High fidelity comes at a price. Take German audio company Sennheiser's flagship MOMENTUM True Wireless earbuds series for example. Attainable at a premium, they certainly can deliver sound excellence. Now, Sennheiser extends their sonic technology to a broader audience with the mid-range CX 400BT True Wireless earbuds.
Hardware and Design
Primed to be a pair of everyday earphones, Sennheiser's CX 400BT True Wireless earbuds adopts a boxy ergonomic design. Although sizably larger and not exactly subtle as compared to the MOMENTUM True Wireless counterpart, the rounded-rectangular shaped earphones protrude out slightly but still fit comfortably in the ear canal. Its rounded-edged frame USB-C charging case also allows easy removal of earphones from the powerful magnetic sockets. No wireless charging option though.
Sennheiser states a seven-hour battery life for the CX 400BT on a full charge, with an additional 13 hours in the charging case, which is capable for casual to intermediate users.
Available in classic black or white, the CX 400BT True Wireless' stylish and minimalist appearance will appeal to many.
Sound check
Due to its widened shape, getting the best sound quality requires careful in-ear positioning of the silicone buds. Apply pressure while twisting into place does the trick (with a couple of tries).
Once settled in, allow the 7mm dynamic drivers, which are also featured in the acclaimed MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 earphones, to do its job. This bespoke aural acoustic system delivers high-fidelity stereo sound with deep bass, natural mids and clear, detailed treble.
On Romy Madley-Croft's 'Lifetime', bass notes pulsate and support the XX vocalist's lush delivery. Midrange and high tones also blend harmoniously without overpowering fine melodic details. Furthermore, HAIM's daring 'I Know Alone' sounds warm and crisp, inviting the listener to bop along with ease. Discerning rhythms and range of frequencies from most genres prove to be effortless.
Sennheiser boasts that the CX 400BT has the same 'acoustical system' as MOMENTUM True Wireless 2. This claim holds true in both sound depth and width.
A key difference and omission on the CX 400BT is active noise cancellation (ANC). Offering only passive noise isolation, stray ambient sound from the environment can still be heard if you didn't' crack up the volume. Also excluded is an ambient sound mode, but this is negligible considering the CX 400BT's price.
Customisable features
Function-wise, the glossy frontal outer surface of the earbuds, sporting Sennheiser’s stylized 'S' logo, serves as touch controls. LED indicator lights on both the device and case reflect power, battery status, and pairing status of the earbuds.
Most (including myself) will prefer physical buttons, but the tip-only controls execute responsively in an uncomplicated fashion. There'll be an audible confirmation tone whenever there's a tap made. Besides controlling volume, call answer/end/decline, track skip forward/back, access to voice assistant access (Siri or Google Assistant) can be made too.
On the software end, Sennheiser Smart Control app allows customising taps for individual preference through assigning functions to any tap sequence on either of the earbuds. It does not require compulsory pairing with CX 400BT for earbuds’ built-in equalizer configuration and toggling between previously paired devices.
The CX 400BT True Wireless is now available in black and white for SGD 299 at the Sennheiser Brand Stores at Marina Bay Sands and Marina Square, Online Store, and at all authorised Sennheiser retailers.
