Customer Reviews

Sennheiser CX 400-B - Headphones ( in-ear ear-bud ) - black

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If, like me, you have an iPod and can't hear stuff on it properly when you're on a bus or train or in a noisy café, these `phones are for you. The difference they make compared with standard iPod `phones is massive.
I spent several weeks using an iPod Touch on public transport and despite tweaking the volume of movies and podcasts in iTunes still couldn't really hear things properly unless the world went quiet. I didn't realise that the CX400s would totally transform the iPod experience.
Because not only do these `phones seal out noise, they also go a lot louder than the iPod `phones to start with.
So I'm finding I have the volume set to about half what I used to set it to. This can only have a positive effect on battery life.
The experience of being sealed off from the world inside these headphones is quite surreal but rather nice. It makes the world seem calmer, tunes out those annoying people who talk too loud, totally prevents you hearing other people's headphones (and stops them hearing yours too even if you crank the volume up).
The effect is so good, you may find yourself missing your stop, which I've done.
How about sound quality? Well, once you've got them in right, which is critical, they sound excellent. Certainly better than the iPod `phones. The sound is very tight and solid, with plenty of bass. Perhaps they don't sound quite as open as the best `phones do, but it's a small price to pay.
The key to liking the CX400s will be whether you can get a comfortable fit, and whether you can tolerate having something blocking your ears so completely. There are three sets of rubber cups to fit different-sized ears to help with this.
The standard cable is quite short, but long enough if you keep your music player in a jacket pocket. If you keep it in your jeans, you'll need to use the included extension cable.
In the package you also get a rubber pad to wrap your `phones around (seems a bit big and pointless), a lapel clip and a little purse-style case for the accessories.
The CX400s are very small and light, sound great (and loud) and if you're moving up from iPod `phones will completely transform your listening experience if you listen in noisy environments.
The only downside, and it could be a big one if you listen while walking or running, is noise transmission. This I think is common to most, if not all in-ear `phones like these. Touch the cable and you hear it quite loudly. If you run, your breath will sound much louder to you, and chewing gum becomes a noisy and unpleasant experience. You'll hear your footsteps booming through your ears too. You can even hear your own heartbeat at times!
If you're sitting still, they're terrific, but whilst walking I'd say they are more or less intolerable so think carefully about this before you buy.

Sennheiser has always been revolutionary with design and engineering for it's products. I bought a pair of CX300 earbuds about a year ago and have thought they were the best available...until today when I opened a pair of CX400 earbuds that I bought at Xmas and have been saving for when my current ones deteriorate from constant daily use. Well, the CX300s weren't showing any signs of giving up any time soon (i.e. getting staticy or muffled or falling apart), so I decided to be decadent and open my new pair before I really needed them.
I was stunned at the difference. The new ones are not as sharp sounding as my old ones, therefore adding definition and richness to the music that I had not enjoyed before. The bass is extraordinary, I can't imagine how they reproduce such low, deep bass at such loud volumes when cranked up...from such a tiny thing!!
The heritage lives on in these beautys. I completely get lost in the music when they're on and don't even want to talk to anyone and break my immersion in the concert going on in my head.
What a great product that I would highly recommend to anyone. They arrive with a short cable with a gold plated connecting pin and an extension cable if you need more length. The carrying case comes with a cool wrap around rubbery plastic piece that hold the earbuds separately and prevents knotting up. The cable texture is very flexible and sturdy (same as the CX300s - and I have not had those crack or crease over the year in my gymbag). There are at least five or six colors of the earbuds to choose from but they all have black cables.
To wrap it up, pardon the pun, these blow away all other earbuds of any brand I've ever tested or owned. I cannot repeat enough how personal and rich any music sounds though these Sennheiser CX400s. It really makes your ipod or mp3 player come to life in ways you won't believe.

I was in the market for new noise isolating earphones as my CX-300's were stolen. I was satisfied with the CX-300's as they provided good noise isolation and a full range sound at a reasonable price.

When I started my research I was not aware of the CX-400 as they have only just been release. I was considering either the Etymotic Research ER6i or Shure SE210-K. Both have a lot of good reviews and I was leaning towards the ER6i, then I became aware of the CX-400. As they are new there are not a lot of reviews out there, but at the price I found them, I decided to take a chance. I already own 3 Sennheiser `phones, plus the stolen model and are completely satisfied with them all. My original over the ear headphones are almost 20 years old and are still providing great enjoyment. So basically I put my trust in the Sennheiser name.

Well let me tell you, Sennheiser have not let me down. In comparison to the CX-300's the CX-400 provide a lower, tighter bass sound, almost sub woofer levels. But it is never muddy or overwhelming. Some of this can be attributed to my MP3 player, the excellent Sony NWZS618FBLK. The rest of the sound spectrum is well represented and the overall sound is full and enjoyable.

