REVIEW: Sennheiser CX 6.00BT

Wrap-around sound: A handy little device when you're on the go

Sennheiser is known for its grandiose music devices, and I'm particularly happy with their over-ear headsets that help me enjoy my audio, especially when I'm in the thick of a fight on my gaming console.

Now, it's time to dress things down a bit with one of their latest mini-sound machines, the CX 6.00BT wireless headset.

This is basically one of those wrap-around-your-neck pairs of headsets that are so light you may not even feel them on you. The wires from the earbuds to the panels are steadier to provide more stability for its upward direction when using it.

The right wire is the most important part: it houses the control panel - a set of volume/track buttons and a multifunction one - as well as a charging port. The latter, however, is only a USB-B, which doesn't exactly give the device a lot of future-proofing. To be fair, though, a USB-C port is thicker than its predecessor, so the CX 6.00BT's build justifies its use. Maybe wireless charging could've been incorporated?

The multifunction button offers a host of functions - pretty much what you'd expect from a headset like this. It can do anything from accepting/ ending/rejecting/ holding/ toggling calls to playing/pausing a track and activating voice control by pressing it in specific ways. Ditto for the volume and track buttons.

I also like the black-and-dark-blue combination of the set. That, however, is the only colour option available.

Inside the box you'll get a couple of goodies: the standard extra earbuds - XS, S, M and L - to fit any ear size and a carrying case. The latter is quite big: it's the same size as its box and may not fit all pockets. Another thing is that it doesn't come with a charging port, so you'll have to rely on that USB-B all the time. At least the case neatly tucks in all your spare earbuds - all of which you probably won't be needing once you find your perfect fit.

Pairing the headset is standard operating procedure. Remember, though, if you let five minutes pass by without using it, it'll switch off. If it's the last headset you used on your device, it'll automatically reconnect, though there were a couple of times when I had to repeat the pairing process all over again.

It also comes with a dual-pairing function, meaning you can connect it to two devices simultaneously. That's a convenient feature for those with multiple phones: for example, you don't have to completely cut off your audio enjoyment on one device if you need to receive a call on the other.

I didn't experience any issue with switching between calls and music. The sound is crisp and clear, with the right balance of levels. The CX 6.00BT isn't, however, a noise-cancelling beast - though it does hold up pretty well under standard conditions. In noisier situations - on the street with lots of people yapping and vehicles cruising, for example - you may have to turn the volume up to hear what you want to hear.

To fine-tune your sound, go ahead and download Sennheiser's CapTune app, available on both iOS and Android. It's not just an app to fix what you're hearing - it also doubles as a music player. I like the deep, minimalistic design of CapTune too.

Sennheiser says that its battery life lasts up to six hours. While it can be pretty tough on your ears to have a headset on for that long, I gauged it with my daily routine: an hour-and-a-half of daily use - 45 minutes each to and from the office, including time on public transport and walking - yielded about four days of use, and it sent a low-battery SOS to me when I was about to leave the office on the fourth day. That's pretty much in line with what they claim - but below what other headsets in the market are offering; a couple of hours more would've been great. Full charging time is at an hour-and-a-half.

The water resistance of the device hasn't been mentioned, so I think it's safe to say that you really can't take it out for a splash. Keep it out of the shower or pool for durability's sake.
AND SO.
At this price point, the Sennheiser CX 6.00BT is a very good deal. You can make do with it even with the audio getting overwhelmed in certain situations or the rather short battery life. It sounds great for any kind of music and handles calls very well - ideal for those all-by-yourself moments, whether it's just chilling at home or going out for a walk. Oh, and it's also great for gaming.
Frequency response
17-21000Hz
Sound pressure level
112dB
Battery
Li-ion polymer, up to 6h
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.2, USB-B
Price
Dh399

Pros
Great price, minimalistic design; very
nice sound
Cons
Clunky carrying case; battery life could've been longer; sound gets overwhelmed in noisy environments
Author Rating
3.5/5
alvin@khaleejtimes.com

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