Sennheiser CX 500-B In-Ear Headphone (Black)
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The CX 500 are high quality, noise-isolating ear-canal phones with a crisp, clear, bass driven stereo sound. They feature a volume control integrated in the cable and come with a new, unique type of ear adapter for an improved fit and an even better passive noise attenuation
Features
- Wide frequency response for top-of-the-line sound
- Convenient in-line volume adjuster
- Includes pouch, cable clip and cord winder
- Superior fit in the ear canal due to enhanced ear adapters in S, M and L sizes
- Ideal for use with all MP3, CD, DVD players and portable gaming systems
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 4 x 9 x 2 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
I got a fake one
From some of the previous reviews, I am doubting whether the vendor is selling both genuine and fake ones. But I am pretty sure that I got a fake one.
Two easy ways to decide whether you get a fake one:
1. The volume controller: when you turn the volume controller to the minimum, if the sound totally cuts off, congratulations, it is fake.
2. The “Sennheiser” logo printed on the buds. If the characters looks a little bit “slim”, then it is fake. You can find a genuine logo online and compare. This is a clue seems to be left by the counterfeit manufacture deliberately.
Of course, the sound quality is pretty bad. Even worse than a $5 earbud from Walmart.
Take care!
Good responsive earbuds
These seem to be closeouts now. I love buying premium gear that’s been highly rated near the end of its product run. I’m sure what’s replace the Sennheiser CX 500 are fine products. Sennheiser generally makes such. But getting a good deal is also something I like. To spend less than $30 for what once was $120 is great. And these do sound like hundred dollar plus buds.
Sound is clear and these produce crisp highs, well articulated mid-tones and good, if not accentuated bass. I get a good fit with the included silicone ear pieces. The cord is just right, not too thin and tangly or too thick and stiff. I think I’ll have another.
Tinny is the word
I’ve just received these headphones at work and have to say they are very tinny. All highs and no mids and lows. I did all the checking and testing to see if they were fakes, and from what I can tell they are real. Funny enough, though, as I was writing this review, the button for the volume slider popped off. Haha…no joke. These puppies are brand new, I just received them about an hour ago.
I’ve read that you have to let headphones settle into their sound by using them for a bit; so, if that happens, I’ll come back and change my review. Until then, I can say that the free headphones I received with my smart phone sound more balanced than these.
Excellent Ear Buds
I replaced another Sennhieser set that was accidently damaged. The sound quality was as expected. With the wide variety of music I listen too, classical to heavy metal, these ear buds reproduce the music wonderfully. The bonus over my previous set was the addition of the clip and in-line volume control. The volume control allows for me to easily adjust the volume without removing the iPod from my pocket.
Sennheiser CX 500
I’ve never written a review for headphones, but I am compelled to write one. These ear phones are excellent. Great bass, crisp highs and comfortable. My previous ear phones were Shure 420’s. I was disappointed with them because the sound in the left ear went out twice. These earphones sound much better than the Shures. When I received the the phones, I wasn’t quite sure how the tips would fit in my ear because of the rubber material they were made of. I was surprised how well they seal. I installed the large tips which fit good in my ear. For the money, you can’t go wrong.
Terrible sound quality.
Do not buy these headphones. My $15 store-brand headphones sound so much better. The sound is tinny and uncomfortable to listen to. What a waste of money.
Good sound and quait for the money
Very good sound and quality for the price. Headphones far better than my old Sony pair. WOuld def recommend. Shipped quick.
Comfortable headphones with a good sound quality
This is one of the best rated In-Ear Headphones on Amazon, hence I didn’t hesitate before buying them. And they live up to their expectations. For a headphone in the 40$ range these perform great ! I find them quite comfortable to wear, the ear-bud choices given with the box were good and the bass in these headphones is excellent. For their price they really are the bead In-Ear Headphones you can buy today.
Reasonable mid-range earbuds
I have now gone through a couple pairs of these phones in the last three or so years. The last pair was a knockoff that I found to be effectively identical to the first, though surprisingly it lasted longer. Both pairs failed in the same way, with a loss of signal to one or both earbuds resulting from normal wear of the cable at the plug end.
The sound quality is quite good, but not great. The balance of the mids and highs is pretty decent, while bass lacks a bit of presence for my taste. Overall it does not quite achieve a certain realism that for me defines great sound. The buds create a good, if not flawless seal to block out noise. I found myself cranking up the volume more than I would expect for this style of phone, especially in noisy environments.
