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Indian Express

CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus: This is what value for money sounds like

Over the past couple of years, Nothing has carved out a niche for itself in the tech space, emerging as a good value-for-money brand on the cutting edge of design that appeals to a younger user. Its CMF sub-brand pushes the envelope even more when it comes to pricing and design, especially with its accessories. The new CMF Buds range is no exception. The CMF Buds 2 Plus has a unique design with a square charging case that has a circle at one corner that rotates. The circle serves no particular purpose other than housing the holes for the lanyard but does give the unit a distinct identity. The case also has a rubbery matte finish which makes it feel both durable and premium. The buds have a traditional design and are easy to wear for long hours. At the top of the stem, you can tap to control the earbuds. The CMF Buds 2 Plus come with adaptive active noise cancellation that is top of the line, sucking away the hum of my ceiling fan. However, every time you put it on, the ANC takes a few seconds to come into action. Using the Nothing X app, I could switch the ANC on and off on even the iPhone. There is also a transparency mode that works well but appears louder than the actual ambient sound. The app also gives you the most elaborate personal sound profiling I have seen. The process takes about three minutes and tries to figure out exactly how your ear is perceiving sound. There is also a full equaliser with customisation and presets. Also, an Ultra Bass calibration gives you a level of control unseen in budget earbuds. The app also lets you find the buds or change gesture controls. Usure unna thaane from Madras Matinee felt immersive with its soulful mix of strings and percussions. The bass, even at lower levels, felt like it could touch a chord along with Vijay Yesudas's baritone which has started to sound even more like his dad now. As I was trying out the gestures, the playlist shifted to Lagoon Chill from Kumbalangi Nights. I was mesmerised for a few seconds by the depth of the bass this small earbud was able to create, almost like a heart that was beating in my ears. The CMF Buds 2 Plus manages both the highs and lows well thanks to the 12mm drivers. And when it is just vocals like Billy Withers' version of Ain't No Sunshine, the earbuds do a good job too. My only point would be that there seems to be a lack of space and roominess at times and that despite these earbuds doing a good job of spatial audio. With high-end earphones, you get a sense of each channel having a space of itself, layered in the soundscape. That is sort of missing here. But then that would be expecting too much from what are essentially budget earbuds. The best thing about the CMF Buds 2 Plus is that it costs just Rs 3,299 with its super ANC, a full app with equalisers, and a good audio profile with extra bass for those who prefer that. This is what value for money sounds like. The CMF Buds 2 has a similar design as its more premium sibling, though it also seems to appeal to an even younger audience. The review unit had a light green colour which made it look trendy, at the same time making me feel a bit too old to be carrying it around. The Nothing X app works here too, though there are fewer features here as expected in comparison to the CMF Buds 2 Plus. There is noise canceling you can select the intensity or the adaptive setting, like in the other earphones. The ANC is good, though it left a bit of drone from the fan compared to the vacuum of the Buds 2 Plus. There is no personalised sound profiling here. Everything else pretty much stays the same, which is good as you are getting an equaliser with the Dirac Opteo pre-tuning. So when you hear Here Comes the Sun, the Beatles are all around you with the guitar starting on the left ear and Ringo Starr's drums getting a space on the right. The overall sound profile is balanced, though it does feel a bit cramped in comparison to the Buds 2 Plus. But then you are paying much less for this one and they have 11mm drivers. Listening to a Lossless version of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, I was convinced that most listeners would not feel a beat missing with these earbuds. They do bass well again and that too without me amping up the same on the app. The Buds 2 manage vocals superbly, balancing it out with the BGM despite the constraints, giving a very balanced listening experience. The Buds 2 are also great for watching a movie on the phone or for gaming, especially when you are in the low lag mode. At Rs 2,699, the CMF Buds 2 are good for those who want to save a bit and not spend as much as on the CMF Buds 2 Plus. Both are good value-for-money options, though I would recommend you push your budget a bit and get the superior CMF Buds 2 Plus. It is worth the extra bucks. Nandagopal Rajan writes on technology, gadgets and everything related. He has worked with the India Today Group and Hindustan Times. He is an alumnus of Calicut University and Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. ... Read More