Sennheiser CX 680 Earfin Sports Earbuds

Product Description

Style: Standard
From the Manufacturer
Can you remember the last time you had a proper workout without any disturbances from the blaring gym radio, falling earbuds or clatter of machines? The new Sennheiser/adidas CX 680 sports earphones will change that on the first listen. These sweat-proof, noise-isolating ear-canal 'phones deliver outstanding, high-energy stereo sound while blocking out up to 20dB of gym noise.

Innovative EarFin Design
Engineered on legendary Sennheiser/adidas Performance, the exclusive EarFin provides a comfortable, secure fit that won't fall out during your workout. Further, the CX 680 can be adapted to fit any ear using the supplied fit kit. This will ensure long-term comfort and exceptional isolation to enhance sound quality and concentration. A convenient volume adjuster keeps you in control of your tunes while a detachable extension cable lets you position your MP3 player where you want it.
Kevlar-Reinforced Cable
The DuPont Kevlar reinforced cabling guarantees durability and flexibility where other sport headphones can't--even in cold temperatures. A sweat-proof, water-resistant construction lets you go your hardest during any off-season.
Compatible with Portable Exercise Devices
The Sennheiser CX 680 headphones are compatible with adidas miCoach, iPhone, and all iPods/MP3 players with a 1/8" (3.5mm) plug. The energizing, high-output sound keeps you running and ahead of the game.
What's in the Box?
Sennheiser CX 680 headphones, 3 pairs of ear adapters (S/M/L), 3 pairs of EarFin adapters (S/M/L), 1 pair of housing covers, 1 pair of diaphragm guards, cleaning tool, extension cable with volume control, storage pouch, cable clip, instruction manual, warranty.
Technical Specifications

• Frequency response: 18-20,000 Hz
• Cable length: 1.97 ft symmetrical, includes 1.97 extension
• Sound pressure level (SPL): 120 dB
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Connector: 1/8" (3.5mm)
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.5%
• Weight: 0.35 oz

Can you remember the last time you had a proper workout without any disturbances from the blaring gym radio, falling earbuds or clatter of machines? The new Sennheiser/adidas CX 680 sports earphones will change that on the first listen. These sweat-proof, noise-isolating ear-canal 'phones deliver outstanding, high-energy stereo sound while blocking out up to 20dB of gym noise.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.8 x 5.5 inches ; 6.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0035JKJ2W
• Item model number: CX 680
  

Price : $51.20
You Save : $38.75 (43%)

List Price : $89.95

Technical Details

• Sweat and water resistant
• Eafin holding system provides a secure fit during workouts
• High-output drivers for energizing sound
• DuPont Kevlar-reinforced cable for unmatched sound
• Generous 2-year manufacturer's warranty