From a practical standpoint these phones were satisfactory aside from the fact that both pairs failed after a couple years of use or less. The cord is fairly short but it’s a good length if you keep your player in a front pocket or on an armband. Rubbing or knocking the cord does produce noise in the bud, which is annoying at first but I guess I got used to it. Finally, these buds worked well for exercise where I wasn’t sweating a lot, but as soon as my ears got somewhat sweaty the seal failed and they fell out.
Overall I have mixed feelings about these buds. They served me well while they worked, but they failed sooner than seems reasonable under normal use conditions, didn’t block out sound as much as I would like, and were not terribly useful for exercise. I am currently looking for a different set, or possibly two sets, to replace them.
Very short cable. Deal breaker
this thing sounds great! but the cable is short by about 2 feet. shortest darn thing I have ever used. Useless that makes this. Very upset.
Good deal
The eye phones are in good quality and works perfect. I think this is a good deal.
2 months.
2 months. Actually less than 2 months – I made the purchase on May 3th, received it a week or so later, and it’s gone faulty on July 6th.
That’s how long these things lasted before the right ear cut out because of a short at the plug. If I move the cord at the plug just right, I can hear again, but even that won’t last long. And who wants to walk around carrying an mp3 player with both hands strategically placed so I can have the privileged of enjoying sound through both ears?
Sounds great, fantastic actually. Fits great. But even with all that, an earbud that dies in 2 months deserves less than 1 star. If the thing would last at least through its warranty period, it’d easily be worthy of 4 stars given the price and quality.
The earbuds come with a 2 year warranty. I’ll be sending mine back for repairs or exchange as Sennheiser sees fit; but why should I have to, at least so soon? And how long can I expect the replacement/fixed buds to last?
Here’s hoping the return process is cheap (shipping) and painless.
A Comprehensive Review: CX 300 VS CX 500 VS Apple Earbuds
Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile. I have only owned cheap headphones that one occasionally sees resting around the dollar store. Then I got my Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation–with iPhone OS 3.1 Software Installed) [NEWEST MODEL], which came with a handy dandy pair of headphones. After a while, I decided to cough up a little bit more cash and settled onto two new headphones, the Sennheiser CX 300 and the Sennheiser CX 500.
Let me list the only con with both of these headphones first- it is their durability. Both the Sennheiser CX300-B Earbuds (Black) and the Sennheiser CX 500-B In-Ear Headphone (Black) are extremely….jumpy, to say the word. They might last you more than 2 years (as with my CX 300) or 2 weeks (with my first CX 500). Not jumpy in term of build quality, but in terms of sound issues. If you want efficient reliable buds, you may or may not be satisfied by either.
Both the CX 300 and the CX 500 are of the premium Sennheiser brand, well renowned for its superior sound. Both are from the same line of headphones, and both are often sought to be compared with, as this review will do.
1- Most Important Quality- Sound
CX 300- 7/10 CX 500- 9/10 Apple EB- 6/10
Both the CX’s rock the socks of your typical included earbuds, and for the price, are extremely delicate and precise. Yet for the 5$ extra (in my case, this will vary as earbud prices fluctuate daily), the CX 500 make much more precise effects. I am not an audiophile, but the CX 300, when compared to the CX 500, sound…”dirty”. My music incorporates all genres, and the CX 300 seem to sound better on the heavy bassy songs, while the CX 500 tend to be cleaner and more pleasant overall to the ears. If you are a fan of bass, CX 300 will do, but if you prefer a better sounding product, pay the few dollars extra and buy this.
The Apple Buds are not bad sounding at all, and are actually very smooth sounding(somewhere in the middle of CX 300 and CX 500) Yet there is no noise isolation as is the case with the previous two buds, which ruins your sound experience at times. Also, the Apple Buds tend to leak noise quite easily, making it a no-no in quiet places like your local library.
2- Build Quality
CX 300- 4/10 CX 500- 7/10 Apple EB- 9/10
The cables of both headphones are thin and made of rubber, but the CX 500’s is thicker than the CX 300. Nonetheless they will last quite long, and lack the stethoscope effect that clothed cables contain. One thing I HATE about the CX 300 is that the wires are not the same length. CX 500 has both wires the same length, and this makes it look less awkward than the CX 300. The CX 500 contains a volume control which has never broken for me, and works nicely. It also has a thicker plug than the CX 300. The CX 500 wins in looks as well; it simply looks more “advanced” than the CX 300. A minor thing, but still noteworthy. These are built better than most headphones. Why not a high score? As mentioned, the earbuds on one side just stops working, and sometimes (NOT always) just comes back as though nothing happened. Do not pay more than 50$ for either product, they aren’t nearly as reliable as some other same+ priced earbuds (though better sounding by far). Interestingly enough, the Apple Earbuds that come with the signature apple MP3s have lasted me an incredibly long (3 years!!) time, and have never dropped in overall sound quality.
