I’ve been testing all three models in the CMF Buds 2 lineup which consist of the Buds 2a, Buds 2, and Buds 2 Plus. Here’s my review :-
CMF Buds 2a :-
Great fit, lightweight, solid build quality.
Best sound quality in the entire lineup. Wide soundstage which gives an open and airy vibe, clean, detailed, and more balanced than the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus.
Lightweight, very comfortable, stable connection, dual-device pairing.
ANC is basic but usable, call quality is fine, and battery life is reliable.
The CMF Buds 2a is an instant recommendation because of the best sound quality in it’s price range and for being a solid overall TWS.
CMF Buds 2 :-
Great fit, lightweight, solid build quality
Disappointing sound as it’s the worst one in the lineup. It has very overpowering bass that’s also muddy and bloated which deteriorate the mids and vocals too. These also have a very small soundstage which makes them sound congested.
ANC, Transparency and MIC quality are much better on the buds 2 than the buds 2a.
Battery life is also better which makes them all the more dependable.
Additional features are also available such as spatial audio, ANC levels and in - ear detection.
Only makes sense if you don’t care about audio and value ANC + Transparency + features more.
Not recommended for music lovers.
CMF Buds 2 Plus :-
Great fit, lightweight, premium build quality.
Decent overall package. Sound is much better than the buds 2 and slightly inferior to the buds 2a out of the box. However, the sound can be tweaked very minutely using 3rd party EQ apps like wavelet which end up getting a very nice personalised sound output from the buds 2 plus.
The buds 2 plus also have the best spatial audio that works well across all songs ( unlike buds 2 which sound bad in certain songs ) increasing the immersion.
The ANC, transparency modes are even better than the buds 2 along with similar MIC quality.
Along with the features of the buds 2, there is an additional useful feature available for the buds 2 plus which is personal sound profile which improves the sound quality even further).
The buds 2 plus also support LDAC which results in better clarity and details across all lossless tracks compared to the buds 2 and buds 2a.
Battery life is amazing as they’re even better than the buds 2.
A good pair of TWS if you want a balanced experience with no major flaws or drawbacks.
Final Verdict :-
Buds 2a → Best sound + best value. Recommended.
Buds 2 → Only for feature-seekers. Not recommended.
Buds 2 Plus → Solid overall pick. Recommended.