Unassumingly amazing. That’s how I will briefly describe the Sennheiser CX-215 In-Ear headphones. From the packaging to the earphones itself, you will probably view it as one of Sennheiser’s entry-level products at first glance.
Even the package content is quite sparse to the point of disappointing. You’ll only find two extra pairs of silicon tips inside and nothing else. No carrying pouch, nor a shirt clip, not even one of those Sennheiser cable winders.
The earphone itself looks very, very ordinary. The driver housing is small and looks cheap (although the color and design doesn’t look bad). It does have a finger-friendly design so you can easily twist it to fit your ear snugly. It doesn’t have those flat cables and the one here is thinner than the average cable and tangles easily. There’s no in-line mic nor a simple volume control built into the cable. Not even a cinch to keep the two cables separated when not in use.
The connector is angled though to prevent stress on the cable. And there’s also some sort of a cable holder which you can use to tuck a part of the cable to keep it short.
The Sennheiser CX 215 is a very comfortable pair of in-ear canalphones. I did not experience any discomfort at all using it all day at work. Noise isolation is pretty good as it can drown out ambient noise as long as you’re listing to music. Microphonics (echoey sound from cable rubbing on your shirt) can’t be avoided though. For some reason, sound leakage is evident despite being an in-ear type but it’s soft, not loud that people inside an elevator can exactly hear what you’re listening to unless they’re close to your ears.
Performance
What the CX 215 lacks in physical looks and features makes up with superb sound quality for its size. This is where this earphone really shines.
The Sennheiser CX 215 gives you exceptional clarity even at high volumes no matter the genre of music you’re listening to. Bass is deep and strong without overpowering the crisp mids and bright highs. I can definitely hear distinct bass instruments within a same song.
I just love the sound signature and quality from the CX 215 that listening to a wide array of songs and tuning out everything else was a pleasant affair. I definitely heard and felt the subtle lows on Tyga’s Rack City, as well as the powerful bass on Drake’s The Motto without hurting my eardrums nor muddying the vocals. Fun’s We Are Young was a blast to listen to with the clarity of the snare drums and piano at the start blending well with the bass through the rest of the song. Daughtry’s Crawling Back To You was still easy on the ears despite the heavy electric guitars during the chorus. Going a bit slow, Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield’s Easy is just so relaxing and enjoyable and Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years was so clean and clear and made me forget that I don’t like sappy songs. It’s really a nice pair of earphones that can give you great sound quality whatever the song you’re listening to.
Verdict
The Sennheiser CX 215 retails for Php1,995. You might think the price is absurd when you see it in shelves in its simple packaging and bare features. However, try to audition it. Try it with different genres and you will hear and appreciate the consistent quality this in-ear can give you. For me, I think the price is just right, a bargain even especially if you’re not after good-looking earphones with fancy hands-free features which can drive prices up. Yep, the Sennheiser CX 215 is now my favorite pair of mid-range in-ear headphones.