3- Bang for the Buck
CX 300- 9/10 CX 500- 10/10 Apple EB- 4/10
The CX 300 can simply be called the barebones package. It comes with 3 pairs of replacement buds and the headphones themselves, but nothing else. However, at the price I got it, less than 20$, it was just right for my tastes and seemed worthy of being repurchased in case of failure. It is better than Apple Earbuds (White with Gray Earbuds), which also surprisingly cost more than the CX 300 and had nothing but the actual headphones with it.
The CX 500 is a deluxe edition of the contents of CX 300. It contains 10 pairs of replacement buds, some nifty rubber thing which I don’t know the functions of (sorry, I would guess it stores your replacement buds, by the look of it >_< ), and a nice leather case to keep your headphones. With better built quality than the CX 300 and better sound, albeit at a mediocre increase at price, they in my opinion are much more valuable.
Conclusion-
The CX 500s these days cost only a few bucks above the CX 300, but are a solid upgrade. You get better sound, more inside content, better built quality, and better usability, albeit at the same flaw of durability. The only time I think you should get the CX 300s are if you like the bass punch more than a clean polished sound (yet the CX 300 is polished enough, I must say). Also, the CX 300 prices are stable from under $20 to under $30, while I have noticed that these buds’ prices tend to change dramatically. If in the unlikely case you see these under the cost of CX 300, and you are trying to pick from either, by all means get this!
% I have noticed that finding THESE PARTICULAR authentic buds are much easier these days. Don’t be afraid of the Marketplace, I’ve used it twice at the lowest price and got both authentic buds at a lesser price than the CX 300. But for the CX 300, please by all means only by from Amazon. They have a solid price, free shipping, and the nice return policy in case your buds fail. If you MUST by elsewhere, check the feedback area and look for comments that describe the buds in a positive demeanor.
% You may find the sound a bit low quality at times. Reasons for this include
A- one of your earbuds has stopped working
B- the buds are not jammed in your ears well enough
C- you have only recently got the buds and are replacing them from the apple buds. When I originally opened the CX 300s, they sounded worse, yes WORSE, than my apple earbuds. This is because all earbuds require burn in time. After continuous use, the CX 300s came closer to the apple earbuds in sound quality, dramatically increasing in bass, but still lacking that crystal clear sound of the Apple Earbuds. The CX 500s have been mixed bags; of the two I got, one required time to burn in, while the other was good from start and is getting better over time.
The way I rate the 3 buds is like this. (++ is amazing, high price, + is good/normal price, – is mediocre, low price, — is terrible/none, extremely low price)
Price
+ Build, + Sound, – Extras= – < -------- CX 300- 2nd Place
+ Build, ++ Sound, ++ Extras= + < ------- CX 500- 1st Place
++ Build, – Sound, — Extras= + < --------- Apple Earbuds- 3rd Place
No words can explain how amazing these headphones are
I bought these IN-EAR CX-500 headphones 3 weeks ago for $30, EXCELLENT deal might I add, and I’m Loving them A Lot. These are probably the best buds I have ever owned in my life. The sound has Amazing with punchy base and crisp sound. I hear mostly acoustic, rap, and rock n’ roll music, and the sound is absolutely superb. The package comes with a convenient small carrying case perfect for traveling and on the go. As well as 6 pairs of different sized rubber buds allowing perfect fit for everyone. It also comes with a CLIP used for attaching the headphone wires onto your clothes to prevent cord noise. Last but least, it comes with a cord widener which I don’t really use since I use the case instead, but it’s convenient for those who prefer quick access to their buds at any time. Noise-isolation wise, these headphones block out a lot of noise from the outside, and prevents sound from leaking out. I ride the bus everyday and the loud bus engines are very faint now that I’m using these headphones as opposed to regular apple Ipod buds that I’ve used before. I’m also able to crank up the volume louder than before without other people listening to what I’m listening to. For those new to IN-EAR headphones who can’t really seem to figure out how to get the best sound, make sure you find the perfect rubber fit included, and make sure you STICK THEM ALL THE WAY IN YOUR EAR-CANAL. They’re called IN-EAR headphones for a reason. Overall, these headphones are Amazing. I recommend buying these buds as Soon as possible because being $24.99 opposed to the original $119 price, I pretty sure they are going to sell out Quick, so buy them while you still can.
