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Assessing CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pro: Excellent operation and impressive look equals fantastic value for money
The latest Neckband Pro and Buds by CMF from Nothing are visually appealing and come with impressive features, all at an affordable price. The standout aspect, however, is the exceptional Active Noise Cancelling capabilities, particularly given their reasonable price tag.
CMF BudsPros advantages: – Affordable – Excellent audio – Strong bass – Impressive battery duration – Top-notch Active Noise Cancellation.
Downsides: – The touch controls require some adjustment – Charging cable is not included
Score: 4 out of 5
Cost: 2,499 Ru
CMF Neckbands Advantages:
– Reasonable cost
– Excellent sound output
– 50dB Active Noise Reduction
– Reliable call clarity
– Impressive battery duration with rapid charging capacity
Disadvantages: There's no power cord included, and the rotating knob might be a bit difficult to access at first.
Score: 4.25 out of 5. Cost: 1,799 Rupees
Nothing has gained recognition in the audio market with products like the Nothing Ear 1, Nothing Ear 2, and Nothing Ear Stick. Even though they sport a trendy look and superb sound quality, they've been deemed too pricey. Hence, Nothing introduced CMF, their wearable line aimed at providing economical alternatives.
The Buds Pro from Nothing by CMF were quite robust TWS earbuds, but their new products, the Buds and the Neckband Pro, elevate the game. CMF has a unique method of showcasing their products — by emphasizing on color, material and finish. As expected, the fresh Buds and Neckband Pro possess the visual appeal to catch your eye. However, what truly makes them stand out, are the functionalities and sound quality they offer, at the price that Nothing is charging for them.
We examine the most recent audio devices from Nothing, the CMF Buds and the CMF Neckband Pro, to evaluate their performance.
Review of CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pro: Appearance, Construction & Comfort. The CMF Buds come in three unique shades: Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Orange. For this evaluation, we're testing the striking Orange version, which looks intriguing and playful.
The square case for the CMF buds, with its vibrant orange color, is fairly light but still gives off a high-quality vibe, even though it's made of plastic.
The case also includes a grey wheel, which serves as a point of attachment for the provided lanyard. However, if you choose not to utilize the lanyard, the wheel can also function as a handy fidget spinner.
The hinge provided with this is quite robust, guaranteeing longevity, and the bold orange color contributes to its liveliness. The case also includes design features to boost its attractiveness.
The CMF emblem, which has a polished appearance, is intricately carved on the cover, providing a standout difference against the dull finish of the remaining casing.
The CMF Neckband appears quite typical, much like the multitude of other neckbands available for purchase. It has a recognizable flexible neckband made from a gentle silicone material, with small wires connected to the earpieces. However, what distinguishes it is the absence of control buttons. In place of these, it has a small, grey wheel that is used to adjust the volume, answer phone calls, and navigate through different songs in a playlist.
We appreciated the attractive combination of matte and shiny plastic in both the earbuds and neckband. This slight variance in texture greatly enhances their appearance. The CMF Neckband comes with an IP55 protection rating, while the Buds have a slightly lower protection rating of IP54.
Though the inclusion of touch controls in the reasonably priced Buds is praiseworthy, the effectiveness of these controls is merely adequate. Similar to numerous other earbuds, they encompass common touch control features like a single tap to pause and a double tap to advance to the next track. Nonetheless, a few of these touch commands can be puzzling and difficult to handle. Specifically, modifying the volume via the touch controls proved problematic and lacked the intuitiveness one would hope for.
Review of CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pro: Audio Excellence & Efficiency
Configuring the CMF Neckband Pro and CMF Buds to work with an Android device was remarkably straightforward. The device swiftly identified them with just a couple of clicks after lifting the lid. Additionally, the Nothing X application facilitated the remainder of the configuration process.
The application provides a wide range of functionalities and personalization choices. Both the Pro neckband and Buds offer numerous equalizer settings, control reconfiguration, noise reduction setup, and an "Ultra Bass" enhancement feature. From the application, you can also adjust the ANC function.
In terms of audio output, both gadgets provide almost the same quality of sound, though there are minor variations if you pay close attention.
The Neckband Pro tends to emphasize the bass more and delivers a stronger audio output compared to the CMF Buds, which produces a more even sound scale. This is primarily because of the difference in driver dimensions. The CMF Neckband Pro utilizes a 13.6 mm driver incorporated with their proprietary Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, while the CMF Buds are fitted with 12.4 mm drivers that are equipped with Bio-fibre and a personalized TPU diaphragm.