Customer Reviews

I have been on a quest for a new pair of earphones for weeks. I have spent countless hours reading hundreds of reviews on various models. My main criteria (in order of importance) were: 1) Don't fall out when doing strenuous exercise like running, 2) Won't cease functioning or experience a decrease in functionality due to sweating (I sweat profusely when exercising, e.g., my clothes are normally drenched after an hour of cardio), 3) Comfort, 4) Price, 5) Sound quality, and 6) Appearance/Style.
Based on all that I read, I decided that the new Adidas-branded Sports line from Sennheiser might be the best option for me, so I splurged, got the CX680 at a big box store, and decided to test them since I knew I could return them for a full refund within 30 days if not satisfied. If I liked them I knew I could purchase online for 25-30% less. Note that I prefer the in-ear design, but was also considering the neckband design of the PMX680 as an alternate. However, I was hoping to find one pair that I could use for cardio, weightlifting, leisure, and travel.
First, I will explain what comes in the package. You get:
(1) SYMMETRICAL earphones with a 30" cord and a straight jack
(2) a 24" extender with a volume control on one end and an "L" jack on the other
(3) a Velcro carrying pouch
(4) 3 sets (S,M,L) of earfins, 1 set of M covers w/o fins, and 3 sets (S,M,L) of earbud covers
(5) a clip
(6) a cleaning tool
My assessment of each of these components:
(1) Short Cord: Used w/o the extender, the earphones are best worn using an armband (either arm is fine due to the symmetrical cord) with the cord clipped to the shirt on whatever side the armband is to reduce tension on the opposite side earbud. I ran for 1.5 hours last night with the cord clipped this way to the collar of a T-shirt. It stayed in place the entire time and was completely unobtrusive.
(2) Extender: The volume control is very light and can be clipped to the band of your shorts w/o adding noticeable weight. With my iPod Nano clipped to one side, the volume control on the other, and the cord beneath my shirt, there was some cord slack (I'm 5'8"), but the movement was not excessive and not disruptive. The wheel of the volume control has a slight resistance to it so that you won't mistakenly blast out your eardrums while adjusting it.
(3) Pouch: The pouch is good quality and roomy enough to hold the earbuds and a small music player. However, the cords do tend to become entangled easily.
(4) Earbuds/Earfins: With some trial and error I was able to find the right combination of fin and earbud that fit comfortably and didn't fall out with movement or sweat. I've had more difficulty finding the correct fit for my L ear, but even during a 1.5 hour run I only had to adjust the bud once b/c the fin had moved (Note that the earbud itself was still firmly sealed).
(5) Clip: As mentioned above, the clip work great when attached to a collar and probably would also with a hem. I tried to use it in the middle of my shirt and it simply fell off. There's a groove on the top that seemingly is supposed to hold the wire but it does not; you simply have to clip the wire along with the clothing.
(6) I have yet to use the cleaning tool.
Now on to how the CX680 ranks using my criteria.
(1) Fit ; Staying Power, 5/5: These things stay put. I've had the stock earbuds which do not fit my ears well, fall out with movement or sweat, and sound crappy. I would imagine that most people should be able to find an earfin/earbud combination that fits them well. I like that this product is customizable rather than one-size-fits-all.
(2) Sweat Resistance, 5/5: More than any other pair of earbuds I've owned, these seem to be unaffected by sweating. They do not loosen when sweat is in the ears and their rubberized materials seem especially sweat "proof". I have not yet tried to put them in water. I would hope that these do not as easily succumb to the issues common with other earphones that seem less sturdy/durable. Even if they do fail at some point, at least with Sennheiser you have their 2 year warranty (another reason I chose these over something with only a 90 day warranty).
(3) Comfort, 5/5: I don't even notice I've wearing them.
(4) Price, 3/5: These certainly are not the cheapest earphones on the market, but they are new and will likely come down in price. The cheapest I've found is $70 online with free shipping. I would highly recommend buying them locally, seeing if they work for you, and then returning them and buying them for cheaper online. If you've got something that works for you now, I'd say wait for the price to drop on these. If money is no concern, just buy them!
(5) Sound quality, 3/5: I'm not an audiophile and I didn't get these b/c I wanted the best sounding buds, and they're not. I listen exclusively to electronic music and they're OK, but slightly lacking in bass. Not sure if "tinny" or "muddy" are the correct terms, but I've thought that my music sounded better with JBuds J2s (but they would fall out when I'd sweat and shorted out after a year), with Acoustibuds attached to stock earbuds (these sound great and actually stay pretty well during movement and sweating but they're bulky, have to be twisted into the ear canal, and it's challenging to find the sweet spot as far as the "best" position for maximum effect), or with over-the-head models (these offend my sense of fashion). The CX680s are not bad, just not the greatest sounding, but I'm willing to sacrifice on music quality to eliminate them moving around, falling out, or breaking b/c of sweat damage.
(6) Appearance, 4/5: I don't know why Sennheiser thinks it necessary to make their Sports lines in bright, obnoxious colors (neon green, orange, and now yellow), instead of more muted grays, blacks, or whites, but these are OK. I'm not using them to win any fashion contests, and they're more appealing, IMO, than the neckband, over-the-ears, or over-the-head models.
In summary, I give the CX680s a 4/5: They're great for what they're intended (i.e., reduction of slippage due to movement and/or sweat), but could sound better, be less expensive, and reduce the flashy factor. I would also have preferred an asymmetrical cord design so that the earphones could be used w/o the clip when using an armband. Before my 30 day "trial" period is over, I will be returning these to Big Box Store and purchasing them online. Hopefully they will prove to be a good investment and a solution to the annoyance of finding the best earphones for sweaty cardio freaks like me.

I decided to upgrade to the CX680s after using a pair of CX380s for the last 6 months. The 380s were pretty good but didn't always stay in place during my workouts.
The good news with the CX680s is the ear fin technology works really well. They stay in place the whole time I'm at the gym. The bad news is Adidas/Sennheiser should have given more thought to the cord length. The standard cord is too short unless you're using an armband for your music player. Then it's too long so you have to wrap it around or have it move the whole time you're working out.
If you don't have an armband, then you have to use the extender with the inline volume control. When you do this the cord is way too long and it and the volume control bounce all over the place. You can use the included clip to keep one from moving but you can't stop both from moving. The moving is super distracting because you can hear it through the headphones and you don't know what the cord is going to get snagged on.
Having said all this, I guess these could work for you if you're the right height (I'm 5'10''). Height is important because the volume control also has a clip on it that you can use to keep it from flopping around. In my case, the clip didn't reach my waist so I couldn't clip it so it just dangled.