Customer Reviews

Sennheiser CX380 Sport Series II Noise Isolating Earbuds

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(57)
3 star:		(25)
2 star:		(28)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

Let me start by saying that I have been on a very expensive quest this past year to locate in-ear headphones which met what I thought were fairly reasonable standards. After all every manufacturer out there has some sports figure on the packaging so how hard could it be right? I needed headphones which were durable, stayed put while: running, using the elliptical as well as laying flat while lifting weights and doing crunches. Finally and most importantly they needed to be highly sweat resistant. The headphones needed to meet these criteria while sounding phenomenal. If you are reading this you have probably been on the same quest and can't believe what a pain it is to find something that meets such obvious standards. Well I'm happy to report that you need not look any further!

These ear buds are the best I have ever owned and let me tell you I have tried several. I have a drawer full of failed headsets which all managed to die right outside the return policy. The warranties are useless since they will only replace them with what you already have which you know will only fail in a few weeks (if you are that lucky).

Sound:
The sound from these headsets is very rich. These headsets are capable of fooling your senses. I've had to pause music thinking there was external sound when it turns out it was simply sounds and instruments I didn't know was in the song because it was inaudible with previous headsets I've owned. It is literally like rediscovering your own music collection. The bass gives you the feeling of having a mini subwoofer in your head. Unless you have been to way too many Slayer concerts the volume these headsets can reach is simply stunning and will over power even the noisiest environments all with NO distortion. The Chicago subway is no match for them. Even without them playing they actually block sound because of the snug fit. If your cardio is heavily dependent on you being able to get into a zone and tune the rest of the world out while focusing strictly on the rhythm of your music then this is a huge plus. When you purchase these it is absolutely imperative that you spend just a couple of minutes selecting from the three bud sizes included. Without a proper fit you will be disappointed.

Durability:
They have been tugged, snagged in zippers, and I had to battle my cat for them at one point. Through it all they have managed to hold up. This is mainly because they didn't use plastic. Instead they used rubber. It makes a world of difference.

Staying put:
Simply put, they aren't going anywhere until you pull them out! I've run, used the elliptical, done weights, crunches, and through it all I was unable to shake them loose. Remember this is heavily dependent on selecting the correct size buds which are included in the package. The paperwork that comes with them tells you this but it doesn't tell you the other two factors that keep these in place. First, these headsets are designed so that the chord for the left ear bud is shorter than the right. These headphone are designed to go behind the head. Meaning you put the right ear-bud in from the back of your neck. Secondly, these headphones come with a clip. Attach the clip just an inch or two below the split for right and left ear. I usual clip to the collar of my shirt. These two things are just as important as finding a snug fit. If you don't run the headphone behind your head and place them in your ear, and if you don't clip it to your shirt, then the weight of the generous chord will pull them out once you get sweaty enough.

Sweat Resistance:
You are in the middle of your favorite work out jam. You are also about half way through the work out. Your heart rate is up, your breathing has synchronized, and you are totally focused. Then one of the ear buds starts sliding out so you grab it and push it back in trying to keep your pace. Then the music starts cutting out because you've inadvertently pushed a little sweat in when you reseated the bud. Now your music is in mono, you do what you can to try to revive the dead bud but its no use. You've got half a work out left and you know its going to be tedious because now its just you and the uncontrollable urge to stare at the timer. Sound familiar? I would say that perhaps 80% of my previous headphones have met their demise thanks to sweat. My cardio is very rigorous and when I'm done I'm usually drenched. These headphones have stood up to every soaking my brow can throw at them. As a testament to their resistance the instructions actually recommend running them under a light tap to clean them. Finally someone was listening!

These headphones have brought an abrupt end to my search and I hope this review has helped you do the same.

For years, I've been searching for a really good set of earphones to wear in the gym. Most headphones I've tried have been to fragile, breaking after a couple months due to repetitive motion. All of the headphones I tried got to be pretty gross (I sweat a lot). I didn't want the headphones to fall out of my ears (like the standard apple earbuds), or give me a headache (like most of the behind-the-head models). When I read that these headphones could be cleaned off under running water, I ordered a pair of these immediately.

These headphones are, by far, the best pair of headphones I've ever owned for active use. They're pretty comfortable, the sound quality is very good, and like other in-ear headphones, they do a good job keeping out noise. They're so good that I'm planning to leave my noise-canceling headphones at home on my next flight, and just travel with these.

Unfortunately, they're not perfect. As other reviewers have noted, the earbuds are attached to uneven cable lengths; the cable for the right ear is much longer. This means that you have to put the extra cable around the back of your neck. The headphone cord is made of a rubbery material, which I find sticks to the back of my neck, causing the headphones to pull a little when I move. Not a deal killer, but something to think about.

