CMF Headphone Pro Review: Affordable Headphones with Bold Sound

Affordable headphones don’t have to sound basic—CMF Headphone Pro brings style, bass boost, and solid ANC to the table.

Just a few months after the launch of the Nothing Headphone (1), the brand’s first full-sized headphones, the buzz continues. But this time, under the sub-brand CMF by Nothing, we have the Headphone Pro—a wallet-friendly yet ambitious sibling designed to shake up expectations. At only $100, these headphones play cheekily with the “Pro” label, proving that budget doesn’t mean boring.

What’s striking about the CMF Headphone Pro is its vibrant, playful design paired with active noise cancellation and that signature minimalist flair Nothing is known for. It feels like they’re shouting, “Hey, affordable can be bold too!” And honestly? After tweaking the sound, these headphones punch way above their price tag.

Quick Specs Snapshot

• 40mm drivers delivering rich sound.
• Dedicated bass booster slider for on-the-fly adjustments.
• Physical control buttons plus a step-rotating volume wheel.
• No advanced equalizer but a basic adaptive one included.
• Bluetooth Multipoint lets you connect to two devices simultaneously.
• Interchangeable ear cushions for mixing and matching colors.
• IPX2 rating for light water resistance.

Detailed CMF Headphone Pro Features

These headphones support common codecs like AAC for compatibility and longer battery life, and LDAC for higher quality sound—assuming you have gear to appreciate it. The battery life is surprisingly generous, beating the flagship Nothing Headphone (1) in longevity.

Design & Colors: Playful and Bold

Unbelievably rounded shapes that feel like plush donuts on your ears.

Unlike the square-ish Nothing Headphone (1), the CMF Headphone Pro opts for soft, rounded edges—think of fluffy donuts hugging your head. Glossy plastics and eye-popping colorways (some not yet released) give these headphones a joyful, youthful personality.

One standout feature? Easily replaceable ear cushions that twist and pull off for swapping. The plan is to offer extra cushions in bright colors like light green and orange, and if the headphones catch on, expect even more color combos. Mixing and matching will definitely let you flex your style.

Easy-to-remove ear cups for customizable color swaps.

Controls are tactile and intuitive. The volume wheel is stepwise (not smooth), positioned vertically, which felt a bit unusual but functional. The new physical slider cranks up the bass, letting you dial in your desired thump, which I’ll dig into more when discussing the sound.

The adjustable metal headband uses a smooth, stepless slider—impressive for this price range. It felt sturdy and didn’t shift on my head after setting it, though it'll be interesting to see how it holds up with time.

Reliable adjustment mechanism gives a snug fit.

The cushions are soft and comfortable, offering decent sound isolation. The headband’s pressure is a bit firm but not uncomfortable. Heads up: your ears might get a bit warm after extended wear, but that’s par for the course with on-ear designs.

A simple velvet pouch is included instead of a bulky case.

Speaking of accessories, there’s no carrying case—just a velvet pouch. For $100, this is understandable and honestly quite generous. A 3.5mm wired cable comes included, but note: the headphones must be powered on for wired use. They don’t work passively.

Decoding the Sound Quality

Bass lovers, this one's for you.

Straight out of the box, these headphones sound decent—bass-forward and a bit boomy without touching the bass slider. The highs can be sharp, and the upper mids feel a little congested and hissy.

But don’t give up yet! Using the Nothing X app for sound tweaks reveals how versatile these cans can be. While there’s no advanced equalizer, the adaptive EQ lets you fine-tune frequencies with some smart volume balancing.

Basic app EQ still works magic on the sound.

Here’s the trick I found: cut the bass by about -5 to -6 and slightly boost the highs by +1. This clears up the muddiness and adds sparkle. Then, slide the physical bass booster to about halfway—just enough to add warmth without overwhelming the midrange. The result? A surprisingly refined sound profile that belies the budget price.

Adjust the bass slider to get your preferred thump.

While the soundstage is understandably narrow compared to pricier models, it’s perfectly fine for casual listening. For a hundred bucks, this sonic performance is downright impressive.

Spatial audio options add quirky flavors.

There’s also a spatial audio feature with “Cinema” and “Concert” modes, which try to simulate 3D soundscapes. Depending on the mix, these can make highs harsh or mids shrill—especially in Cinema mode, which seems tuned to highlight voices. I’d recommend keeping this off and enjoying your music as intended.

Noise Cancellation That Works

Noise isolation is decent thanks to the snug fit. The active noise cancellation (ANC) aims to reduce hums and drones by up to 40dB, focusing on frequencies below 2000Hz. This means it muffles low-end noise well but lets footsteps and keyboard clicks sneak through. However, when music’s playing at a comfy volume, the outside world pretty much fades away.

The transparency mode lets outside sounds in with a natural midrange focus—perfect for catching conversations without taking off the headphones. Surprisingly, it also maintains good spatial awareness despite the otherwise narrow soundstage.

Connectivity and Battery Life

Swiveling ear cups add a touch of comfort and style.

Connectivity is solid with support for AAC and LDAC codecs, giving you crisp sound whether you’re on iPhone, Android, or PC. Pairing is effortless thanks to Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair support.

Bluetooth Multipoint is a standout feature here, letting you maintain connections to two devices at once. If audio starts playing on one, the other gracefully pauses—perfect for juggling phone calls and music without a fuss.

Marathon Battery Performance

Powered by a 720mAh battery, the CMF Headphone Pro doesn’t just match but surpasses the flagship Nothing Headphone (1) in endurance:

Wrapping It Up

CMF Headphone Pro nails the art of blending affordability with style and surprisingly robust features. The playful design, customizable bass, reliable ANC, and stellar battery life make it a compelling choice for the young and the young-at-heart who want good sound without breaking the bank. If you’re willing to spend a little time tweaking the EQ and bass slider, these headphones can deliver a sound that feels anything but budget.

Are you ready to upgrade your headphone game without emptying your wallet?

FAQ

• What makes CMF Headphone Pro stand out in the budget headphone market?
  Its combination of bold design, active noise cancellation, a bass boost slider, and long battery life at just $100 is quite rare.
• Can I use these headphones wired?
  Yes, with the included 3.5mm cable, but the headphones must be powered on as they don’t operate passively.
• Is the bass slider just a gimmick?
  Not at all! It offers real-time bass adjustments that let you personalize the sound beyond the EQ app settings.
• How effective is the active noise cancellation?
  It reduces low-frequency noise effectively but lets mid and high frequencies through. Still, it’s impressive at this price point.
• Are the headphones comfortable for long wear?
  The cushions are soft and isolate well, though the headband pressure might feel a bit firm, and ears may warm up over extended use.

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