Best budget Ear-In headphone-Sennheiser CX300?

hello

Time to look for a new pair of headphones. From reading this forum I learned Sennheiser CX300 has the best price to performance ratio in budget category. Is it true?If not what would be a good choice for:

1)Usage: Movies, Music
2)Type: Ear in
3)Max budget: 70€/100USD

Thanks

 

Ok.

Sennheiser CX300-B (sometimes called the Sennheiser CX300-II) is the best bang-for-your-buck headphones in the $30 USD range... and I have tried about a dozen or so headphones from that price range. You can find better headphones, you can find cheaper headphones, but you can't find better cheaper headphones.

If you're willing to spend up to 70€/$100 USD, then you can find much better headphones. And you have far more options, depending on what kind of sound profile you want, and how much noise isolation you want. There is a ton of information out there, if you really want to put the work in. If you want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, you can check out this thread here:
Multi-IEM review v.1: 48 earphones compared - Head-Fi.org Community

If you don't really care, then I say buy yourself a pair of Head Direct RE0 (about $85 USD) or a pair of Klipsch Image S4 (about $85 USD new, about $50 USD used), and call it a day. Both are going to be excellent all-round headphones in the $100 USD price range.

 

Thanks for the info. Rep'd.

Looks like the hole is really deep. Any idea where the newer CX 500 and Soundmagic PL 50 stands in relation to what you recommended?

Thanks

 

Haven't tried the CX500s before. If the numbering scheme is anything similar to the MX300 / MX400 / MX500 scheme, then the CX500's would be very similar to the CX300. The difference would be an in-line volume control, and enhanced bass.

Personally, I do not think that the CX300 needs any more bass. The criticism of the CX300s are that they already have bloated bass, so adding more bass would be more of a drawback instead of a benefit.

 

I bought a set of CX550 style IIs, and they were great headphones. Cost me around £50 (so like €54). They have a very nice 'balanced' profile. If you like powerful bass, you wont find it with the CX550sII's. They emphasise quality rather than entertainment factor.

 

i found the V-Moda Bass Freq as good as the CX300 and CX300-II's but they kept dying on me and when i looked the V-Moda's up online it seems like its a common issue. Not sure if they have fixed it now, but its certainly the only alternative in the price range i've found.

 

Try the woodees in-ear. From the reviews ive seen online, there were a nu,ber of former cx300 users who rated it higher and made the switch.

 

Thanks for the info's.

Any take on the Soundmagic PL 50? From the price to performance ratio list from Head-fi.org they seem to top the chart.

 

I've used more than a dozen IEM's, but nothing above $50 or so. None of them impressed me, although my favorite was a pair of Philips SHE9500's I picked up at Target for $30. One problem I've had with many pairs is the cable around the jack weakening from strain after 3-12 months of use, eventually rendering the earbuds useless. Now, I look for headphones with either excellent "stress relief" around the jack and buds, or replaceable cables.

I paid only $10 for my Bass Freq's. They aren't anything special in terms of sound, but they are comfortable, well-designed buds.

 

i was pondering the same question after losing my CX 200 streets

ended up buying the CX300 II after reading head fi.org and other reviews

seems its the best in its price range.

 

Hi

Sennheiser Cx 300II and PL 30 is same price here in Germany and I read in forums that PL 30 is better?

 

I have had the CX 300 and I can vouch that the quailty is good for the price. I bought it for 50 dollars (2 years ago I think)

Sound quality is good, alot of bass though

The cable is sturdy and FEELS as if it can take a beat and has taken a beating with me. The cable gave out before the headphone gave out (the cable breaking was my fault).

However, if you throw your earphones around and the cable gets a cut, the cable will actually bunch up and give the wires inside a squeeze which could damage the wires inside. Other than that, it is a great purchase

 

The link kent1146 posted (it's up to 167 reviews now, by the way) is an amazing guide to selecting an IEM that will suit your money/quality requirements, if you are willing to do some research and don't mind wading through extensive audiophile jargon.
Some time ago, I discovered it by chance looking for an alternative to my Sennheiser CX400s for a gift to a friend and settled for the Visang R02s/Brainwavz ProAlphas. I was floored: the difference was so huge that even my untrained, crappy hearing noticed it almost right away. I could hear more stuff, each individual component (vocals, each instrument) was much easier to pick out, there was some pretty good bass and it needed a lesser volume setting to sound as loud. There were just a few IEMs in the <$50 range that had a similar or better Sound/Value rating combination, including the PL50s.

[edit] Be mindful of the difference between the "analytical" and "fun" classifications: the former implies basically a more neutral/non-colored sound, the latter implies a less precise/sterile sound.

 

And to the un-trained(n00b) ears would a generic vs PL50 sound vastly different from the same player?

 

I got the Klipsch Image S4. They rock. I just changed from the medium-size tips to the small double-flange and man, the sound is crazy good now. Never knew getting the right fit made such a huge difference. These things are amazing. Been listening to the medium-sized tips for months now.... I feel like I just OCd my earphones or something haha.