The angles connector is also slightly awkward. Recent iPods and iPhones are designed to have a connector that sticks straight out. (For example, take a look at the armbands designed for the iPod Nanos.) I'm slightly concerned that this will lead to more cable bending, possibly shortening the life of the headphones.

However, those are pretty minor quibbles. This is the best pair of sports headphones I've ever used; I already ordered a second pair of these for my wife. I'd recommend these to anyone who wants a pair of good quality headphones for exercising.

this review is based on my first use - i could wait after a few runs, but i guess i'm just excited to use them and i figured it wouldn't change with subsequent uses. i was originally considering the Sennheiser MX85 twist to fit, but saw these and decided to give it a shot. i have shure e3c, some cheapo sony in-ear, and they both slip everytime i run. i live in dallas, so heat and sweat during runs are a given.

as other reviews noted, the NEGATIVE aspects i agree on are:

1) the wire material is tacky and does tangle;
2) the case is pretty useless - i had to roll the cord around 3 fingers and stuff it in there - when i pull it out, it's a struggle to untangle;
3) they still slip out of my ear going into my first mile (due to sweat) and i normally run 3-4, so it requires alot of adjustment - i eventually gave up
4) i did get some wire noise (described as the noise from a stethoscope), but it wasn't too annoying

POSITIVE:
1) CLEAN and well-balanced sound - i have to set the bass on my eq to half and still get good punch. highs are crisp
2) very comfortable - i used the smallest adapter
3) can't comment on the rinsing to clean - first day using it
4) wire length didn't bother me as long as i let it run behind my neck - the clip that was included helped

if they stayed in my ear for more than 2 miles, then it would probably get 4-5 stars, b/c that's my MAIN ISSUE about in-ear sport phones - they can't stay in - is it even possible?! i can see how these phones are good for gym and non-agressive workouts, but it doesn't work for me on my runs. i guess i could go for the twist to fit and see how those are. otherwise, i'm still open for suggestions on good sport headphones.

i'll be keeping these for general listening b/c of sound quality and comfort. i hate to say it, but they sound better than my shure e3c (used a headphone splitter and plugged both in each ear), but that's not the point of this review.

I really enjoyed these headphones when I first purchased them, they sounded great and were perfect for working out or just listening to music on the bus. Unfortunately, less than three months after I purchased my pair they stopped working. It's not that one ear has gone out, but both have become completely distorted so you cannot hear/understand the music. I owned a different pair of Sennheiser buds that also crapped out in under six months. I gave them another shot because I really enjoyed them while they worked, but I cannot condone giving more than one star to these headphones as I have now gone through two pairs that just didn't last nearly long enough.

If you want buds that will not slip no-matter-what then get the PM380. I chose these instead because I like to use them while my head is lying on a pillow (in addition to when I jog). The CX380 is a great compromise. The sound is terrific, they fit pretty snuggly, and you can comfortably rest your head while relaxing. Great Product.

These headphones pack an awesome punch! Very clear, deep bass without distortion in the mids and highs. They are truly noise isolating. I use these headphones at the gym and in the library without any distractions to or from anybody else.. The best feature with these headphones is the ability to wash the earbuds under running water to keep them looking clean. The earbuds come with 3 different size "gaskets" ensuring a snug and quiet fit. The headphones work with the iphone 3G, allowing you to listen to your music and answer calls through the headphones. There is not a microphone on them though, so your phone will have to be fairly close to you. The cord is a good length (almost too long). A carry case is also included.

i think i had just given a really sad review on anotgher cosuin of this maker. Let me say something really upfront: i have a drumers ear and really can get into the sound when i feel like its a must for me to perform! In this case right off the bat the sound on these can easily match my Technicha noise canceling headphones.

They feel very comfy to wear -- the sound while listenning to metallica is just insane! sound good! i am going to have a field day tomarrow in the GYM and update this review immidiately! i have gone through several set for the gym. 2 factorsi have yet to test: the construction quality and the sweat resisitance. SO FAR I LOVE THE SOUND OUT OF THESE!

