CMF Headphones Pro review: Affordable, customisable and surprisingly premium
The CMF Headphones Pro combine soft, rounded styling with modern minimalism for a clean, distinctive look. Picture: Noel Campion.
Excellent comfort, good audio quality, and long battery life used to be features you’d only find on expensive headphones. The CMF Headphones Pro prove otherwise. They’re stylish design, impressive sound, and day-long comfort at a price that’s easy to love.
While Nothing’s Headphones 1 went for a bold, industrial design, the CMF Headphones Pro take a friendlier, softer approach. Everything from the rounded ear cups to the cushioned, adjustable headband feels more relaxed, yet still distinctly modern. They’re available in light grey, dark grey, and a teal-like light green. Each finish has its own character, but I received the glossy light green colourway, though I really like the look of the dark grey matte version.
Despite being mostly plastic, they feel well-built. There’s no flexing or creaking, and the AirPods Pro Max-esq headband adjusts smoothly with a firm, reassuring resistance.
At around 260g, they’re noticeably lighter than many competing models and perfect for long listening sessions, flights, or commutes. The clamping force is a touch firm out of the box, but relaxes nicely after a few weeks of use.
Even during workouts or brisk walks, the headphones stayed securely in place without feeling tight. One clever design touch is the interchangeable ear cushions, which pop off easily, making them simple to clean or replace. The spare ear cushions (€25) are coming soon in light green and orange, adding a fun personalisation option and improving repairability and longevity.
With excellent physical controls, the Headphones Pro outclasses most touch-gestured headphones. On the left ear cup, you’ll find the power/pairing button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and CMF’s distinctive “energy slider”. On the right, there’s a USB-C charging port, a customisable button, and a tactile volume wheel that handles playback and calls with satisfying precision.
The energy slider can be set to control either bass or treble using the Nothing X app. It’s a clever idea, though it lacks a locking mechanism, so it can be nudged accidentally when adjusting the headphones. Still, the tactile feel and adjustability are excellent for a product at this price point.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes are present and perform reasonably well. You won’t get class-leading silence, but for the price, the ANC does a commendable job. Transparency mode works well enough for situational awareness without making voices sound too artificial.
CMF claims up to 50 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC enabled, and up to 100 hours with it switched off. Real-world use seems to support this. A quick 5-minute top-up provides several hours of listening, while charging via USB-C takes just under two hours for a full recharge.
The one quirk is that the headphones still draw battery power when used with the 3.5mm cable. It would have been nice to have a true passive mode, but it’s a small compromise given the overall endurance.
The Nothing X app adds a few useful extras, including firmware updates, EQ presets, and sound mode controls. While there’s no advanced EQ like on the pricier Nothing Headphones 1, the available presets, especially Pop and Bass Boost, sound great. I particularly like that CMF offers simple customisation rather than overcomplicating things.
Spatial audio modes are included but aren’t particularly convincing. They tend to alter the sound signature too drastically, so I preferred sticking to the default tuning.
The CMF Headphones Pro deliver a lively, dynamic sound that’s fun without being fatiguing. The bass is boosted and the treble crisp, but the balance is pleasing.
The mids are clear, and the vocals sound natural. For the price, the sound quality is excellent, and most listeners will enjoy the balanced tuning. Pushing the bass slider to its maximum adds an over-the-top thump, though I’m sure it’ll have its fans. Personally, I keep it at a minimum most of the time, but it was fun to crank it up for certain tracks.
The CMF Headphones Pro are an easy recommendation for anyone who values comfort, smart design, and enjoyable sound without spending a fortune. They feel good in all the right ways, from replaceable ear cushions to the tactile volume wheel, and sound far better than their price suggests.
€99 ie.nothing.tech
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