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@brisk_badger_54 · Owner-reported
Owned under a month · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Sounds bassy out the box, trying to fix it with the apps eq will thin the rest of the frequency so leave it at pop and use the personalized sound to remove bass. In the test first two dots are for bass press tone until both fills up the press tone for the first 3 for the rest.
@zesty_osprey_65 · Owner-reported
Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
They are a bit uncomfortable and tend to slide out no matter the size of ear tips used. After 11 months the glue that holds on some mesh over the prong that the ear tips fit on to has broken down and turned to black goop with the mesh detaching - support is a bit iffy.
Own it? Your review joins these
Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying · Sign-in needed to publish · Photo optional
At 8.3, its noise cancelling beats 77% of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 88 of the 259 we've cataloged.
A 4.8 puts its audio quality in the top half of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 65 of the 259 we've cataloged.
2 of 2 would buy again. 2 of 2 still use it daily.
Owned under a month to 6–12 months.
What gave out: Ear tips (1)
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 243 of 259 we've cataloged.
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 241 of 259 we've cataloged.
IP55 appears on 17% of the 239 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 259).
Active is the most common — on 60% of the 175 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 259).
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 | 8.8 |
| 25 | 8.9 |
| 32 | 9.0 |
| 40 | 8.9 |
| 50 | 8.7 |
| 63 | 7.8 |
| 80 | 6.1 |
| 100 | 3.9 |
| 125 | 2.1 |
| 160 | 0.6 |
| 200 | 0.4 |
| 250 | 0.8 |
| 315 | 1.5 |
| 400 | 0.5 |
| 500 | -0.9 |
| 630 | -1.0 |
| 800 | -0.2 |
| 1000 | 0.0 |
| 1250 | 1.2 |
| 1600 | 4.0 |
| 2000 | 7.3 |
| 2500 | 9.6 |
| 3150 | 9.9 |
| 4000 | 7.5 |
| 5000 | 9.4 |
| 6300 | 4.3 |
| 8000 | 5.6 |
| 10000 | -3.5 |
| 12500 | 6.4 |
| 16000 | -5.7 |
| 20000 | -25.0 |
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 | -3.3 |
| 26 | -0.8 |
| 33 | 1.1 |
| 41 | 1.2 |
| 52 | 0.8 |
| 65 | 1.9 |
| 82 | 2.0 |
| 103 | 2.6 |
| 130 | 2.6 |
| 163 | 1.7 |
| 205 | 3.6 |
| 259 | 5.0 |
| 325 | 6.2 |
| 410 | 8.7 |
| 516 | 6.8 |
| 613 | 7.3 |
| 772 | 10.2 |
| 972 | 11.5 |
| 1220 | 13.6 |
| 1540 | 15.4 |
| 1940 | 20.2 |
| 2440 | 29.6 |
| 3070 | 29.7 |
| 3870 | 24.3 |
| 4870 | 12.9 |
| 6130 | 21.2 |
| 7720 | 37.8 |
| 9720 | 29.9 |
| 12200 | 29.5 |
| 15400 | 35.8 |
| 19400 | 23.6 |
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 | 9.4 |
| 26 | 17.5 |
| 33 | 16.8 |
| 41 | 20.8 |
| 52 | 26.0 |
| 65 | 27.2 |
| 82 | 32.2 |
| 103 | 33.2 |
| 130 | 30.8 |
| 163 | 24.9 |
| 205 | 30.6 |
| 259 | 25.4 |
| 325 | 23.1 |
| 410 | 17.2 |
| 516 | 16.3 |
| 613 | 19.5 |
| 772 | 23.7 |
| 972 | 22.7 |
| 1220 | 21.0 |
| 1540 | 24.3 |
| 1940 | 32.1 |
| 2440 | 43.1 |
| 3070 | 38.1 |
| 3870 | 23.6 |
| 4870 | 10.8 |
| 6130 | 24.7 |
| 7720 | 33.2 |
| 9720 | 29.8 |
| 12200 | 23.1 |
| 15400 | 37.9 |
| 19400 | 21.9 |
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 2 Plus offers impressive audio performance and innovative personalization features at a budget-friendly price. Still, the puzzling removal of the previous model's standout Smart Dial makes this "upgrade" feel incomplete despite technical improvements.
✓Liked: Sound quality, ANC, Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC, Price
✕Could be better: No Smart Dial, No wireless charging
What readers who own the CMF by Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus report 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 rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
2 owner reviews
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned under a month · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againSounds bassy out the box, trying to fix it with the apps eq will thin the rest of the frequency so leave it at pop and use the personalized sound to remove bass. In the test first two dots are for bass press tone until both fills up the press tone for the first 3 for the rest.
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againThey are a bit uncomfortable and tend to slide out no matter the size of ear tips used. After 11 months the glue that holds on some mesh over the prong that the ear tips fit on to has broken down and turned to black goop with the mesh detaching - support is a bit iffy.
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What readers ask about the CMF by Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus, answered by the people who own it.
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Ask the first question →Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Brady SnyderContributorThese are the best AirPods alternative, according to poll resultsWe polled over 1,000 readers on what earbuds they would buy instead of AirPods, and here's what they said.
Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerGet AirPods Pro 2-level ANC for less than 1/3 the price with these earbudsSilence is golden — and now, cheap.
Adam BirneyManaging EditorThese $69 earbuds beat AirPods across the board—Here’s the dataIt no longer makes sense to pay Apple prices.Adam BirneyManaging EditorHow long should your earbuds last? Our battery tests have the answerEarbuds don't last long, but how much is enough?
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · owners report ~10 h per charge vs 8.73 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Comfort 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
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · owners report ~7 h per charge vs 10 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
