Best Workout Headphones: Sennheiser/Adidas CX 680i
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The Sennheiser/Adidas CX 680i headphones are virtually indestructible.
CREDIT: Sennheiser |
When you're halfway into your workout, sweaty and panting to your favorite tunes, having an earbud fall out of one ear kills the rhythm.
And a little rain shouldn't keep you from your morning jog just because you’re worried about your headphones. Luckily, sports gear company Adidas and the audio gurus at Sennheiser teamed up to make a virtually indestructible set of earbuds that will stick with you no matter how hard you push yourself.
Why We Like Them
First and foremost, the CX 680i's (list $80) are comfortable and fit securely. A removable, curved rubber fin (three sizes included) on each earbud slides into the ridges of your outer ear for a snug, but not overly tight, fit. The soft silicone tips block out noise so that you don’t have to listen to other folks grunting on the weight bench while you’re rocking out on the elliptical machine. The Apple-friendly inline mic and controller with rubber buttons let you adjust volume and play/pause/skip tracks, as well as answer calls or use Siri.
Some electronics claim to be "splash-resistant," but the extremely durable CX 680i's can survive multiple soakings, and they'll even withstand sneaker-stomping should they fall underfoot. They'll also work just fine even after a trip through the washing machine if you forget to take them out of your shorts pocket. (We know, we tried all that.) [Waterproof Boombox Brings Music to the Beach]
The sound is well balanced with just a hint of extra bass so you get a solid pulse to move your muscles to. Mobile devices have no trouble driving these to very high volumes without distortion. The CX 680i's very good detail and clarity mean you'll catch every last bit of dialogue if your preferred workout companion is an episode of "True Blood" or the latest comic book movie.
Keep in mind
The inline mic and controller work only with Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, iPod. And even though the cabling and controller are lightweight, you may still hear a bit of thumping from the cables as they slap against your body while you’re running.
Bottom line
These in-ear headphones can take all the abuse you dish out, and the sound quality and comfort are impressive for the modest price. Plus, the inline mic and controller make a great bonus for Apple fans.
Key Specs
- Type: In-ear
- Cable length: 3.9 feet
- Connector: One-eighth-inch gold-plated mini-jack (fits nearly any mobile device)
- Mic/controller compatibility: Apple devices only
