SENNHEISER CX500 $29.80 airshipped from focalprice.com - They are here!
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:21 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 42

Phrozt

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Here we go....

SENNHEISER CX500 CX 500 In-ear Noise Isolation Earphone (Black)

I just placed my order a couple minutes ago (1:15pm Central). I'll keep you all updated as to how the transaction goes and how the product is. Yes, the website looks shoddy as hell (not only to a layman, but I'm a professional web developer, so I can REALLY see the blemishes), but this site needs reviews. At worst, I'm out $30.

Only problem is, and I'll admit it right now, I'm not an audiophile. I love music, have listened to music all my life, and have a decent amount of musical talent, but I don't have training in what to listen for. If anyone has criteria I should be listening for, let me know.


UPDATE 10/20/08:
- Shipped out on 10/20/08

EDIT: Also, I've sent off a note to Sennheiser asking for an official response as to the validity of the Sennheiser products found on focalprice.com. I'll also keep this thread updated on that note.

UPDATE:
No surprise, really, but here's their response:

Quote:

Hello-

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in Sennheiser.

These are fake...stay away! Get your gear only from an authorized Sennheiser dealer, like Apple or Circuit City for example. If the price is too good to be true, it is!
Please see the quick click links below for additional help.
_________________

Sennheiser USA
1 Enterprise Drive
Old Lyme, CT 06371
(877) 736-6434 (TOLL FREE)




EDIT: UPDATE 10/30/08 - They are in!
Here are pictures of all the packaging ** WARNING ** These files are HUGE

From my camera
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-01.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-02.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-03.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-04.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-05.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-06.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-07.jpg

From my scanner
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-scanner-01.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-scanner-02.jpg
http://phroztnet.org/images/CX500/cx500-scanner-03.jpg

In comparison w/this site to spot fake ones How to spot a fake CX500? you can see some similarities to the fake packaging, but not everything he says to look for. Also, my scanner did a HORRIBLE job by adding tons of noise to the pictures, so don't take that as what the package looks like. The packaging looks a lot more crisp IRL. I kept all of the packaging in case anyone had any questions about it or wanted to see other angles of it.

They're burning in right now, but they already sound great. Then again, I've never really had good headphones... so...

EDIT: UPDATE - review: 10/31/08

I'm not sure how much I like these. I think they're an improvement over what I had before ( Cheapy Panasonic RP HS5 - Panasonic RP HS5 - headphones specs and Headphone specifications - CNET Reviews ), but not really by a whole lot. Then again, these are just connected to stock speakers on a dell monitor. They sounded better at home with my x-fi integrated sound card and logitech x230 speakers.

It's definitely got a better soundstage and bass, but I just don't hear a ton of difference. Maybe I'm just not set out to be an audiophile, heh. It also seems to have a problem with microphonics. I usually have a scruffy face, and I can hear the wire brushing against my scruff every time it hits it.

It does have pretty nice isolation though. I'm in an office, and when I have both buds in (usually I have to keep one out in case I get a phone call) I can barely hear people talking even when no music is playing.

Are they fakes? I don't know. The materials in the build feel and look great, and it's a nice earphone. Since I've never really listened to a good pair though, I really don't have anything to compare them to. They're really light... but they're supposed to be. Basically, everything in terms of visual presentation and physical presentation looks good. As for the audio quality, since I don't have a real pair, I don't know.


This is after about 16 hours of burn-in.
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:39 PM Post #2 of 42
The real and fake ones can sound really alike. I bought 3 different pairs of earphones from the same place... The more expensive one (CX400) seems to be real (with believable packing). The cheaper Sennheiser MX500 (with real packing) and Sony EX71 (with no packing) though, look like fake. I did a comparison with my real MX500, and the fake one has more bass, but the mid sounds really alike.
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:50 PM Post #3 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by parrot5 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I did a comparison with my real MX500, and the fake one has more bass, but the mid sounds really alike.


Are you saying you actually liked the sound of the fake ones BETTER? More bass + equal mids would, to me, seem like a better product...

Did you burn all of these in?

Thanks for the info.
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 7:12 PM Post #4 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozt /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Are you saying you actually liked the sound of the fake ones BETTER? More bass + equal mids would, to me, seem like a better product...

Did you burn all of these in?

Thanks for the info.



No no by no means am I expressing a preference in my previous post. The fake ones arrived yesterday and I just compared them for one minute. The bass is the most pronounced aspect of the difference. If someone want it though, I'll take longer to do a real comparison, and list the differences in mids and highs.

My old pair (the real one) has one dead driver (or disconnected cable) though, and with one earbud remaining, I won't be able to compare soundstage...
tongue.gif


Sennheiser still honors the warranty , and I sent in another old pair for replacement. They returned another model from their new line. Just FYI.
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 7:55 PM Post #5 of 42
If you could please, I'd like you to do a comparison with the following songs:

DJ X - Avalanche
Reason: Some low lows and some sustained highs
Source: http://bouncewith.me.uk/techno/DJ%20...b%20Mix%5d.wma

Paul Oakenfold - Hallucinogen
Reason: Good mid/high transition and wide soundstage
Source: http://bouncewith.me.uk/techno/Paul%...%20-%20LSD.mp3

Bad Religion - Sorrow
Reason: This is more of the music I usually listen to. Also, it features a "bullet shot" after he sings the words "there will be." Because of the way that sound was recorded, it's either audible or horrible and usually produces a significant difference in different sound systems
http://bouncewith.me.uk/punk/process...-Sorrow(1).mp3

Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First
Reason: Newer recording of their stuff, a LOT better sound stage to diagnose
http://bouncewith.me.uk/punk/The%20E...es%20First.mp3

Unfortunately, that's all the music I have up at the moment. For some reason, I have prodigy, but I don't have "Smack my B*tch up" which would be a great one for good ol' punchy bass. Sorry if you don't like BR. I like the energy and lyrics... as well as the drums (I really focus on the drums).
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:10 PM Post #6 of 42
Thanks for the songs... I'll listen to it many times to get used to them.

If you want me to burn the new pair in (if this sort of thing exists), for how long? a day?
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:12 PM Post #7 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by parrot5 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Thanks for the songs... I'll listen to it many times to get used to them.

If you want me to burn the new pair in (if this sort of thing exists), for how long? a day?



24-48 hours is more than adequate.

Also.. if you go to the base directory of that site, you might find other songs that you'd enjoy and/or would be a good comparison of sound qualities. I just came up w/a few off the top of my head...

Thanks again!
 
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:45 PM Post #9 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bombyx /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Phrozt, when you receive your CX500 from FP, you may want to check the packing.


That is one real nice article. Thanks!
 
Oct 18, 2008 at 12:27 AM Post #10 of 42
dont be too excited abt such a price.

I just came back from China and from my understanding, i know that SoundMAGIC and Yuins are of low price in China because Chinese people tend to look to the big brands like Sennheisers , ATH, etc ; they often overlook the native brands and therefore these good earphones sell at a relatively cheap price.

I went to shopping in Beijing for headphones, the CX500 are definitely not $30, they are probably $50-60sh in China (USD).

And 1 warning, there is A LOT OF fake Sennheisers and Sony's in China, so the ones they sell at Focal is probably fake...
 
Oct 22, 2008 at 2:05 PM Post #15 of 42
Official word from sennheiser is that they are not real.

However, as I previously stated, I will be documenting the packaging and my opinion on the matter when (if?) I get them.
 

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