Review: Sennheiser-Adidas CX 680 Headphones

I had the opportunity a few months ago to meet Jeff from Hummingbird Media, and had a great talk with him regarding the Sennheiser brand of headphones. I expressed an interest in checking them out, and was pleasantly surprised by the product. Recently, Sennheiser partnered with Adidas on a new line of sport earbuds, and I gave them a whirl to see if these two top names in performance could mesh together to keep that tradition alive.

Out of the Box

• The earbuds themselves
  
• 2 sets of extra earbud sizes
  
• 2 sets of extra earhooks
  
• Cable extension for the earbuds, with included volume control.
  
• Alligator clip for securing cable.
  
• Instruction manual
  
• Carrying case
  
• Cleaning tool 

Initial impressions

I have to say I was impressed by the fact that these came with an instruction manual. This is the first time I have ever owned a set of earbuds that came with one. Containing clear instructions on proper fit, care, and cleaning, it shows an attention to detail I appreciate from a manufacturer. The earbuds themselves are stylish and sporty, and the design of the buds combined with the hooks makes for a sleek effect that really appealed to me. Having the option of using the short cable to prevent tangles and yanks, or plugging in the extension to take advantage of the volume control was a definite plus.

The amount of included customization pieces added an extra attraction, and the carrying case rounded the package off nicely. I'm a big fan of headsets that come with carrying cases personally, as I'm one of those people that tends to toss my headset in my pocket, spending 5 minutes untangling it every time I need to use it.

The only complaint I have regarding the design is that I need to use the extension in order to have volume control ready to hand. I would have preferred having it incorporated into the standard cord, with the extension staying as merely that, an extension.
Use

These have to be some of the most comfortable and functional earbuds I have ever used. They fit snugly into my ears, thanks to the earhooks, not coming loose even when running or shaking my head vigorously from side to side in a "torture test". Even wearing them for a few hours caused no discomfort. The sound is fantastic, as was expected from a Sennheiser product. One bonus that I found with their design is that they provide excellent sound, while allowing you to remain aware of background noises, a must for those who use them while active outdoors.

Other features to note:

Water resistant - this particular set is manufactured to be water resistant, to avoid issues from being in the rain, or excessive sweating.

Tough cord - I am constantly yanking the cord by accident on a headset, and these are manufactured with a stronger cord to prevent damage should that happen. At the time of this review, I've been using them for 2 months, and they are still going strong.

Conclusion

For a casual audiophile, these midrange earbuds may be more of an investment than you want to make in your audio experience, but they are well worth the cost. For any user looking for a set of earbuds that will get them through their workout, these are hands down the best I have seen to date. Selling for an MSRP of around $120, they also include a 2 year warranty, so you get some peace of mind along with your great new set of earbuds.

• For more information and purchase, head over to sennheiserusa.com