Outstanding In-Ear Buds
I decided to get a set of in-ear buds for comfort reasons, as the type that come with Mp3 players are very uncomfortable and end up being downright painful over time. It was recommended to me by a friend that I look for specific brands (namely Sony or Sennheiser), because if I’m spending the money anyway, I may as well get great quality sound. The clarity and richness of the sound these earbuds produce is, in my experience, unparalleled. I’ve also had a chance to listen to Sony brand in-ear buds and the Sonys struck me as being slightly more bass-driven, but the mid and upper-range sounds lacked the clarity and fullness that I get from the Sennheisers. The build quality is outstanding overall.
There are many reviews out there warning people about fake Sennheiser products, and that was a genuine concern for me. Luckily, I got an authentic pair at an awesome price and couldn’t be more pleased. There is very slight cord noise during exercise, which is not unusual for in-ear buds. Using the included cord clip to minimize impact on the cord eliminates the problem. A good test: If you hold the wire between your fingers and tap on the wire below (not the portion between your fingers and your ears) you should hear zero cord noise, and if you do, this is a sign of a knockoff set.
As a first-time buyer of this brand, I am now sold on the fact that they’ve earned their reputation for making high quality products for real audiophiles.
AWFUL…AWFUL…AWFUL!
After reading tons of reviews on this product and comparing these with other pairs of headphones, I decided to purchase them. BIG MISTAKE!
From the minute I plugged them into my iPhone and put them in my ears I already knew I was not going to be impressed. There’s almost NO BASS REPRODUCTION. It sounds like I’m listening to my music through a tin can. Also notable is that I have to turn the volume all the way up on my iPhone as well as the volume control on the phones themselves to give me the same volume level I get with the phones that came from Apple with my iPhone turned up half way. This disgusted me. I’ve been using the headphones that came with my iPhone for the last couple of years with a pair of EarJams attached and the sound has always been great. I just didn’t like the way they were sitting in my ears, so I was looking for something different and possibly more comfortable.
I’ve read a lot of banter about counterfeit headphones out there and maybe I received one of them. While I don’t hear any thump, I also hear no base. I have tried all the different sized ear bud adapters to see if the sound would improve with any of them and it doesn’t. I feel completely ripped off and now have a set of headphones I will never want to use. I never write reviews on products but this moved me to say something. THESE ARE AWFUL!!! I highly recommend going with a different set of earphones on which to spend your money. I wish I didn’t get these at all. I might as well have lit my money on fire and stood there to watch it burn to ash.
AWEEESOMEEE. The best!!!
I had cx300’s before, but after about 1 1/2 years sound was no longer distributed evenly to the two buds. I sent it in for repair under warranty, but sadly it got lost in the mail. I bought these from a third party “fulfilled by amazon” dealer, and I can tell you they are absolutely authentic, genuine earphones.
Now, I must say these are very similar to the cx300’s, so much so, that you have to listen carefully to tell the difference. I would say that there’s a bit more bass, and the entire range as a whole is a bit clearer. Now that’s saying a lot because the cx300’s were already very clear. I no longer have the cx300’s so I can’t do a completely accurate side by side comparison. But these are SO clear and crisp, with just the right amount of softeness, and they’re good for music, games, movies – you name it. If you’re looking for a ton of bass, you should look elsewhere. But in my experience, phones with a ton of bass muddle the mids and highs. These phones have a perfect balance.
If you never liked wearing headphones, these are the ones to get. I am personally an earphone person, having tried headphones, because you hardly notice you’re wearing them. But if you’ve always been a headphone person, it may take some time to adjust to these. You can get these for a great price if you look around. But DO NOT buy these off Ebay, especially if they’re less than thirty bucks.
Barely Usable After 2 months
Great sound, but after 2 months of VERY light wear it only comes out of one ear bud. The connection at the 8mm jack is messed up so that I don’t get sound out of both buds unless the cabling is held just right. If it’s moved the least bit I lose audio out of the right ear.
Pretty Awesome!
Pros:
Headphones have amazing sound quality
Comparable to Bose Headphone
Wire is long enough
The extra bugs are perfect
Cons:
The wire needs a better coating
The wire easily bends and touches skin becoming a bother
Overall: If you can live with the cons the headphones are amazings
Great sound… if you don’t touch the wires
I’ve been using these headphones daily for a little over a month. The good: the sound quality is a-maz-ing. The bad: these aren’t the most comfortable earbuds; even with the smallest diameter ear adapters they still produce mildly painful pressure. The ugly: bump, move, or even breath on the wires and the resulting noise will drown out whatever you’re listening to. I’m pretty confident that these aren’t fakes. All in all, I wish I had spent my $50 on something else.