Sennheiser CX 80U Review: Affordable USB-C wired earbuds with impressive sound

Best prices today: Sennheiser CX 80U

• Price: $39.95 / £34.99
• Connection: USB-C wired headphones (works with modern phones and laptops)
• Sound: Strong bass and clear vocals for the price
• Extras: in-line controls and microphone
• Missing features: no Bluetooth, no noise cancellation

The first headset I purchased during my student years was from the affordable Sennheiser CX line. This was in the pre-iPod era and, needless to say, these were wired headphones with the traditional 3.5mm audio connector that Apple finally removed from the iPhone 7 almost a decade ago. The CX line has grown since then and now includes a number of wireless models as well, but I was pleased to learn that Sennheiser is sticking to its guns and recently launched a new set of low-cost wired headphones called the CX 80U.

Design and comfort: Does the CX 80U stay in your ears?

Priced at just $39.95/£34.99, the CX 80U headphones are a little more expensive than Apple’s Earpods, but they offer good sound quality for such cheap headphones and – unlike the EarPods – they don’t fall out of my ears every five minutes. To be fair, some people like the design of the EarPods – also shared with the cheaper AirPods 4 – which have a loose fit with the earbud resting in the outer ear, rather than fitting more firmly into the inner ear. However, I find myself constantly adjusting the EarPods just to keep them from falling out, and I much prefer the CX 80U’s more conventional in-ear design.

Sennheiser also offers removable ear tips in three different sizes to help you get a good fit, and I had no problem wearing the CX 80U while walking around during the day. The CX 80U only weighs around 14g, so you’ll barely notice its weight even after hours of listening.

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What features do you get for $40?

There’s also no noise-canceling feature – not at such a low price – but the firm fit of the tips helps block out some of the background noise when you’re traveling. Inside the compact headphones, the CX 80U houses 9.7mm drivers offering a frequency response of 17-20kHz. The cable that connects the headphones to your iPhone or other devices provides simple in-line controls for music playback and voice calls, and there’s also a noise-cancelling microphone for voice calls. However, the traditional 3.5mm audio connector is finally gone, with Sennheiser moving to a more modern USB-C connection, which will work with most recent iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices (although Sennheiser still makes other headphones and earphones with 3.5mm connectors if you prefer).

The other benefit of using USB-C is that it allows the CX 80U to support digital audio formats up to 24-bit/96kHz, allowing it to handle most lossless, high-resolution audio tracks available on Apple Music and other streaming services (Apple Music goes up to 24-bit/192kHz for some tracks, but if you’re that picky about sound quality, you won’t buy the CX 80U).

Sound quality: what sound for the price?

The CX 80U’s 17-20kHz frequency response allows it to dig a little deeper into the bass response than many cheap headphones. So I start with Leonard Cohen’s rumbling tonsils on You want it to be darker. The CX 80U does a good job with the track’s soaring bass riff, which glides with a smooth, swaying rhythm. And of course, there’s the deep voice of Cohen himself, which has a rich, gritty texture. The CX 80U also handles the song’s contrasts well, capturing the higher-pitched staccato percussion and smooth multi-tracked harmonies of the chorus.

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Muse offers more challenge with the dense wall of sound on Knights of Cydoniabut the CX 80U hits the floor, sending the drums’ galloping horses’ rhythm with a taut, precise sound that really moves the track forward. It’s Muse during their Imperial Queen phase, and the CX 80U captures every detail of the band’s multi-tracked harmonies, as well as the piercing edge of Matt Bellamy’s falsetto as he wails, “No one’s going to take me alive!” (almost as good as Roger Taylor’s…). The final instrumental section is a headbanging delight and the CX 80U manages to maintain its composure, keeping each instrument clear and precise as the galloping drums and guitar riffs charge into the sunset, and there’s no distortion even when I crank the little headphones up to maximum volume.

Should you buy the Sennheiser CX 80U?

You won’t get Hi-Fi sound quality with a set of headphones costing less than $40, but the CX 80U offers very good sound quality at a competitive price. It has enough power for headbanging rock and respectable bass for such an inexpensive set of headphones, so these will be a good option for anyone who wants an affordable set of wired headphones that they can wear around town or work out at the gym.