Sennheiser CX 880

Looking as classy as they sound, the Sennheiser CX 880 in ear headphones offer vivid sound quality and a custom fit that feels like they were made for your ears. Co designed with BMW DesignWorksUSA, the CX 880 gives violent sound blocking thanks to its close fitting ergonomic design, which also channels cabling away from your ear.

One of one people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of five stars Love the headphones, could wait for slight price reduction, December 14, 2010
By PC See all my reviews This review is from: Sennheiser CX 880 Ergonommic Premium Earbuds with Volume Control (Electronics) I received a pair of these directly from Sennheiser after sending a pair of CX400s for many rather serious microphonics issues. While these do still have microphonics issues, it is less obvious and is not deafening when they get bumped. It is also usually only obvious when the cord splits for the two buds. I will cover cost afterward on.

Comfort
I’ve been wearing these for around two hours now and barely notice them. The silicone earbuds are soft and comfy.

Sound Quality
Sound quality will differ for people with each person’s choice in music and earbud fit, but this here is my take on things. I love that these headphones supply balanced sound, because I listen to a large range of music, which artificially bass heavy headphones will ruin. They supply clear sound across the range of highs and lows and seem to have a good sound stage.

Sound Isolation
These seem to offer somewhat more separation than the CX400s did for me. If bubble earbuds were included, that’d largely help with the separation. If people want better sound separation, they should look for triple flange ear info, which are common on models from Etymotic and many others.

More on microphonics
I could see these being a bit diverting to exercise in, because the microphonics become more pronounced when anything comes into contact with the buds themselves. Wise use of the included clip takes care of most, if not all, of the microphonics from the cord for me.

Cost/Accessories
Because I received these inside the warranty period for the CX400s, I can not quite as precisely gauge if they are worth it. As a base for the earbuds alone, I could, being a pretty cheap person, most likely want to use up around $50 $70 on them.

What easily makes them more useful (could easily add $50?) is the hard construction, a two year warranty (that they honor, not just for show), and excellent buyer service (professional & fast responses that directly address the issue/question rare finds!), volume control (not really all that needed but convenient), and the accessories. The earwax cleaner is not especially costly, but it is useful. The designed hard leather case makes a difference; it is not an overly bulky cheap plastic case. It is intended for the cord to be wrapped around then covered (may upload many pictures later).


I think that I have gone on long enough. Nevertheless I love these.

The warranty only applies if it was bought from an authorized dealer ., so be careful! Watch out for counterfeit headphones.

---

5.0 out of five stars Well worth the money, February 3, 2011
By Wohoho (United States) See all my reviews This review is from: Sennheiser CX 880 Ergonommic Premium Earbuds with Volume Control (Electronics) Two of the three reviews downgraded this headset because of its higher price, but I think the cost is well worth it. In my family, the four of us each owned either the older CX500 or CX400. We all love the sound quality, but they fell separately with daily use. I replaced one of them with this new CX880 and I can see that it is both intended and made with better quality. As indicated by Sennheiser’s website, it is developed with BMW Design, and possibly that is what made the difference.

Just the nice carrying case alone can possibly sell for twenty dollars. It allows you to wrap the cord easily without entanglement and protects it. The ear canal plugs are offshoot so that you generally know left and right, no have to look for the little L/R markings. In fact, there’s no such mark. The volume control is a 240 deg turn, gives the same correct modification as in a home stereo. The wire clip is strong, will clip onto thick clothing fabric firmly.

The thumping sound from the cord mentioned by one reviewer is eliminated for the cord between the plug and the volume control. It is there for the section between the control and the ear part, but I think that is a needed bad for people who want to hear good bass. Touching or tapping a wire could cause some low frequency vibration and electric current in the wire, carried all the way to the transducer. For a transducer with good bass answer, it could make us hear the vibration. This headset is particular to go down to 17 Hz, and that could make the vibration felt. I usually use the headset when I’m sitting at the computer or in an airplane, don’t find this to be a problem.

The things that I care the most about are (1) comfy to wear, (2) good separation from noisy environment, (3) high fidelity, and (4) easy to carry. I tried various sound canceling headsets with over the ear and around the ear designs. I got rid of them all after I found the old CX500, because those were all costly, bulky, uneasy and sounded worse. I never thought that ear bud type headset may be so comfy that I can wear all the way on a 15 hour flight to Asia. The CX880 is better than CX500 in all respects. The offshoot plug is a more natural fit, gives better separation. The sound quality could make an audiophile happy. The new carrying case solves the cord entanglement problem. The construction quality is much improved. The extra cost is small considering what one gains and how much longer it’ll last. In comparison to any of the old sound canceling headsets, it less money and much better in every respect. For those who cares about the look, it looks fashionable.

---

1.0 out of five stars CX 880, November 20, 2010
By Regretful customer See all my reviews () This review is from: Sennheiser CX 880 Ergonommic Premium Earbuds with Volume Control (Electronics) I debated if to buy the CX 880 or the CX 280. I’m a last owner of the CX 300 in which I loved; but, i feel that the CX 880 is certainly not worth the money. They don’t sound better than my CX 300. I could certainly by the CX 280 if I could do it over again. I love high quality ear phones or ear buds and I have found they were worth the money in the past. I really projected a better sound and sound cancellation for the extra $$$. I love the Sennheiser brand for earbuds. I favor them over Bose. But, I’m so happy this isn’t my 1st pair of Sennheiser earbuds because I could never purchase this brand again depending on the CX 880. I wish I could return these earbuds and get my money back.

---