Sennheiser CX 500

[Shetland]

So after my iphone earphones fell apart for the sixth millionth time (Apple, you are fantastic but please, they suck.) I decided to shell out on some new ones. I was looking in the ?50-?60 range and whilst reading reviews I stumbled upon a thread here telling me that Play.com were doing the CX-500s for ?15, they usually retail at about ?50! I read a few reviews and they were all positive so I bit the bullet and here are my points to consider:

PROS:

1. Great sound quality- obviously coming from stock iPhone earphones they are a WORLD apart but nonetheless, I get crystal clear trebble and punchy, solid bass. I can hear all the nuances in my favourite tracks again after so long. I have no complaints at all.

2. They block out the outside world pretty well, I don't hear most of the things I don't want to. They are in-ear so you don't need to have them high either, its a good design.

3. They have a volume slider (does not control your iPhone volume like the Apple ones do, instead it can fade out at whatever volume you're at, essentially cutting the signal off rather than actually changing it digitally)

4. You get a fair few 'bits and pieces' in the box, a pouch and 'wrapper' for carrying them, spare ear bits and a clip.

5. The actual ear-pieces are well built and solid. They look nice also.

CONS:

1. I was unfortunate enough to actually have my first pair break, my girlfriend grabbed the wire and pulled it hard (moron) and it literally pulled out of the volume mid piece., it seemed quite flimsy but then again what idiot yanks the wire that hard? either way this does not stand up to some other ones i've seen with material coated wires to avoid this. The GF ordered a second pair for me which are the ones I have now.

Image off of Google.

[what]

I bought these from Play a couple of weeks ago too. They're awesome. You really can't argue with ?15 for them.

EDIT: although I do have one complaint: the ****ing packaging. Do you REALLY need so much lacerating plastic?

Edited October 7, 2009 by what

[Shetland]

Haha, agreed. I had to do it TWICE too! the first time i had attacked it with scissors then tried to pull it apart, sending everything flying.

stupid package design.

[-Dave-]

i literally JUST bought a pair of these 5 minutes ago, log onto neowin and see this as the top feed story. WEiRD

[Sikh]

You guys are lucky I cant get these in the US or i would of ordered a few pairs. There really good headphones.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

I've had a pair of these for about 4 months now, and they are excellent earphones. Far better than the more common CX300's!

[anjuna]

I have a pair of these. To anyone who wants to run with these be aware that it makes a discomforting sound in your ears because of the long length of wire that flops around. It really sucks because you have to bunch up the wire in your hand and try not let your hand move around too much.

Other than that these are great earphones to listen to tunes with but not so great for the running.

[Tamilboy86]

I have a pair of these. To anyone who wants to run with these be aware that it makes a discomforting sound in your ears because of the long length of wire that flops around. It really sucks because you have to bunch up the wire in your hand and try not let your hand move around too much.

Other than that these are great earphones to listen to tunes with but not so great for the running.

+1.. I had the same problem with the cx-300 when I was running... but really good sound :D

[Shetland]

Really? I found them a decent length to go under my jacket or whatever and be able to take out of my pocket to a decent height. I thought they were pretty perfect in that respect.

[+John. Subscriber¹]

Really good headphones. Nicely said about the packaging, and calling your girlfriend an idiot :p

[Tamilboy86]

Really? I found them a decent length to go under my jacket or whatever and be able to take out of my pocket to a decent height. I thought they were pretty perfect in that respect.

oops.. I misread the previous post, I was thinking about the wire that goes around your neck to your right ear, in my opinion that part was too long and annoying when running. But the lenght of the wire from jack-pin to the left ear was fine :)...

[shc-boomer]

Looks like a great deal for a pair of earbuds.

[Shadrack]

I've had a pair of these for about 4 months now, and they are excellent earphones. Far better than the more common CX300's!

Hmm, interesting. I have a pair of CX300s and think they are fantastic. I have a hard time imagining how the CX500s could be any better. Now you got me intrigued and I want a pair of CX500s. I've tried a few different brands of these style of in-ear buds, and Sennheiser by far makes the best ones I've tried. I have a pair of CX300s and MM-50 iP (iPhone edition) and both are fantastic.

You guys are lucky I cant get these in the US or i would of ordered a few pairs. There really good headphones.

You can get these in the US. Both the black and white versions are listed on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-CX-500-B-...8811&sr=8-1

[lnmnky]

Are the earphone wires balanced? Or is the right wire really long and you wrap it around the back of your neck?

[richardsim7]

I enjoyed my pair...whilst they lasted :\

Now I have Shure SCL3's :happy:

-Rich-

[AltecXP]

How are these vs a pair of ER6i's?

[what]

Are the earphone wires balanced? Or is the right wire really long and you wrap it around the back of your neck?

They're the same length.

[lnmnky]

They're the same length.

Cheers ears.

I just wish they worked (fully) with the iPod. I'm using the cx300 at the moment. The rubber bits have just started to split (after 6 months of daily and nightly use)

[Kami-]

I've got two pairs, best in-ear headphones I've had.

Cut my hand trying to get them out of the packaging though...

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

I simply stuck a stanley knife around the edges on the back of the packaging and it all fell out in it's completeness! :p There's always a method to getting into fancy packaging.

[what]

I simply stuck a stanley knife around the edges on the back of the packaging and it all fell out in it's completeness! :p There's always a method to getting into fancy packaging.

If only they included some die-structions on the back of the packaging for it :p

[Shadrack]

Packaging these days is ridiculous. I wish that all packaging was to the standard of iPod and zune packaging. You, the packaging you want to keep instead of immediatly throwing away adding to the ever growing trash heels.

[AbandonedTrolley]

Don't they do ECO packaging for these ones? I hate the plastic packaging you get with a lot of things now days :(

I use the Bose Triports and wouldn't change them, but these sound like a good budget pair of earphones :)

[shc-boomer]

Anyone know where to get them online at a similar price that ships to Canada?

[sibot]

Have you tried SoundMagic PL30 with Fiio E5 amplifier?

PL30 is also in the same range and very much bang for the buck.