Sennheiser is an audio brand I have always enjoyed reviewing with my most recent review being the Sennheiser CX True Wireless. So when I got an email asking if I wanted to review the CX Plus True Wireless I did consider what would be the point especially when you look at the design they are identical to the model before them. However, when you take a closer look you can see where the improvements have been made.
The key improvements here are the introduction of ANC and the use of the Qualcomm aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec. That aside there is an increase in cost with the CX Plus costing £129 compared to the CX True wireless now available for £89.
In this review, we will consider the upgrades and ultimately decide is it worth spending the extra money on this upgrade.
Design
As mentioned, put the CX Plus next to the CX true wireless and you won’t be wrong for thinking they look identical.
The main difference is with the CX Plus the tops of the buds come with a shiny finish. The buds are still very much ergonomic in the design and they are still very much a comfortable pair of buds. The earbuds weigh just 6g each and the charging case is also a pocket-friendly design measuring in at 59x34x43mm (HxWxD).
They are still quite bulky in the ear but that is not a bad thing as you have a nice amount of space for the touch controls and the size also helps the built-in mics to perform better. Last but not least Sennheiser gives you the choice of either Black or White buds that looks great in the ear but in this review I was sent the black pair.
In addition to the buds, the charging case is basically the same as what you have with the CX true wireless before and will fit nicely into your pocket or in my case my jacket pocket without much fuss. The case also survived the shake test due to the magnets keeping the buds secure. At the rear is the USB-C port and moving to the front you will see a small LED light that indicates the charge level via the traffic light system. Apart from that the case may be made of plastic but it’s well constructed and also offers a premium feel along with the buds.
Overall the design of the buds is nice and lightweight and comes with four different sized ear tips so you should find the right fit. I would 100% recommend you get the right fit otherwise this will affect the ANC and overall sound quality. It’s also important as the last thing you want is to lose a bud if running for the bus. Unfortunately, there are no extra ear hooks to keep the buds secure so getting the right fit is vital.
Controls
As I mentioned you are given a nice amount of space on the bud for the touch controls which is indicated by the Sennheiser logo. The touch controls are very responsive and you can control:
- Play/Pause
- Volume
- Track control
- ANC/Transparency Mode.
- Voice Assistant
The touch controls are on a large capacitive surface on each earbud and below is the list of actions you can do:
| Action | Left side | Right side |
| One tap | Transparency mode | Play/pause |
| Two taps | Previous track | Next track |
| Three taps | ANC | Voice Assistant |
| Hold | Volume down | Volume up |
Battery
Sennheiser is normally quite good when it comes to battery life and the manufacturer states you can get 8 hours of playback on a single charge. In testing, I felt this is a little short, when the ANC is off you can expect 6 hours of playback before they need a charge and 5 hours with ANC on. What you do also get is that charging case which holds an additional 16 hours to give you a total of 22 hours in our testing. This is also a little less compared to the CX True wireless.
I have mainly been using them for my daily commute which is about an hour each way and it was only in that second week did I need to give the CX Plus a full charge. When it’s time to charge you are given a USB-C charge cable and a full charge takes 1 hour and 30minutes to complete. Unfortunately, the CX Plus does not come with fast charging or wireless charging. This negative might put some users off when you consider what else is on the market at this price.
Features
The Sennheiser CX Plus true wireless comes with aptX, AAC & SBC codecs meaning there is high-quality audio. The CX Plus also uses Bluetooth 5.2 which is the most up to date Bluetooth connectivity available. The audio is then delivered by Sennheiser TrueResponse 7mm transducers. The Buds are also smart assistant compatible (Google Assistant & Siri) and activated via the touch controls.
The Sennheiser CX Plus as well as the CX true wireless both use the Sennheiser Smart Control app that has the following controls:
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Transparent mode
- EQ adjustment
- Bass Boost
The app is well laid out and easy to connect to the buds as long as they are paired to your mobile. The app is available on both Android and iOS and once inside you can customise the controls if you wish (Apart from the volume that stays the same in terms of controls). The EQ adjustment comes with a three-band equaliser or you can change it to a more dynamic visualizer interface where you can raise or lower the frequency line. Once you have selected a preset you can also swap EQ presets as and when you wish.
The app also allows you to adjust the level of sidetone which means you could hear how you sound on the phone. The smart control is also where you get firmware updates which are very important for both the buds and the case.
Sound Quality
The Sennheiser CX Plus are very simple; they provide hi-res audio from any streaming service such as Tidal, Spotify or Amazon Music. I have used these buds for listening to a wide range of music. I found the tracks were detailed to make even a gauzy vocal sound characterful and punchy with the tonality fairly even. Treble sounds feel a little overconfident but still have control even if you increase the volume. The other end of the frequency has depth and substance.
When listening to tracks on Tidal that are high res such as “Alice Merton- No Roots” the recording is a little more revealing they can do both quiet and loud in a heartbeat. However, when the track kicks into an instrumental they really are not that special. Now if you go into the Sennheiser Smart Control app you can adjust the EQ and alter the balance to suit your listening experience.
ANC
The CX Plus True Wireless sound quality does not significantly change when ANC is enabled. You will notice when ANC is on, The exterior noise is reduced but not to the same level as others of a similar price range or even the ANC quality of a pair of AirPods Pro.
The ANC is paired with passive isolation which helps incidental noises that occupy the high range such as car horns when walking down the street while listening to your buds heading to work. The ANC renders sounds from 100-300Hz by at least one quarter or even more at points. So when its the sound of a bus engine this would be completely reduced for the listeners.
Phone call Quality
The Sennheiser CX Plus allows for phone calls to be received with the use of its built-in microphone sounds. The quality comes out a little muffled and struggles with low-end background noise. Taking phone calls was fine but not the best in the market by a long shot.
Verdict
The Sennheiser CX Plus is a great option when you consider the TWS market as a whole. The sound quality has plenty of punch and detail even if it lacks rhythmic certainty. The buds are ideal for commuters who are looking for something simple, reliable and with a decent quality ANC. They are also useful for fitness fans with the inclusion of an IPX4 rating meaning they will be able to handle a hard fitness session when the user is really sweating.
The Smart Control app I found very useful when adjusting the EQ, using the ANC & Transparent modes and firmware updates. The battery life is average, you will have no trouble when travelling to work and back but for longer use, it could be problematic. However, the charging case holds an additional 16 hours to get you out of a spot of bother if your battery life starts to drain in the buds.
Should I buy the CX Plus or buy the CX True Wireless?
When it comes to design both pairs of buds are identical in terms of sound quality the CX Plus offers slightly more when it comes to bass and the mids and are less emphasised highs than other consumer earbuds. Apart from that in terms of performance, design and controls, they are very close.
It simply comes down to if you want ANC & transparency mode and smart pause then the CX Plus tip that of the CX true wireless. Overall the CX Plus are a versatile pair of buds and a cheaper alternative to Airpods Pro.
Product Rating:
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Controls: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Battery Life: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Sound Quality: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars – 4.4 Stars
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