Features and Design

While the headphone world is awash in canalphones from companies like Etymotic, Shure, Ultimate Ears, and a number of other companies new to this market like Creative, Sennheiser has always had to enter the scene with a little pizzazz. The CX300 is no exception, and their unique approach to the ear bud may appeal to a wider audience. Sennheiser rarely disappoints, and the CX300 continues this tradition.

The CX300 is designed to be the canalphone for people that don’t like canalphones. What do we mean by that? Unlike most in-ear headphones, the CX300 remains mostly outside the inner ear. Most canalphones fit like earplugs, wedging themselves deep into the ear canal, scaring off many people due to the difficulty in fitting properly and feeling uncomfortable with the overall design. Improperly seated canalphones that fit deep in the ear can cause them to sound extremely poor often times producing a muffled sound. The CX300 uses large, soft rubber plugs that barely fit past the ear canal opening. Rather than placing the driver in the ear canal, the entire unit remains outside, piping sound through the sleeve.

In the simple plastic bubble packaging housing the CX300, you get the headphones and three sizes of ear sleeves. There are three models of the CX300, S, W, and B, corresponding to silver, white, and black casing. The three foot cord uses the asymmetrical design, with the left ear piece having a shorter cord. This is convenient for determining which ear piece is the left and which is the right. The rubber cord and ear bud casing feels light, but slightly fragile and thin. We did use and abuse these headphones for two months straight and they look as good as the day we received them, though, so we aren’t too worried about them holding up over time.

Image Courtesy of Sennheiser