Our Verdict
The CX-05 are below-average mixed usage headphones. They have a sturdy and durable build quality and a somewhat portable design. Unfortunately, they do not block enough noise for commuting and they have a sub-par sound quality that's barely passable for casual listeners.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Mediocre-at-best audio reproduction.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
Below-average for Critical Listening. They have an overly Mid Range heavy sound that makes most tracks sound a bit honky. They also push instruments to the front of the mix but due to their lackluster treble performance, the instruments and vocals lack detail and clarity. Unfortunately, they also have a poor Soundstage because of their small closed back ear cups.
Poor isolation performance for noisy commutes. They're fairly portable and somewhat comfortable but won't block much ambient noise.
Mediocre for sports use. They're moderately comfortable and stable enough for a light jog. However, they get a bit hot for an on-ear design because of the faux leather pads and they do not have the most efficient control scheme.
Mediocre for office use. They don't block a lot of noise but they barely leak even at high volumes so you won't distract your colleagues in quieter settings.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 02, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
Check Price
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Sound Intone CX-05 have a simple design with a sturdy utilitarian appeal. They have a relatively thick headband and dense plastic ear cups with a faux leather padding that feels decently high-end especially in their price range. They're not the sleekest headphones and do not feel particularly premium but they still stand out in a crowd thanks to their silver accents, compact design and the stitched, fabric coating on the headband.
The CX-05 are moderately comfortable on-ear headphones. The on-ear cups are decently well padded but a bit small and shallow. Unfortunately, they're somewhat heavy for an on-ear design and the lack of thicker padding on the headband slightly reduces their comfort level.
The CX-05 have a pretty limited control scheme with only one small multi-purpose button on the in-line remote for calls/music options. Since there is only one button for this controls scheme, it's fairly easy to use even if you're not paying attention. Unfortunately, feedback is not the best and the lack of more control options is a little disappointing.
These headphones have a moderately portable design. They fold up for easier transport and take up less space. However, they are on the larger side for on-ear headphones, and although they would fit relatively comfortably in a backpack or handbag, they will not fit in most pockets.
The CX-05 have a good build quality. They have a solid metal frame and dense ear cups. They also have a relatively thick and braided audio cable. Although they don't use the most premium materials in the build quality their design feels durable and capable of withstanding a couple of drops with getting damaged. The hinges and the exposed cables leading to the headband are the most susceptible points to wear and tear in an otherwise sturdy design.
These headphones have a decently stable fit. They stay in place during casual listening sessions, and they're tight enough to jog with. However, they're not the best headphones for high-intensity sports or workouts as they will often sway and may slip off your ears during more strenuous exercises. On the upside, they have a detachable audio cable that will disconnect from the ear cups fairly easily if it accidentally gets hooked by something.
Mediocre consistency performance. Our test unit showed less consistency on the Left cup than the Right cup on our human subjects. This could be due to poor ergonomics or poor manufacturing tolerance. The amount of consistency in the Treble Range is also below average for an on-ear design.
Good Bass Range performance. The response is extended and relatively flat, but consistently over our target by more than 3dB. This makes these headphones noticeably bass-heavy and boomy. Also, their bass delivery varies noticeably across users, and is sensitive to the quality of fit, seal, and whether you wear glasses. The response here represents the average bass response and your experience may vary.
Poor Mid Range performance. Low-mid is overemphasized by more than 6dB, making the sound of these headphones muddy and cluttered. Mid and high-mid are also quite overemphasized, shifting the overall tonal balance towards the Mid Range.
Poor Treble Range performance. The entire range is under our target and relatively inconsistent. The dip around 5KHz hurts the clarity and detail on vocals/leads, and the underemphasized high-treble makes the Treble on these headphones lifeless and close-up. On the plus side, these headphones won't sound sibilant and sharp.
Poor Isolation performance. These headphones do not isolate below 300Hz. Between 300Hz and 2KHz they achieve about 5dB of isolation which is poor. In the Treble, they also perform poorly by averaging around 21dB of reduction.
Very good Leakage performance. The significant portion of leakage is spread between 500Hz and 5KHz which is a relatively broad range, however, the overall level of the leakage is quite low.
No compatible app.
