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Wired earbuds are trending again. Almost every time I’m out and about, I see more people rocking wires and keeping it old school. Is this a result of the matcha-drinking, tote bag-carrying, vintage shoe-wearing individuals — often referred to as performative males — bringing wired earbuds back into the mainstream? Is it because people long for the days before lossy Bluetooth audio? Is it because we’re finally tiring of wireless device-specific ecosystems? Who knows.
But one thing I do know is that wired earbuds can offer amazing compression-free sound and top-tier reliability — often for a smaller cost than their Bluetooth-equipped counterparts. And recently, I managed to test a pair of wired buds that really blew me away.
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A whole lot of bang, and for not many bucks
I’ve tested a whole lot of wired earbuds and IEMs, but few have felt like a better value buy than the Sennheiser CX 80U. They come in at just $39.95 / £34.99 (about AU$57), meaning they’re firmly in the budget category with rivals like the Skullcandy Set USB-C and SoundMagic E80D. And they offer much more than you’d usually expect at that price point.
When testing these buds, I was primarily surprised by just how good they sounded. They handled just about every genre I threw at them with ease, offering balanced, detailed, and well-rounded sound at all times. For instance, when tuning into Timeless by Shinchiro Yokota, I was impressed by the intent-filled, clean bass, which was fantastically weighted against vibrant yet controlled high-pitched percussion. At the same time, mid-range sounds — including piano and vocal chops — were tonally accurate, clear, and never got muddied in the mix.
As talented as they are across the frequency range, the CX 80U’s handling of treble sounds was a real standout, though. Whether its rapid hi-hats or dramatic strings, treble sounds are almost given a defined pocket to operate in — and that added space gives them a highly expressive quality that I couldn’t get enough of.
OK, as these are budget buds, you’re not going to get the vocal separation of more premium models, like the Sennheiser IE 200, and you won’t get the rippling sub-bass of their even pricier sibling, the Sennheiser IE 600, but you’re still getting awesome audio for the price.
Bottom line: if you want punchy bass, rich mids, and vibrant treble, but you don’t want to splash all too much cash, then the Sennheiser CX 80U have you covered.
But wait… there’s more?
The Sennheiser CX 80U may have won me over with their sound, but I found a whole lot more to love about them.
For instance, the buds come with a range of different-sized eartips, which you can swap out to find your perfect fit. I went with the medium size, and found that the in-ear seal provided genuinely strong passive noise isolation. When colleagues started chatting in my office, I could barely hear a word they were saying at 70% volume. What’s more, sounds of keyboards clacking and doors closing were subdued to great effect.
Of course, you’re not going to get the noise-crushing abilities of ANC — found on earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen or Apple AirPods Pro 3 — but passive noise isolation remains impressive on Sennheiser’s buds.
On top of this, I’m a big fan of the CX 80U’s design. They have a classy, almost premium look, with small rounded buds, metallic detailing, and slim wires. They also come with a lightweight feel, a built-in mic, and playback controls. Not bad for less than $40 / £35, is it?
The best wireless earbuds for all budgets
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