Updated Review
These are my 6th pair of gym headsets over 5 year period! Mind you i may be a bit of an audiophile (meaning a hi-fi enthusiast)
and i want to start off by making a simple observation:
Everyone's ears are shaped and tuned differently! everyone listens to audible material differently.
I am just sharing my experience and it may and may not work for everyone.

i have tried the : (in order of usage)
OEM iPhone 3Gs 3G s iPod Stereo Headset 3.5mm jack
Sony MDR-Q55SL Clip-on Headphones (Silver)
Sony MDR-G57G S2 Sports Street Style Headphones with Reflective Ear Piece
Bose® In-Ear Headphones
Sennheiser PMX60 Headphones
Audio-Technica® ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint around-the-ear noise-canceling headphones

Another point i wanted to raise before i go nuts describing these orange audible machines, is about the sound of Portable Music overall:
portable sound goodness is not dictated by your MP3 player or the head piece your listening to!
Its driven by numerous factors some of which include:

1. original sound file (how and when it was ripped or downloaded -- go figure that one MP3 vs AAC vs FLAC vs wav vs ??)
2. Yes the head sets (dido)
3. The quality make of the player itself in reproducing that sound -- great article for
audiophiles can check out [...] )
4. What your ear feels comfortable in!
(Cups, or caps or plastic straps or in-ear buds! (such as these) )

and finally

5. Your typical genre of musical taste!
(didn't see that one coming did you!) Well its true! if your the techno drone junky, than just about anything will work usually since the entire music itself is electronically generate.
You can't go with the same notion if you listen to Where The Light Is:John Mayer Live In Los Angeles"! in its tranquil audio bliss)

So enough gibber-gabber and lets look at these orange beauties!

The Look:
they are sleek, sexy, and very very sporty!

The sound:
I can tell you that ever since i got these i kept listening to all my iPods with Sennheiser CX380 Sport Series! Even at home on my desktop i usually use the Audio-Technica® ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint around-the-ear noise-canceling headphones but the Sennheiser CX380 Sport Series babies make me want to listen to all my stuff through them
(keep in mind that the in-ear buds typically by design will produce better sound in contrast to cups outside the ear -- but as i observed earlier its a personal choice!
However having used a similar styled Sony MDR-G57G S2 Sports Street Style Headphones with Reflective Ear Piece the Sennheiser CX380 takes the cake on sound! truly deserving sound!

The Sweat Resistance:
So far with the 5 gym sessions, i can tell you it lives up to its claim! it really does work!
and does not fall off like so many others.

Quality Build
Now this is a factor i think i will write about in a few months after heavy usage!
Sadly as experienced with Sennheiser PMX60 Headphones (cup design) broken design in under 6 months, i can only
say that as of now these look to be solid! i hope in about 6 months from now i don't end up buying another pair!
I really really like the sound on these!

Conclusions
If your frustrated of the stock OEM headset (due to sweat, sound, or constant falling off) in the gym or elsewhere,
i would defintely recommend these! Primarily at this stage due to the amazing sound re-production!
The build quality is yet to be tested so watch for my updates (or not) in 6 months time after heavy usage!

Six months ago I purchased a set of Sennheiser CX380 Sport Series II Noise Isolating Earbuds
and found them to be a bit more comfortable in the ear than the J4. The J4 fit very well with a nice range of ear piece sizes to try.

The "Y" chord is shorter on one end and pulls on your left ear a bit. However, if you are more concerned about comfort than durability and overall sound quality these will be very nice earbuds for you.

The sound quality of the J4 is better in my opinion than the CX380's. I am partial to a cleaner sound, more crisp high notes and a little less on the bass. The Sennheiser units had a great bass sound, but it sounded a bit held back and muffled on the treble notes.

The Sennheiser CX380's broke after six months of use. Very dissappointed in the construction quality. The J4's appear to be built like tanks. I was a little concerned about the size of the ear piece and weight. I was pleased to find that neither of these concerns have become issues.

So far, I am extremely impressed with the detail of sound that I am getting from my J4's before they have even been burned in. Very crisp with a light balance of bass. I can distinctly here sounds I could not hear in the Sennheiser CX380's.

I have Sennheiser HD 595 Open Ear Headphones that ROCK~! I would not trade these in so don't let my bad review on the earbuds give you a negative opinion on other Sennheiser products - I just don't think that Sennheiser has a core competency in earbud manufacturing yet - quality of the product from a durability persepective is not good and the muffled high tones are why I ranked this low.

My vote: J4's win

I had these earphones for about four weeks. The Sound was awesome. It was loud and clear, and the base was decent too. However one of the earphones wont work unless I push hard in the input jack, and keep pressing hard on it. I probably got a bad set of earphones. They would have been awesome of the wiring wasnt faulty. I hope you get a good pair!

I owned these for about three months when the jack shorted and now they are useless.

And, I am extremely careful with my headphones. I carry them in their own pouch inside a bag, but normal careful use leads them to cease functioning in under 4 months.

Steep price for about 3 months of use.
Also the "warranty" is almost indecipherable. I have a call in with the company but I don't hold out a lot of hope.