Cresyn C510E review

Comfortable, open-sounding earphones, but short on excitement and overall fluidity Tested at £30

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Comfortable, open-sounding earphones, but short on excitement and overall fluidity

Pros

  • +

    Comfortable fit

  • +

    Spacious sound

  • +

    Deep bass

Cons

  • -

    Sound leaks at higher volumes

  • -

    Could do with more punch and precision

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

If these Cresyn C510E in-ear headphones look curious, it’s because they are.

They have a half in-ear design: the body nestles comfortable in your ear, while the tip sits just inside the ear canal. This is supposed to be less intrusive than digging in, and indeed we found them extremely comfortable, even for long listening sessions.

Cresyn C510E review: Sound quality
The dual-chamber structure is designed to deliver a more extended bass response. And to seems to work: the C510E is deep and rich at the low-end.

These Cresyns also have a semi-open back design, which inevitably leaks sound at higher volumes.

It’s never disastrous, but you couldn’t ramp it up without irritating others. This also means that your music is vulnerable to being polluted by external noise.

The flip side to this is that partially open-back designs generally allow for a more spacious soundstage than closed alternatives.

These Cresyns have a wide, airy presentation, and the listening experience is relaxing. Elsewhere, there is a satisfying level of detail and articulation.

Cresyn C510E review: Verdict
Compared to the best at this price, such as the two-time award-winning SoundMAGIC E10, the C510E isn’t quite as punchy or as engaging. We would also like the timing to be tightened up a little.

Put it together and these are comfortable, open-sounding headphones that don’t quite push the envelope when it comes to excitement and overall cohesion.

See all our headphone Best Buys

Follow whathifi on Twitter

Join whathifi on Facebook

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test