Sennheiser CX True Wireless review: You can't go wrong with that

Not a long time ago Sennheiser once again presented something a little more unusual Proproduct, the Sennheiser CX True Wireless. You can read here what they can do and how they fare in everyday life.

Let's take a closer look at Sennheiser's range, especially the in-ear headphones division. Most ProProducts here cost 200 to 300 euros or even more and are accordingly also very well equipped. Then last September the CX 400 BT TW came on the market, which I liked despite the low price quite appealing.

Apparently not only I liked them, now a new edition of these has appeared, the CX True Wireless. These should especially score with a longer battery life, better sound and an IPX4 certification for protection against water and dust. You can now find out in my test report whether these guarantees are kept.

Unboxing and initial setup

The packaging of the Sennheiser CX True Wireless is quite unspectacular. Here the manufacturer did not change anything compared to the CX 400BT TW.

First you have to remove the plastic seals so that the box with the contents of the packaging can be opened up. Then you are first greeted by a thank you card from the Sennheiser brothers. There are two areas below, one for the battery box with the in-ear headphones and one for other accessories.

In the latter you will find, among other things, a small USB-C cable, which I think could clearly be longer. In addition, three different silicone ear tips are included, with the fourth size, M, already fitted. Otherwise XS, S and L are still available. As always, take your time and progo through all options. This can increase the wearing comfort and the sound quality even more.

Picture: TechnikNews

To pair the headphones with a device for the first time, the pairingproprocess as with other Bluetooth accessories. You start this by connecting the case to the power supply and briefly inserting the earplugs. Then put them in your ears and start the pairing mode by pressing the right and left touch surfaces at the same time. The CX True Wireless should then appear in the Bluetooth settings.

Alternatively, Sennheiser also offers a guided setup in the app, which is available for download in the App Store and the Play Store. The whole thing is a little easier there, you only have to initiate pairing mode and confirm the pairing request, which appears as a pop-up.

This is what the coupling looks like using the Smart Control app. (Screenshots: TechnikNews)

Design and workmanship

The CX True Wireless fit seamlessly into the rest of the Sennheiser lineup. Especially in comparison with the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2, it can be clearly seen that there is a relationship here. The manufacturer relied on a rather clunky and simple design for the in-ears, only a company logo can be seen on both sides. In terms of color options, you can choose between white and black.

But let's come back to the earplugs, which are also made of plastic. In principle, these make a robust impression and after my test phase I couldn't find any signs of use. However, due to the material, it can happen that one or the other scratches persist if it falls to the ground. On the other hand, it is positive that this time we are getting protection against water and dust (IPX4). Something like that is always nice to have, especially when exercising or walking in the rain.

The clunky design has its drawbacks. (Image: TechnikNews)

In addition to a Sennheiser logo, there are only three small recesses for the microphones on the in-ears. These are used for phone calls and inquiries to the integrated voice assistant. Not only the Google Assistant, but also Siri is supported. The microphones are also used for the “sidetone” feature, which amplifies one's own voice during phone calls. However, I couldn't find out what this should really bring about.

In the chapter on the first setup, I briefly indicated that the two surfaces on the side of the in-ear headphones are touch-sensitive. They support gestures for play / pause, for skipping and repeating a song, for starting the voice assistant and for answering a call. The standard assignment of the actions does not suit you? Don't worry, if you wish, these can be adjusted in the Smart Control app, which we got to know when setting up.

Now a few words about wearing comfort. In principle, the CX True Wireless sit comfortably in the ear, provided, of course, that you use the appropriate silicone attachments. But even with that, after a few hours, the in-ears began to press on the sides, which is probably due to the clunky shape. On the other hand, they don't fly out so easily during workouts and other jerky movements.

Last but not least we have the case for charging the in-ears. And let me tell you one thing: this one is way too big! It is twice as wide as the case of my AirPods Pro from Apple, which only have a slightly shorter battery life. In addition, the box just feels uncomfortable in your pocket. The larger footprint does not bring any advantages. However, I did notice a plus point, that is the processing. The flap does not open unintentionally even when shaken vigorously, as it is held in place by its own magnet. The in-ears fall out a little more easily, but only when the flap is open.