The reason I would not give them 5 stars is that they do get a little uncomfortable after a hour or so. Maybe the rubber will soften up over time, but maybe not. Also unlike the CX-300's these have a Y shaped cord. I prefer the J style cord.

Bottom line :- The CX-400's are an affordable, great sounding set of noise isolating earphones, with plenty of bass. You will be satisfied.

I got an ipod nano for running. After going through several different headphones, dealing w/ ear pieces that wouldn't stay in, and fighting w the cord, and forever searching for those plastic ear inserts that keep getting lost, I decided to get yet another one. I read all the reviews, for every positive, there's a negative. I finally just based my purchase on specs. I like the fact that this one has a short cord and an extension, a clip that keep the cord pin down. Took them for a run today, wow. I didn't have to adjust anything (or pop the earpiece back) for the entire run. short cord + clip = no flapping. The sound is great. I think I finally found a winner.

I just got my CX400 in the mail and it is definitely a solid pair of EARBUDS, they come with a little carrying case, different sized cups, wire wrapper, etc.

That said, I've had some of the traditional over-the-ear headphones from Sennheiser (which are amazing) and these are definitely not a comparison, although the reviewer below is a bit harsh- remember these ARE ear buds- they are supposed to do in a pinch, if your a true audiophile and your looking for some satisfaction, you NEED to get over-the-ear head phones, and if you must get ear buds, you're going to need to spend a lot more than this (really great ear buds are going to set you back $200min)

but yea- if your looking for a solid set of ear buds that's going to set the bar higher than the stock ear phones, than these are yours

Compared to other isolating earphones in roughly the same price range, I think these are a little better than mediocre, like C+, 6/10.

One correctable problem is the soft sleeves which come with them; the earphones have a clear emphasis on the low frequencies, which is considered a feature, but the soft, compliant sleeves which provide the isolation will resonate at low frequencies, causing the already emphasized bass to have muddy boomy peaks. I have Shure E2c which came with less compliant clear sleeves (part EA810) which fit the CX400s, and using those smoothed out the bass a lot (but it is still emphasized, not neutral).

The other problem is the high end frequencies also seem too loud... it might not be a problem except that when combined with the heavy audio compression and high frequency equalization emphasis used so often nowadays, and the munching of the audio during lossy data compression, the result is essentially a veil of tinny shrill hissing noise in front of the original audio signal high frequencies. I do not have a solution for this; I have not tried earwax filters... I have Etymotic ER-4S, for which filters are considered a necessary feature, and they sound abysmal without them.

It seems like right now it might be better to get Shure SCL2 for roughly the same price.

I've had to return these headphones twice because the volume simply gave up. I have no idea why - they were not submerged or mistreated in any way. I will say that Sennheiser honors their warranty but it still is a pain. The ear buds are hit or miss, depending on the size of your ear canal, and they tend to slip out if you're moving around or running. The sound is not appreciably better than headphones you can get at Radio Shack for $9.99. I totally understand why they are being offered at such a steep discount. Don't let the Sennheiser name persuade you to buy this lemon.

Great set of earphones I use for specifically working out or active sports. I bought these for $11 on ebay and these are great sounding, not the best. But is great for secondary functions where overuse is least of your concerns. If you're an audiophile like myself, this wont cut it. If you want the best in reproduction sound look at Shure or Ultimate Ears. Bass is good and full. Mids and highs can be a bit higher, although I did not play around with the equalizer to compensate. But I'd say these are the best for this price range. Earphones are well designed and literally hide inside the groove of the outer ear (pinna). Great Y-shape evenly length cable to each earphone. So take my advice, search on ebay. There are plenty of these in the price range, brand new and unopened. Save the extra cash and take your friends out for drinks..

Amazing headphones (great bass etc.) especially for the price i paid. BUT as has happened to many other people with these headphones and other other sennheiser in ear heaphones alike, my left earpiece stopped working. Apparently Sennheiser will send you a replacement if its under the 2 year warranty, however i managed (thanks to other some other comments) to fix it by removing the silver cap of the and removing the dirt etc. that was there. This is what had been blocking the sound or most of it. It was definitely worth my while since the left ear piece has completely been restored. All you need is a a good pair of eyes, and a pin to carefully flick the silver cap off. It doesn't sit too well once you put it back, but it does the trick.

I like these headphones a lot! I use them for listening to books and music on my Sansa Clip. They are comfortable (I often will fall asleep listening to them and wear them all night with no problem), sound good, and they were very reasonably priced. Good headphones! I definitely recommend them.