Sennheiser CX Plus: A Powerful Return to Form in the Mid-Range TWS Segment
Sennheiser’s consumer audio division might be under new management, but they are still delivering high-quality products. The recently launched Sennheiser CX Plus true wireless earphones, priced at Rs. 14,990 in India (~Rs. 12,990 online), are designed to compete with strong contenders in the mid-range TWS segment from brands like Samsung, OnePlus, and Jabra. With active noise cancellation, app support, and features like the Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec, the Sennheiser CX Plus presents an attractive proposition under Rs. 15,000. But, does the sound quality live up to the hype? Let’s find out in this detailed review.
A Well-Equipped Pair of True Wireless Earphones
Sennheiser has a long history in personal audio, though they haven’t received as much praise in the true wireless realm outside of the Momentum True Wireless 2. The CX Plus is their attempt to make a mark in the competitive mid-range TWS segment, offering a compelling set of features for the price.
The design of the CX Plus is reminiscent of their earlier CX400BT model. Although significantly larger than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and Jabra Elite 85t, the earphones still manage to feel comfortable thanks to their glossy exterior, Sennheiser logo, and touch-sensitive playback controls. The inner sides house charging contacts and proximity sensors for automatic playback control. The fit, though a bit precarious given the bulkiness, held firm during walks and climbs, ensuring the earphones stayed put. Four sizes of silicone ear tips are included in the box, along with a short USB Type-A to Type-C cable for charging. The earphones boast an IPX4 rating for water resistance.
The charging case is just as large as the CX400BT, making it difficult to store in a pants pocket with other items. On the back, you’ll find a USB Type-C port and a front-facing LED indicator. Overall, the CX Plus maintains a classic Sennheiser style for its TWS earphones.
Customizable Touch Controls and a User-Friendly Companion App
Sennheiser provides a level of control customization through the Smart Control companion app (available for iOS and Android). This app lets you manage paired devices, adjust the equaliser, toggle ANC and hear-through modes, and more. It’s well designed and easy to navigate, covering the essential features.
With the app, you can customize the touch-sensitive controls on each earpiece. You can control playback, volume, ANC and hear-through modes, and even invoke your smartphone’s default voice assistant through various tap gestures. All of these gestures worked reliably, making it easy to control the earphones without pulling out your phone.
Sound Quality, ANC Performance, and Battery Life
Under the hood, the Sennheiser CX Plus is powered by 7mm dynamic drivers, boasting a frequency response range of 5-21,000Hz. Connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5, offering support for SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs.
The Sennheiser CX Plus provides decent battery life for its price. With ANC switched on and the volume at moderate levels, the earphones lasted around five hours. The case provides around two and a half additional charges, totaling a runtime of approximately 18 hours per charge cycle. This performance is comparable to other TWS headsets in this price range, even exceeding the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and offering nearly identical performance to the OnePlus Buds Pro.
A Delightful Audio Experience with Excellent ANC
For a market price of Rs. 12,990, the Sennheiser CX Plus offers a lot – customizability, effective active noise cancellation, and excellent audio quality for the price. The support for Qualcomm’s aptX and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs allows for a richer audio experience when paired with a compatible device.
The Sennheiser CX Plus has a natural tuning that emphasizes attack and drive, as showcased by listening to Living On Video (Claptone Remix) by Trans-X. The subtle bump in the lows translates into a refined and enjoyable bass experience. The mid-range feels imposing, while the treble feels slightly laid back. The earphones handled the fast pace of this track with ease, highlighting their cohesiveness.
This cohesiveness and pace were equally evident in other fast-paced tracks such as Go by The Chemical Brothers and The Great Divide (Soundprank Remix) by Velvetine. The audio was fast and engaging, making these bass-focused tracks a pleasure to listen to.
With slower down-tempo tracks like Opposite Ways by Brasstracks, the Sennheiser CX Plus showcased its ability to let the details in the lows and mid-range shine. The soulful saxophone riffs melded flawlessly with the hip-hop beats and rap verses. It’s worth noting that while the tight and well-tuned bass was a highlight, it was easy to focus on other elements of the track.
Even more detail came through when using the CX Plus with an Android smartphone, benefiting from the Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec. While an iPhone retained the same sonic signature and overall feel, the level of detail in the sound was noticeably different.
The Sennheiser CX Plus is undoubtedly tuned for music above all else, delivering a decent listening experience for audiobooks.
ANC Performance and Call Quality
The active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the Sennheiser CX Plus is largely on par with other true wireless earphones priced under Rs. 15,000. It’s optimised for indoor use, effectively reducing noise levels in typical office environments such as the hum of central air conditioning. Even low chatter in common areas seemed notably softer.
The ANC greatly enhanced the listening experience, making it easier to enjoy music both indoors and outdoors, without impacting the quality of the audio. The hear-through mode was effective when needed, and the app offers the useful option to choose whether playback continues or pauses when hear-through mode is activated.
Connection stability was good, with consistent performance at distances of up to 4 meters from the source device. Call quality was decent indoors and acceptable for short outdoor calls. However, my voice sounded slightly muffled to the person on the other end when I was in loud urban areas.
Conclusion: A Feature-Rich and Well-Priced Option
Sennheiser has been relatively quiet in the mid-range true wireless segment in India for some time, but the CX Plus marks a strong return to form. These earphones are feature-rich, boast well-tuned audio quality, and represent good value for the price, making them a strong pick if you have a budget of around Rs. 15,000. This music-focused headset is ideal for anyone seeking refined bass and a detailed audio experience.
The only significant downside is the earpieces and charging case’s bulkiness. However, the decent ANC, good companion app, and excellent audio quality make this TWS headset one of the top picks in its price range.
If you own a Samsung smartphone, consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, check out the OnePlus Buds Pro. However, for most other use cases, the Sennheiser CX Plus is the clear winner.
