Introduction

The Sennheiser CX80s In Ear Universal Wired Headset (Model Number: 4.04416E+12) promises a premium listening experience at a seemingly affordable price point. I’ve been using these earbuds for the past few weeks across various scenarios – commuting, working from home, and even during a few gym sessions – to provide you with a comprehensive review. Let’s dive into the details.

Features

The CX80s boasts a clean, minimalist design. The inline remote, while basic, is functional and offers easy control over music playback and calls. The inclusion of three different ear tip sizes is a welcome addition, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit for a variety of ear shapes. The wired connection is a refreshing change from the ubiquitous Bluetooth earbuds, offering freedom from pairing issues and battery life concerns. This simple setup is exactly what some users are looking for. Note the lack of a microphone mute button.

Performance

Sound quality is where the CX80s truly shines. The audio is crisp and clear, with a well-balanced sound signature. Bass is present but not overpowering, allowing for a detailed listening experience across various genres. I found the earbuds performed exceptionally well with podcasts, offering clear vocals and minimal background noise. Even with louder music, the audio remained clean and distortion-free at reasonable volumes. However, at maximum volume, a slight distortion was noticeable. Ambient noise isolation is decent, effectively reducing background chatter on the train or bus. However, they’re not noise-canceling, so louder environments still penetrate somewhat.

Call quality is surprisingly good. My callers reported clear audio, even in moderately noisy environments. However, I did experience some minor background hiss during calls in quiet settings.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Excellent sound quality, comfortable fit (with the right ear tips), affordable price, simple and reliable wired connection, decent call quality.
• Cons: Lack of microphone mute functionality, slight background hiss during calls in quiet environments, not noise-canceling, slight distortion at maximum volume.

Final Verdict

The Sennheiser CX80s In Ear Universal Wired Headset provides a compelling audio experience for its price point. The balanced sound, comfortable fit, and reliable wired connection make them a great option for everyday use. While a few minor drawbacks exist (like the lack of a mute button and slight distortion at max volume), these are easily overshadowed by the overall positive listening experience. I would highly recommend these headphones to anyone looking for a simple, affordable, and great-sounding pair of wired earbuds.