It’s no small achievement being one of the highest selling audio products in India, and the Sennheiser CX180 is just that. It’s such a successful model and sells in such huge volumes that Sennheiser actually rations supplies to dealers all over the country. A noted online retailer recently told us that he receives not more than 100 units of the CX180 at the beginning of every month, and these are usually sold out within a week. What is it that makes the CX180 so popular? We find out in our review.
Specifications, design and comfort
The Sennheiser CX180 is an in-ear canalphone-style headset, and has a frequency response range of 20-20, 000Hz. It also has an impedance rating of 16Ohms and a sensitivity of 110dB. The headset does not have an in-line microphone and remote, and has a standard 1.2m cable. The sales package includes three sets of ear-tips in different sizes.
On the design front, the Sennheiser CX180 is simple and functional. Made entirely of plastic, the earphones have a glossy finish on the front and a dull finish on the back, which has been designed in such a way that it’s possible to grip each earphone between your finger and thumb for insertion and removal. It’s also incredibly light and comfortable, which ensures ease of use over long periods. The only flaw is the cable, which is thin, tangle-prone, and extremely susceptible to cable noise.
Performance
The Sennheiser CX180 is an entry-level headset that is expected to be used primarily with mobile devices. The majority of our testing was done using an Android smartphone, but we also tried it with our reference and a Windows laptop. Focus tracks were Zomboy’s Nuclear, Bonobo’s Days To Come, and Gotye’s State Of The Art.