In conclusion, the Neckband Pros deliver substantial bass and can truly rattle you when you're enjoying a bass-heavy song, though they may slightly distort the lower range vocals. Despite lacking the same bass intensity, the CMF Buds still offer great sound quality, particularly for vocals and other instruments not reliant on bass. To put it plainly, while the Buds may seem to emphasize bass more than other TWS earbuds, they maintain a better balance than the Neckband Pros.
In addition, the CMF Buds are equipped with Ultra Bass Technology 2.0 and Dirac Opteo tuning for an enhanced audio experience. When combined with the ANC features of the Buds, this makes them a truly attractive option.
When it comes to ANC, the Neckpand Pro and Buds both provide excellent sound insulation and reliable active noise cancellation. However, the Neckband Pro goes a little further by providing adjustable ANC levels from high to low and adaptive settings, as well as an exploratory spatial audio mode. The neckband also comes with 50dB of hybrid ANC, while the buds only offer up to 42dB.
The unique selling point of both the Neckband Pro and Buds is their ability to provide a high-quality Active Noise Cancellation experience at an affordable price. I've tested earbuds and neckbands that are much pricier than what CMF offers, yet they can't compete with these two. Although there were some initial hiccups, Nothing resolved them with an update.
Review of CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pro: Phone Call Quality
The CMF Buds provide excellent sound quality when making phone calls. I noticed that I could easily understand the person I was talking to, and they could hear me well too. This clear sound is probably due to the use of a 4-microphone array in the buds, which effectively eliminates background noise and focuses on the main voices during calls.
Likewise, the Neckband's call quality is outstanding, thanks to a 5-microphone setup, which makes it superior to the Buds in this regard.
The CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pro come with impressive battery lives. Each earbud is powered by a 45 mAh battery while the case holds a 460 mAh battery. During my regular day, which includes about 5-6 hours of music, video, gaming, and plenty of calls, I found that the earbuds could last for 3-4 days without needing a recharge. What's more, when it was time to juice them up, it was a fast procedure. A mere 10-minute charge could readily give me an extra 6-7 hours of use.
There are no assertions stating that the CMF Buds can provide 35.5 hours of usage time with the ANC deactivated, and roughly 24 hours when it is activated. Based on my own experiences, I fully trust these numbers.
Regarding the neckband, it boasts an impressive battery duration, surpassing even the Buds. When I use the CMF Neckband Pro with the active noise cancellation feature turned on, it typically runs for approximately two days before requiring a recharge. When the noise cancellation is turned off, I could use it consistently for more than four days based on my usual usage habits.
Nothing suggests that the Neckband Pro, due to its 220mAh battery size, provides 37 hours of listening time when ANC is disabled and 23 hours of listening time when ANC is activated.
Additionally, the neckband officially has a quick charge feature – simply charge it for 10 minutes, and it will last for 18 hours.
My sole grievance is that in an effort to reduce expenses, Nothing neglected to include a charging cable with any of their latest audio devices. This tendency among producers to exclude key items from the package to achieve a specific cost is something I find disagreeable.
If you're in the market for high-quality earbuds or neckbands that provide excellent sound, extended battery duration, decent active noise cancellation, and are not only light but also convenient to transport, then both the CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pros make excellent choices.
If you don't have a preference for either design and will just be deciding based on bass, there are some things to bear in mind. While both of these sound gadgets provide substantial bass, the Neckband Pro offers more, while the Buds present a relatively more balanced sound profile.
Your choice ultimately relies on your personal taste and usage requirements. The Neckband Pro's design allows for greater flexibility and ease, especially when you need to make quick hands-free calls or listen to music, as they're always readily accessible around your neck. You don't have to dig around in your pockets for a case or stress about misplacing an earbud straight away, making them more user-friendly. Besides, the strong battery life of 23 hours, even with active noise cancellation enabled, guarantees longer use without the need for regular charging.
Conversely, if you're more inclined towards genuine wireless earbuds without the hassle of hanging wires, the CMF Buds provide a contemporary fix. Their battery life of 5.6 hours (which extends to 24 hours with the case) is fairly good for authentic wireless earbuds, but the Neckband Pro outperforms when it comes to prolonged playback.
Both the CMF Buds and Neckband Pro are priced at Rs 2,499 and Rs 1,999 respectively, delivering excellent worth with their stylish looks, robust construction, abundant features, and dependable sound performance.
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