CMF Headphone Pro Review | 93 Data compared

The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro is a highly impressive pair of budget over-ear headphones that delivers exceptional value for its $99 price tag. The review praises its surprisingly premium sound profile, which is enhanced by custom EQ settings, a unique built-in bass slider on the left earcup for manual tuning, and three distinct spatial audio modes including a standout "Concert" mode. The design is lightweight at 9.6 ounces and features comfortable, cloud-soft ear cushions, though the round shape can cause some ear cartilage pressure during extended use. In terms of performance, the headphones boast robust Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, dual-device pairing, surprisingly powerful Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and an extraordinary battery life that reaches up to 100 hours with ANC turned off. Despite its high praise, the review highlights a few notable drawbacks. The most significant flaw is its inferior call quality, which leaves the user's voice sounding muffled and buzzy to the recipient. Additionally, the high-end treble can sound slightly pinchy on certain percussive tracks, the sub-bass suffers from minor muffling when maxed out, and the device lacks a...

The CMF Headphone Pro blends a playful retro-modern aesthetic, described as a mix of The Jetsons and Jet Set Radio, with an exceptionally strong feature set for its budget price point. Retailing at $99 / £79, these headphones stand out due to their comfortable fit, unique mid-century color options (Light Green, Dark Grey, and Light Grey), and practical physical controls like a tactile volume roller and a customizable action button. Audio performance punches above its weight with custom 40mm drivers, LDAC and Hi-Res support, and premium Audiodo personal sound calibration. Furthermore, battery life is a massive strength, offering up to 100 hours of playback without ANC (50 hours with it active) alongside five-hour fast charging and unique reverse-charging capabilities. However, the headphones do have noticeable drawbacks, primarily tied to their budget build and software dependency. The construction is mostly plastic, which raises long-term durability concerns, and the tactile sliders and rollers can feel slightly light and sharp to the touch. Audiophiles may find the tuning somewhat opaque and the bass slider imprecise, while the active noise cancellation (ANC) is only...

The CMF Headphone Pro delivers impressive value for its £79 price tag, featuring a lightweight, chunky design resembling a "button-top mushroom". Built with budget-conscious soft-touch plastic, the headset remains highly durable and comfortable for long listening sessions, though the headband can feel sharp, slightly under-cushioned, and creaky when flexed. It opts for tactile physical controls over capacitive ones, incorporating a customisable action button and a dedicated left-earcup Energy Slider for on-the-fly audio adjustments. Furthermore, its modular construction includes easily replaceable, twist-off ear cushions available in multiple colours.

The CMF Headphone Pro offers exceptional value for casual listeners, boasting up to 100 hours of battery life and solid active noise cancellation in a budget-friendly package. While the design is striking, notable drawbacks include limited EQ customization, a heavy bass-focused sound profile, and budget-grade construction materials. Ultimately, the headset is recommended for its longevity and style rather than audio precision or premium build quality.

The CMF Headphone Pro is an exceptionally attractive pair of budget over-ear headphones that offers incredible value at $179. Reviewed by Kieron Verbrugge for WellPlayed, these budget-friendly cans stand out due to their bold, personalized aesthetics available in light green, black, and white colourways. A major highlight of the design is the inclusion of user-replaceable ear cushions for $39, which boosts longevity and allows users to mix and match colors. Furthermore, the thick, wide ear pads ensure high comfort levels for long sessions, keeping the internal electronics safely away from pressing directly against the ears of the wearer.

The CMF Headphone Pro by Nothing delivers a surprisingly energetic, bass-heavy circumaural sound and an exceptionally premium companion app experience for a budget-friendly price of $99 / £79. A major standout feature is its highly detailed three-minute hearing test software, which curates a remarkably tailored personal sound profile that opens up audio clarity beyond many higher-priced competitors. The over-ear headphones sport an unconventional, rock-solid design with unique on-ear physical controls, including a highly functional volume roller, an action button, and a customizable mechanical "Energy Slider" for shifting treble and bass tuning. Additionally, they boast an exemplary, class-leading battery life, logging nearly 50 hours of playback with active noise cancellation (ANC) turned on and up to 100 hours with it switched off. Despite offering phenomenal sound-per-pound value, the headphones do come with notable trade-offs. The active noise cancellation is merely adequate rather than fantastic, failing to create a true "bubble of silence" against heavy extraneous sounds like airplane engines. From a design perspective, the unique "Energy Slider" can feel gimmicky, sometimes inducing bloating in the bass or a tinny profile when...

CMF Headphone Pro Review Summary Pros and Cons Pros: Customizable Design: The modular, twist-off ear cushions allow for personalized styling. Reliable Tactile Controls: Physical buttons, rollers, and sliders replace finicky touch controls. Elite Battery Performance: Delivers up to 100 hours of playback (50 hours with ANC on) and 4 hours of juice from a 5-minute charge. Audio & ANC Quality: High-resolution audio, custom driver clarity, and effective 40dB adaptive noise cancellation. Cons: Outdoor Call Limitations: While call quality is generally clear, busy or windy outdoor settings require the user to speak with a louder voice to be properly heard. If you'd like to explore how these compare to similar options, let me know

The Nothing CMF Headphone ProGo is lauded as a budget-friendly option, offering strong audio performance with rich bass, an exceptionally comfortable fit, and significant battery life reaching up to 50 hours with ANC. Key strengths include high-resolution LDAC support for Android devices and user-friendly physical controls, balancing, for the most part, a premium experience with a low price point. Conversely, the review notes that the Active Noise Cancellation is mediocre and struggles with high-frequency noise, while the "Energy Slider" for bass adjustment acts more as a gimmick than a useful feature. Additionally, the app offers only limited, unrefined equalizer adjustments rather than the fully customizable experience expected from "pro" equipment. Despite these limitations, the CMF Headphone Pro is a recommended, high-value choice for budget-conscious consumers who prioritize core audio performance. Its combination of strong fundamentals and comfortable design marks an impressive entry into the budget market.