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Isolation |
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• Capable of high volume output without sacrificing audio quality.
• Below average isolation for in-ear headphones.
• No substantial leakage.
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Sound Quality |
Page 4 of 12 |
Comfort |
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Maximum Usable Volume (10.00)
What we found:
The CX 300-II was capable of 122.14dB before distortion got out of hand. As a result, it gets our max score for the section, a 10.00. We have a cap on this score, because any more than 120dB is bad news for your hearing, and we care about you and your hearing.
What is maximum usable volume?
This term refers to the loudest volume you can get out of the headphones without going above 3% distortion. More than 3% distortion will result is bad audio quality, which no one wants. For more on this, go here.
How the test works:
This test is basically a series of distortion tests done at increasingly high decibel levels. Distortion increases as volume increases, so by incrementing the decibel output, we also ramp up distortion. Once again, if you want to know a bit more about this, head over to our "How We Test" page.
Isolation (5.64)
What we found:
Compared to the average, non-active-noise-cancelling pair of on/over-ears, the CX 300-II has good isolation. Compared to other in-ears, however, the CX 300-II is solidly average. Like most other in-ears, the CX 300-IIs have some issues blocking out bass. Also like most other in-ear headphones, they block out a lot of middle-ranged tones.
Typically, in-ear headphones can isloate better than active noise-cancelling headphones, in terms of total sound blocked out. In this case, however, a mid-range active-canceller would out-cancel the CX 300-II consistently.
How the Sennheiser CX 300-II compares:
What is maximum usable volume?
This term refers to the loudest volume you can get out of the headphones without going above 3% distortion. More than 3% distortion will result is bad audio quality, which no one wants. For more on this, go here.
How the test works:
This test is basically a series of distortion tests done at increasingly high decibel levels. Distortion increases as volume increases, so by incrementing the decibel output, we also ramp up distortion. Once again, if you want to know a bit more about this, head over to our "How We Test" page.
Leakage (10.00)
What we found:
Like most in-ears, the CX 300-IIs don't have an issue with leakage. This is partially because they create a good seal with the ear and partially because they're small and right next to your ear drum, so they don't have to be very loud. You won't have to worry about subjecting people on the bus to your techno remixes of Simon & Garfunkel's greatest hits.
What is leakage?
Leakage refers to any sound that escapes the seal between your ear and the ear bud or ear cup. If you've ever heard someone's music when they had headphones on, those headphones had horrible leakage control. Leakage is an issue if you're leaving your house, because no one wants to hear your breakbeat version of Scarborough Fair. In the privacy of your own home, however, leakage isn't likely to be an issue.
How the test works:
Our leakage test involves a microphone placed near the headphones, which HATS is wearing. We play some noise through the headphones and the microphone determines how much of it is audible over a short distance.
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