Hands on with the Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless

For those seeking quality audio.

Two years ago it was tough to find a good pair of truly wireless earbuds but time has moved on and audio brands are clambering over themselves to manufacture earbuds at every price point. If you're thinking of purchasing a pair in the solid mid-range area, then Sennheiser's CX 400BT True Wireless may be worth considering. These may be the cheaper cousin of the Momentum True Wireless 2, but thankfully Sennheiser has managed to maintain much of what made the Momentum True Wireless 2 so good.

A Quick Rundown

There's little not to like here straight off the bat with excellent audio performance allied with some of the best on-ear controls for wireless earbuds we've tested this year. There's also the added bonus of being able to customise the on-board controls for the CX 400BT inside Sennheiser’s Smart Control app, which works very well by the way. There's no active noise cancellation however, and what could be more of an issue for hardcore users, there's no ambient sound mode either. However, the earbuds do provide a tight seal on your ear to optimise sound and they do sound great. They feature the dame dynamic 7mm drivers as the Momentum True Wireless 2 and it means there's outstanding clarity in all genres and ranges. Overall, it's difficult to recommend a different set of earbuds to someone shopping in the mid range and their prime interest is in sound quality. They offer a similar audio quality to their more illustrious cousin at a more affordable price. However, if a stylish design is what you're seeking then this might irk you a little, because they are rather chunky and boxy. But despite this, the plastic used is perfectly fine and light meaning they weigh just 6g each. You would however label them as more practical than beautiful, all being told. The battery is good and delivers 6.5 hours, with the charging case providing another two charges for a total of twenty hours. Quick charging means you can get one hour of playback with just ten minutes of charge and a full charge will take circa 90 minutes. There's no wireless charging though and you'll have to do without an IP rating. The latter means they might not be for you if you're seeking a pair to wear while working out. Overall It's difficult to think of many other earbuds that come with such quality audio at this price point. Sennheiser wanted to build a cheaper alternative to the Momentum True Wireless 2 without compromising on sound quality, and you're looking at the result. The thing is, the CX 400BT come without much of the extras you see on earbuds these days, such as ANC and proximity sensors. It's solely about the audio and while it would be nice to have a few more bells and whistles, I really enjoyed using them for work, listening to music and streaming. The new CX 400BT are available in black and white and they are available for €139 in Ireland at the moment.