Recently, Sennheiser released a new set of earplugs: the Sennheiser CX True Wireless. Now a new version has been released, called the CX Plus True Wireless. The differences between the two variants are not big, but they are welcome. Is this really a better version? You can read the answer in this Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless review.
Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless
Price €159.90,-
wireless Bluetooth 5.2
Battery life 8+16 hours of listening time (with anc on)
Bluetooth codecs SBC, AAC and AptX support
Additional Splash-proof (IPX4)
Website www.sennheiser.com
7.5 Score 75 
- Pros
- Active noise cancellation (anc)
- Better audio quality
- Same pluses as predecessor
- Negatives
- Sometimes a bit muddy
- Battery life can be disappointing
With a price of just under 160 euros, you get the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless. That is on the high side, but it is not a real prize. Certainly not when you consider that the CX Plus has active noise reduction and an ambient mode, which allows ambient sounds to pass through. In addition, the manufacturer promises that the audio experience has improved compared to the previous model and there is a function called Smart Pause.
Little difference with predecessor
Like its predecessor, the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless features a TrueResponse transducer. That driver technology that has been developed by the company itself, which is patented. The technology provides deep bass, natural mids and clear highs, the manufacturer says. The earbuds support the codecs SBC, AAC and aptX and there is support for bluetooth 5.2. The same advantage applies here: playing music from a smartphone to the earplugs costs less energy, without this being at the expense of the audio quality.
When you use the active noise cancellation, the earplugs last up to eight hours on a full battery (without the active function they take a little longer to empty). The included charging box extends the battery life to 24 hours. You can use the earplugs perfectly during exercise, since there is an ipx4 certificate. That makes them splash-proof, so a drop of sweat is no problem. It is also good to see that the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless comes with a total of four sets of caps. As a result, there is a good chance that there are caps that fit well in the ear canal. Try them all at least once.
The two microphones on board the Sennheiser CX True Wireless pick up voices well during calls. When the environment is noisy, it can happen that the person on the other side is bothered by it, creating a kind of cacophony for them. But then it must be very noisy. You can use the Sidetone function while calling. You then hear your own voice, so that you don’t feel as if you have to speak loudly. On the sides of the earplugs is a touch-sensitive surface where you can set the functions yourself. For example, you can take a phone call, control your music or speak to a voice assistant.
The big difference is therefore in the presence of the active noise reduction. And it works quite well. Once active, you will no longer hear your fingers tapping on the keyboard, for example. The music in the gym is also kept out nicely; you hardly hear it if you turn up the volume just a little bit. The active noise reduction is therefore a valuable addition. If you turn on the ambient mode (or transparent mode), all those sounds will return. If you keep the music at a low level, you can still hear what’s going on around you. Those features make it more than worth the investment of a few bucks.
Better audio experience
The Sennheiser CX True Wireless, without the Plus, left an impression that we were not completely impressed with. The audio experience came across as a bit messy, as if the sound was being played underneath something. Muddy, was the term we used. Although the CX Plus presents a better sound field, the set does not completely shake off that muddyness. The soundstage is still not balanced, but compared to its predecessor it does sound a lot better. Of course it also depends on the genre that you play, but in general the music sounds a lot more lush and sounds, tones and emotions come out better.
Fans of the metal genre, or genres in which fast guitar work and nice hard drumming are central, however, still don’t get their money’s worth. That said, the rock songs sound better with these earbuds than with the CX True Wireless. The higher tones push themselves forward much better, so that you appreciate the high vocals much better, while the bass layers do not get the upper hand. The whole sounds a bit less measured than before and therefore a lot clearer. Just like its predecessor, music genres such as dance, pop, synthwave and more in the digital spheres sound very good through these earplugs. The different tonal layers sound detailed, and the emphasis is still on the lower regions. You must love that.
When you connect the earplugs to the freely available app (downloadable for Android and iOS), you get access to the equalizer. That is a welcome addition, since you thus influence the sound quality. There is no test available that takes your hearing into account, as Skullcandy and OnePlus do offer, for example, but it is fine to work around any limitations – provided you know what you are doing. The somewhat muddy character never completely disappears – that is simply the basis of the audio experience – but with the right settings you solve a part. Especially when you listen to digital music styles, you may be completely absorbed in it.
Set your own functions
Despite the minimalist design of the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless, there is still enough space for a relatively large touch-sensitive surface. You determine what those functions do via the app. Since additional features are now available, it is standard that both earbuds offer different options on both sides. The earplugs respond quickly and accurately to your input and show this by means of short beeps. The higher the tone, the more times you tapped that surface. It is good to see that via the app you determine how often you need to tap for a certain function, so that you can get exactly what you want with one, two or three taps.
The well-arranged applications do not offer more functions than necessary. That keeps the app user-friendly and clean; we can only applaud such a thing. The new earplugs from Sony have a somewhat messy app, for example, but the sets from Sennheiser have little to do with that. With the push of a button you reach the equalizer or set the active noise reduction. You can also immediately see which set you are connected to and what the battery level is. In these cases, apps that have a simple design are preferred, because you simply don’t want to spend a lot of time in them. You just want to be able to listen to your music.
The equalizer can be operated in different ways. For example, you can set presets and activate them with the push of a button. In addition, there are some standard options available that Sennheiser offers and you can play with the equalizer itself. This can again be done in two ways: through a single slider or an axis or through three sliders. Both parts take over the settings from each other, so you soon understand how you can best use them. That improves accessibility. Again: the audio problems of the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless are not completely solved, but you can take care of a few things.
Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless – Conclusion
The Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless takes a lot from its predecessor. The specs are largely the same, with the biggest difference being active noise cancellation (and the accompanying transparent mode). The music can now also be paused automatically when you remove an earplug. The app, design and other functionality are the same. In addition, the audio experience has improved somewhat. Tones sound clearer and more lush than before, which is good news for heavy genres such as metal, rock and related styles. However, the set does not completely shake the muddy character, despite the changes.
The active noise reduction and the audio improvements make the extra investment of a few tens more than worth it, if you are looking for that, of course. If you do not want active noise suppression, but you do want to get a Sennheiser, then you are fine with the previous iteration for the time being. For anyone who wants something more, now also has the Plus version to consider. Keep in mind that the battery lasts a little less; but once you turn the feature off, that’s one less thing to worry about. It is clear that you have to make trade-offs.
For about the same money you can also go for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 or the OnePlus Buds Pro. Both cost around 150 euros and are therefore a tenner cheaper. In terms of noise reduction, you may be better off with the Sennheiser, but in terms of audio, the Buds Pro can cause surprises. So don’t blindly rely on the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless, but also consider the competitive offer. Read carefully what you can expect from the earplugs. If you don’t mind that certain genres are not perfectly displayed on the Plus, then you can buy this set with confidence. Otherwise you better look further.
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