"Remember when Beats by Dre owned the streets? Those chunky, colorful headphones were everywhere from subway commutes to celebrity Instagram posts, turning audio gear into legitimate fashion statements while Apple quietly collected the profits. But here's the thing: Apple seems content letting Beats fade into the background, barely promoting the brand while focusing on AirPods. That cultural vacuum has created a fascinating opportunity, and CMF by Nothing might just be positioning itself to fill that exact space with their new Headphone Pro."
"CMF operates as Nothing's budget-focused subsidiary, much like how Beats functioned as Apple's street-smart younger sibling. The difference is that Nothing actually seems interested in letting CMF flourish as its own entity, spinning it off as an independent subsidiary while Beats gets treated like Apple's forgotten stepchild. At $99, the Headphone Pro feels like the first real shot at claiming that cultural territory Beats once dominated."
"And honestly, the approach feels smarter. Where Beats famously prioritized bass-heavy signatures that occasionally sacrificed clarity, CMF built in an Energy Slider that lets you adjust the sound profile in real time. Slide it up for bass-heavy tracks and workouts, slide it down for podcasts and acoustic music. No app diving, no menu hunting, just a physical control right there on the headphone. It's refreshingly analog in our increasingly digital world."
"Those 40mm drivers with 16.5mm copper voice coils aren't just marketing numbers either. Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification and LDAC codec support mean you're getting legitimate high-quality Bluetooth streaming at a price point where most manufacturers would stick you with basic SBC. The adaptive hybrid noise cancellation hits 45dB of reduction, putting it in serious company for what you're paying. Battery life is genuinely ridiculous though."
CMF by Nothing released the Headphone Pro as a $99 over-ear aimed at reclaiming the cultural territory Beats once occupied. The brand operates as a budget-focused subsidiary spun off to act independently. The headphones include a physical Energy Slider that adjusts sound profile in real time without an app. The hardware uses 40mm drivers with 16.5mm copper voice coils and supports Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification plus LDAC codec. Adaptive hybrid noise cancellation provides up to 45dB reduction. CMF claims 100 hours of playback with ANC off using the AAC codec. The package targets fashion, affordability, and high-end features.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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