Affordable CMF Earbuds by Nothing: Appraisal of Buds 2 Plus – A Budget-Friendly Option Worth Considering
Tossin' 'em in my ears daily: The earbud-crazy world we now live in is flooded with wireless buds. Hang onto your butts, because messin' around in my coat pocket, I've currently got a whopping three pairs of 'em from one company, CMF (a sub-brand of audio-transformed-phone company, Nothing). You see, they launched three pairs of wireless earbuds all at once last month – the Buds 2a, Buds 2, and Buds 2 Plus. Seems excessive, but buckle up, 'cause things are about to get even wilder.
CMF earbud offerings, by the way, are all priced differently. Each has varying levels of active noise cancellation (ANC), and each delivers a unique listening experience. Stumped as to which pair to grab? Spec sheets can only take you so far – the real experience is what truly matters. If only there were someone who took all three for a spin to help us decide...
Flings the Buds 2 Plus your way:
Let's get down to brass tacks. Here's what sets the Buds 2 Plus apart:
Pros:* Sturdy bass* Robust dynamic range* Affordably priced
Cons:* No orange color for ya* The sound sometimes mirrors the Buds 2
Trying to read between the lines here? I wore all three pairs of CMF's shiny new wireless earbuds to bring you the answers to the question knocking at the doorway of your mind: which pair of Buds 2 should you buy? The answer may not be the biggest surprise, but let's walk through the journey first. The trek begins with the basics: what's going on with these wireless earbuds?
First stop, the Buds 2a: Priced at a friendly $49, these earbuds show up in this attractive orange tinge that the 2 Plus, alas, does not offer. They take the back seat in the spec department, with the least ANC and the lowest battery life. The Buds 2a feature 42dB of ANC, a 12.4mm Bio-fiber driver, and five hours of battery life with ANC on and eight hours with ANC off.
Take the middle child's hand: the Buds 2. With a slight uptick in specs and the wallet, the Buds 2 generally hold a level of ANC similar to the 2 Plus but come with an 11mm PMI driver enhanced by Dirac Opteo tuning. Boasting 48dB of ANC, these earbuds offer 7.5 hours of battery life with ANC on and 13.5 hours with ANC off, usually retailing at a $10 premium compared to the Buds 2a (making them $59 initially) but being offered at the same $49 price as the Buds 2a at present.
Finally, the top dog: the Buds 2 Plus. These are the crème de la crème of CMF's latest lineup (except for the Buds 2 Pro, which came out last year). Sporting a 50dB of adaptive ANC and a 5400Hz frequency range, the 12mm Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) driver inside these scrumptious buds delivers a punchier sound compared to the other two models. The icing on the cake? They come in at $69 – the highest price tag among the trio.
Now that we've gotten all the information on your plate, let's see what these tidbits actually taste like. I've spent the past couple of weeks wearing CMF's budget wireless buds, and I'm Special Agent Dale Cooper says, "There's a flaw in the design." (Sorry, 'Twin Peaks' fans!) Sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes things exceed expectations. I headed into this trio of CMF wireless earbuds with an open mind and was left surprised by what I heard.
Listening to the same song on all three pairs side-by-side, I started with the Buds 2 Plus, then the Buds 2, and finally the Buds 2a. So here's my take on the CMF Buds 2 Plus:
This premium pair brings excellent sound quality – the noise cancellation is solid, and the dynamic range is impressive. The price tag is higher than the other two pairs, but if you value audio performance above all else, you won't regret spending the extra dough on these beauties.
The Buds 2 were a close second, offering a pleasant listening experience overall. The ANC was on par with the Buds 2 Plus, but the audio quality lacked a refined polish and depth compared to our top-tier model.
Now, the Buds 2a missed the mark compared to the Buds 2 pair – their sound was tinny and lacked dynamic flexibility. The price point was attractive, but it didn't quite deliver the sound quality the Buds 2 did, especially now that they share the same price.
To avoid overselling and to ensure I wasn't letting my pricing knowledge sway my judgment, I conducted a blind listening test, but my opinions didn't stray far from my initial assessments.
In summary, the Buds 2 Plus justify the premium price with their superior sound quality compared to the Buds 2 and Buds 2a. For those tight on cash who can't stretch their budget to cover the full $20 price difference, the Buds 2 are a decent alternative. But if you consider sound quality essential, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are the ones to top your wishlist.
If you find yourself intrigued:
Buds 2a: [Amazon Link]Buds 2: [Amazon Link]Buds 2 Plus: [Amazon Link]
- The Buds 2 Plus, despite having no orange color, stand out due to their sturdy bass, robust dynamic range, and affordable price, making them an attractive choice for those prioritizing sound quality.
- Gizmodo's reviews on future gadgets, such as the CMF Buds 2 Plus, offer valuable insights into the performance of various smartphones and smart gadgets, helping consumers make informed decisions.
- As technology advances and companies like Nothing (CMF) introduce more wireless earbuds like the Buds 2a, Buds 2, and Buds 2 Plus, it becomes crucial to understand the unique listening experience each offers to decide which one best suits your needs and preferences.
