CMF Headphone Pro Review: Visually pleasing design & really good sound quality

Within a span of five years, Nothing Inc has steadily grown big, particularly in India. Backed by mid-range Phone A series and CMF sub-branded phones, the company has registered triple-digit growth in smartphone shipments for several quarters in a row.

After getting traction in the affordable smartphone segment, CMF has set its eyes on the budget earphones category. The new Headphones Pro comes with unique design elements and promises a good user experience.

Design and build quality

Headphone Pro comes with a modular design language. The user gets the option to customise the headcups with swappable ear cushions. The headband is made of high-quality faux leather and stainless steel.

It should be noted that CMF has used premium anti-bacterial PU leather (polyurethane synthetic leather) and comes filled with high-resilience memory foam. This ensures the earcups comfortably fit on the ears. I didn't feel too much irritation during extender wear outdoors.

Nothing's CMF Headphones Pro.

Nothing's CMF Headphones Pro's headband.

It comes with an IPX2 rating, meaning it can withstand excessive sweating while doing exercises or jogging, but not rain or accidental water splashes.

The CMF Headphone Pro's control comes in the shape of a Roller that helps users control volume, hybrid ANC (Active Noise Installation), and Play/Pause.

It also boasts of Energy Slider, a first-of-its-kind feature. It helps the user switch between varying levels of Bass and Treble that can be adjusted based on the energy of the song that the user is listening to.

Nothing's CMF Headphones Pro.

Nothing X app UI.

It also features a type-C USB port, charging and a smart assistant button, and it can also be programmed to function

The headphone is available in dark grey, light green and light grey. The company offers an additional orange-hued clip-on ear cushion as well.

Performance

Setting up the Headphone Pro is pretty straightforward. Turn it on, and it will automatically get detected on the Bluetooth devices list. Also, it supports both iPhones and Android handsets.

Nothinc X UI.

For a better user experience, get the Nothing X app, as it offers a custom equaliser and also offers a nice tutorial (after pairing with the phone for the first time) on how to make the best use of the Headphone Pro.

It houses 40 mm drivers with nickel-plated diaphragms for reduced distortion and sharper clarity. There is also a 16.5 mm copper voice coil, precision bass duct, and dual-chamber design, which promises to deliver deeper, fuller sound with rich texture and punch.

As advertised, the Headphone Pro delivered a really good listening experience. The soft PU leather-laced cup does a fine job of covering the ears, and the sealing ensures there is less disturbance.

Nothing's CMF Headphones Pro.

As noted earlier, it boasts a hybrid Adaptive Active Voice Cancellation feature. It is capable of automatically adjusting to the user's surroundings. It can shift between three levels of noise control. It can reduce up to 40 dB of noise during phone calls.

Besides LDAC + Hi-Res Certified Audio, it also supports Spatial Audio. It supports Cinema and Concert mode, and delivers an immersive listening experience while watching movies.

In Cinema mode, the Headphone Pro widens the audio output so that the user hears the dialogue more clearly.

Nothing's CMF Headphones Pro.

Concert mode brings the depth and extra punch of liveliness while listening to the songs.

The innovative Energy Slider on the left earcup is a game-changer and makes the Headphone Pro stand out among the competition. It allows users to pump the audio delivery to enjoy the song more than in normal ways. Depending on their taste, users can programme it to either Treble or Bass. Only qualm is the slider is kind of small; the index finger needs time to get the muscle memory to kick in, to adjust the energy level without hassle.

It supports the LDAC (Low Latency and High-Quality Audio) Codec, and this ensures the highest fidelity Bluetooth audio for up to 990 kbps. The dual Hi-Res certified Headphone Pro delivers consistent, clear prestine audio across most formats.

As far as the battery life is concerned, with a full charge, it can easily last for up to two weeks.

With ANC on, it can deliver up to 50 hours. It also supports fast charging. With just five minutes of charging, it can offer listening time up to five hours.

Final thoughts

Considering the overall aspects, CMF Headphone Pro is a really good value-for-money device.

I am very impressed with the premium build quality, creative modular design elements, long-lasting battery life and most importantly, excellent audio delivery and customisation options.

CMF Headphones Pro costs Rs 7,999.

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