Picture: TechnikNews

Battery life

Sennheiser's promise of battery life is rather above the average of the competition. While Proproducts like the Sony WF-1000XM4 have a total runtime of 24 hours, the CX True Wireless should achieve 27 hours on the bottom line. These values ​​also correspond to reality in everyday life, I got through two working days with heavy use and one week with moderate use.

They are recharged within an hour and a half. After just 15 minutes you get a full hour of playback time.

Klang

The built-in drivers have been updated for the Sennheiser CX True Wireless. Now the in-house TrueResponse driver is on board, which should ensure a more natural sound. This is supported by the codecs SBC, AAC, aptX and Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a stable connection. The only thing missing is ANC. Due to the good passive shielding, I didn't care in the end. Sounds pretty good so far, but how does this package perform in everyday life?

Sound: everyday test

All-natural proI also tried out the Sennheiser CX True Wireless again with several songs and compared them to the competitionproducts. I got this insight from the following songs:

• Anti ally from Abor & Tynna: This is where the clear sound of the headphones comes into its own. However, I also think that the voice slips into the background (or is too quiet). In addition, it is too dull for my taste with these headphones.
• SHUT UP AND GOOD from Moonlight: With this track, the low, middle and high notes are delivered very well - the overall sound is very balanced. In addition, many details come to light. However, it is again noticeable that the voice does not come into its own.
• Cravin ' from stiletto: The in-ears were able to convince me throughout. Especially with the chorus, they hit hard, which I really like.
• Night crawling from Miley Cyrus: Many details and instruments can also be identified in this title. However, the voice is again a bit dull and too much in the background.

Klang: A short interim conclusion

Some may think that I am disappointed with the sound quality. But that is not the case. In my opinion, the Sennheiser CX True Wireless offers the best sound in this price range. With higher demands, however, you are still better off in the next price range.

Sennheiser SmartControl

Finally, let's take a look at the Sennheiser Smart Control app. This can be found in the App Store and Play Store and provides additional settings for the Sennheiser CX True Wireless.

One of them is an equalizer that can be controlled from two different views. Once using ordinary sliders and once with graphic animations. Thanks to this, you can see particularly well how the sound changes as a result of a certain adjustment. It is particularly recommended if you are not very familiar with the subject.

Sennheiser also implemented a function for creating equalizer templates. Three are already stored in the factory, they are called "Podcast", "Film" and "Bass Boost". However, you can also lend a hand yourself. To do this, you have to move the slider to a certain position and save the status with your own name.

You can also manage which device the in-ears are connected to. They can remember several pairings and you can then choose a device in the app. And I mentioned briefly that you can configure the touch surfaces via the Smart Control app. You get your own view for that too.

The only thing I find annoying is that only the entire charge level can be seen. You never know how full the individual plugs are.

Some features of the Smart Control app. (Screenshots: TechnikNews)

The companion app for the Apple Watch is new. In principle, this should make it possible to make small adjustments to the wrist. In practice, however, that didn't work at all with my Apple Watch Series 3. I always had to open the app on the iPhone to initiate a charging process and even then I always ended up in a loop.

Prices and availability

You can buy the Sennheiser CX True Wireless in the manufacturer's online shop and at Amazon. The RRP is 129 euros.

• Link to the Sennheiser shop
• Order from Amazon

Sennheiser CX True Wireless: Conclusion

At this low price, you can't go wrong with the Sennheiser CX True Wireless. You get an above-average battery life, the sound is outstanding in this price range, there are many customization options in the app and thanks to IPX4 you no longer have to worry about water and dust.

Nevertheless, I have a few points of criticism. The shape of the charging box is very annoying in everyday life, after a few hours the earplugs press and the performance of the Apple Watch app can be upgraded. The company could also include a longer charging cable or build in a Qi coil for wireless charging.

So who are the Sennheiser CX True Wireless intended for? I recommend them to everyone who can do without high-end sound and want durable headphones for on the go.

Thank you for providing the Sennheiser CX True Wireless.

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