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CMF Headphone Pro Review: Best Value Headphones?
The reviewer analyzes the CMF Headphone Pro, highlighting its comfortable design, customizable sound quality, and well-thought-out features, such as the interchangeable ear cushions. He considers them one of the best headphone recommendations around $100, even surpassing some more expensive models. He mentions aspects such as build quality, controls, the power slider for adjusting bass or treble, ANC, and battery life. Overall, the reviewer is very impressed with the headphones and plans to use them as his main headphones for travel and the gym.
1. 🎧 Introduction to the CMF Headphone Pro: A superior alternative to more expensive headphones
- ✅ The CMF Headphone Pro are the first over-ear headphones from Nothing's sub-brand.
- ✅ The reviewer considers them one of the best recommendations for around $100, even above headphones that cost two or three times more, including the Nothing Headphone One.
00:00 - 00:26
1. 🎧 Introduction to the CMF Headphone Pro: A superior alternative to more expensive headphones
- ✅ The CMF Headphone Pro are the first over-ear headphones from Nothing's sub-brand.
- ✅ The reviewer considers them one of the best recommendations for around $100, even above headphones that cost two or three times more, including the Nothing Headphone One.
00:27 - 01:21
2. ✨ Design and build quality: A soft and balanced approach
- ✅ The design is softer and more rounded compared to the premium and square design of the Nothing Headphone One.
- ✅ The headphones are available in three colors: light gray, dark gray, and light teal.
- ✅ The build quality is solid for headphones made primarily of plastic, with no cheap flexing or creaking.
01:22 - 02:48
3. 😌 Superior comfort: Ideal for extended use and exercise
- ✅ The CMF Headphone Pro are incredibly comfortable, even more so than the AirPods Max or the Nothing Headphone One.
- ✅ They are lightweight and easy to wear for hours.
- ✅ They stay snug during exercise, although they may move slightly during explosive exercises.
- ⚠️ There is a slight clamping force at first, but it loosens up after a month of use.
02:49 - 03:20
4. 🧰 Interchangeable ear cushions: Customization and repairability
- ✅ The ear cushions are interchangeable, allowing for customization and repair.
- ✅ Nothing plans to sell replacements in different colors.
- ✅ The ability to replace the cushions increases the lifespan of the headphones.
03:21 - 03:43
5. ⚙️ Intuitive controls: Customizable buttons and touch volume wheel
- ✅ The left earcup has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a power/pairing button, and a power slider.
- ✅ The right earcup has a USB-C charging port, a customizable button, and a touch volume wheel.
- ✅ The volume wheel controls all necessary playback functions.
03:44 - 04:32
6. ⚡ Power slider: Customizable bass and treble adjustment
- ✅ The power slider can be customized in the Nothing X app to control bass or treble.
- ✅ The reviewer would like a third option to boost both low and high frequencies.
- ⚠️ The slider does not have a locking mechanism and can be moved accidentally.
04:33 - 07:21
7. 🎶 Sound quality: Fine-tuning and EQ presets
- ✅ The reviewer is impressed with the audio tuning of the CMF Headphone Pro.
- ✅ The headphones support LDAC and have EQ presets in the app.
- ✅ The Pop EQ profile is ideal for a V-shaped sound with well-done bass.
- ✅ The power slider can boost the bass to extreme levels without sounding muddy.
- ✅ The reviewer prefers the custom preset with bass at -1 and mids at +1, which sounds similar to the AirPods Pro at 60% volume.
- ✅ The reviewer hopes that the audiophile community will test the headphones properly.
- ✅ The reviewer's impressions are based on the current firmware version, as CMF has previously changed sound signatures on other headphones.
07:22 - 08:21
8. 🎧 Sound via 3.5mm jack: EQ persists, but with battery
- ⚠️ The headphones must be turned on even when using the 3.5mm headphone jack, which means the battery will drain.
- ✅ The EQ settings selected in the Nothing X app are retained.
- ❌ The reviewer would have preferred an option to listen to the sound without DSP processing.
08:22 - 09:13
9. 🔇 ANC and transparency: Average performance with good passive isolation
- ✅ The ANC and transparency modes are average.
- ✅ The passive noise isolation is quite good.
- ❌ The ANC performance is not as good as the Sony XM6.
- ⚠️ The transparency mode works well, but the sound is slightly quieter than in real life.
09:14 - 09:35
10. 🎤 Microphone: Average performance
- ✅ The microphone is average.
- ✅ The performance is similar in quiet and noisy environments.
09:36 - 09:47
11. 🔋 Battery life: Good compared to the competition
- ✅ The reviewer did not test the exact numbers, but expects the battery life to be good compared to the competition.
09:48 - 10:44
12. 🤔 Quirks and annoyances: Things to keep in mind
- ❌ There is no audio output via the type C port, only charging.
- ❌ The power indicator light turns off after 5 seconds.
- ❌ There is no wear detection to automatically pause/play music.
10:45 - 11:28
13. 🏆 Conclusion: Top recommendation for travel and gym
- ✅ The headphones excel in comfort and sound.
- ✅ The reviewer appreciates the well-thought-out details, such as the replaceable cushions.
- ✅ Easy to recommend at $100, but an absolute steal if they are on sale.
- ✅ The reviewer will use them as his main headphones for travel and the gym.