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1 / 9@nimble_birch_87 · Photo-verified
Owned 1–2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
The buds' plastic construction feels a little cheap but is actually surprisingly durable in my experience. The main issue I have experienced with these is the dirt shield adhesive loosening over time, but this is to be expected over long term use of any earphone.
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At 7.4, its noise cancelling beats 25% of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 89 of the 254 we've cataloged.
A 4.5 puts its audio quality in the bottom third of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 60 of the 254 we've cataloged.
Would buy it again and still uses it daily.
Owned 1–2 years.
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 237 of 254 we've cataloged.
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 234 of 254 we've cataloged.
IP54 appears on 16% of the 233 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 254).
Active is the most common — on 59% of the 173 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 254).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 7.1 |
| 25 | 9.5 |
| 32 | 12.7 |
| 40 | 15.8 |
| 50 | 16.1 |
| 63 | 14.3 |
| 80 | 14.3 |
| 100 | 9.3 |
| 125 | 5.4 |
| 160 | 3.2 |
| 200 | 0.9 |
| 250 | -1.1 |
| 315 | -2.9 |
| 400 | -5.6 |
| 500 | -4.0 |
| 630 | -0.4 |
| 800 | 0.7 |
| 1000 | 0.0 |
| 1250 | 1.1 |
| 1600 | 4.8 |
| 2000 | 8.5 |
| 2500 | 10.0 |
| 3150 | 10.6 |
| 4000 | 9.4 |
| 5000 | 8.1 |
| 6300 | 6.4 |
| 8000 | 7.4 |
| 10000 | -4.6 |
| 12500 | 2.6 |
| 16000 | -3.3 |
| 20000 | -28.4 |
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 3.5 |
| 26 | 2.9 |
| 33 | 1.5 |
| 41 | 1.8 |
| 52 | 3.0 |
| 65 | 2.4 |
| 82 | 2.8 |
| 103 | 3.2 |
| 130 | 3.2 |
| 163 | 4.4 |
| 205 | 5.7 |
| 259 | 6.5 |
| 325 | 7.0 |
| 410 | 7.6 |
| 516 | 4.1 |
| 613 | 6.8 |
| 772 | 11.0 |
| 972 | 12.3 |
| 1220 | 13.0 |
| 1540 | 15.1 |
| 1940 | 19.5 |
| 2440 | 26.0 |
| 3070 | 32.3 |
| 3870 | 25.4 |
| 4870 | 19.4 |
| 6130 | 19.2 |
| 7720 | 18.6 |
| 9720 | 29.6 |
| 12200 | 15.7 |
| 15400 | 24.7 |
| 19400 | 31.4 |
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 0.9 |
| 26 | 13.6 |
| 33 | 14.0 |
| 41 | 20.1 |
| 52 | 23.8 |
| 65 | 17.1 |
| 82 | 14.2 |
| 103 | 11.6 |
| 130 | 10.1 |
| 163 | 14.8 |
| 205 | 15.2 |
| 259 | 13.5 |
| 325 | 11.7 |
| 410 | 12.8 |
| 516 | 8.0 |
| 613 | 11.3 |
| 772 | 21.2 |
| 972 | 27.0 |
| 1220 | 28.4 |
| 1540 | 25.0 |
| 1940 | 23.4 |
| 2440 | 36.9 |
| 3070 | 30.3 |
| 3870 | 30.1 |
| 4870 | 17.9 |
| 6130 | 15.3 |
| 7720 | 18.1 |
| 9720 | 29.9 |
| 12200 | 14.5 |
| 15400 | 29.9 |
| 19400 | 31.4 |
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
The CMF Buds by Nothing deliver surprisingly good ANC for the price, but suffer from too much bass emphasis. They offer decent features and performance, making them average, basic everyday buds for budget-conscious consumers.
✓Liked: Price, ANC, Call quality
✕Could be better: Bass-heavy, AAC and SBC only, No wireless charging
What a reader who owns the CMF by Nothing Buds (1st gen) reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not edited by us. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
1 owner review
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · A moderator saw a photo of this reader’s unit and it matched the product. Proof of possession, not purchase. Read more · Owned 1–2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againThe buds' plastic construction feels a little cheap but is actually surprisingly durable in my experience. The main issue I have experienced with these is the dirt shield adhesive loosening over time, but this is to be expected over long term use of any earphone.
Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
The battery beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from the noise cancelling
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
The battery beat their expectations
