60 euros sounds like 200 euros: The CMF Buds 2 Plus are a bargain

Despite costing just under €60, the CMF Buds 2 Plus sound excellent and offer effective adaptive ANC. They're also comfortable and durable, and offer app settings you'd normally only expect to find on much more expensive earbuds. If you forgo the Plus, you'll only pay €50.

Stiftung Warentest's ranking shows that expensive earbuds aren't necessarily better; the best value for money there costs less than €80. However, the affordable Samsung earbuds could soon be replaced by the CMF Buds 2, which offer a lot for just under €60.

CMF is a sub-brand of the British manufacturer Nothing, whose smartphones and earphones are characterized not only by their exceptional design but also by their high quality at relatively low prices. The CMF devices are even cheaper and don't look as spectacular, but are said to be just as good.

Comfortable but robust

Despite their simpler design, the CMF Buds 2 Plus still offer a harmonious feel. Weighing just 4.5 grams, they're exceptionally comfortable and won't pinch even after several hours of wear. Silicone tips in three different sizes ensure a secure and tight fit for most ears. The workmanship is flawless, and the earbuds are IP55 rated for dust and splash protection.

The charging case also appears very robust and, according to IPX2, can withstand a few drops of water. A rotating dial in one corner of the lid is not only a design accent, it also conveniently serves as a holder for a hand strap.

Simple, customizable controls

The earplugs are controlled via touch surfaces on the outside. It's incredibly simple, yet allows most functions to be controlled without a smartphone. You can choose between two or three short taps and a long or short hold, with the gestures largely customizable in the app.

Nothing happens with a single tap, thus avoiding incorrect inputs – clever. Not a given at this price: The earbuds have wear detection. This means playback pauses when you remove a bud.

Great sound

The sound of these earbuds is surprisingly good, easily on par with much more expensive in-ear headphones. The bass reaches deep and is very present, but it doesn't overpower the listener. If you want even more low-end punch, you can increase the "Ultra Bass" by four additional levels in the app. Conversely, you can also turn off the factory-preset function if it becomes annoying.

The mids are cleanly defined and dominate the sound, with a soundstage that's quite wide and airy for a full-range earbud. Added to that are the detailed and clear highs that don't sting even at very loud volume. Otherwise, the CMF Buds 2 Plus never lose control.

The earbuds support the high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC, which many Android devices support; otherwise, only AAC and SBC are available. Gamers can also select a mode with particularly low latency.

Spatial audio and other extras

If you like the effect, you can activate "Spatial Audio" in the app, which creates a kind of 3D sound. This feature works particularly well for movies and games; for music, it's a matter of taste.

The clearly designed Nothing app also offers some practical extras that are rare in €60 earbuds. You can run a test to adjust the sound to your own hearing, and another test checks the fit. On top of that, there's a comprehensive equalizer and the option to find lost earbuds by playing a sequence of tones.

Good ANC

The active noise cancellation (ANC) also performed impressively in our test. It offers the option to activate adaptive adjustment to the environment. This works quite well and quickly. For example, you don't have to wait long for the noise to subside when you step out of the house onto a busy street. If necessary, you can adjust the ANC to three levels yourself.

Overall, the noise cancellation isn't quite as good as the very best in this category, but it's very effective, especially at low frequencies. The CMF Buds 2 Plus also perform well during phone calls, without standing out from the crowd.

Wind no problem, endurance high

The transparency mode can't be customized, but that's okay. Apart from a slight background noise, it sounds natural and almost feels like you're not wearing earbuds. It's commendable that the CMF Buds 2 Plus handle strong winds well in both transparency mode and ANC.

There's nothing to complain about in terms of battery life either. With ANC enabled, the earbuds last around seven hours, and with LDAC, they still last more than five hours. The charging case has reserves for approximately another 25 or 19 hours. The fact that the earbuds can't be charged wirelessly isn't a problem. Empty earbuds last for around 4.5 hours after ten minutes in the case.

Conclusion

It's almost impossible to find Bluetooth earbuds that offer more than the CMF Buds 2 Plus for €60. The sound, ANC, and feature set are top-notch, they're comfortable to wear, and the battery life is high.

If you don't need LDAC and other extras and can live with a few minutes of battery life, the simple CMF Buds 2 are another ten euros cheaper alternative. Significant differences in sound and noise cancellation weren't really audible in our test.