honestly, I could wear these all day without feeling a thing, and the sound definitely merits that consideration.

Call quality remains succinct and accurate enough, with my voice registering clear and crisp.

Specifications

Frequency Response: NA
Nominal Impedance: NA
Sound Pressure Level: NA

Sennheiser doesn’t give any specs for the CX 300S, which seems pretty forgivable when you consider the earphone only costs $49.  That being said, the sound is adequate without missing any major portions of the frequency range.  Impedance remains adequately low enough to benefit low-power devices like phones and computers.  Finally, volume is decent, correlating with a fairly standard Sound Pressure Level.

Low End

With a good bass response and a fair amount of detail, the CX 300S doesn’t prove too insufferable in the low end.  And, at this price, that’s no mean feat for any earphone.  Genres like rock and punk sound snappy and finite, without the characteristic sloppy low end that accompanies most entry-level earphones.

Midrange

Vocals and instrumentation both benefit from this clean and precise presentation.  Slightly forward leaning, the mids in the CX 300S offer a refreshing alternative to a v-shaped sound profile.  The result is an ample and full sound that seems equally well suited to any genre – but one that abounds with an impressive amount of resolution for the price.

High End

Slightly smoothed highs prevent the sound from ever becoming too bright or harsh.  Of course, in the highest highs, the CX 300S can feel a little intense.  But during most of my listening sessions, I was too busy enjoying the overall sound to notice these tiny and infrequent hiccups.  Like the lows and mids, the highs abound with detail, and it’s all too easy to get lost in your favorite music with this tiny earphone.

Soundstage

For and in-ear headphone at this price, I was fairly impressed with the sense of depth found in the CX 300S.  Sure, it’s no open-back, over-ear headphone.  But, taking that in stride, this Sennheiser earphone still offers some pretty good space for an in-ear headphone that only runs you $50 smackaroos.

Recommendations

If you’re in need of a knock-around, daily-use earphones that can take a beating and still sound amazing, the Sennheiser CX 300S is the earphone you have been searching for.

Folks who want more bass and treble could consider the more v-shaped Final Audio E3000C.  While more expensive than the CX 300S and lacking the same detailed midrange, the E3000C does offer more emphasis on the lows and highs.

Final Analysis

At $49.95, Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S.  Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors.  Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it.

Get the Sennheiser CX 300S for the best price here:

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